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Research Publications (Food Safety)

This page tracks research articles published in national and international peer-reviewed journals. Recent articles are available ahead of print and searchable by Journal, Article Title, and Category. Research publications are tracked across six categories: Bacterial Pathogens, Chemical Contaminants, Natural Toxins, Parasites, Produce Safety, and Viruses. Articles produced by USDA Grant Funding Agencies (requires login) and FDA Grant Funding Agencies (requires login) are also tracked in Scopus.

Displaying 101 - 125 of 243

  1. First detection and genetic characterization of porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) in Argentina and its association with reproductive failure

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Porcine circovirus type 3 (PCV3) is considered a new circovirus and since it first description has been widely reported in most of the swine‐producing countries. Multisystemic inflammation and reproductive failure are consistent and concerning issues associated with PCV3 infection. This report describes the clinical and pathological features of a chronic reproductive disorder in a swine herd in Argentina associated with the presence of PCV3.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  2. Feline tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium bovis infection of domestic UK cats associated with feeding a commercial raw food diet

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Mycobacterium (M.) bovis can infect cats and is a demonstrated zoonosis. We describe an outbreak of M. bovis in pet cats across England and Scotland associated with feeding a commercial raw food diet. Forty‐seven cats presented with (pyo)granulomatous lesions, lymphadenopathy, pulmonary and/or alimentary disease over a one‐year period where M. bovis infection was suspected or definitively diagnosed, and the cats all consumed the same specific brand of commercial raw venison pet food.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  3. Survival of swine pathogens in compost formed from preprocessed carcasses

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • An introduction of a Foreign Animal Disease (FAD) like African Swine Fever Virus (ASF) would be financially devastating. For example, ASF, a highly contagious pathogen with high mortality rates, is a World Health Organization reportable disease that has recently been spreading across Asia and Europe. Control of ASF would likely require mass euthanasia of infected and exposed animals similar to the United Kingdom’s elimination of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).

  4. Spatial sero‐prevalence of brucellosis in small ruminants of India: Nationwide cross‐sectional study for the year 2017‐2018

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Brucellosis in small ruminants caused mainly due to Brucella melitensis is an important zoonotic disease characterized by abortion, retained placenta, infertility, orchitis, epididymitis, and rarely arthritis. Small ruminants are the main source of economy for the rural and marginally poor farmers and brucellosis is resulting in huge economic losses due to abortions and infertility and causing public health concern among the small ruminant keepers.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  5. Hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotype 3 diversity: identification of a novel HEV subtype in wild boar in Central Italy

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • In the last decade in Europe, the number of autochthonous cases of hepatitis E has significantly increased. Most of the cases arise from foodborne infections caused by the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes HEV‐3 and HEV‐4. Several human cases have been linked to consumption of raw or undercooked animal products of both pork (liver sausages) and wild boar meat.

      • Hepatitis
      • Viruses
  6. Spotted fever group Rickettsiae in Dermacentor marginatus from wild boars in Italy

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Following the increase in wild boar population recorded in urban and peri‐urban areas through Europe, the present survey aimed to assess the occurrence of zoonotic tick‐borne pathogens (TBPs) in wild boars living in southern Italy and in their ticks for evaluating the potential risk of infection for animals and humans. From October to December 2019, a total of 176 ticks collected from 93 wild boars and their spleen samples were molecularly screened for selected TBPs.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  7. Antigenic distribution, pathological changes, antibody response and serological detection in non‐pregnant goats following experimental infection by Brucella melitensis

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • This study describes the pathological changes, antibody response, isolation and distribution patterns following exposure of non‐pregnant goats to live B. melitensis. Eighteen healthy adult female goats were divided into 2 equal groups. Group 1 was infected via conjunctival sac with 109 cfu/mL of B. melitensis while Group 2 was similarly exposed to sterile PBS. Serum and swabs from the eyes and vagina were collected at 5‐day intervals.

      • Bacterial pathogens
  8. The Genetics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Viruses of Subtype H5 in Germany, 2006 – 2020

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • The H5 A/Goose/Guangdong/1/1996 (gs/GD) lineage emerged in China in 1996. Rooted in the respective gs/GD lineage, the hemagglutinin (HA) gene of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) has genetically diversified into a plethora of clades and subclades and evolved into an assortment of sub‐ and genotypes.

      • Viruses
  9. Zoonotic parasites infecting free‐living armadillos from Brazil

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Armadillos are specialist diggers and their burrows are used to find food, seek shelter and protect their pups. These burrows can also be shared with dozens of vertebrate and invertebrate species and; consequently, their parasites including the zoonotics. The aim of this study was to diagnose the presence of zoonotic parasites in four wild‐caught armadillo species from two different Brazilian ecosystems, the Cerrado (Brazilian savanna) and the Pantanal (wetland).

      • Toxoplasma gondii
      • Parasites
  10. Outbreak of a novel disease caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides)

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • This study reports outbreak of a new disease caused by Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (S. pseudintermedius) in Raccoon dogs. The disease occurred in a breeding farm of raccoon dogs in Guan County of Shandong Province in China in August of 2019. 47% (425/896) of the raccoon dogs showed some abnormal symptoms; 17.6% (75/425) of which had sever skin and soft tissue infections (SSTIs), dyspnea and sever pathological lesions in lungs, livers, etc; and 4.2% (18/425) of which died within 4 weeks.

      • Staphylococcus aureus
      • Bacterial pathogens
  11. HoBi‐like pestivirus infection leads to bovine death and severe respiratory disease in China

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • HoBi‐like pestivirus is an emerging atypical pestivirus in cattle and small ruminants, causing clinical signs similar to those observed in bovine viral diarrhea virus infections. Natural infection of HoBi‐like pestivirus has been reported in cattle herds and small ruminants in multiple countries in South America, Europe, and Asia. However, HoBi‐like pestiviruses were only identified from contaminated bovine serum and small ruminants in China.

  12. Construction of generic roadmaps for the strategic coordination of global research into infectious diseases of animals and zoonoses

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • The Strategic Alliance for Research into Infectious Diseases of Animals and Zoonoses (STAR‐IDAZ) International Research Consortium (IRC) coordinates global animal health research to accelerate delivery of disease control tools and strategies. With this vision, STAR‐IDAZ IRC has constructed four generic research roadmaps for the development of candidate vaccines, diagnostic tests, therapeutics and control strategies for animal diseases.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  13. Could wild boar be the Trans‐Siberian transmitter of African swine fever?

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • China has experienced a sudden multi‐focal and multi‐round of African swine fever (ASF) outbreaks during 2018. The subsequent epidemiological survey resulted in a debate including the possibility of a transboundary spread from European Russia to China through wild boar. We contribute to the debate by assessing a hypothetical overland Euro‐Siberian transmission path and its associated ASF arrival dates.

      • Chemical contaminants
      • Heavy Metals
  14. Risk factors associated with occurrence of COVID‐19 among household persons exposed to patients with confirmed COVID‐19 in Qingdao Municipal, China

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Tracing and isolation of close contacts is used to control outbreaks of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in China. However, risk factors associated with occurrence of COVID‐19 among close contacts have not been well described. 106 household contacts were included in this study, of whom 19 were developed into COVID‐19 cases and the secondary attack rate was 17.9%.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  15. Clusters of 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) cases in Chinese tour groups

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • International travel may facilitate the spread of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID‐19). The study describes clusters of COVID‐19 cases within Chinese tour groups travelling in Europe January 16–28. We compared characteristics of cases and non‐cases to determine transmission dynamics. The index case travelled from Wuhan, China, to Europe on 16 January 2020, and to Shanghai, China, on 27 January 2020, within a tour group (group A).

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  16. First expert elicitation of knowledge on drivers of emergence of the COVID‐19 in pets

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Infection with the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) induces the coronavirus infectious disease 19 (COVID‐19). Its pandemic form in human population and its probable animal origin, along with recent case reports in pets, make drivers of emergence crucial in domestic carnivore pets, especially cats, dogs and ferrets. Few data are available in these species; we first listed forty‐six possible drivers of emergence of COVID‐19 in pets, regrouped in eight domains (i.e.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  17. Monitoring online media reports for early detection of unknown diseases: Insight from a retrospective study of COVID‐19 emergence

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Event‐based surveillance (EBS) systems monitor a broad range of information sources to detect early signals of disease emergence, including new and unknown diseases. In December 2019, a newly identified coronavirus emerged in Wuhan (China), causing a global coronavirus disease (COVID‐19) pandemic. A retrospective study was conducted to evaluate the capacity of three event‐based surveillance (EBS) systems (ProMED, HealthMap and PADI‐web) to detect early COVID‐19 emergence signals.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  18. Hypothetical targets and plausible drugs of coronavirus infection caused by SARS‐CoV‐2

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • The world is confronting a dire situation due to the recent pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease (SARS‐CoV‐2) with the mortality rate passed over 470,000. Attaining efficient drugs evolve in parallel to the understanding of the SARS‐CoV‐2 pathogenesis. The current drugs in the pipeline and some plausible drugs are overviewed in this paper.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  19. Exploring the Growth of COVID‐19 Cases using Exponential Modelling Across 42 Countries and Predicting Signs of Early Containment using Machine Learning

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • COVID‐19 pandemic disease spread by the SARS‐COV‐2 single‐strand structure RNA virus, belongs to the 7th generation of the coronavirus family. Following an unusual replication mechanism, it’s extreme ease of transmissivity has put many counties under lockdown. With uncertainty of developing a cure/vaccine for the infection in the near future, the onus currently lies on healthcare infrastructure, policies, government activities, and behaviour of the people to contain the virus.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  20. ACE2 isoform diversity predicts the host susceptibility of SARS‐CoV‐2

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • SARS‐CoV‐2 causes the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. ACE2 is the functional receptor for SARS‐CoV‐2. In our current study, we found that two types of deficient ACE2 isoforms from different mammals would compete with full length ACE2 for association with S protein. One type of ACE2 is a natural soluble isoform, the other type of ACE2 only associates with one loop of RBD of SARS‐CoV‐2 S protein. Mammals with either type of ACE2 will be deficient in support of SARS‐CoV‐2 entry.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  21. COVID‐19 outbreak following a single patient exposure at an entertainment site: An epidemiological study

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • We investigated an outbreak of COVID‐19 infection, which was traced back to a bathing pool at an entertainment venue, to explore the epidemiology of the outbreak, understand the transmissibility of the virus and analyse the influencing factors. Contact investigation and management were conducted to identify potential cases. Epidemiological investigation was carried out to determine the epidemiological and demographic characteristics of the outbreak.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  22. Emergence of European and North American mutant variants of SARS‐CoV‐2 in South‐East Asia

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • The SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus is responsible for the current COVID‐19 pandemic, with an ongoing toll of over 5 million infections and 333 thousand deaths worldwide within the first 5 months. Insight into the phylodynamics and mutation variants of this virus is vital to understanding the nature of its spread in different climate conditions. The incidence rate of COVID‐19 is increasing at an alarming pace within subtropical South‐East Asian nations with high temperatures and humidity.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  23. Receptor utilization of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) indicates a narrower host range of SARS‐CoV‐2 than that of SARS‐CoV

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • Coronavirus (CoV) pandemics have become a huge threat to the public health worldwide in the recent decades. Typically, severe acute respiratory syndrome CoV (SARS‐CoV) caused SARS pandemic in 2003 and SARS‐CoV‐2 caused the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. Both viruses are most likely originated from bats. Thus, direct or indirect interspecies transmission from bats to humans is required for the viruses to cause pandemics.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  24. Bats and humans during the SARS‐CoV‐2 outbreak: The case of bat‐coronaviruses from Mexico

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • The novel SARS‐CoV‐2 coronavirus has attracted attention due to the high number of human cases around the world. It has been proposed that this virus originated in bats, possibly transmitted to humans by an intermediate host, making bats a group of great interest during this outbreak. Almost 10% of the world's bat species inhabit Mexico, and 14 previous novel CoVs have been recorded in Mexican bats.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19
  25. Animal coronaviruses and SARS‐CoV‐2

    • Transboundary and Emerging Diseases
    • COVID‐19 is a highly contagious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2). It has rapidly spread to 216 countries and territories since first outbreak in December of 2019, posing a substantial economic losses and extraordinary threats to the public health worldwide. Although bats have been suggested as the natural host of SARS‐CoV‐2, transmission chains of this virus, role of animals during cross‐species transmission, and future concerns remain unclear.

      • Viruses
      • COVID-19