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Faier-Pereira A, Finamore-Araujo P, Brito CRDN, Peres EG, de Lima Yamaguchi KK, de Castro DP, Moreira OC. The Development of a One-Step RT-qPCR for the Detection and Quantification of Viable Forms of Trypanosoma cruzi in Açai Samples from Areas at Risk of Chagas Disease through Oral Transmission. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5531. [PMID: 38791565 PMCID: PMC11122307 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2024] [Revised: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Currently, approximately 70% of new cases of Chagas disease (CD) in Brazil are attributed to oral transmission, particularly through foods such as açaí, bacaba, and sugarcane juice, primarily in the northern and northeastern regions of the country. This underscores the imperative need to control the spread of the disease. The methods utilized to conduct quality control for food associated with outbreaks and to assess the potential for the oral transmission of CD through consuming açaí primarily rely on isolating the parasite or inoculating food into experimental animals, restricting the analyses to major research centers. While there are existing studies in the literature on the detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in açaí, the evaluation of parasites' viability using molecular methods in this type of sample and differentiating between live and dead parasites in açaí pulp remain challenging. Consequently, we developed a molecular methodology based on RT-qPCR for detecting and quantifying viable T. cruzi in açaí pulp samples. This protocol enables the stabilization and preservation of nucleic acids in açaí, along with incorporating an exogenous internal amplification control. The standardization of the RNA extraction method involved a simple and reproducible approach, coupled with a one-step RT-qPCR assay. The assay underwent validation with various T. cruzi DTUs and demonstrated sensitivity in detecting up to 0.1 viable parasite equivalents/mL in açaí samples. Furthermore, we investigated the effectiveness of a bleaching method in eliminating viable parasites in açaí samples contaminated with T. cruzi by comparing the detection of DNA versus RNA. Finally, we validated this methodology using açaí pulp samples positive for T. cruzi DNA, which were collected in a municipality with a history of oral CD outbreaks (Coari-AM). This validation involved comparing the detection and quantification of total versus viable T. cruzi. Collectively, our findings demonstrate the feasibility of this methodology in detecting viable forms of T. cruzi in açaí pulp samples, emerging as a crucial tool for monitoring oral outbreaks of Chagas disease resulting from açaí consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Faier-Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | | | - Eldrinei Gomes Peres
- Departament of Chemistry, Federal University of Amazonas, Manaus 69067-005, Brazil
| | | | - Daniele Pereira de Castro
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Physiology of Insects, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Parasitology, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-360, Brazil
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Ghosh S, Straus DL, Good C, Phuntumart V. Development and comparison of loop-mediated isothermal amplification with quantitative PCR for the specific detection of Saprolegnia spp. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250808. [PMID: 34898622 PMCID: PMC8668100 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Saprolegniasis is an important disease in freshwater aquaculture, and is associated with oomycete pathogens in the genus Saprolegnia. Early detection of significant levels of Saprolegnia spp. pathogens would allow informed decisions for treatment which could significantly reduce losses. This study is the first to report the development of loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) for the detection of Saprolegnia spp. and compares it with quantitative PCR (qPCR). The developed protocols targeted the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA and the cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1 (CoxI) gene and was shown to be specific only to Saprolegnia genus. This LAMP method can detect as low as 10 fg of S. salmonis DNA while the qPCR method has a detection limit of 2 pg of S. salmonis DNA, indicating the superior sensitivity of LAMP compared to qPCR. When applied to detect the pathogen in water samples, both methods could detect the pathogen when only one zoospore of Saprolegnia was present. We propose LAMP as a quick (about 20–60 minutes) and sensitive molecular diagnostic tool for the detection of Saprolegnia spp. suitable for on-site applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satyaki Ghosh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
| | - David L. Straus
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Harry K. Dupree-Stuttgart National Aquaculture Research Center, Stuttgart, Arkansas, United States of America
| | - Christopher Good
- The Conservation Fund’s Freshwater Institute, Shepherdstown, West Virginia, United States of America
| | - Vipaporn Phuntumart
- Department of Biological Sciences, Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Preventing Chagas disease: A new RT-qPCR method for rapid and specific quantification of viable Trypanosoma cruzi for food safety. Food Res Int 2021; 144:110368. [PMID: 34053561 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodres.2021.110368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Without standardized methods for rapidly detecting in food matrices viable T. cruzi, foodborne outbreaks remain neglected. In this work, a reverse-transcriptase real-time PCR (RT-qPCR) mRNA-based technique was developed for the rapid and specific detection and quantification of viable Trypanosoma cruzi in açai fruits and juice. The method uses specific primer targeting region on the cyt b gene. The maximum recovery rate of T. cruzi from inoculated açai juice was 82.50%. The limit of detection and quantification in açai juice was 10 parasites/mL for RT-qPCR (mRNA-based) and qPCR (DNA-based). The RT-qPCR efficiency was estimated at 97.27% with an R2 of 0.994. The RT-qPCR was shown to be able to discriminate between viable and nonviable cells. This method provides a useful tool for rapid assessment of low concentrations of viable T. cruzi in naturally contaminated food samples, and can be applied industrially as a quality and security method.
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Costa AD, Jacomasso T, Mattos EC, Farias AB, Rampazzo RC, Pinto RS, Tassi W, Marciano MAM, Pereira-Chioccola VL, Murphy HR, da Silva AJ, Krieger MA. Ready-to-use qPCR for detection of Cyclospora cayetanensis or Trypanosoma cruzi in food matrices. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2021; 22:e00111. [PMID: 33681489 PMCID: PMC7930119 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2021.e00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Foodborne outbreaks caused by parasites have long been a public health issue. Among the available contamination detection methods, qPCR is one of the most sensitive and specific. However, it can be cumbersome and error-prone, if used by unexperienced users. Moreover, qPCR reagents usually require freezer temperatures for transportation and storage. We present a gelified reaction format that allows the reagents to be stored at 2-8 °C for up to 90 days without losing performance. The gelification process eliminates most operator mistakes during reaction setup, and renders the qPCR plates ready-to-use. The new reaction makeup was evaluated using artificially contaminated samples of distinct food matrices for sensitivity, specificity, repeatability, reproducibility, and stability. Samples consisted of cilantro leaves and raspberry fruits spiked with Cyclospora cayetanensis oocysts, as well as açai pulp and sugarcane juice tainted with Trypanosoma cruzi trypomastigotes. No significant difference between the gelified and the non-gelified qPCR was found. Our results suggest that gelifying the assay may help to achieve more reproducible qPCR data across laboratories, thus supporting surveillance actions. (170 words).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre D.T. Costa
- Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Thiago Jacomasso
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Elaine C. Mattos
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz (IAL Santo André), Av. Ramiro Colleone 240, Santo André, SP 09040-160, Brazil
| | - Aline B. Farias
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Rita C.P. Rampazzo
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Rebeka S. Pinto
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Walleyd Tassi
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
| | | | | | - Helen R. Murphy
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 21403, USA
| | - Alexandre J. da Silva
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), Office of Applied Research and Safety Assessment, 8301 Muirkirk Road, Laurel, MD 21403, USA
| | - Marco A. Krieger
- Laboratório de Ciências e Tecnologias Aplicadas à Saúde (LaCTAS), Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
- Instituto de Biologia Molecular do Paraná (IBMP), Rua Professor Algacyr Munhoz Mader 3775, Curitiba 81350-010, Brazil
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Finamore-Araujo P, Faier-Pereira A, Ramon do Nascimento Brito C, Gomes Peres E, Kazumy de Lima Yamaguchi K, Trotta Barroso Ferreira R, Moreira OC. Validation of a novel multiplex real-time PCR assay for Trypanosoma cruzi detection and quantification in açai pulp. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0246435. [PMID: 33529258 PMCID: PMC7853518 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
In Brazil, orally acquired T. cruzi infection has become the most relevant transmission mechanisms from public health perspective. Around 70% of new Chagas disease cases have been associated with consumption of contaminated food or beverages. Açai (Euterpe oleracea and Euterpe precatoria) is currently one of the most commercialized Amazonian fruits in the Brazilian and international markets. Therefore, it has become important to incorporate in the production process some procedures to measure out effective hygiene and product quality control required by global market. Molecular methods have been developed for rapid detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in several biological samples, including food matrices, for epidemiological investigation of Chagas disease and food quality control. However, a high-performance molecular methodology since DNA extraction until detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA in açai berry pulp is still needed. Herein, a simple DNA extraction methodology was standardized from the supernatant of açai berry pulp stabilized in a 6M Guanidine-HCl/0.2M EDTA buffer. In addition, a multiplex real time qPCR assay, targeting T. cruzi DNA and an Exogenous Internal Positive Control was developed and validated, using reference from all T. cruzi DTUs and commercial samples of açai pulp, from an endemic municipality with previous history of oral Chagas disease outbreak. Thus, a high-sensitivity qPCR assay, that could detect up to 0.01 parasite equivalents/mL in açai, was reached. As of the 45 commercial samples analyzed, 9 (20%) were positive for T. cruzi. This high-sensitive, fast, and easy-to-use molecular assay is compatible with most of the laboratories involved in the investigations of oral Chagas disease outbreaks, representing an important tool to the epidemiology, control, and surveillance of Chagas disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Finamore-Araujo
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Amanda Faier-Pereira
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos Ramon do Nascimento Brito
- Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, RN, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Otacilio Cruz Moreira
- Plataforma Fiocruz de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A –Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Cardoso GVF, Lima JS, Oliveira ACDSD, Silva JBD, Roos TB, Moraes CMD. SYBR Green qPCR Technique for the Detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in Açaí Pulp. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2020; 17:466-469. [PMID: 32077756 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2019.2745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Chagas disease, which is found widely in Latin America and has a great impact on public health, is caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. It is a neglected parasitic disease that urgently requires rapid diagnostic methods. The objective of this study was to develop a SYBR Green real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technique for the direct identification and quantification of T. cruzi from experimentally contaminated açai fruit samples. We used discrete typing units, TcI, containing 3.5 × 104 cells/mL, to infect the pulp of the açai fruit. This was followed by DNA extraction using a standardized procedure. The DNA samples were quantified and amplified at specific time and temperature intervals. The specificity of the oligoinitiators used in the qPCR assays was estimated by calculating the primer dissociation curve (melting curve) along with a detection threshold using different concentrations of DNA. The method used here demonstrated good efficiency and precision for the detection and quantification of T. cruzi DNA, with a detection limit of 2.65 × 10-14 g/μL DNA. The qPCR technique presented here could serve as an important tool for the diagnosis of T. cruzi parasites in açai.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joelson Sousa Lima
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Food Quality, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Brazil
| | | | - Josyane Brasil da Silva
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Food Quality, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Talita Bandeira Roos
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Food Quality, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Carina Martins de Moraes
- Laboratory of Hygiene and Food Quality, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará (UFPA), Castanhal, Brazil
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de Oliveira AC, Soccol VT, Rogez H. Prevention methods of foodborne Chagas disease: Disinfection, heat treatment and quality control by RT-PCR. Int J Food Microbiol 2019; 301:34-40. [PMID: 31082698 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2019.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 04/02/2019] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
The most important mode of transmission causing outbreaks of Chagas disease in the Amazon region is the oral route due to the ingestion of contaminated food. Herein, prevention methods for foodborne diseases caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, namely, sanitization, thermal treatment were investigated and the use of reverse transcription PCR (RT-PCR) amplification for the mRNA-based detection of viable T. cruzi in açai, was developed. Three T. cruzi strains (T. cruzi I, T. cruzi III and Y) were used in the present study. The Amazonian strains T. cruzi I (425) and T. cruzi III (370) showed higher resistance to sodium hypochlorite treatment and heat treatment than the reference strain Y. The blanching of fruits (70 ± 1 °C for 10 s) and pasteurization of juice (82.5 °C for 1 min) efficiently eliminated T. cruzi in food matrices. Additionally, a method that uses RT-PCR amplification of mRNA was developed for the detection of viable T. cruzi in açai, which could play a role in examining food samples, ensuring consumer health, and reducing this foodborne disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Caroline de Oliveira
- Centre for Valorisation of Amazonian Bioactive Compounds (CVACBA), Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral da Ciência km 01, 66.095-780, Belém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Vanete Thomaz Soccol
- Universidade Federal do Paraná, Department of Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Molecular Biology Laboratory, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Hervé Rogez
- Centre for Valorisation of Amazonian Bioactive Compounds (CVACBA), Universidade Federal do Pará, Av. Perimetral da Ciência km 01, 66.095-780, Belém, Pará, Brazil.
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Labello Barbosa R, Dias VL, Lorosa ES, de Góes Costa E, Pereira KS, Gilioli R, Guaraldo AMA, Passos LAC. Virulence of Trypanosoma cruzi from vector and reservoir in in natura açaí pulp resulting in food-borne acute Chagas disease at Pará State, Brazil. Exp Parasitol 2019; 197:68-75. [DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2018.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Revised: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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9
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Schijman AG. Molecular diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi. Acta Trop 2018; 184:59-66. [PMID: 29476727 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.02.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Chagas disease, caused by the kinetoplastid protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, affects millions of people, most of them neglected populations. The different phases of the disease, the transmission mode and the high genetic variability of the parasite determine that molecular detection methods display different degree of success. Molecular diagnostic tests may be employed during epidemiological surveys of transmission, for early diagnosis of congenital transmission and acute infections due to oral transmission, transfusion or transplantation routes, reactivation due to immunosuppression and monitoring of treatment response in chronically infected patients receiving trypanocidal chemotherapy. This manuscript summarizes the most widely used molecular tools to detect T. cruzi infection in different epidemiological and clinical scenarios.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Hector Torres" (INGEBI-CONICET), Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Robertson LJ. Parasites in Food: From a Neglected Position to an Emerging Issue. ADVANCES IN FOOD AND NUTRITION RESEARCH 2018; 86:71-113. [PMID: 30077225 PMCID: PMC7129657 DOI: 10.1016/bs.afnr.2018.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Foodborne parasites have long been a neglected group of pathogens, as they often have insidious, chronic effects, rather than being acute diseases, and they are often associated with impoverished or marginalized populations. In addition, due to the long incubation period for most foodborne parasites, source attribution is often difficult, if not impossible. However, global trends have enabled foodborne parasites to emerge in different populations in new locations, transmitted through different food types, and sometimes with unexpected symptoms. This emergence of foodborne parasites has brought them into focus. In this chapter, six foodborne parasites are used as examples on emergence: Echinococcus multilocularis is spreading to new locations; Cryptosporidium spp. are beginning to be associated not only with water, but also with salads; Trypanosoma cruzi is being manifest with acute disease due to foodborne transmission, particularly transmitted with juices; Trichinella spp. have become less of a burden regarding transmission via pork in many countries, but now game animals are becoming a concern; anisakiasis is becoming a global problem as the world develops a taste for sushi, and similarly for opisthorchiasis, which is increasingly being associated with cholangiocarcinoma. However, the emergence of these foodborne parasites provides an incentive for increased efforts being made toward control. In this chapter, having described how the parasites are emerging from their neglected position, the focus turns toward control. In addition to considering control measures that may be applied to the specific parasites, an overview is provided of some of the organized collaborations, projects, and consortia, as well as some of their outputs, that have in focus the control of these emerging and important pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucy J Robertson
- Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway.
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Ferreira RTB, Cabral ML, Martins RS, Araujo PF, da Silva SA, Britto C, Branquinho MR, Cardarelli-Leite P, Moreira OC. Detection and genotyping of Trypanosoma cruzi from açai products commercialized in Rio de Janeiro and Pará, Brazil. Parasit Vectors 2018; 11:233. [PMID: 29636097 PMCID: PMC5894193 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-018-2699-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 02/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several cases of food-borne acute Chagas disease (ACD) have been reported in the Brazilian Amazon so far. Up to 2004, the occurrence of ACD by oral transmission, associated with food consumption, was rare. Recent cases of ACD in Brazil have been attributed to the consumption of juice from the açai palm containing reservoir animals or insect vectors waste, infected with Trypanosoma cruzi. This study aimed to determine the T. cruzi contamination rate and to genotype the parasite in food samples prepared from açai, which are commercialized in Rio de Janeiro and the Pará States in Brazil. METHODS The amplificability of DNA extracted from açai samples, and T. cruzi and Triatominae detection were performed by conventional PCR. Molecular characterization was done by multilocus PCR analysis, to determine the parasite discrete type units (DTUs) based on the size of PCR products in agarose gels, using the intergenic region of the spliced leader (SL), 24 Sα rDNA and nuclear fragment A10 as targets. RESULTS From the 140 samples of açai-based products analyzed, T. cruzi DNA was detected in 14 samples (10%); triatomine DNA was detected in one of these 14 samples. The parasite genotyping demonstrated that food samples containing açai showed a mixture of T. cruzi DTUs with TcIII, TcV and TcI prevailing. CONCLUSIONS In this study, the molecular detection and identification of T. cruzi from açai-based manufactured food samples, was performed for the first time. Although parasite DNA is a marker of possible contamination during food manufacturing, our findings do not indicate that açai is a source of Chagas disease via oral transmission per se, as live parasites were not investigated. Nevertheless, a molecular approach could be a powerful tool in the epidemiological investigation of outbreaks, supporting previous evidence that açai-based food can be contaminated with T. cruzi. Furthermore, both food quality control and assessment of good manufacturing practices involving açai-based products can be improved, assuring the safety of açai products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Luiza Cabral
- Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ronald Sodré Martins
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paula Finamore Araujo
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Alves da Silva
- Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Regina Branquinho
- Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paola Cardarelli-Leite
- Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Otacilio C. Moreira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Tefera T, Tysnes KR, Utaaker KS, Robertson LJ. Parasite contamination of berries: Risk, occurrence, and approaches for mitigation. Food Waterborne Parasitol 2018; 10:23-38. [PMID: 32095598 PMCID: PMC7033989 DOI: 10.1016/j.fawpar.2018.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 04/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Fresh fruits and vegetables, including berries, are essential components of a healthy diet and are relevant in the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Associations between diet and health are becoming an increasing focus of consumers, and, in response, consumption of fresh berries has been increasing rapidly in recent decades. However, increased consumption of berries may be associated with an increased risk of acquiring foodborne infections, including parasites. In this review, we describe how parasite contamination of berries may occur at several points on the farm-to-fork pathway, starting from the use of contaminated water for irrigation and pesticide application, and contact with animal and human faeces during cultivation, through contaminated harvesting equipment, and including unhygienic practices of berry pickers in the production field or others handling berries prior to consumption. Parasite transmission stages tend to be robust and therefore likely to survive from contamination in the field, through the various stages of harvesting, packaging, and sale, until consumption. We describe outbreaks of parasitic disease associated with consumption of berries - so far only described for Cyclospora and Trypanosoma cruzi, both of which are briefly introduced - but also show from survey data summarised in this review that sporadic infections or undetected outbreaks associated with contaminated berries may also occur. In addition, we describe methods for assessing whether berries are contaminated with parasite transmission stages, with emphasis on the challenges associated with analysing this particular matrix. Emphasis on current possibilities for mitigation and control are addressed; avoidance of contamination and implementation of good management practices and a hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) approach are essential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamirat Tefera
- Laboratory of Parasitology, Department of Food Safety and Infection Biology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Adamstuen Campus, P.O. Box 369 center, 0102 Oslo, Norway
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