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Henger CS, Straughan DJ, Xu CCY, Nightingale BR, Kretser HE, Burnham-Curtis MK, McAloose D, Seimon TA. A new multiplex qPCR assay to detect and differentiate big cat species in the illegal wildlife trade. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9796. [PMID: 37328525 PMCID: PMC10275956 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36776-z] [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: 03/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023] Open
Abstract
All species of big cats, including tigers, cheetahs, leopards, lions, snow leopards, and jaguars, are protected under the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This is due in large part to population declines resulting from anthropogenic factors, especially poaching and the unregulated and illegal trade in pelts, bones, teeth and other products that are derived from these iconic species. To enhance and scale up monitoring for big cat products in this trade, we created a rapid multiplex qPCR test that can identify and differentiate DNA from tiger (Panthera tigris), cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), leopard (Panthera pardus), lion (Panthera leo), snow leopard (Panthera uncia), and jaguar (Panthera onca) in wildlife products using melt curve analysis to identify each species by its unique melt peak temperature. Our results showed high PCR efficiency (> 90%), sensitivity (detection limit of 5 copies of DNA per PCR reaction) and specificity (no cross amplification between each of the 6 big cat species). When paired with a rapid (< 1 h) DNA extraction protocol that amplifies DNA from bone, teeth, and preserved skin, total test time is less than three hours. This test can be used as a screening method to improve our understanding of the scale and scope of the illegal trade in big cats and aid in the enforcement of international regulations that govern the trade in wildlife and wildlife products, both ultimately benefiting the conservation of these species worldwide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carol S Henger
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Dyan J Straughan
- OLE-National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ashland, OR, USA
| | - Charles C Y Xu
- Redpath Museum and Department of Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | | | - Heidi E Kretser
- Global Conservation Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Natural Resources and the Environment, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mary K Burnham-Curtis
- OLE-National Fish and Wildlife Forensic Laboratory, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Ashland, OR, USA
| | - Denise McAloose
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Tracie A Seimon
- Zoological Health Program, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, USA
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2
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Park HY, Lee K, Jung SC, Cho YS. Prevalent toxin types of Clostridium botulinum in South Korean cattle farms. Vet Anim Sci 2022; 15:100239. [PMID: 35243127 PMCID: PMC8885797 DOI: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
C. botulinum types B, C/D, and D are prevalent in South Korean cattle farms. Botulinum toxin type B is dominant in cow feeds in South Korean cattle farms. Botulinum toxin type D is dominant in cow feces in South Korean cattle farms.
Clostridium botulinum produces neurotoxic substrates that can cause fatal flaccid paralysis called botulism. These neurotoxins are classified into types A–G. Several botulism cases were recorded in 2012–2013 in the Gyeonggi province, South Korea. We assessed the distribution of C. botulinum types B, C, and D in several South Korean farms. A total of 184 samples collected in 2012–2013, including feces (n = 72), hay and silage (n = 50), soil (n = 26), water trough (n = 21), and stomach contents (n = 15), were subjected to multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to screen for types B, C, and D. Twenty-four samples tested PCR-positive as follows: type B (n = 11), type C/D (n = 4), and type D (n = 18). Eight of the 11 type B samples were detected in hay and silage. Sixteen of the 18 type D samples were detected in fecal and stomach content samples. PCR-positivity was observed in fecal (n = 9, 12.5%), hay and silage (n = 10, 20.0%), water trough (n = 2, 9.5%), and stomach content (n = 12, 80.0%) samples. Fourteen (42.4%) C. botulinum-positive samples were isolated from the PCR-positive samples (type B [n = 8], type C/D [n = 1], and type D [n = 5]). Our findings demonstrate that C. botulinum types B, C/D, and D were prevalent in South Korean cattle farms between 2012 and 2013.
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Lebrun S, Van Nieuwenhuysen T, Crèvecoeur S, Vanleyssem R, Thimister J, Denayer S, Jeuge S, Daube G, Clinquart A, Fremaux B. Influence of reduced levels or suppression of sodium nitrite on the outgrowth and toxinogenesis of psychrotrophic Clostridium botulinum Group II type B in cooked ham. Int J Food Microbiol 2020; 334:108853. [PMID: 32932195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2020.108853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Outgrowth and toxinogenesis of Clostridium botulinum Group II (non-proteolytic) type B were studied in cooked ham prepared with different NaNO2 (ranging from 0 to 80 mg/kg) and sodium chloride (NaCl, ranging from 12 to 19 g/kg) incorporation rates. Cured ground pork batters were inoculated with a cocktail of 3 strains of C. botulinum Group II type B at 3.5 log10 CFU/g, portioned and samples of 50 g were vacuum packed then cooked and cooled based on thermal processing employed by the meat processing industry. These cooked ham model samples were stored under reasonably foreseeable conditions of use and storage i.e. for 14 days at 4 °C, followed by a cold chain break for 1 h at 20 °C then up to 33 days at 8 °C. Storage times and temperatures were used to mimic those commonly encountered along the supply chain. Enumeration of C. botulinum and detection of the botulinum neurotoxin type B (BoNT/B) were performed in triplicate at different storage times. Under these experimental conditions, incorporation rates of NaNO2 ≥ 30 mg/kg prevented the outgrowth and toxinogenesis of C. botulinum Group II type B in the cooked ham model, regardless of the NaCl concentrations tested. In contrast, total removal of nitrite allowed outgrowth and toxin production during storage of the processed meat product. Results showed that the maximum ingoing amount of nitrite (i.e. 150 mg/kg) that may be added according to the EU legislation (Regulation (EC) No 1333/2008) can be reduced in cooked ham while still ensuring control of C. botulinum Group II type B. According to the multiple factors that could affect C. botulinum behavior in processing meat products, outgrowth and toxin production of C. botulinum should be evaluated on a case by case basis, depending on the recipe, manufacturing process, food matrix and storage conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lebrun
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium.
| | | | - S Crèvecoeur
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - R Vanleyssem
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - J Thimister
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - S Denayer
- Sciensano, Rue Juliette Wytsman 14, 1050 Ixelles, Belgium
| | - S Jeuge
- IFIP French Pork Research Institute, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 7, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - G Daube
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - A Clinquart
- University of Liège, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, FARAH, Quartier Vallée 2, Avenue de Cureghem 10 (B43b), 4000 Liège, Belgium
| | - B Fremaux
- IFIP French Pork Research Institute, Avenue du Général de Gaulle, 7, 94704 Maisons-Alfort, France
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Rasetti-Escargueil C, Lemichez E, Popoff MR. Public Health Risk Associated with Botulism as Foodborne Zoonoses. Toxins (Basel) 2019; 12:E17. [PMID: 31905908 PMCID: PMC7020394 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12010017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 12/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulism is a rare but severe neurological disease in man and animals that is caused by botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) produced by Clostridium botulinum and atypical strains from other Clostridium and non-Clostridium species. BoNTs are divided into more than seven toxinotypes based on neutralization with specific corresponding antisera, and each toxinotype is subdivided into subtypes according to amino acid sequence variations. Animal species show variable sensitivity to the different BoNT toxinotypes. Thereby, naturally acquired animal botulism is mainly due to BoNT/C, D and the mosaic variants CD and DC, BoNT/CD being more prevalent in birds and BoNT/DC in cattle, whereas human botulism is more frequently in the types A, B and E, and to a lower extent, F. Botulism is not a contagious disease, since there is no direct transmission from diseased animals or man to a healthy subject. Botulism occurs via the environment, notably from food contaminated with C. botulinum spores and preserved in conditions favorable for C. botulinum growth and toxin production. The high prevalence of botulism types C, D and variants DC and CD in farmed and wild birds, and to a lower extent in cattle, raises the risk of transmission to human beings. However, human botulism is much rarer than animal botulism, and botulism types C and D are exceptional in humans. Only 15 cases or suspected cases of botulism type C and one outbreak of botulism type D have been reported in humans to date. In contrast, animal healthy carriers of C. botulinum group II, such as C. botulinum type E in fish of the northern hemisphere, and C. botulinum B4 in pigs, represent a more prevalent risk of botulism transmission to human subjects. Less common botulism types in animals but at risk of transmission to humans, can sporadically be observed, such as botulism type E in farmed chickens in France (1998-2002), botulism type B in cattle in The Netherlands (1977-1979), botulism types A and B in horses, or botulism type A in dairy cows (Egypt, 1976). In most cases, human and animal botulisms have distinct origins, and cross transmissions between animals and human beings are rather rare, accidental events. But, due to the severity of this disease, human and animal botulism requires a careful surveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michel R. Popoff
- Institut Pasteur, Département de Microbiologie, Unité des Toxines Bactériennes, CNRS ERL6002, 75724 Paris, France; (C.R.-E.); (E.L.)
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5
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Le Maréchal C, Druilhe C, Repérant E, Boscher E, Rouxel S, Le Roux S, Poëzévara T, Ziebal C, Houdayer C, Nagard B, Barbut F, Pourcher AM, Denis M. Evaluation of the occurrence of sporulating and nonsporulating pathogenic bacteria in manure and in digestate of five agricultural biogas plants. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e872. [PMID: 31568706 PMCID: PMC6813454 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The number of agricultural biogas plants has been increasing in the past decades in some European countries. Digestates obtained after anaerobic digestion (AD) of manure are usually spread on agricultural land; however, their hygiene status regarding pathogens posing public health and/or animal health challenges has been poorly characterized up to now in France. In this study, three replicates of manure and digestate were collected from five farm biogas plants receiving animal manure in order to assess the occurrence and concentrations of sporulating (Clostridium botulinum, Clostridioides difficile, Clostridium perfringens) and nonsporulating (Listeria monocytogenes, thermotolerant Campylobacter spp., Salmonella, Escherichia coli, enterococci) bacteria. Concentrations of E. coli, enterococci, and C. perfringens in digestates ranged from 102 to 104, 104 to 105, and <103 to 7 × 105 CFU/g, respectively. Salmonella and C. difficile were detected in manure and digestate from the five biogas plants at concentrations ranging from <1.3 to >7 × 102 MPN/g and from 1.3 to 3 × 102 MPN/g, respectively. Thermotolerant Campylobacter, detected in all the manures, was only found in two digestates at a concentration of cells ranging from <10 to 2.6 × 102 CFU/g. Listeria monocytogenes and C. botulinum were detected in three manures and four digestates. The bacterial counts of L. monocytogenes and C. botulinum did not exceed 3 × 102 and 14 MPN/g, respectively. C. botulinum type B was detected at very low level in both the manure and digestate of farm biogas plants with no botulism history. The levels of pathogenic bacteria in both manure and digestate suggested that some bacteria can persist throughout AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Le Maréchal
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Céline Druilhe
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Elisabeth Repérant
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Evelyne Boscher
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Sandra Rouxel
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Sophie Le Roux
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Typhaine Poëzévara
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Christine Ziebal
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Catherine Houdayer
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Bérengère Nagard
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
| | - Frédéric Barbut
- National Reference Laboratory for Clostridioides difficile, Saint-Antoine Hospital, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Marie Pourcher
- OPAALE Research Unit (Optimization of Processes in Agriculture, Agri-Food and Environment), IRSTEA, Bretagne-Loire University, Rennes, France
| | - Martine Denis
- ANSES, Ploufragan-Plouzané Laboratory, Hygiene and Quality of Poultry and Pig Products Unit, Bretagne-Loire University, Ploufragan, France
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Poulain B, Popoff MR. Why Are Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Bacteria So Diverse and Botulinum Neurotoxins So Toxic? Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:toxins11010034. [PMID: 30641949 PMCID: PMC6357194 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11010034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Revised: 01/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are the most lethal toxins among all bacterial, animal, plant and chemical poisonous compounds. Although a great effort has been made to understand their mode of action, some questions are still open. Why, and for what benefit, have environmental bacteria that accidentally interact with their host engineered so diverse and so specific toxins targeting one of the most specialized physiological processes, the neuroexocytosis of higher organisms? The extreme potency of BoNT does not result from only one hyperactive step, but in contrast to other potent lethal toxins, from multi-step activity. The cumulative effects of the different steps, each having a limited effect, make BoNTs the most potent lethal toxins. This is a unique mode of evolution of a toxic compound, the high potency of which results from multiple steps driven by unknown selection pressure, targeting one of the most critical physiological process of higher organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernard Poulain
- Institut des Neurosciences Cellulaires et Intégratives, (INCI)-CNRS, UPR 3212 Strasbourg, France.
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Phage-mediated dissemination of virulence factors in pathogenic bacteria facilitated by antibiotic growth promoters in animals: a perspective. Anim Health Res Rev 2017; 18:160-166. [DOI: 10.1017/s1466252317000147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
AbstractAddition of sub-therapeutic antibiotics to the feed of food-producing animals for growth promotion and disease prevention has become a common agricultural practice in many countries. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens is a looming concern associated with the use of antibiotic growth promoters (AGPs) around the world. In addition, some studies have shown that AGPs may not only affect antibiotic resistance but may also stimulate the dissemination of virulence factors via bacteriophages. Although only a few studies are currently available in the literature regarding this topic, in this article we endeavor to provide a perspective about how AGPs would impact the transmission of virulence factors by horizontal gene transfer via phages in a few pathogenic bacterial species significant to livestock production.
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Mazuet C, Legeay C, Sautereau J, Ma L, Bouchier C, Bouvet P, Popoff MR. Diversity of Group I and II Clostridium botulinum Strains from France Including Recently Identified Subtypes. Genome Biol Evol 2016; 8:1643-60. [PMID: 27189984 PMCID: PMC4943176 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evw101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2016] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
In France, human botulism is mainly food-borne intoxication, whereas infant botulism is rare. A total of 99 group I and II Clostridium botulinum strains including 59 type A (12 historical isolates [1947-1961], 43 from France [1986-2013], 3 from other countries, and 1 collection strain), 31 type B (3 historical, 23 recent isolates, 4 from other countries, and 1 collection strain), and 9 type E (5 historical, 3 isolates, and 1 collection strain) were investigated by botulinum locus gene sequencing and multilocus sequence typing analysis. Historical C. botulinum A strains mainly belonged to subtype A1 and sequence type (ST) 1, whereas recent strains exhibited a wide genetic diversity: subtype A1 in orfX or ha locus, A1(B), A1(F), A2, A2b2, A5(B2') A5(B3'), as well as the recently identified A7 and A8 subtypes, and were distributed into 25 STs. Clostridium botulinum A1(B) was the most frequent subtype from food-borne botulism and food. Group I C. botulinum type B in France were mainly subtype B2 (14 out of 20 historical and recent strains) and were divided into 19 STs. Food-borne botulism resulting from ham consumption during the recent period was due to group II C. botulinum B4. Type E botulism is rare in France, 5 historical and 1 recent strains were subtype E3. A subtype E12 was recently identified from an unusual ham contamination. Clostridium botulinum strains from human botulism in France showed a wide genetic diversity and seems to result not from a single evolutionary lineage but from multiple and independent genetic rearrangements.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christine Legeay
- Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Jean Sautereau
- Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Laurence Ma
- Plateforme Genomique-Pôle Biomics, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | | | - Philippe Bouvet
- Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
| | - Michel R Popoff
- Bactéries Anaérobies et Toxines, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France
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Fachmann M, Josefsen M, Hoorfar J, Nielsen M, Löfström C. Cost-effective optimization of real-time PCR-based detection of Campylobacter
and Salmonella
with inhibitor tolerant DNA polymerases. J Appl Microbiol 2015; 119:1391-402. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M.S.R. Fachmann
- Division of Microbiology and Production; National Food Institute; Technical University of Denmark; Søborg Denmark
| | - M.H. Josefsen
- Division of Microbiology and Production; National Food Institute; Technical University of Denmark; Søborg Denmark
| | - J. Hoorfar
- Division of Microbiology and Production; National Food Institute; Technical University of Denmark; Søborg Denmark
| | - M.T. Nielsen
- Division of Microbiology and Production; National Food Institute; Technical University of Denmark; Søborg Denmark
| | - C. Löfström
- Division of Microbiology and Production; National Food Institute; Technical University of Denmark; Søborg Denmark
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Fröschle B, Messelhäusser U, Höller C, Lebuhn M. Fate of Clostridium botulinum
and incidence of pathogenic clostridia in biogas processes. J Appl Microbiol 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/jam.12909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- B. Fröschle
- Department for Quality Assurance and Analytics; Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL); Freising Germany
| | - U. Messelhäusser
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL); Oberschleißheim Germany
| | - C. Höller
- Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority (LGL); Oberschleißheim Germany
| | - M. Lebuhn
- Department for Quality Assurance and Analytics; Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture (LfL); Freising Germany
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11
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Towards the production of reliable quantitative microbiological data for risk assessment: Direct quantification of Campylobacter in naturally infected chicken fecal samples using selective culture and real-time PCR. Food Control 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2015.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
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12
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Neuhaus J, Schrödl W, Shehata AA, Krüger M. Detection of Clostridium botulinum in liquid manure and biogas plant wastes. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2015; 60:451-6. [PMID: 25753763 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-015-0381-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2015] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Biogas plants have been considered as a source for possible amplification and distribution of pathogenic bacteria capable of causing severe infections in humans and animals. Manure and biogas wastes could be sources for spore-forming bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum. In the present study, 24 liquid manure and 84 biogas waste samples from dairies where the majority of the cows suffered from chronic botulism were investigated for the presence of botulinum neurotoxins (BoNT) and C. botulinum spores. The prevalence of BoNT/A, B, C, D, and E in biogas wastes was 16.6, 8.3, 10.7, 7.1, and 10.8 %, respectively, while in manure, the prevalence was 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 8.3, and 4.1 %, respectively. After enrichment of samples in reinforced cultural medium, they were tested for C. botulinum BoNT/A, B, C, D, and E using ELISA (indirect C. botulinum detection). The prevalence of C. botulinum type A, B, C, D, and E samples in biogas wastes was 20.2, 15.5, 19, 10.7, and 34.8 %, respectively, while the prevalence in liquid manure was 0.0, 0.0, 0.0, 8.3, and 12.5 %, respectively. In conclusion, the occurrence of BoNT and C. botulinum spores in biogas waste of diseased animals indicates an increased and underestimated hygienic risk. Application of digestates from biogas fermentations as fertilizers could lead to an accumulation of long lifespan spores in the environment and could be a possible health hazard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jürgen Neuhaus
- Institute of Bacteriology and Mycology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
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Fröschle B, Heiermann M, Lebuhn M, Messelhäusser U, Plöchl M. Hygiene and Sanitation in Biogas Plants. ADVANCES IN BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING/BIOTECHNOLOGY 2015; 151:63-99. [PMID: 26337844 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-21993-6_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The increasing number of agricultural biogas plants and higher amounts of digestate spread on agricultural land arouse a considerable interest in the hygiene situation of digested products. This chapter reviews the current knowledge on sanitation during anaerobic digestion and the hygienic status of digestate concerning a multitude of pathogens potentially compromising the health of humans, animals and plants. Physical, chemical and biological parameters influencing the efficiency of sanitation in anaerobic digestion are considered. The degree of germ reduction depends particularly on the resistance of the pathogen of concern, the processing conditions, the feedstock composition and the diligence of the operation management. Most scientific studies facing sanitation in biogas plants have provided data ascertaining reduction of pathogens by the biogas process. Some pathogens, however, are able to persist virtually unaffected due to the ability to build resistant permanent forms. As compared to the feedstock, the sanitary status of the digestate is thus improved or in the worst case, the sanitary quality remains almost unchanged. According to this, the spreading of digestate on agricultural area in accordance to current rules and best practice recommendations is considered to impose no additional risk for the health of humans, animals and plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca Fröschle
- Department for Quality Assurance and Analytics, Bavarian State Research Center for Agriculture, Lange Point 6, 85354, Freising, Germany,
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Farooq U, Latif A, Irshad H, Ullah A, Zahur AB, Naeem K, Khan SUH, Ahmed Z, Rodriguez LL, Smoliga G. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP): a new approach for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus and its sero-types in Pakistan. IRANIAN JOURNAL OF VETERINARY RESEARCH 2015; 16:331-334. [PMID: 27175198 PMCID: PMC4782670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 04/11/2015] [Accepted: 06/30/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Successful disease management requires a rapid and sensitive diagnosis method that can recognize early infection even before the manifestation of its clinical signs. The only available field diagnostic tests for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) are lateral flow devices, commonly known as chromatographic strips. Low sensitivity and inability to detect FMD virus (FMDV) at the serotype level are limitations of lateral flow devices. Therefore, a reverse transcriptase loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) was standardized using universal and sero-type specific genes in a single tube. This test does not require sophisticated equipment and can detect FMDV at serotype level in about 60 min. In addition, the sensitivity and specificity of this test is comparable to conventional reverse transcriptase PCR and real time PCR (rRT-PCR).
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Affiliation(s)
- U Farooq
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - A Latif
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - H Irshad
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - A Ullah
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - A. B Zahur
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - K Naeem
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - S. U. H Khan
- Animal Health Laboratories, Animal Sciences Institute, National Agricultural Research Centre, Islamabad, 45500, Pakistan
| | - Z Ahmed
- Plum Island Animal Disease Centre, Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, New York 11944, USA
| | - L. L Rodriguez
- Plum Island Animal Disease Centre, Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, New York 11944, USA
| | - G Smoliga
- Plum Island Animal Disease Centre, Foreign Animal Disease Research Unit, New York 11944, USA
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An atypical outbreak of food-borne botulism due to Clostridium botulinum types B and E from ham. J Clin Microbiol 2014; 53:722-6. [PMID: 25428161 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02942-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
An outbreak of human botulism was due to consumption of ham containing botulinum neurotoxins B and E. A Clostridium botulinum type E strain isolated from ham was assigned to a new subtype (E12) based on bont/E gene sequencing and belongs to a new multilocus sequence subtype, as analyzed by whole-genome sequencing.
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Woudstra C, Tevell Åberg A, Skarin H, Anniballi F, De Medici D, Bano L, Koene M, Löfström C, Hansen T, Hedeland M, Fach P. Animal botulism outcomes in the AniBioThreat project. Biosecur Bioterror 2014; 11 Suppl 1:S177-82. [PMID: 23971804 DOI: 10.1089/bsp.2012.0074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Botulism disease in both humans and animals is a worldwide concern. Botulinum neurotoxins produced by Clostridium botulinum and other Clostridium species are the most potent biological substances known and are responsible for flaccid paralysis leading to a high mortality rate. Clostridium botulinum and botulinum neurotoxins are considered potential weapons for bioterrorism and have been included in the Australia Group List of Biological Agents. In 2010 the European Commission (DG Justice, Freedom and Security) funded a 3-year project named AniBioThreat to improve the EU's capacity to counter animal bioterrorism threats. A detection portfolio with screening methods for botulism agents and incidents was needed to improve tracking and tracing of accidental and deliberate contamination of the feed and food chain with botulinum neurotoxins and other Clostridia. The complexity of this threat required acquiring new genetic information to better understand the diversity of these Clostridia and develop detection methods targeting both highly specific genetic markers of these Clostridia and the neurotoxins they are able to produce. Several European institutes participating in the AniBioThreat project collaborated on this program to achieve these objectives. Their scientific developments are discussed here.
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Yoon SY, Chung GT, Kang DH, Ryu C, Yoo CK, Seong WK. Application of Real-Time PCR for Quantitative Detection ofClostridium botulinumType A Toxin Gene in Food. Microbiol Immunol 2013; 49:505-11. [PMID: 15965297 DOI: 10.1111/j.1348-0421.2005.tb03755.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The TaqMan real-time PCR method for the quantitative detection of C. botulinum type A was developed based on sequence-specific hybridization probes. The validity of this assay was verified by using 10 genera of 20 strains, including reference strains of C. botulinum types A, B, C, D, E and F. The detection limit of this assay was evaluated on C. botulinum type A, using a 10-fold dilution series of DNA and spores . The DNA and spores were detected up to level of 0.1 ng/ml and 10(2)spores/ml, respectively. Spore spiked food sample preparation prior to the real-time PCR was performed by two methods, heat treatment and GuSCN. The detection limits after heat treatment showed 10(2) spores/ml for spiked sausage slurry, and 10(3) spores/ml for spiked canned corn slurry, while detection limits after GuSCN precipitation showed 10(2) spores/ml in both sausage and canned corn. Therefore the real-time PCR assay after GuSCN precipitation is useful for the quantification of C. botulinum type A because it showed identical CT values in both pure spore solutions and food slurries. We suggest that quantitative analysis of C. botulinum type A by TaqMan real-time PCR can be a rapid and accurate assessment method for botulinal risk in food samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- So-Yeon Yoon
- Research Center for Pathogen Control, Department of Bacteriology, National Institute of Health, 5-Nokbun-dong, Eunpyung-gu, Seoul, Korea
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Garcia AB, Kamara JN, Vigre H, Hoorfar J, Josefsen MH. Direct Quantification of Campylobacter jejuni in Chicken Fecal Samples Using Real-Time PCR: Evaluation of Six Rapid DNA Extraction Methods. FOOD ANAL METHOD 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s12161-013-9685-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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19
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Eikmeyer FG, Rademacher A, Hanreich A, Hennig M, Jaenicke S, Maus I, Wibberg D, Zakrzewski M, Pühler A, Klocke M, Schlüter A. Detailed analysis of metagenome datasets obtained from biogas-producing microbial communities residing in biogas reactors does not indicate the presence of putative pathogenic microorganisms. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2013; 6:49. [PMID: 23557021 PMCID: PMC3639179 DOI: 10.1186/1754-6834-6-49] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2012] [Accepted: 03/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In recent years biogas plants in Germany have been supposed to be involved in amplification and dissemination of pathogenic bacteria causing severe infections in humans and animals. In particular, biogas plants are discussed to contribute to the spreading of Escherichia coli infections in humans or chronic botulism in cattle caused by Clostridium botulinum. Metagenome datasets of microbial communities from an agricultural biogas plant as well as from anaerobic lab-scale digesters operating at different temperatures and conditions were analyzed for the presence of putative pathogenic bacteria and virulence determinants by various bioinformatic approaches. RESULTS All datasets featured a low abundance of reads that were taxonomically assigned to the genus Escherichia or further selected genera comprising pathogenic species. Higher numbers of reads were taxonomically assigned to the genus Clostridium. However, only very few sequences were predicted to originate from pathogenic clostridial species. Moreover, mapping of metagenome reads to complete genome sequences of selected pathogenic bacteria revealed that not the pathogenic species itself, but only species that are more or less related to pathogenic ones are present in the fermentation samples analyzed. Likewise, known virulence determinants could hardly be detected. Only a marginal number of reads showed similarity to sequences described in the Microbial Virulence Database MvirDB such as those encoding protein toxins, virulence proteins or antibiotic resistance determinants. CONCLUSIONS Findings of this first study of metagenomic sequence reads of biogas producing microbial communities suggest that the risk of dissemination of pathogenic bacteria by application of digestates from biogas fermentations as fertilizers is low, because obtained results do not indicate the presence of putative pathogenic microorganisms in the samples analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix G Eikmeyer
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
| | - Antje Rademacher
- Department Bioengineering, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Potsdam, D-14469, Germany
| | - Angelika Hanreich
- Department Bioengineering, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Potsdam, D-14469, Germany
| | - Magdalena Hennig
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
| | - Sebastian Jaenicke
- Computational Genomics, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, D-33594, Germany
| | - Irena Maus
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
| | - Daniel Wibberg
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
| | - Martha Zakrzewski
- Computational Genomics, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld, D-33594, Germany
| | - Alfred Pühler
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
| | - Michael Klocke
- Department Bioengineering, Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim, Potsdam, D-14469, Germany
| | - Andreas Schlüter
- Institute for Genome Research and Systems Biology, Center for Biotechnology, Bielefeld University, Bielefeld D-33594, Germany
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Rademacher A, Nolte C, Schönberg M, Klocke M. Temperature increases from 55 to 75 °C in a two-phase biogas reactor result in fundamental alterations within the bacterial and archaeal community structure. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2012; 96:565-76. [PMID: 22899497 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-012-4348-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2012] [Revised: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Agricultural biogas plants were operated in most cases below their optimal performance. An increase in the fermentation temperature and a spatial separation of hydrolysis/acetogenesis and methanogenesis are known strategies in improving and stabilizing biogas production. In this study, the dynamic variability of the bacterial and archaeal community was monitored within a two-phase leach bed biogas reactor supplied with rye silage and straw during a stepwise temperature increase from 55 to 75 °C within the leach bed reactor (LBR), using TRFLP analyses. To identify the terminal restriction fragments that were obtained, bacterial and archaeal 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed. Above 65 °C, the bacterial community structure changed from being Clostridiales-dominated toward being dominated by members of the Bacteroidales, Clostridiales, and Thermotogales orders. Simultaneously, several changes occurred, including a decrease in the total cell count, degradation rate, and biogas yield along with alterations in the intermediate production. A bioaugmentation with compost at 70 °C led to slight improvements in the reactor performance; these did not persist at 75 °C. However, the archaeal community within the downstream anaerobic filter reactor (AF), operated constantly at 55 °C, altered by the temperature increase in the LBR. At an LBR temperature of 55 °C, members of the Methanobacteriales order were prevalent in the AF, whereas at higher LBR temperatures Methanosarcinales prevailed. Altogether, the best performance of this two-phase reactor was achieved at an LBR temperature of below 65 °C, which indicates that this temperature range has a favorable effect on the microbial community responsible for the production of biogas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antje Rademacher
- Abteilung Bioverfahrenstechnik, Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik Potsdam-Bornim e.V. (ATB), Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469, Potsdam, Germany
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Keto-Timonen R, Lindström M, Puolanne E, Niemistö M, Korkeala H. Inhibition of toxigenesis of group II (nonproteolytic) Clostridium botulinum type B in meat products by using a reduced level of nitrite. J Food Prot 2012; 75:1346-9. [PMID: 22980023 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-12-056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The effect of three different concentrations of sodium nitrite (0, 75, and 120 mg/kg) on growth and toxigenesis of group II (nonproteolytic) Clostridium botulinum type B was studied in Finnish wiener-type sausage, bologna-type sausage, and cooked ham. A low level of inoculum (2.0 log CFU/g) was used for wiener-type sausage and bologna-type sausage, and both low (2.0 log CFU/g) and high (4.0 log CFU/g) levels were used for cooked ham. The products were formulated and processed under simulated commercial conditions and stored at 8°C for 5 weeks. C. botulinum counts were determined in five replicate samples of each nitrite concentration at 1, 3, and 5 weeks after thermal processing. All samples were positive for C. botulinum type B. The highest C. botulinum counts were detected in nitrite-free products. Toxigenesis was observed in nitrite-free products during storage, but products containing either 75 or 120 mg/kg nitrite remained nontoxic during the 5-week study period, suggesting that spores surviving the heat treatment were unable to germinate and develop into a toxic culture in the presence of nitrite. The results suggest that the safety of processed meat products with respect to group II C. botulinum type B can be maintained even with a reduced concentration (75 mg/kg) of sodium nitrite.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riikka Keto-Timonen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, P.O. Box 66, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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Scientific Opinion on On‐site treatment of pig carcasses. EFSA J 2011. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2011.2425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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23
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Origin of bacterial spores contaminating foods. Food Microbiol 2011; 28:177-82. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.07.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2010] [Revised: 07/07/2010] [Accepted: 07/08/2010] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Dohrmann AB, Baumert S, Klingebiel L, Weiland P, Tebbe CC. Bacterial community structure in experimental methanogenic bioreactors and search for pathogenic clostridia as community members. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2010; 89:1991-2004. [DOI: 10.1007/s00253-010-2955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Revised: 10/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/14/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Hill BJ, Skerry JC, Smith TJ, Arnon SS, Douek DC. Universal and specific quantitative detection of botulinum neurotoxin genes. BMC Microbiol 2010; 10:267. [PMID: 20961439 PMCID: PMC2973968 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-10-267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2010] [Accepted: 10/20/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridium botulinum, an obligate anaerobic spore-forming bacterium, produces seven antigenic variants of botulinum toxin that are distinguished serologically and termed "serotypes". Botulinum toxin blocks the release of acetylcholine at neuromuscular junctions resulting in flaccid paralysis. The potential lethality of the disease warrants a fast and accurate means of diagnosing suspected instances of food contamination or human intoxication. Currently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-accepted assay to detect and type botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) is the mouse protection bioassay. While specific and sensitive, this assay requires the use of laboratory animals, may take up to four days to achieve a diagnosis, and is unsuitable for high-throughput analysis. We report here a two-step PCR assay that identifies all toxin types, that achieves the specificity of the mouse bioassay while surpassing it in equivalent sensitivity, that has capability for high-throughput analysis, and that provides quantitative results within hours. The first step of our assay consists of a conventional PCR that detects the presence of C. botulinum regardless of the neurotoxin type. The second step uses quantitative PCR (qPCR) technology to determine the specific serotype of the neurotoxin. RESULTS We assayed purified C. botulinum DNA and crude toxin preparations, as well as food and stool from healthy individuals spiked with purified BoNT DNA, and one stool sample from a case of infant botulism for the presence of the NTNH gene, which is part of the BoNT gene cluster, and for the presence of serotype-specific BoNT genes. The PCR surpassed the mouse bioassay both in specificity and sensitivity, detecting positive signals in BoNT preparations containing well below the 1 LD50 required for detection via the mouse bioassay. These results were type-specific and we were reliably able to quantify as few as 10 genomic copies. CONCLUSIONS While other studies have reported conventional or quantitative PCR-based assays for the detection of C. botulinum genes, our procedure's high-throughput capability and its portability allows most laboratories to quickly assess the possible presence of BoNTs either in food processing samples or in suspected cases of botulism. Thus, this assay provides rapid and specific detection of BoNT and toxin complex genes and would enable the targeting of appropriate therapeutics to infected individuals in a timely manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenna J Hill
- Human Immunology Section, Vaccine Research Center, National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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Myllykoski J, Lindström M, Bekema E, Pölönen I, Korkeala H. Fur animal botulism hazard due to feed. Res Vet Sci 2010; 90:412-8. [PMID: 20663530 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2010.06.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2010] [Revised: 06/01/2010] [Accepted: 06/22/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
To assess the botulism hazard in fur animal feed production, 236 fur animal feed components and feed samples were analysed for Clostridium botulinum by detecting BoNT-encoding genes (botA, botB, botC, botE or botF) by PCR and for sulphite-reducing clostridia (SRC) by iron sulphite agar. The quality of the hazard analysis of critical control points (HACCP) -based in-house control system (IHCS) was evaluated with respect to botulism risk in feed plants (n=32). The overall prevalence of C. botulinum was 13% in different feed components and 5% in feed. The estimated MPN count of C. botulinum in feed components was 6.4 × 10(3)/kg at the highest and was shown to poorly correlate with SRC count. The critical control points in IHCSs were variable, and control limits were improperly set in most feed-producing plants. C. botulinum possesses a persistent safety hazard for fur animals by feed production, and control practices should be reassessed.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Myllykoski
- Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Finland.
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Bagge E, Persson M, Johansson KE. Diversity of spore-forming bacteria in cattle manure, slaughterhouse waste and samples from biogas plants. J Appl Microbiol 2010; 109:1549-65. [PMID: 20629803 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04790.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS As biowaste intended for biogas production can contain pathogenic micro-organisms, the recommended treatment is pasteurization at 70°C for 60min. This reduces pathogens such as Salmonella spp., whereas spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp.) survive. Most spore-forming bacteria are harmless, but some can cause diseases such as blackleg, botulism and anthrax. In this study, the effect of the biogas process on Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. was investigated. METHODS AND RESULTS We analysed 97 faecal samples, 20 slaughterhouse waste samples and 60 samples collected at different stages in the biogas process. Bacillus spp. and Clostridium spp. were quantified and subcultured. The isolates were identified by biochemical methods and by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Phylogenetic trees were constructed from the sequences obtained from isolates from the samples. Clostridium botulinum/Clostridium spp. and Clostridium sordellii were found both before and after pasteurization, but not after digestion (AD). Some of the isolated strains probably represented new members of the genera Clostridium and Bacillus. CONCLUSION After digestion, the numbers of clostridia decreased, but none of the pathogenic bacteria did, whereas Bacillus spp. remained constant during the process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Biogas is gaining in importance as an energy source and because the residues are used as fertilizers, we needed to study the prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in such material.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Bagge
- Department of Bacteriology, National Veterinary Institute, Uppsala, Sweden.
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Sakuma T, Kurosaki Y, Fujinami Y, Takizawa T, Yasuda J. Rapid and simple detection of Clostridium botulinum types A and B by loop-mediated isothermal amplification. J Appl Microbiol 2009; 106:1252-9. [PMID: 19187148 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2008.04084.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To develop a convenient and rapid detection method for toxigenic Clostridium botulinum types A and B using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method. METHODS AND RESULTS The LAMP primer sets for the type A or B botulinum neurotoxin gene, BoNT/A or BoNT/B, were designed. To determine the specificity of the LAMP assay, a total of 14 C. botulinum strains and 17 other Clostridium strains were tested. The assays for the BoNT/A or BoNT/B gene detected only type A or B C. botulinum strains, respectively, but not other types of C. botulinum or strains of other Clostridium species. Using purified chromosomal DNA, the sensitivity of LAMP for the BoNT/A or BoNT/B gene was 1 pg or 10 pg of DNA per assay, respectively. The assay times needed to detect 1 ng of DNA were only 23 and 22 min for types A and B, respectively. In food samples, the detection limit per reaction was one cell for type A and 10 cells for type B. CONCLUSIONS The LAMP is a sensitive, specific and rapid detection method for C. botulinum types A and B. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The LAMP assay would be useful for detection of C. botulinum in environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Sakuma
- First Department of Forensic Science, National Research Institute of Police Science, Kashiwa, Japan
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Type C bovine botulism outbreak due to carcass contaminated non-acidified silage. Epidemiol Infect 2008; 137:284-93. [PMID: 18606025 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268808000939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The first reported bovine botulism outbreak in Finland is described. Nine out of 90 cattle on a dairy farm died after being fed non-acidified silage contaminated by animal carcasses. Type C botulinum neurotoxin gene was detected in one heifer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the neurotoxin was detected by the mouse bioassay. Clostridium botulinum type C was isolated from liver samples. The isolated strain was identified with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis as group III C. botulinum. To our knowledge, this is the first time that a type C bovine botulism outbreak has been diagnosed by PCR and confirmed by subsequent isolation and AFLP identification of the disease strain. The importance of the acidification process in silage production to inhibit C. botulinum toxin production in silage and thus to prevent further botulism outbreaks is emphasized. Nevertheless, preformed toxin in the carcass is not destroyed by acid.
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Rådström P, Löfström C, Lövenklev M, Knutsson R, Wolffs P. Strategies for overcoming PCR inhibition. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 2008:pdb.top20. [PMID: 21356797 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTIONThe use of conventional and real-time PCR is to some extent restricted by the presence of PCR inhibitors. This is particularly so when the techniques are applied directly to complex biological samples such as clinical, environmental, or food samples for the detection of microorganisms. PCR inhibitors can originate from the sample itself, or as a result of the method used to collect or otherwise prepare the sample. Either way, inhibitors can dramatically reduce the sensitivity and amplification efficiency of PCR. This article discusses methods of reducing inhibition and designing reliable and sensitive conventional and real-time PCR experiments.
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Volland H, Lamourette P, Nevers MC, Mazuet C, Ezan E, Neuburger LM, Popoff M, Créminon C. A sensitive sandwich enzyme immunoassay for free or complexed Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin type A. J Immunol Methods 2008; 330:120-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jim.2007.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2007] [Revised: 10/17/2007] [Accepted: 11/14/2007] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Prévot V, Tweepenninckx F, Van Nerom E, Linden A, Content J, Kimpe A. Optimization of polymerase chain reaction for detection of Clostridium botulinum type C and D in bovine samples. Zoonoses Public Health 2007; 54:320-7. [PMID: 17894643 DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.01070.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. The economic, medical and alimentary consequences can be catastrophic in case of an epizooty. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assay was developed for the detection of C. botulinum toxigenic strains type C and D in bovine samples. This assay has proved to be less expensive, faster and simpler to use than the mouse bioassay, the current reference method for diagnosis of C. botulinum toxigenic strains. Three pairs of primers were designed, one for global detection of C. botulinum types C and D (primer pair Y), and two strain-specific pairs specifically designed for types C (primer pair VC) and D (primer pair VD). The PCR amplification conditions were optimized and evaluated on 13 bovine and two duck samples that had been previously tested by the mouse bioassay. In order to assess the impact of sample treatment, both DNA extracted from crude samples and three different enrichment broths (TYG, CMM, CMM followed by TYG) were tested. A 100% sensitivity was observed when samples were enriched for 5 days in CMM followed by 1 day in TYG broth. False-negative results were encountered when C. botulinum was screened for in crude samples. These findings indicate that the current PCR is a reliable method for the detection of C. botulinum toxigenic strains type C and D in bovine samples but only after proper enrichment in CMM and TYG broth.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Prévot
- Pasteur Institute of Brussels, Rue Engeland 642, B1180 Bruxelles, Belgium.
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Artin I, Björkman P, Cronqvist J, Rådström P, Holst E. First case of type E wound botulism diagnosed using real-time PCR. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:3589-94. [PMID: 17881556 PMCID: PMC2168498 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01192-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Wound botulism is a growing problem among injecting drug users. The condition is often difficult to diagnose, with laboratory confirmation in only 50% of the cases. Here we present a real-time PCR-based method for the diagnosis of wound botulism caused by Clostridium botulinum. The assay includes an internal amplification control which is amplified simultaneously with the genes encoding neurotoxin types A, B, and E. This method was used to detect the first case of wound botulism in an injecting drug user in Sweden. In addition, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of wound botulism caused by C. botulinum type E.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Artin
- Division of Medical Microbiology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, SE-223 62, Lund, Sweden
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Friedemann M. Enterobacter sakazakii in food and beverages (other than infant formula and milk powder). Int J Food Microbiol 2007; 116:1-10. [PMID: 17331606 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2006.12.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 209] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2006] [Revised: 12/28/2006] [Accepted: 12/29/2006] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The ubiqitous microorganism Enterobacter sakazakii is a rare contaminant of infant formula and may cause severe systemic infection in neonates. So far, other food is not known to cause E. sakazakii-infections. The scarce information about the ecology of E. sakazakii and the uncertainty concerning the source of infection in children and adults warrant a summary of the current knowledge about the presence of this opportunistic microorganism in food other than infant formula. This review systematizes publications on the presence of E. sakazakii in food and beverages until June 2006. Food other than infant formula has been rarely investigated for the presence of E. sakazakii. Nevertheless, this microorganism could be isolated from a wide spectrum of food and food ingredients. E. sakazakii was isolated from plant food and food ingredients like cereal, fruit and vegetables, legume products, herbs and spices as well as from animal food sources like milk, meat and fish and products made from these foods. The spectrum of E. sakazakii-contaminated food covers both raw and processed food. The kind of processing of E. sakazakii-contaminated food was not restricted to dry products. Fresh, frozen, ready-to-eat, fermented and cooked food products as well as beverages and water suitable for the preparation of food, were found to be contaminated by E. sakazakii. Although E. sakazakii-contaminated food do not have general public health significance, measures for prevention should consider the presence of E. sakazakii in food, food ingredients, their processing and preparation as possible source of contamination, colonization or infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Friedemann
- Bundesinstitut für Risikobewertung (BfR), Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Alt-Marienfelde 17-21, D-12277 Berlin, Germany.
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Abstract
Botulism is a potentially lethal paralytic disease caused by botulinum neurotoxin. Human pathogenic neurotoxins of types A, B, E, and F are produced by a diverse group of anaerobic spore-forming bacteria, including Clostridium botulinum groups I and II, Clostridium butyricum, and Clostridium baratii. The routine laboratory diagnostics of botulism is based on the detection of botulinum neurotoxin in the patient. Detection of toxin-producing clostridia in the patient and/or the vehicle confirms the diagnosis. The neurotoxin detection is based on the mouse lethality assay. Sensitive and rapid in vitro assays have been developed, but they have not yet been appropriately validated on clinical and food matrices. Culture methods for C. botulinum are poorly developed, and efficient isolation and identification tools are lacking. Molecular techniques targeted to the neurotoxin genes are ideal for the detection and identification of C. botulinum, but they do not detect biologically active neurotoxin and should not be used alone. Apart from rapid diagnosis, the laboratory diagnostics of botulism should aim at increasing our understanding of the epidemiology and prevention of the disease. Therefore, the toxin-producing organisms should be routinely isolated from the patient and the vehicle. The physiological group and genetic traits of the isolates should be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miia Lindström
- Department of Food and Environmental Hygiene, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 66, 00014 University of Helsinki, Finland.
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Gessler F, Hampe K, Böhnel H. Sensitive detection of botulinum neurotoxin types C and D with an immunoaffinity chromatographic column test. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 71:7897-903. [PMID: 16332765 PMCID: PMC1317484 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.12.7897-7903.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A sensitive and specific immunoassay for the simultaneous detection of Clostridium botulinum type C (BoNT/C) and type D neurotoxin was developed. Goat anti-mouse immunoglobulin G was bound to polyethylene disks in a small disposable column used for this assay. The sample was preincubated together with monoclonal antibodies specific for the heavy chain of BoNT/C and D and affinity-purified, biotinylated polyclonal antibodies against these neurotoxins. This complex was captured on the assay disk. Streptavidin-poly-horseradish peroxidase was used as a conjugate, and a precipitating substrate allowed the direct semiquantitative readout of the assay, if necessary. For a more accurate quantitative detection, the substrate can be eluted and measured in a photometer. Depending on the preincubation time, a sensitivity of 1 mouse lethal dose ml(-1) was achieved in culture supernatants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frank Gessler
- Institute for Applied Biotechnology in the Tropics, Kellnerweg 6, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.
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Sharkey FH, Dooley JS, Haylock RW. Quantitative effects of carbohydrates and aromatic amino acids on Clostridium botulinum toxin gene expression using a rapid competitive RT/PCR assay. J Mol Microbiol Biotechnol 2006; 9:35-43. [PMID: 16254444 DOI: 10.1159/000088144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
A rapid competitive RT/PCR assay was developed to determine the effects of nutrients on Clostridium botulinum type E toxin gene expression. The type E strain (EVH) was grown in a nutrient-rich broth containing 1% glucose (base medium). Toxin gene expression was quantified at both mid and late exponential phases of growth. It was found that toxin encoding mRNA levels were highly growth phase dependent with elevated levels found in late exponential phase compared to mid exponential phase. Changing the carbohydrate source had a smaller effect on toxin encoding mRNA levels but as earlier results have suggested, toxin encoding mRNA levels show a strong correlation with type E growth rate. The results have important implications for the food industry whereby risk of type E botulism could be correlated to the nutrient composition of the contaminated food or assessed from C. botulinum growth rates in challenged foodstuffs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Freddie H Sharkey
- MRC, Human Genetics Unit, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, Scotland
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Abstract
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become one of the most important tools in molecular diagnostics, providing exquisite sensitivity and specificity for detection of nucleic acid targets. Real-time monitoring of PCR has simplified and accelerated PCR laboratory procedures and has increased information obtained from specimens including routine quantification and differentiation of amplification products. Clinical diagnostic applications and uses of real-time PCR are growing exponentially, real-time PCR is rapidly replacing traditional PCR, and new diagnostic uses likely will emerge. This review analyzes the scope of present and potential future clinical diagnostic applications of this powerful technique. Critical discussions focus on basic concepts, variations, data analysis, instrument platforms, signal detection formats, sample collection, assay design, and execution of real-time PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
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Scarlatos A, Welt BA, Cooper BY, Archer D, DeMarse T, Chau KV. Methods for Detecting Botulinum Toxin with Applicability to Screening Foods Against Biological Terrorist Attacks. J Food Sci 2005. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2621.2005.tb11525.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Akbulut D, Grant KA, McLauchlin J. Development and application of Real-Time PCR assays to detect fragments of the Clostridium botulinum types A, B, and E neurotoxin genes for investigation of human foodborne and infant botulism. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2005; 1:247-57. [PMID: 15992287 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2004.1.247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Real-time PCR assays for detection of Clostridium botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) gene fragments specific to BoNTA, B, and E were developed as alternatives to the mouse bioassay. The expected specificities of the PCR assays were demonstrated by in silico analysis as well as empirical testing of target DNA extracted from 83 pure cultures of C. botulinum, and 44 bacteria from other species. The sensitivities of the assays were found to be equivalent to 16, 10, and 141 genomes for BoNT A, B, and E, respectively. The assays were shown to be applicable to both purified DNA, as well as crude DNA extracted from cultures and enrichment broths. The assays were evaluated using DNA extracted directly from clinical and food specimens as well as from inoculated broths using material collected from seven confirmed and one suspected case of botulism. The appropriate BoNT genes were detected in material from seven of the eight cases of botulism and provided a supportive diagnosis faster than the conventional bioassay. These assays have already proven useful for pubic health microbiological investigation of suspected cases of human botulism by substantially improving the diagnostic process.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Akbulut
- Food Safety Microbiology Laboratory, Health Protection Agency Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has become one of the most important tools in molecular diagnostics, providing exquisite sensitivity and specificity for detection of nucleic acid targets. Real-time monitoring of PCR has simplified and accelerated PCR laboratory procedures and has increased information obtained from specimens including routine quantification and differentiation of amplification products. Clinical diagnostic applications and uses of real-time PCR are growing exponentially, real-time PCR is rapidly replacing traditional PCR, and new diagnostic uses likely will emerge. This review analyzes the scope of present and potential future clinical diagnostic applications of this powerful technique. Critical discussions focus on basic concepts, variations, data analysis, instrument platforms, signal detection formats, sample collection, assay design, and execution of real-time PCR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bernhard Kaltenboeck
- Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA
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Lövenklev M, Artin I, Hagberg O, Borch E, Holst E, Rådström P. Quantitative interaction effects of carbon dioxide, sodium chloride, and sodium nitrite on neurotoxin gene expression in nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum type B. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004; 70:2928-34. [PMID: 15128553 PMCID: PMC404388 DOI: 10.1128/aem.70.5.2928-2934.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2003] [Accepted: 01/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The effects of carbon dioxide, sodium chloride, and sodium nitrite on type B botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/B) gene (cntB) expression in nonproteolytic Clostridium botulinum were investigated in a tryptone-peptone-yeast extract (TPY) medium. Various concentrations of these selected food preservatives were studied by using a complete factorial design in order to quantitatively study interaction effects, as well as main effects, on the following responses: lag phase duration (LPD), growth rate, relative cntB expression, and extracellular BoNT/B production. Multiple linear regression was used to set up six statistical models to quantify and predict these responses. All combinations of NaCl and NaNO(2) in the growth medium resulted in a prolonged lag phase duration and in a reduction in the specific growth rate. In contrast, the relative BoNT/B gene expression was unchanged, as determined by the cntB-specific quantitative reverse transcription-PCR method. This was confirmed when we measured the extracellular BoNT/B concentration by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CO(2) was found to have a major effect on gene expression when the cntB mRNA levels were monitored in the mid-exponential, late exponential, and late stationary growth phases. The expression of cntB relative to the expression of the 16S rRNA gene was stimulated by an elevated CO(2) concentration; the cntB mRNA level was fivefold greater in a 70% CO(2) atmosphere than in a 10% CO(2) atmosphere. These findings were also confirmed when we analyzed the extracellular BoNT/B concentration; we found that the concentrations were 27 ng x ml(-1). unit of optical density(-1) in the 10% CO(2) atmosphere and 126 ng x ml(-1). unit of optical density(-1) in the 70% CO(2) atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lövenklev
- Applied Microbiology, Lund Institute of Technology, Mathematical Statistics, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Lövenklev M, Holst E, Borch E, Rådström P. Relative neurotoxin gene expression in clostridium botulinum type B, determined using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004; 70:2919-27. [PMID: 15128552 PMCID: PMC404387 DOI: 10.1128/aem.70.5.2919-2927.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2003] [Accepted: 01/28/2004] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (qRT-PCR) method was developed to monitor the relative expression of the type B botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT/B) gene (cntB) in Clostridium botulinum. The levels of cntB mRNA in five type B strains were accurately monitored by using primers specific for cntB and for the reference gene encoding the 16S rRNA. The patterns and relative expression of cntB were different in the different strains. Except for one of the strains investigated, an increase in cntB expression was observed when the bacteria entered the early stationary growth phase. In the proteolytic strain C. botulinum ATCC 7949, the level of cntB mRNA was four- to fivefold higher than the corresponding levels in the other strains. This was confirmed when we quantified the production of extracellular BoNT/B by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and measured the toxicity of BoNT/B by a mouse bioassay. When the effect of exposure to air on cntB expression was investigated, no decline in the relative expression was observed in spite of an 83% reduction in the viable count based on the initial cell number. Instead, the level of cntB mRNA remained the same. When there was an increase in the sodium nitrite concentration, the bacteria needed a longer adjustment time in the medium before exponential growth occurred. In addition, there was a reduction in the expression of cntB compared to the expression of the 16S rRNA gene at higher sodium nitrite concentrations. This was most obvious in the late exponential growth phase, but at the highest sodium nitrite concentration investigated, 45 ppm, a one- to threefold decline in the cntB mRNA level was observed in all growth phases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Lövenklev
- Applied Microbiology, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund, Sweden
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Löfström C, Knutsson R, Axelsson CE, Rådström P. Rapid and specific detection of Salmonella spp. in animal feed samples by PCR after culture enrichment. Appl Environ Microbiol 2004; 70:69-75. [PMID: 14711627 PMCID: PMC321250 DOI: 10.1128/aem.70.1.69-75.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A PCR procedure has been developed for routine analysis of viable Salmonella spp. in feed samples. The objective was to develop a simple PCR-compatible enrichment procedure to enable DNA amplification without any sample pretreatment such as DNA extraction or cell lysis. PCR inhibition by 14 different feed samples and natural background flora was circumvented by the use of the DNA polymerase Tth. This DNA polymerase was found to exhibit a high level of resistance to PCR inhibitors present in these feed samples compared to DyNAzyme II, FastStart Taq, Platinum Taq, Pwo, rTth, Taq, and Tfl. The specificity of the Tth assay was confirmed by testing 101 Salmonella and 43 non-Salmonella strains isolated from feed and food samples. A sample preparation method based on culture enrichment in buffered peptone water and DNA amplification with Tth DNA polymerase was developed. The probability of detecting small numbers of salmonellae in feed, in the presence of natural background flora, was accurately determined and found to follow a logistic regression model. From this model, the probability of detecting 1 CFU per 25 g of feed in artificially contaminated soy samples was calculated and found to be 0.81. The PCR protocol was evaluated on 155 naturally contaminated feed samples and compared to an established culture-based method, NMKL-71. Eight percent of the samples were positive by PCR, compared with 3% with the conventional method. The reasons for the differences in sensitivity are discussed. Use of this method in the routine analysis of animal feed samples would improve safety in the food chain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotta Löfström
- Department of Applied Microbiology, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, SE-221 00 Lund. AnalyCen Nordic AB, SE-531 19 Lidköping, Sweden
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Dahlenborg M, Borch E, Rådström P. Prevalence of Clostridium botulinum types B, E and F in faecal samples from Swedish cattle. Int J Food Microbiol 2003; 82:105-10. [PMID: 12568750 DOI: 10.1016/s0168-1605(02)00255-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Faeces were collected from 60 cows at three slaughterhouses situated in southern and central Sweden. The faecal samples were collected during two sampling periods over the year, summer and winter. All samples were analysed for the presence of Clostridium botulinum spores, according to a combined selection and enrichment PCR procedure. One PCR assay was specific for part of the type B neurotoxin gene, while the other assay was specific for both type E and F neurotoxin genes. The prevalence of C. botulinum in Swedish cattle was established to be 73% for non-proteolytic type B and less than 5% for types E and F. Twenty-eight (64%) of the positive faecal samples had a spore load of less than 4 spores/g. Statistical analysis (ANOVA) showed that seasonal variation (summer and winter) had a significant effect on the prevalence of C. botulinum type B in cattle, whereas the effect of geographical location of rearing of the cattle (southern and central Sweden) was less significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Dahlenborg
- Applied Microbiology, Centre for Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Lund Institute of Technology, Lund University, P.O. Box 124, Sweden
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Borch E, Arinder P. Bacteriological safety issues in red meat and ready-to-eat meat products, as well as control measures. Meat Sci 2002; 62:381-90. [DOI: 10.1016/s0309-1740(02)00125-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2002] [Revised: 04/10/2002] [Accepted: 04/27/2002] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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