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Kaminski MD, Daiyega N, Magnuson M. A Review of the Resuspension of Radioactively Contaminated Particles by Vehicle and Pedestrian Traffic-Current Theory, Practice, Gaps, and Needs. HEALTH PHYSICS 2024; 126:216-240. [PMID: 38381971 DOI: 10.1097/hp.0000000000001797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
ABSTRACT The resuspension of radioactively contaminated particles in a built environment, such as from urban surfaces like foliage, building exteriors, and roadways, is described empirically by current plume and dosimetry models used for hazard assessment and long-term risk purposes. When applying these models to radiological contamination emergencies affecting urban areas, the accuracy of the results for recent contamination deposition is impacted in two main ways. First, the data supporting the underlying resuspension equations was acquired for open, quiescent conditions with no vehicle traffic or human activities, so it is not necessarily representative of the urban environment. Second, mechanical disturbance by winds in urban canyons and during emergency operations caused by vehicle traffic and human activities are not directly considered by the equations. Accordingly, plume and dosimetry models allow the user to input certain compensating values, but the models do not necessarily supply users instructions on what values to use. This manuscript reviews the available literature to comprehensively and consistently pool data for resuspension due to mechanically induced resuspension applicable to urban contamination. Because there are few studies that directly measured radioactive resuspension due to vehicles and pedestrians, this review novelly draws on a range of other studies involving non-radioactive particles, ranging from outdoor air pollution emissions to indoor allergen transport. The results lead to tabulated, recommended values for specific conditions in the emergency phase to help users of plume and dosimetry models maintain the conservativeness needed to properly capture the potential radiation dose posed by mechanically induced resuspension. These values are of benefit to model users until better data are available. The results also suggest the types of data that may result in improved plume and dose modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nico Daiyega
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
| | - Matthew Magnuson
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development/Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response/Homeland Security and Materials Management Division
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Siller P, Skopeck B, Rosen K, Bartel A, Friese A, Rösler U. Impact of air humidity on the tenacity of different agents in bioaerosols. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0297193. [PMID: 38277366 PMCID: PMC10817179 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0297193] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite the variety of pathogens that are transmitted via the airborne route, few data are available on factors that influence the tenacity of airborne pathogens. In order to better understand and thus control airborne infections, knowledge of these factors is important. In this study, three agents, S. aureus, G. stearothermophilus spores and the MS2 bacteriophage, were aerosolized at relative humidities (RH) varying between 30% and 70%. Air samples were then analyzed to determine the concentration of the agents. S. aureus was found to have significantly lower survival rate in the aerosol at RH above 60%. It showed the lowest recovery rates of the three agents, ranging from 0.13% at approximately 70% RH to 4.39% at 30% RH. G. stearothermophilus spores showed the highest tenacity with recovery rates ranging from 41.85% to 61.73% with little effect of RH. For the MS2 bacteriophage, a significantly lower tenacity in the aerosol was observed with a recovery rate of 4.24% for intermediate RH of approximately 50%. The results of this study confirm the significant influence of the RH on the tenacity of airborne microorganisms depending on the specific agent. These data show that the behavior of microorganism in bioaerosols is varies under different environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Siller
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research–TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Britta Skopeck
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research–TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Kerstin Rosen
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research–TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexander Bartel
- Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anika Friese
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research–TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Uwe Rösler
- Institute of Animal Hygiene and Environmental Health, Veterinary Centre for Resistance Research–TZR, School of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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Cooksey G, Slagley J, Cooper C, Lewis D, Helm A. Development of a methodology for the quantification of reaerosolization of a biological contaminate surrogate particle from a military uniform fabric. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:574-585. [PMID: 37582251 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2248209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
In a mass casualty medical evacuation after a bioaerosol (BA) dispersal event, a decontamination (DC) method is needed that can both decontaminate and prevent biological particle (BP) re-aerosolization (RA) of contaminated clothes. However, neither the efficacy of current DC methods nor the risk of BP RA is greatly explored in the existing literature. The goals of this study were to develop a repeatable method to quantify the RA of a biological contaminant off military uniform fabric swatches and to test the efficacy of one DC protocol (high-volume, low-pressure water) using 1 µm polystyrene latex (PSL) spheres as a surrogate. A four-step methodology was developed: contamination using a Collison Nebulizer; RA using a laboratory mixer and aerosol collection using an inhalable air sampler with a polyvinyl chloride filter; DC using a gravity-fed water shower; and quantification using ultraviolet microscopy via both visual and computer techniques. All results for uncontaminated control samples showed little to no presence of PSL sphere-like particles, while the contaminated experimental trials showed that RA was much lower after DC with water at the 99% confidence level (p-value = 0.0081). The water DC showed an average ∼73% reduction in particle RA, along with a change in air sampler filter deposition patterns from aerosol-like (before DC) to droplet-like (after DC). The fluorescent sphere contamination method for testing the DC residual risk of RA was repeatable and successful.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Cooksey
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeremy Slagley
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Casey Cooper
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Douglas Lewis
- Department of Applied Research Solutions, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Alisha Helm
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Dayton, Ohio, USA
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Hendricks K, Person MK, Bradley JS, Mongkolrattanothai T, Hupert N, Eichacker P, Friedlander AM, Bower WA. Clinical Features of Patients Hospitalized for All Routes of Anthrax, 1880-2018: A Systematic Review. Clin Infect Dis 2022; 75:S341-S353. [PMID: 36251560 PMCID: PMC9649428 DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciac534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anthrax is a toxin-mediated zoonotic disease caused by Bacillus anthracis, with a worldwide distribution recognized for millennia. Bacillus anthracis is considered a potential biowarfare agent. METHODS We completed a systematic review for clinical and demographic characteristics of adults and children hospitalized with anthrax (cutaneous, inhalation, ingestion, injection [from contaminated heroin], primary meningitis) abstracted from published case reports, case series, and line lists in English from 1880 through 2018, assessing treatment impact by type and severity of disease. We analyzed geographic distribution, route of infection, exposure to anthrax, and incubation period. RESULTS Data on 764 adults and 167 children were reviewed. Most cases reported for 1880 through 1915 were from Europe; those for 1916 through 1950 were from North America; and from 1951 on, cases were from Asia. Cutaneous was the most common form of anthrax for all populations. Since 1960, adult anthrax mortality has ranged from 31% for cutaneous to 90% for primary meningitis. Median incubation periods ranged from 1 day (interquartile range [IQR], 0-4) for injection to 7 days (IQR, 4-9) for inhalation anthrax. Most patients with inhalation anthrax developed pleural effusions and more than half with ingestion anthrax developed ascites. Treatment and critical care advances have improved survival for those with systemic symptoms, from approximately 30% in those untreated to approximately 70% in those receiving antimicrobials or antiserum/antitoxin. CONCLUSIONS This review provides an improved evidence base for both clinical care of individual anthrax patients and public health planning for wide-area aerosol releases of B. anthracis spores.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine Hendricks
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Marissa K Person
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - John S Bradley
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Thitipong Mongkolrattanothai
- Division of High Consequence Pathogens and Pathology, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, CDC Fellowship Program, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Nathaniel Hupert
- Departments of Population Health Sciences and of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Peter Eichacker
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Arthur M Friedlander
- US Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Frederick, Maryland, USA,Department of Medicine, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - William A Bower
- Correspondence: W. A. Bower, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, MS H24-12, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA ()
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Doughty DC, Hill SC, Mackowski DW. Viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 can be partially shielded from UV radiation when in particles generated by sneezing or coughing: Numerical simulations. JOURNAL OF QUANTITATIVE SPECTROSCOPY & RADIATIVE TRANSFER 2021; 262:107489. [PMID: 33518804 PMCID: PMC7836904 DOI: 10.1016/j.jqsrt.2020.107489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
UV radiation can inactivate viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. However, designing effective UV germicidal irradiation (UVGI) systems can be difficult because the effects of dried respiratory droplets and other fomites on UV light intensities are poorly understood. Numerical modeling of UV intensities inside virus-containing particles on surfaces can increase understanding of these possible reductions in UV intensity. We model UV intensities within spherical approximations of virions randomly positioned within spherical particles. The model virions and dried particles have sizes and optical properties to approximate SARS-CoV-2 and dried particles formed from respiratory droplets, respectively. In 1-, 5- and 9-µm diameter particles on a surface, illuminated by 260-nm UV light from a direction perpendicular to the surface, 0%, 10% and 18% (respectively) of simulated virions are exposed to intensities less than 1/100th of intensities in individually exposed virions (i.e., they are partially shielded). Even for 302-nm light (simulating sunlight), where absorption is small, 0% and 11% of virions in 1- and 9-µm particles have exposures 1/100th those of individually exposed virions. Shielding is small to negligible in sub-micron particles. Results show that shielding of virions in a particle can be reduced by illuminating a particle either from multiple widely separated incident directions, or by illuminating a particle rotating in air for a time sufficient to rotate through enough orientations. Because highly UV-reflective paints and surfaces can increase the angular ranges of illumination and the intensities within particles, they appear likely to be useful for reducing shielding of virions embedded within particles.
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Affiliation(s)
- David C Doughty
- US Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd., Adelphi, MD, USA
| | - Steven C Hill
- US Army DEVCOM Army Research Laboratory, 2800 Powder Mill Rd., Adelphi, MD, USA
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Mikelonis AM, Ratliff K, Youn S. Laboratory results and mathematical modeling of spore surface interactions in stormwater runoff. JOURNAL OF CONTAMINANT HYDROLOGY 2020; 235:103707. [PMID: 32916588 PMCID: PMC7704712 DOI: 10.1016/j.jconhyd.2020.103707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2019] [Revised: 08/25/2020] [Accepted: 08/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Development of numerical models to predict stormwater-mediated transport of pathogenic spores in the environment depends on an understanding of adhesion forces that dictate detachment after rain events. Zeta potential values were measured in the laboratory for Bacillus globigii and Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki, two common surrogates used to represent Bacillus anthracis, in synthetic baseline ultrapure water and laboratory prepared stormwater. Zeta potential curves were also determined for materials representative of urban infrastructure (concrete and asphalt). These data were used to predict the interaction energy between the spores and urban materials using Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) modeling. B. globigii and B. thuringiensis kurstaki sourced from Yakibou Inc., were found to have similar zeta potential curves, whereas spores sourced from the U.S. military's Dugway laboratory were found to diverge. In the ultrapure water, the modeling results use the laboratory data to demonstrate that the energy barriers between the spores and the urban materials were tunable through compression of the electrical double layer of the spores via changes of ionic strength and pH of the water. In the runoff water, charge neutralization dominated surface processes. The cations, metals, and natural organic matter (NOM) in the runoff water contributed to equalizing the zeta potential values for Dugway B. globigii and B. thuringiensis kurstaki, and drastically modified the surface of the concrete and asphalt. All DLVO energy curves using the runoff water were repulsive. The highest energy barrier predicted in this study was for Dugway B. globigii spores interacting with a concrete surface in runoff water, suggesting that this would be the most challenging combination to detach through water-based decontamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Mikelonis
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Homeland Security and Materials Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Katherine Ratliff
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Homeland Security and Materials Management Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Sungmin Youn
- Marshall University, Department of Civil Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Sciences, 1 John Marshall Drive, Huntington, WV 25755, United States
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Larimer C, Brann MR, Powell JD, Marshall MJ, Suter JD, Addleman RS. Rapid nondestructive measurement of bacterial cultures with 3D interferometric imaging. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8055. [PMID: 31147559 PMCID: PMC6542819 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-43839-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The agar culture plate has played a crucial role in bacteriology since the origins of the discipline and is a staple bioanalytical method for efforts ranging from research to standard clinical diagnostic tests. However, plating, inoculating, and waiting for microbes to develop colonies that are visible is time-consuming. In this work, we demonstrate white-light interferometry (WLI) as a practical tool for accelerated and improved measurement of bacterial cultures. High resolution WLI surface profile imaging was used for nondestructive characterization and counting of bacterial colonies on agar before they became visible to the naked eye. The three-dimensional (3D) morphology of Gram-negative (Pseudomonas fluorescens) and Gram-positive (Bacillus thuringiensis) bacterial species were monitored with WLI over time by collecting surface profiles of colonies on agar plates with high vertical resolution (3-5 nanometers) and large field of view (3-5 mm). This unique combination of sensitive vertical resolution and large field of view uniquely provided by WLI enables measurement of colony morphologies and nondestructive monitoring of hundreds of microcolonies. Individual bacteria were imaged within the first few hours after plating and colonies were accurately counted with results comparing favorably to counts made by traditional methods that require much longer wait times. Nondestructive imaging was used to track single cells multiplying into small colonies and the volume changes over time in these colonies were used to measure their growth rates. Based on the results herein, bioimaging with WLI was demonstrated as a novel rapid bacterial culture assay with several advantageous capabilities. Fast nondestructive counting of colony-forming units in a culture and simultaneous measurement of bacterial growth rates and colony morphology with this method may be beneficial in research and clinical applications where current methods are either too slow or are destructive.
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Affiliation(s)
- Curtis Larimer
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA
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Viegas C, Coggins AM, Faria T, Caetano LA, Gomes AQ, Sabino R, Verissimo C, Roberts N, Watterson D, MacGilchrist C, Fleming GTA. Fungal burden exposure assessment in podiatry clinics from Ireland. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2018; 28:167-177. [PMID: 29577752 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2018.1453053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
UNLABELLED Fungi are amongst the bioaerosols of most importance, as indicated by the growing interest in this field of research. The aim was to characterize the exposure to fungal burden in podiatry clinics using culture-based and molecular methods. METHODS Airborne fungi were collected using an impaction air sampler and surface samples were also performed. Fourteen air samples were collected for direct detection of fungal DNA from filamentous fungi and dermatophytes. Overall, 63.6 % of the evening samples and 46 % of the morning samples surpassed the threshold values (150 CFU/m3). Molecular detection, by real time PCR, of the target fungal species/strains (Aspergillus and Stachybotrys species) was negative for all samples collected. Trichophyton rubrum was detected by PCR analysis in one DNA sample collected on day six. Results suggest the use of both culture-based and molecular methodologies are desirable for a complete evaluation of fungal burden in this particular health care setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Viegas
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- b Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública , Universidade Nova de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Ann Marie Coggins
- c School of Physics , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland
| | - Tiago Faria
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- d Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares , Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Liliana Aranha Caetano
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- e Faculty of Pharmacy, Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa) , University of Lisbon , Lisbon , Portugal
| | - Anita Quintal Gomes
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- f Faculdade de Medicina de Lisboa , Instituto de Medicina Molecular , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Raquel Sabino
- a GIAS, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde de Lisboa , Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa , Lisbon , Portugal
- g Departamento de Doenças Infeciosas , Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Cristina Verissimo
- g Departamento de Doenças Infeciosas , Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge , Lisboa , Portugal
| | - Nigel Roberts
- h Discipline of Podiatric Medicine, School of Health Sciences , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland
| | - David Watterson
- h Discipline of Podiatric Medicine, School of Health Sciences , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland
- i CHO Area 2 , Galway , Ireland
| | - Claire MacGilchrist
- h Discipline of Podiatric Medicine, School of Health Sciences , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland
| | - Gerard T A Fleming
- j School of Natural Sciences , National University of Ireland , Galway , Ireland
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Bishop A, O'Sullivan C, Lane A, Butler Ellis M, Sellors W. Re-aerosolization ofBacillus thuringiensisspores from concrete and turf. Lett Appl Microbiol 2017; 64:364-369. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/26/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- A.H. Bishop
- School of Biological and Marine Sciences; University of Plymouth; Devon UK
- Dstl, Porton Down; Salisbury Wiltshire UK
| | | | - A. Lane
- Silsoe Spray Applications Unit; Silsoe Bedfordshire UK
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Van Leuken J, Swart A, Brandsma J, Terink W, Van de Kassteele J, Droogers P, Sauter F, Havelaar A, Van der Hoek W. Human Q fever incidence is associated to spatiotemporal environmental conditions. One Health 2016; 2:77-87. [PMID: 28616479 PMCID: PMC5441340 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2016.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2015] [Revised: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/14/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Airborne pathogenic transmission from sources to humans is characterised by atmospheric dispersion and influence of environmental conditions on deposition and reaerosolisation. We applied a One Health approach using human, veterinary and environmental data regarding the 2009 epidemic in The Netherlands, and investigated whether observed human Q fever incidence rates were correlated to environmental risk factors. We identified 158 putative sources (dairy goat and sheep farms) and included 2339 human cases. We performed a high-resolution (1 × 1 km) zero-inflated regression analysis to predict incidence rates by Coxiella burnetii concentration (using an atmospheric dispersion model and meteorological data), and environmental factors - including vegetation density, soil moisture, soil erosion sensitivity, and land use data - at a yearly and monthly time-resolution. With respect to the annual data, airborne concentration was the most important predictor variable (positively correlated to incidence rate), followed by vegetation density (negatively). The other variables were also important, but to a less extent. High erosion sensitive soils and the land-use fractions "city" and "forest" were positively correlated. Soil moisture and land-use "open nature" were negatively associated. The geographical prediction map identified the largest Q fever outbreak areas. The hazard map identified highest hazards in a livestock dense area. We conclude that environmental conditions are correlated to human Q fever incidence rate. Similar research with data from other outbreaks would be needed to more firmly establish our findings. This could lead to better estimations of the public health risk of a C. burnetii outbreak, and to more detailed and accurate hazard maps that could be used for spatial planning of livestock operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.P.G. Van Leuken
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - A.N. Swart
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - W. Terink
- Future Water, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - J. Van de Kassteele
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | | | - F. Sauter
- Environmental Safety (M&V), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - A.H. Havelaar
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Floriday, Gainesville, Florida, United States
| | - W. Van der Hoek
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control (CIb), National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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11
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King P, Pham LK, Waltz S, Sphar D, Yamamoto RT, Conrad D, Taplitz R, Torriani F, Forsyth RA. Longitudinal Metagenomic Analysis of Hospital Air Identifies Clinically Relevant Microbes. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0160124. [PMID: 27482891 PMCID: PMC4970769 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2016] [Accepted: 06/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
We describe the sampling of sixty-three uncultured hospital air samples collected over a six-month period and analysis using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. Our primary goals were to determine the longitudinal metagenomic variability of this environment, identify and characterize genomes of potential pathogens and determine whether they are atypical to the hospital airborne metagenome. Air samples were collected from eight locations which included patient wards, the main lobby and outside. The resulting DNA libraries produced 972 million sequences representing 51 gigabases. Hierarchical clustering of samples by the most abundant 50 microbial orders generated three major nodes which primarily clustered by type of location. Because the indoor locations were longitudinally consistent, episodic relative increases in microbial genomic signatures related to the opportunistic pathogens Aspergillus, Penicillium and Stenotrophomonas were identified as outliers at specific locations. Further analysis of microbial reads specific for Stenotrophomonas maltophilia indicated homology to a sequenced multi-drug resistant clinical strain and we observed broad sequence coverage of resistance genes. We demonstrate that a shotgun metagenomic sequencing approach can be used to characterize the resistance determinants of pathogen genomes that are uncharacteristic for an otherwise consistent hospital air microbial metagenomic profile.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula King
- FLIR Systems, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Singlera Genomics, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Long K. Pham
- FLIR Systems, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Shannon Waltz
- FLIR Systems, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Dan Sphar
- FLIR Systems, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | | | - Douglas Conrad
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary Medicine, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Randy Taplitz
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Clinical Epidemiology Unit, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - Francesca Torriani
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Prevention and Clinical Epidemiology Unit, UC San Diego Health System, San Diego, California, United States of America
| | - R. Allyn Forsyth
- FLIR Systems, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Singlera Genomics, Inc., La Jolla, California, United States of America
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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12
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Omotade TO, Bernhards RC, Klimko CP, Matthews ME, Hill AJ, Hunter MS, Webster WM, Bozue JA, Welkos SL, Cote CK. The impact of inducing germination of Bacillus anthracis and Bacillus thuringiensis spores on potential secondary decontamination strategies. J Appl Microbiol 2014; 117:1614-33. [PMID: 25196092 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2014] [Revised: 09/03/2014] [Accepted: 09/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Decontamination and remediation of a site contaminated by the accidental or intentional release of fully virulent Bacillus anthracis spores are difficult, costly and potentially damaging to the environment. Development of novel decontamination strategies that have minimal environmental impacts remains a high priority. Although ungerminated spores are amongst the most resilient organisms known, once exposed to germinants, the germinating spores, in some cases, become susceptible to antimicrobial environments. We evaluated the concept that once germinated, B. anthracis spores would be less hazardous and significantly easier to remediate than ungerminated dormant spores. METHODS AND RESULTS Through in vitro germination and sensitivity assays, we demonstrated that upon germination, B. anthracis Ames spores and Bacillus thuringiensis Al Hakam spores (serving as a surrogate for B. anthracis) become susceptible to environmental stressors. The majority of these germinated B. anthracis and B. thuringiensis spores were nonviable after exposure to a defined minimal germination-inducing solution for prolonged periods of time. Additionally, we examined the impact of potential secondary disinfectant strategies including bleach, hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde and artificial UV-A, UV-B and UV-C radiation, employed after a 60-min germination-induction step. Each secondary disinfectant employs a unique mechanism of killing; as a result, germination-induction strategies are better suited for some secondary disinfectants than others. CONCLUSIONS These results provide evidence that the deployment of an optimal combination strategy of germination-induction/secondary disinfection may be a promising aspect of wide-area decontamination following a B. anthracis contamination event. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY By inducing spores to germinate, our data confirm that the resulting cells exhibit sensitivities that can be leveraged when paired with certain decontamination measures. This increased susceptibility could be exploited to devise more efficient and safe decontamination measures and may obviate the need for more stringent methods that are currently in place.
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Affiliation(s)
- T O Omotade
- Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Frederick, MD, USA
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Jeong YS, Choi S, Chong E, Kim J, Kim SJ. Rapid detection of Bacillus
spore aerosol particles by direct in situ
analysis using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. Lett Appl Microbiol 2014; 59:177-83. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2013] [Revised: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Y.-S. Jeong
- CBR Defense Directorate; Agency for Defense Development (ADD); Daejeon Korea
| | - S. Choi
- CBR Defense Directorate; Agency for Defense Development (ADD); Daejeon Korea
| | - E. Chong
- CBR Defense Directorate; Agency for Defense Development (ADD); Daejeon Korea
| | - J.H. Kim
- CBR Defense Directorate; Agency for Defense Development (ADD); Daejeon Korea
| | - S.-J. Kim
- CBR Defense Directorate; Agency for Defense Development (ADD); Daejeon Korea
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14
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Garza AG, Van Cuyk SM, Brown MJ, Omberg KM. Detection of the urban release of a bacillus anthracis simulant by air sampling. Biosecur Bioterror 2014; 12:66-75. [PMID: 24697146 DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2013.0086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
In 2005 and 2009, the Pentagon Force Protection Agency (PFPA) staged deliberate releases of a commercially available organic pesticide containing Bacillus amyloliquefaciens to evaluate PFPA's biothreat response protocols. In concert with, but independent of, these releases, the Department of Homeland Security sponsored experiments to evaluate the efficacy of commonly employed air and surface sampling techniques for detection of an aerosolized biological agent. High-volume air samplers were placed in the expected downwind plume, and samples were collected before, during, and after the releases. Environmental surface and personal air samples were collected in the vicinity of the high-volume air samplers hours after the plume had dispersed. The results indicate it is feasible to detect the release of a biological agent in an urban area both during and after the release of a biological agent using high-volume air and environmental sampling techniques.
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15
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Omotade TO, Heffron JD, Klimko CP, Marchand CL, Miller LL, Halasahoris SA, Bozue JA, Welkos SL, Cote CK. D-cycloserine or similar physiochemical compounds may be uniquely suited for use in Bacillus anthracis spore decontamination strategies. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 115:1343-56. [PMID: 23927578 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/30/2013] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
AIMS As observed in the aftermath of the anthrax attacks of 2001, decontamination and remediation of a site contaminated by the accidental or intentional release of Bacillus anthracis spores is difficult, costly and potentially damaging to the environment. The identification of novel strategies that neutralize the threat of spores while minimizing environmental damage remains a high priority. We investigated the efficacy of d-cycloserine (DCS), an antibiotic and inhibitor of the spore-associated enzyme (alanine racemase) responsible for converting l-alanine to d-alanine, as a spore germination enhancer and antimicrobial agent. METHODS AND RESULTS We characterized the impact of DCS exposure on both germinating spores and vegetative cells of fully virulent B. anthracis by evaluating spore germination kinetics, determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) required to affect growth of the bacteria and performing macrophage viability assays. DCS enhanced germination induced by l-alanine and also efficiently killed the newly germinated spores. Furthermore, DCS proved nontoxic to macrophages at concentrations that provided protection from the killing effects of spores. Similar tests were conducted with Bacillus thuringiensis (subspecies kurstaki and Al Hakam) to determine its potential as a possible surrogate for B. anthracis field trials. Bacillus thuringiensis spores responded in a similar manner to B. anthracis spores when exposed to DCS. CONCLUSIONS These results further support that DCS augments the germination response of spores in the presence of l-alanine but also reveal that DCS is bactericidal towards germinating spores. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY DCS (or similar compounds) may be uniquely suited for use as part of decontamination strategies by augmenting the induction of spore germination and then rendering the germinated spores nonviable.
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Affiliation(s)
- T O Omotade
- Bacteriology Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRIID), Fort Detrick, Frederick, MD, USA
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