Serological assay for Trichinella antibodies in slaughtered pigs and predisposing factors to trichinellosis in backyard piggeries in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic disease that affects a large array of mammals, birds and reptiles caused by the eating of raw or undercooked pork containing Trichinella larvae. In this study, 200 pigs slaughtered at abattoirs and slaughter slabs within Kaduna Metropolis were screened for antibodies to Trichinella excretory-secretory (E/S) antigen using Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). An overall prevalence rate of 16% was established. Age of the pigs revealed an association with trichinellosis (p-value=0.001) with juvenile and adult pigs recording prevalence rates of 5% and 11% respectively. Sex of the animals showed no significant association with trichinellosis but the females had a higher prevalence of 9.5% compared to the 6.5% of the males who had a greater odds (O=1.083) compared to the females (O=0.950). The farm management practices: intensive (1%), semi-intensive (2.5%) and extensive (12.5%) recorded a significant relationship with trichinellosis (p-value=0.001). Sources of the pigs whether markets, backyard farms or inheritance was significantly associated with trichinellosis (p-value=0.00) with backyard farm having the highest prevalence of 7%. Poor rodents control program, presence of snakes around and within piggery, feeding of pigs with dead animals and leftovers, lack of knowledge of pork-borne diseases, allowing pigs to scavenge and interaction of the pigs with stray pigs were very important predisposing factors to trichinellosis in pig farms established from this research. The result of this work therefore, is ofpublic health importance because meat and meat products are considered very important sources of daily protein in-take in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria. Keywords: Antibodies; ELISA; Kaduna Metropolis; Nigeria; trichinella; trichinellosis; predisposing factors; farm management.

Serologic Analysis of Hepatitis E Virus Infection in Patients with Kidney-Related Illnesses

Hepatitis E is a globally distributed human disease caused by the hepatitis E virus (HEV). HEV is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus that belongs to the family Hepeviridae. Within the genus Orthohepevirus, seven HEV genotypes infect various mammalian hosts. HEV genotypes HEV-1 to HEV-4 and HEV-7 can infect humans. HEV-3 is zoonotic with the domestic pig, wild boar, deer and other mammalian species as reservoirs. HEV-3 is an underestimated emerging threat which is spread across Europe. It is transmitted through undercooked pork meat or other products, and with blood components through transfusions. HEV-3 infection in immunocompetent patients is self-limiting and clinically asymptomatic. However, immunocompromised individuals are at a high risk of developing chronic hepatitis E. Chronic infection may lead to life-threatening liver cirrhosis. Patients with kidney transplants or kidney-related illnesses are in this risk group. In this study, a serologic analysis of blood samples obtained from kidney transplant recipients, patients with chronic kidney disease, patients under dialysis and healthy controls was performed. A prevalence of anti-HEV antibodies was assessed by commercial and in-house ELISAs.

Streptococcus suis meningitis related to processing and consuming raw pork during Balinese tradition, Mebat

Streptococcus suis is a zoonotic pathogen that can infect humans, especially meningitis. S. suis meningitis has been commonly diagnosed in Bali, which is associated with the consumption of raw pork. We reported case of S. suis meningitis that could have occurred due to the ingestion of undercooked pork during a traditional ceremony, which also involved two more patients with similar symptoms. A 62-year-old male was brought to the emergency unit because of decreased consciousness (Glasgow coma scale 14/15) in the last 8 hours before admission. He also had a headache, high fever, and stiff neck. Examination of cerebrospinal fluid revealed the presence of S. suis infection and was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. The patient was administered ceftriaxone and showed a clinical improvement on the third day without any hearing problem.

Cysticercosis

Cysticercosis, infection by larvae of the pork tapeworm Taenia solium, is the most common helminthic infection of the human central nervous system. It accounts for up to 30% of all seizures and epilepsy in endemic countries, and travel and immigration now lead to its more frequent presentation in industrialized countries. Ingestion of raw or undercooked pork can lead to infection with the T. solium cysticercus, formerly known as ‘Cysticercus cellulosae’, which is an encysted immature tapeworm. Once attached to the person’s small intestine, the head, or scolex, evaginates from the cysticercus, anchors in the intestinal mucosa and develops segments (proglottids) to become an adult tapeworm. Only by ingesting T. solium ova can humans develop cysticercosis. The commonest syndromes are late-onset epilepsy or intracranial hypertension. Diagnosis is based on brain imaging studies (CT or MRI) and supported by highly specific serology.

Low prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pork from slaughter houses in the central of China

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is widely distributed and can infect many species of warm-blooded animals , including swine. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of T. gondii infection in pork from the cent er of China. A total of 2 798 samples, including 305 hearts, 2086 diaphragm s , and 4 0 7 sera were collected from Henan Province, China . The modified agglutination test was used to detect antibodies against T. gondii in ser a from jugular vein blood and heart blood (cut-off: 1:25) , diaphragm exudate (cut-off: 1:10) . T. gondii DNA was screened from the digestive juice of all diaphragm tissue samples , and attempt to isolate viable T. gondii strain by bioassay in mice.Results: A total of 9.94% (278/2798) swine showed sera conversion of T. gondii antibodies. Region , but not gender , was associated with T. gondi infection in swine. T. gondii nucleic acid w as not found in the meat digestive juice s ( 2090 swine ) . Three groups of mice showed T. gondii antibodies after having been bioassayed with diaphragm samples (3/81). Unfortunately, no viable T. gondii strain was isolated from pork.Conclusions : This is the first large-scale survey T. gondi infection in pork from central China. Overall, the prevalence of viable T. gondii in pork was extremely low. Nevertheless, T. gondi i infection is present in swine from center China. Consumers could acquire T. gondii infection from ingestion of raw or undercooked pork.

Taeniasis Solium dan Sistiserkosis pada Manusia

Taenia solium taeniasis (taeniasis) and cysticercosis in human are infectious diseases caused by pork tapeworm Taenia solium. They are zoonotic diseases and still a health problem in the world, especially in developing countries such as Indonesia. The prevalence of taeniasis and cysticercosis in Indonesia is still quite high at 2% - 48% with the highest prevalence in Papua. Human taeniasis can manifest as a asymptomatic or intestinal minimally symptomatic. Cysticercosis can involve of neural tissue (neurocysticercosis) may manifest epilepsy seizure, headache, neurological symptom, cognitive disabilities, and death. The habit of eating raw or undercooked pork, lack of sanitation, and a lack of supervision the slaughterhouse are some of the factors causing taeniasis and cysticercosis in human. Avoiding eating raw pork, cooking meat over temperature 54oC, supervision at slaughterhouses, and maintaining hygiene is a way to prevent taeniasis and cysticercosis, therefore it is necesarry to do more intensive programs to prevent and control the diseases.

An outbreak of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium associated with raw pork sausage and other pork products, Denmark 2018–19

In Denmark, outbreaks of salmonella with more than 20 cases have become rare. In November 2018, an outbreak of monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium was detected and an investigation initiated with the aim of identifying the source and controlling the outbreak. Outbreak cases were defined based on core genome multilocus sequence types. We conducted hypothesis-generating interviews, a matched case-control study, food sampling and trace-back investigations. We identified 49 cases distributed across Denmark. In univariable analyses a traditional form of raw Danish pork sausage (medister sausage), pork chops and ground veal/pork showed matched odds ratio of 26 (95% CI 3–207), 4 (95% CI 1–13) and 4 (95% CI 1–10), respectively. In a multivariable analysis, only medister sausage remained significant. Several patients described tasting or eating the sausage raw or undercooked. Samples of medister sausage analysed were negative for salmonella and investigations at the production site did not reveal the mechanism of contamination. In conclusion, in spite of having eliminated salmonella in the egg and broiler industry, Denmark is still at risk of major salmonella outbreaks. We identified a raw pork sausage as a particular risk product that needs to be thoroughly cooked before consumption. Tasting raw meat or eating undercooked pork should be discouraged.

Hepatitis E in Italy: 5 years of national epidemiological, virological and environmental surveillance, 2012 to 2016

Increasing numbers of hepatitis E cases are being reported in several European countries, including Italy, but the burden of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is largely unknown in the latter. To gain a better understanding of HEV epidemiology at national level in Italy, we piloted a strengthened and integrated human (epidemiological and virological) and environmental HEV surveillance system between 2012 and 2016. Over the 5-year period, 169 confirmed hepatitis E cases were identified, with a national annual incidence of 0.72 cases per 1,000,000. Of 65 HEV-RNA positive samples of sufficient quality for molecular analysis, 66% were genotype HEV3, 32% HEV1 and 1% HEV4. The most frequent risk factor reported by all HEV3 infected cases, was the consumption of undercooked pork and sausage. For the environmental surveillance, 679 urban sewage samples were collected from 53 wastewater treatment plants and HEV-RNA was detected in 38/679 of the samples. Among these, 25 (66%) were genotype HEV3 and the remaining were HEV1. We demonstrate that autochthonous transmission and environmental circulation of genotype HEV3 is adding to travel-related HEV transmission in Italy. We recommend the ‘One Health’ approach to integrated surveillance, and to include HEV-related messages within health information campaigns focussing on food security.

A Case of Neurocysticercosis Clinically Mimicking Epilepsy: Report from Remote Hilly Area of Bangladesh

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is considered a common infection of the nervous system caused by the Taenia solium and is known to be the primary cause of preventable epilepsy in many developing countries. NCC is commonly resulted by the ingestion of Taenia solium eggs after consuming undercooked pork, or contaminated water. The parasite can grow in the brain and spinal cord within the nervous system, causing severe headache and seizures beside other pathological manifestations. People in North Eastern hilly areas of Bangladesh are very much fond of Pork meat. Here in this case report, an elderly indigenous male was found to be presented with weakness and sleep deprivation initially. During subsequent conversation with the patient for obtaining his medical history, he started complaining of dizziness, which eventually led to generalized convulsions lasting for about one minute. Though his neurological system examination was inconclusive, stool routine microscopic examination showed ova of T. solium. IgG antibody against T. solium was positive. Later, the patient was advised to have contrast MRI of brain which revealed multiple Ring enhancing T2 hyperintense cystic lesion with tiny central in different parts of the brain.Bangladesh Journal of Infectious Diseases 2016;3(1):24-27

Draft Genome Sequences of Nine Streptococcus suis Strains Isolated in the United States

Streptococcus suis is a swine pathogen responsible for economic losses to the pig industry worldwide. Additionally, it is a zoonotic agent that can cause severe infections in those in close contact with infected pigs and/or who consume uncooked or undercooked pork products. Here, we report nine draft genome sequences of S. suis .