Estimating the burden of foodborne gastroenteritis due to nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica, Shigella and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in China

Estimating the health burden of foodborne gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Zhejiang province, China

As acute gastrointestinal (AGI) disease patients only sometimes seek medical care or submit stool samples for testing, and laboratories cannot detect or identify the pathogen, most cases of foodborne gastroenteritis still need to be identified through public health monitoring. We conducted a population survey and sentinel hospital surveillance to determine the burden of foodborne gastroenteritis caused by non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica (NTS) and Vibrio parahaemolyticus infection, from July 2018 to June 2019 in Zhejiang province, China, and a model for calculating disease burden established. Using the burden of illness pyramid model, we estimated that there were 140.3 cases of NTS infection and 136.2 cases of V. parahaemolyticus infection. We estimated annual incidence per 100,000 population in Zhejiang province as 236 (95% confidence interval [CI] 208-267) and 206 (95% CI 155-232) cases for foodborne NTS and V. parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis, respectively. The results show that AGI caused by these two pathogens constitutes a substantial burden in the Zhejiang population. The health burden of AGI estimations caused by NTS and V. parahaemolyticus in this study can serve as a strategic framework to direct policy and intervention.

Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review of Phenotypic and Genotypic Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Factors in Vibrio parahaemolyticus Isolated from Shrimp

This systematic review and meta-analysis investigates the prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, its virulence factors, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and its resistance determinants in shrimp. This study was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, to identify and select relevant peer-reviewed articles published between January 2020 and December 2022. The search strategy involved multiple online databases, including Google Scholar, PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Scopus. The inclusion criteria focused on studies that examined V. parahaemolyticus prevalence, virulence factors, and AMR in shrimp from farms to retail outlets. A total of 32 studies were analyzed, revealing a pooled estimate prevalence of V. parahaemolyticus in shrimp at 46.0%, with significant heterogeneity observed. Subgroup analysis highlighted varying prevalence rates across continents, emphasizing the need for further investigation. Virulence factor analysis identified thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and tdh-related hemolysin (trh) as the most common. Phenotypic AMR analysis indicated notable resistance to glycopeptides, nitrofurans, and beta-lactams. However, the correlation between antimicrobial usage in shrimp farming and observed resistance patterns was inconclusive. Funnel plots suggested potential publication bias, indicating a need for cautious interpretation of findings. This study underscores the urgency of coordinated efforts to address AMR in V. parahaemolyticus to safeguard public health and to ensure sustainable aquaculture practices.

Intestinal pathogens detected in cockroach species within different food-related environment in Pudong, China

Cockroaches are considered mechanical transmitters of infectious diseases, posing a threat to human health. This study assessed the potential of cockroaches in food-related environments to mechanically transmit intestinal pathogens. Cockroaches captured with traps were placed together into a low temperature refrigerator at - 80° for 2 h. Standard taxonomic keys and Fluorescent quantitative PCR techniques were applied for species identification and digestive tract etiological examination. A total of 360 cockroach traps were placed, with a positive rate of 20.8%, and 266 cockroaches were captured. In general, compared with other places and areas, the degree of infestation of cockroaches was more serious in catering places and kitchens. Blattella germanica were most found in catering places (40.2%), followed by Periplaneta fuliginosa in schools (22.2%). According to the life stage, among the 128 cockroach samples, 23 were positive for nymphs and 13 were positive for adults. There were statistically significant differences in the intestinal pathogen detection rates between nymphs and adults (P < 0.05). A total of eight intestinal pathogens were detected, and enterovirus infections were the main ones, with sapovirus being the most detected in Blattella germanica or nymph. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was the most frequently isolated bacterium. Blastocystis hominis had the highest isolation rate. In contrast, 12 diarrhoeal disease pathogens were isolated, and the viruses and bacteria with the highest frequencies were norovirus and E. coli, respectively; no parasites were found. Blattella germanica and Periplaneta fuliginosa in food-related environments can act as potential vectors for the spread of intestinal pathogens and may pose a significant threat to public health.

Clinical characteristics and influencing factors of infectious diarrhea in preschool children: An observational study

Infectious diarrhea is a common disease in preschool children, but the pathogenic species, origins, and influencing factors remain debatable. Therefore, more studies are required to solve these debatable topics. A number of 260 eligible preschool children diagnosed with infectious diarrhea in our hospital were enrolled in the infection group. Meanwhile, a number of 260 matched healthy children from the health center were enrolled in the control group. The pathogenic species and origins, the time of onset of infectious diarrhea in the infection group, demographic data, exposure history, hygiene habits, dietary habits, and other variables in both groups were initially collected from medical documents. In addition, a questionnaire was used to complete and confirm study variables through face-to-face or telephone interviews. Then, the univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used to screen the influencing factors of infectious diarrhea. Among 260 infected children, salmonella (15.77%), rotavirus (13.85%), shigella (11.54%), vibrio (10.38%), and norovirus (8.85%) were the top 5 common pathogens; January (13.85%), December (12.69%), August (12.31%), February (11.92%), and July (8.46%) were the top 5 frequent times of infectious diarrhea. The distribution of onset time for infectious diarrhea was commonly found in winter and summer, and the pathogens always originated from foods. The results of multivariate regression analysis showed that recent exposure to diarrhea, flies, and/or cockroaches indoors were the 2 risk factors for infectious diarrhea; Meanwhile, rotavirus vaccination, regular hand-washing, tableware disinfection, separate preparation of cooked and raw foods, and regular intake of lactobacillus products were the 5 protective factors for infectious diarrhea in preschool children. Infectious diarrhea has a diversity of pathogenic species, origins, and influencing factors in preschool children. Activities focusing on these influencing factors such as rotavirus vaccination, consumption of lactobacillus products, and other conventional factors would be beneficial to preschool children's health.