1
|
Lachmann R, Halbedel S, Lüth S, Holzer A, Adler M, Pietzka A, Al Dahouk S, Stark K, Flieger A, Kleta S, Wilking H. Invasive listeriosis outbreaks and salmon products: a genomic, epidemiological study. Emerg Microbes Infect 2022; 11:1308-1315. [PMID: 35380514 PMCID: PMC9132468 DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2063075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Invasive listeriosis, caused by Listeria (L.) monocytogenes, is a severe foodborne infection, especially for immunocompromised individuals. The aim of our investigation was the identification and analysis of listeriosis outbreaks in Germany with smoked and graved salmon products as the most likely source of infection using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and patient interviews. In a national surveillance programme, WGS was used for subtyping and core genome multi locus sequence typing (cgMLST) for cluster detection of L. monocytogenes isolates from listeriosis cases as well as food and environmental samples in Germany. Patient interviews were conducted to complement the molecular typing. We identified 22 independent listeriosis outbreaks occurring between 2010 and 2021 that were most likely associated with the consumption of smoked and graved salmon products. In Germany, 228 cases were identified, of 50 deaths (22%) reported 17 were confirmed to have died from listeriosis. Many of these 22 outbreaks were cross-border outbreaks with further cases in other countries. This report shows that smoked and graved salmon products contaminated with L. monocytogenes pose a serious risk for listeriosis infection in Germany. Interdisciplinary efforts including WGS and epidemiological investigations were essential to identifying the source of infection. Uncooked salmon products are high-risk foods frequently contaminated with L. monocytogenes. In order to minimize the risk of infection for consumers, food producers need to improve hygiene measures and reduce the entry of pathogens into food processing. Furthermore, susceptible individuals should be better informed of the risk of acquiring listeriosis from consuming smoked and graved salmon products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Raskit Lachmann
- FG35 Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sven Halbedel
- FG11 Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Consultant Laboratory for Listeria, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Stefanie Lüth
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Reference Laboratory for Listeria Monocytogenes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Alexandra Holzer
- FG35 Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marlen Adler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Reference Laboratory for Listeria Monocytogenes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ariane Pietzka
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Graz, Austria
| | - Sascha Al Dahouk
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Reference Laboratory for Listeria Monocytogenes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Klaus Stark
- FG35 Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| | - Antje Flieger
- FG11 Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella, Consultant Laboratory for Listeria, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Sylvia Kleta
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, National Reference Laboratory for Listeria Monocytogenes, Berlin, Germany
| | - Hendrik Wilking
- FG35 Division of Gastrointestinal Infections, Zoonoses and Tropical Infections, Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Use of a non-probabilistic online panel as a control group for case-control studies to investigate food and waterborne outbreaks in Lower Saxony, Germany. Epidemiol Infect 2022; 150:e53. [PMID: 34991764 PMCID: PMC8915193 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268821002594] [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] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Established methods of recruiting population controls for case–control studies in infectious disease outbreak investigations are resource- and time-intensive, and are often subject to bias. The online panel have recently gained interest as an easy and timely method to select controls. We examined the feasibility, suitability and reliability of using an online panel to select controls for case–control studies as part of investigations of diffuse food and waterborne outbreaks. In January 2019, we deployed a web survey by email to the 277 members of a non-probabilistic online panel in Lower Saxony, Germany. We questioned them on basic sociodemographic characteristics and eating habits. They were frequency matched to cases on sex and age. Their food exposures were compared to those of traditionally recruited controls of four historical case–controls studies, which successfully investigated food and waterborne outbreaks. We used logistic regressions to assess the association between the food exposures and the disease (odds ratios). The use of a control panel successfully led to the identification of the food items in three of the four historical outbreak investigations, and their recruitment benefitted from increased speed and limited costs. Timely outbreak investigations would enable rapidly implementing control measures. We recommend the further evaluation of using panellists as controls in parallel case–control studies and case–panel studies.
Collapse
|
3
|
Effect of a High Proportion of Rye in Compound Feed for Reduction of Salmonella Typhimurium in Experimentally Infected Young Pigs. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8111629. [PMID: 33105623 PMCID: PMC7690436 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8111629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 10/18/2020] [Accepted: 10/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Public health concerns and the potential for food-borne zoonotic transmission have made Salmonella a subject of surveillance programs in food-producing animals. Forty-two piglets (25 d of age and initially 7.48 kg) were used in a 28 d infection period to evaluate the effects of a high proportion of rye on reducing Salmonella Typhimurium. Piglets were divided into two diet groups: control diet (wheat 69%) and experimental diet (rye 69%). After a one-week adaptation period, all piglets were orally infected with Salmonella Typhimurium (107 log CFU/mL; 2mL/pig). Salmonella in fecal shedding were evaluated at day 1, 3, 5, 7 and then weekly after infection. At the end of the experimental period (at day 28 after infection), the piglets were euthanized to sample feces, cecal digesta contents and ileocecal lymph nodes to determine the bacterial counts of Salmonella. The results suggest that the bacterial counts in the experimental group fed rye diets showed evidence of reducing Salmonella fecal shedding from day 14 onwards and decreasing the number of Salmonella in cecal digesta. However, the translocation of Salmonella in ileocecal lymph nodes was not affected. Furthermore, feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion did not differ between the groups (p > 0.05).
Collapse
|