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Seelman SL, Whitney BM, Stokes EK, Elliot EL, Griswold T, Patel K, Bloodgood S, Jones JL, Cripe J, Cornell J, Luo Y, Williams DL, Boyle MM, Cahoon J, Brennan C, Wildey LM, Grover VM, Simonson S, Crosby AJ, Bazaco MC, Viazis S. An Outbreak Investigation of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Infections in the United States Linked to Crabmeat Imported from Venezuela: 2018. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2023; 20:123-131. [PMID: 37015074 PMCID: PMC10877672 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2022.0078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vibrio parahaemolyticus is the leading cause of seafood-related foodborne illness globally. In 2018, the U.S. federal, state, and local public health and regulatory partners investigated a multistate outbreak of V. parahaemolyticus infections linked to crabmeat that resulted in 26 ill people and nine hospitalizations. State and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) laboratories recovered V. parahaemolyticus, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes isolates from crabmeat samples collected from various points of distribution and conducted phylogenetic analyses of whole-genome sequencing data. Federal, state, and local partners conducted traceback investigations to determine the source of crabmeat. Multiple Venezuelan processors that supplied various brands of crabmeat were identified, but a sole firm was not confirmed as the source of the outbreak. Travel restrictions between the United States and Venezuela prevented FDA officials from conducting on-site inspections of cooked crabmeat processors. Based on investigation findings, partners developed public communications advising consumers not to eat crabmeat imported from Venezuela and placed potentially implicated firms on import alerts. While some challenges limited the scope of the investigation, epidemiologic, traceback, and laboratory evidence identified the contaminated food and country of origin, and contributed to public health and regulatory actions, preventing additional illnesses. This multistate outbreak illustrates the importance of adhering to appropriate food safety practices and regulations for imported seafood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sharon L. Seelman
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Brooke M. Whitney
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Erin K. Stokes
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Elisa L. Elliot
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Taylor Griswold
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Kane Patel
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Steven Bloodgood
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jessica L. Jones
- Gulf Coast Seafood Laboratory, Food and Drug Administration, Dauphin Island, Alabama, USA
| | - Jennifer Cripe
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Jason Cornell
- Office of the Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration, Silver Spring, Maryland, USA
| | - Yan Luo
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | | | | | - Jordan Cahoon
- Maryland Department of Health, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Christy Brennan
- Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Richmond, Virginia, USA
| | - Laura M. Wildey
- District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- National Environmental Health Association, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Victoria M. Grover
- District of Columbia Department of Health, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Sean Simonson
- Louisiana Department of Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Alvin J. Crosby
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Michael C. Bazaco
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Stelios Viazis
- Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
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Pereira E, Elliot EL, Singleton LS, Otto M, Tesfai A, Doyle M, Hawk H, Bloodgood S, Benner RA, Ross MP, Scott A, Kristof MC, Fox T, Bridgman B, Long N, Livsey K, Rubenstein A, Garner K, Nicholas D, Chuang Y, Viveiros B, Waggener C, Klontz K, Viazis S. An Outbreak Investigation of Scombrotoxin Fish Poisoning Illnesses in the United States Linked to Yellowfin Tuna Imported from Vietnam-2019. J Food Prot 2021; 84:962-972. [PMID: 33428741 DOI: 10.4315/jfp-20-456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Scombrotoxin fish poisoning (SFP) is caused by the ingestion of certain fish species with elevated concentrations of histamine due to decomposition. In fall 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was notified of 51 SFP cases including two hospitalizations from 11 states through the FDA consumer complaint system or directly from state partners. A case patient was defined as an individual who experienced a histamine-type reaction after consumption of tuna imported from Vietnam and an illness onset between 14 August and 24 November 2019. A traceback investigation was initiated at 19 points of service to identify a common tuna source. The FDA and state partners collected 34 product samples throughout the distribution chain, including from a case patient's home, points of service, distributors, and the port of entry. Samples were analyzed for histamine by sensory evaluation and/or chemical testing. Case patients reported exposure to tuna imported from Vietnam. The traceback investigation identified two Vietnamese manufacturers as the sources of the tuna. Twenty-nine samples were confirmed as decomposed by sensory evaluation and/or were positive for elevated histamine concentrations by chemical testing. Both Vietnamese companies were placed on an import alert. Seven U.S. companies and one Vietnamese company initiated voluntary recalls. The FDA released public communication naming the U.S. importers to help suppliers and distributors identify the product and effectuate the foreign company's recall. This SFP outbreak investigation highlights the complexities of the federal outbreak response, specifically related to imported food. Cultural considerations regarding imported foods should be addressed during outbreak responses when timing is critical. Collaboration with countries where confidentiality agreements are not in place can limit information sharing and the speed of public health responses. HIGHLIGHTS
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn Pereira
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Elisa L Elliot
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Lauren Shade Singleton
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Mark Otto
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Adiam Tesfai
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Matthew Doyle
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Heather Hawk
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Jefferson, Arkansas 72079
| | - Steven Bloodgood
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Ronald A Benner
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Dauphin Island, Alabama 36528
| | - Mary P Ross
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Allison Scott
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Rockville, Maryland 20857
| | - Matthew C Kristof
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Long Beach, California 90831
| | - Teresa Fox
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Brandon Bridgman
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Alameda, California 94502
| | - Nicholas Long
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Kimberly Livsey
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Regulatory Affairs, Atlanta, Georgia 30309
| | - Alister Rubenstein
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Commissioner, White Oak, Maryland 20993
| | - Kimberly Garner
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of the Commissioner, White Oak, Maryland 20993
| | - David Nicholas
- Bureau of Community Environmental Health and Food Protection, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York 12237
| | - Yayu Chuang
- Public Health Laboratory, New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, New York, New York 10016
| | - Brendalee Viveiros
- Center for Food Protection, Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island 02908; and
| | - Christopher Waggener
- Division of Consolidated Laboratory Services, Virginia Department of General Services, Richmond, Virginia 23219, USA
| | - Karl Klontz
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
| | - Stelios Viazis
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, College Park, Maryland 20740
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Abstract
Human listeriosis has been associated with consumption of food including seafood. Surveillance information on the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in seafood products is presented as a background for steps that are being taken to inform risk managers of risks associated with particular food products. United States policy for L. monocytogenes in food has been shaped by our increasing knowledge of the epidemiology of outbreaks and sporadic cases of human listeriosis, the potentially severe public health consequences, and the characteristics of the organism. A quantitative risk assessment of the scientific knowledge we have about the organism and the epidemiology of listeriosis should be the basis for changes in this policy. Risk assessment uses quantitative scientific and epidemiological information in a structured format to determine the risks associated with particular hazards. A quantitative risk assessment is being performed using currently available data by the US Food and Drug Administration, in collaboration with the US Food Safety and Inspection Service, to determine the risk of listeriosis from various foods, including seafood, for specific intervention methods, and for general and at-risk population groups. The questions being considered include those on level of consumption, epidemiology, dose response, and the virulence, biology, and ecology of the organism. Risk managers can use the resulting information to form a defendable science-based policy on L. monocytogenes in food.
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Affiliation(s)
- E L Elliot
- Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Washington, DC 20204, USA.
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Abstract
The use of indicator organisms for estuarine and coastal waters has been reviewed. The natural flora of the environment must be considered in selecting an indicator organism, but, more importantly, recent work which shows a viable but non-recoverable stage of pathogens entering the marine environment demonstrates that the conventional detection of indicator microorganisms is misleading, if not inaccurate. Results suggest that the newly developed epifluorescent/immunofluorescent direct detection of pathogens in the environment may be the most reliable method for determining public health hazards in marine and estuarine waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa L Elliot
- Fishery Industrial Technology Center, University of Alaska, Pouch K, Kodiak, AK 99615, USA
| | - Rita R Colwell
- Department to Microbiology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, U.S.A.,To whom correspondence should be addressed
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