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Al Hakeem WG, Oladeinde A, Li X, Cho S, Kassem II, Rothrock MJ. Campylobacter Diversity Along the Farm-to-Fork Continuum of Pastured Poultry Flocks in the Southeastern United States. Zoonoses Public Health 2024. [PMID: 39358927 DOI: 10.1111/zph.13184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 08/01/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/04/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Consumer demand for pasture raised, antibiotic-free poultry products has led to an increase in pastured poultry operations within the United States. Given the level of environmental interaction and the potential increase in exposure to foodborne pathogens in these settings, a greater understanding of the prevalence and diversity of Campylobacter populations inherent within pastured poultry flocks is needed. METHODS To achieve this, 40 pastured poultry flocks from nine farms were sampled using a farm-to-fork strategy, and Campylobacter was isolated and characterised from preharvest (faeces, soil) through postharvest (caeca, whole carcass rinse) to the final product the consumer would purchase (whole carcass rinse). RESULTS Campylobacter was isolated from 872 of 1820 samples, showing an overall prevalence of 47.91%. The caeca showed the highest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (4.64 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (95.5%), while the final product whole carcass rinses had the lowest (p < 0.05) Campylobacter load (0.32 log10 CFU/mL) and prevalence (15.45%), suggesting that the Campylobacter load in the caeca may not be indicative of the Campylobacter load on the final product. Of the 872 positive samples, 337 Campylobacter isolates were selected for further characterisation. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli comprised 74.18% (250/337) and 21.95% (74/337) of the selected isolates respectively. While the Campylobacter isolates displayed resistance to several antibiotics, the most common resistance for both C. jejuni and C. coli was against tetracycline (55.86% and 70.31% respectively). Multidrug resistance phenotypes (≥ 3 antibiotic classes) were relatively low for both C. jejuni (2.80%) and C. coli (9.45%). CONCLUSIONS Campylobacter load, prevalence and diversity were more affected by farm location than by the type of sample from which the Campylobacter was isolated. Overall, these results indicated a need for farm-specific Campylobacter mitigation strategies to ensure the safety of these increasingly in-demand poultry products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walid G Al Hakeem
- Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, Georgia, USA
- US-DOE, Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Adelumola Oladeinde
- Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Xiang Li
- Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Sohyun Cho
- Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, Georgia, USA
| | - Issmat I Kassem
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Center for Food Safety, University of Georgia, Griffin, Georgia, USA
| | - Michael J Rothrock
- Egg & Poultry Production Safety Research Unit, USDA-ARS, US National Poultry Research Center, Athens, Georgia, USA
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Austhof E, Brown HE, White AE, Jervis RH, Weiss J, Shrum Davis S, Moore D, Pogreba-Brown K. Association between Precipitation Events, Drought, and Animal Operations with Campylobacter Infections in the Southwest United States, 2009-2021. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:97010. [PMID: 39298648 DOI: 10.1289/ehp14693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Weather variability is associated with enteric infections in people through a complex interaction of human, animal, and environmental factors. Although Campylobacter infections have been previously associated with precipitation and temperature, the association between precipitation and drought on campylobacteriosis has not been studied. OBJECTIVE Using data from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and counties in Utah, this ecological study aimed to assess the association between precipitation and the incidence of campylobacteriosis by county from 2009 to 2021 and to determine how this association is modified by prior drought level and animal operations. METHODS We merged 38,782 cases of campylobacteriosis reported in 127 counties with total precipitation (in inches), temperature (in average degrees Fahrenheit), Palmer Drought Severity Index (PDSI, category), and animal census data (presence, density per square mile) by week from 2009 to 2021. Negative binomial generalized estimating equations adjusted for temperature with a 3-wk lag were used to explore the association between precipitation on campylobacteriosis with resulting incidence rate ratios (IRRs). Stratified analyses explored the association with precipitation following antecedent drought, presence of farm operations, and animal density. RESULTS A 1-in (25.4 mm ) increase in precipitation was associated with a 3% increase in campylobacteriosis reported 3 wks later (IRR = 1.03; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.04) after adjusting for average temperature and PDSI. Compared with normal conditions, there were significantly more cases when precipitation followed antecedent extremely wet (IRR = 1.15; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.26), very wet (IRR = 1.09; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.18), moderately wet (IRR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.01, 1.12), moderate drought (IRR = 1.11; 95% CI: 1.07, 1.16), and severe drought (IRR = 1.06; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.11) conditions, whereas there were significantly fewer cases (IRR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.85, 0.94) for antecedent extreme drought. Compared to counties with no animal operations, counties with animal operations had significantly more cases following precipitation for every PDSI category except extreme drought. Counties with a higher density of beef cattle, goats for meat, chicken broilers, and chicken layers had significantly higher rates of campylobacteriosis following precipitation than those with no such operations, whereas those with dairy cattle and goats for milk, did not. DISCUSSION In this majority arid and semiarid environment, precipitation following prior wet conditions and moderate and severe drought were significantly associated with increased rates of campylobacteriosis, and only in prior extreme drought did rates decrease. Where the precipitation fell made a difference; after precipitation, counties with farm operations had significantly more cases compared to counties without farm operations. Further work should assess individual-level risk factors within environmental exposure pathways for Campylobacter. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP14693.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Austhof
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Heidi E Brown
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
| | - Alice E White
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Rachel H Jervis
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Joli Weiss
- Infectious Disease Control, Arizona Department of Health Services, Phoenix, Arizona, USA
| | - Sarah Shrum Davis
- Emerging Infections Program, Office of Community Health, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
| | - Delaney Moore
- Office of Communicable Diseases, Utah Department of Health and Human Services, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Kristen Pogreba-Brown
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona, USA
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Manchal N, Young MK, Castellanos ME, Leggat P, Adegboye O. A systematic review and meta-analysis of ambient temperature and precipitation with infections from five food-borne bacterial pathogens. Epidemiol Infect 2024; 152:e98. [PMID: 39168633 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268824000839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies on climate variables and food pathogens are either pathogen- or region-specific, necessitating a consolidated view on the subject. This study aims to systematically review all studies on the association of ambient temperature and precipitation on the incidence of gastroenteritis and bacteraemia from Salmonella, Shigella, Campylobacter, Vibrio, and Listeria species. PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science databases were searched up to 9 March 2023. We screened 3,204 articles for eligibility and included 83 studies in the review and three in the meta-analysis. Except for one study on Campylobacter, all showed a positive association between temperature and Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio sp., and Campylobacter gastroenteritis. Similarly, most of the included studies showed that precipitation was positively associated with these conditions. These positive associations were found regardless of the effect measure chosen. The pooled incidence rate ratio (IRR) for the three studies that included bacteraemia from Campylobacter and Salmonella sp. was 1.05 (95 per cent confidence interval (95% CI): 1.03, 1.06) for extreme temperature and 1.09 (95% CI: 0.99, 1.19) for extreme precipitation. If current climate trends continue, our findings suggest these pathogens would increase patient morbidity, the need for hospitalization, and prolonged antibiotic courses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naveen Manchal
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Megan K Young
- Metro North Public Health Unit, Metro North Hospital and Health Service, Brisbane, Australia
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Australia
- Faculty of Medicine, School of Public Health, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Maria Eugenia Castellanos
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vector-Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
| | - Peter Leggat
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vector-Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Oyelola Adegboye
- Public Health and Tropical Medicine, College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Vector-Borne and Neglected Tropical Diseases, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia
- Menzies School of Health Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
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Austhof E, Warner S, Helfrich K, Pogreba-Brown K, Brown HE, Klimentidis YC, Scallan Walter E, Jervis RH, White AE. Exploring the association of weather variability on Campylobacter - A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:118796. [PMID: 38582433 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous work has found climate change-induced weather variability is suspected to increase the transmission of enteric pathogens, including Campylobacter, a leading cause of bacterial gastroenteritis. While the relationship between extreme weather events and diarrheal diseases has been documented, the specific impact on Campylobacter infections remains underexplored. OBJECTIVE To synthesize the peer-reviewed literature exploring the effect of weather variability on Campylobacter infections in humans. METHODS The review included English language, peer-reviewed articles, published up to September 1, 2022 in PubMed, Embase, GEOBASE, Agriculture and Environmental Science Database, and CABI Global Health exploring the effect of an antecedent weather event on human enteric illness caused by Campylobacter (PROSPERO Protocol # 351884). We extracted study information including data sources, methods, summary measures, and effect sizes. Quality and weight of evidence reported was summarized and bias assessed for each article. RESULTS After screening 278 articles, 47 articles (34 studies, 13 outbreak reports) were included in the evidence synthesis. Antecedent weather events included precipitation (n = 35), temperature (n = 30), relative humidity (n = 7), sunshine (n = 6), and El Niño and La Niña (n = 3). Reviewed studies demonstrated that increases in precipitation and temperature were correlated with Campylobacter infections under specific conditions, whereas low relative humidity and sunshine were negatively correlated. Articles estimating the effect of animal operations (n = 15) found presence and density of animal operations were significantly associated with infections. However, most of the included articles did not assess confounding by seasonality, presence of animal operations, or describe estimates of risk. DISCUSSION This review explores what is known about the influence of weather events on Campylobacter and identifies previously underreported negative associations between low relative humidity and sunshine on Campylobacter infections. Future research should explore pathogen-specific estimates of risk, which can be used to influence public health strategies, improve source attribution and causal pathways, and project disease burden due to climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika Austhof
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA.
| | - Shaylee Warner
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kathryn Helfrich
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kristen Pogreba-Brown
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Heidi E Brown
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Yann C Klimentidis
- Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | | | - Rachel H Jervis
- Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver, CO, USA
| | - Alice E White
- Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, CO, USA
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Flores Y, Chaves A, Suzán G. Prediction of edapho-climatic parameters in the incidence of Campylobacter spp. in northwestern Mexico. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2024; 4:e0002812. [PMID: 38662656 PMCID: PMC11045143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Campylobacter spp. is one of the main causes of enteric zoonotic infections worldwide. In Mexico, although a commonly detected pathogen in both children and adults, there is limited surveillance and few studies. The northern part of Mexico stands out for an unnoticed outbreak of Campylobacter jejuni due to contaminated drinking water, which caused an abrupt increase in Guillain-Barré syndrome in the local population. Although it is suggested that its distribution in nature is related to edaphic and climatic factors, this relationship is scarcely known. To understand abiotic factors driving the occurrence and prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in three municipalities from three states in northwestern Mexico (Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California), we used the kriging interpolation method of unsampled areas and the correspondence analysis of 23 environmental variables. Of the three municipalities evaluated, Janos in Chihuahua (CHIH), has the highest number of geographic areas classified as high and medium incidence, followed by Santa Cruz, Sonora (SON) and Mexicali, Baja California (BC). Mexicali (BC) edaphic variables limit the potential incidence of the bacterium, mainly due to the lack of soil moisture and its difficulty of surviving on dry surfaces, related to electrical conductivity and salinity. Janos (CHIH) presents limitations in terms of soil water availability, although its presence is more heterogeneous (2 to 8 months). Santa Cruz (SON) has the highest soil water availability (4 to 5 months), and presents pH, texture and low percentage of salinity conditions for the potential incidence of Campylobacter spp. Mexicali (BC) reports a temperature in the warmest month of up to 43°C, which could influence the presence of thermophilic species. The annual precipitation is another limiting factor for the potential incidence of Campylobacter spp. since it does not exceed 509.5 mm, contributing to Janos (CHIH) as the municipality with the highest potential incidence of this bacterium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasiri Flores
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
| | - Andrea Chaves
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
- Escuela de Biología, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
| | - Gerardo Suzán
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, México City, México
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Mavrouli M, Mavroulis S, Lekkas E, Tsakris A. Infectious Diseases Associated with Hydrometeorological Hazards in Europe: Disaster Risk Reduction in the Context of the Climate Crisis and the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:10206. [PMID: 36011854 PMCID: PMC9408126 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191610206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2022] [Revised: 08/07/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hydrometeorological hazards comprise a wide range of events, mainly floods, storms, droughts, and temperature extremes. Floods account for the majority of the related disasters in both developed and developing countries. Flooding alters the natural balance of the environment and frequently establish a favorable habitat for pathogens and vectors to thrive. Diseases caused by pathogens that require vehicle transmission from host to host (waterborne) or a host/vector as part of their life cycle (vector-borne) are those most likely to be affected by flooding. Considering the most notable recent destructive floods events of July 2021 that affected several Central Europe countries, we conducted a systematic literature review in order to identify documented sporadic cases and outbreaks of infectious diseases in humans in Europe, where hydrometeorological hazards, mainly floods, were thought to have been involved. The occurrence of water-, rodent-, and vector-borne diseases in several European countries is highlighted, as flooding and the harsh post-flood conditions favor their emergence and transmission. In this context, strategies for prevention and management of infectious disease outbreaks in flood-prone and flood-affected areas are also proposed and comprise pre- and post-flood prevention measures, pre- and post-outbreak prevention measures, as well as mitigation actions when an infectious disease outbreak finally occurs. Emphasis is also placed on the collision of floods, flood-related infectious disease outbreaks, and the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, which may result in unprecedented multi-hazard conditions and requires a multi-hazard approach for the effective disaster management and risk reduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mavrouli
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
| | - Spyridon Mavroulis
- Department of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Efthymios Lekkas
- Department of Dynamic Tectonic Applied Geology, Faculty of Geology and Geoenvironment, School of Sciences, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 15784 Athens, Greece
| | - Athanassios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece
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Importance of the Farm Environment and Wildlife for Transmission of Campylobacter jejuni in A Pasture-Based Dairy Herd. Microorganisms 2020; 8:microorganisms8121877. [PMID: 33260888 PMCID: PMC7761079 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8121877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Cattle are an established reservoir of the foodborne bacterial pathogen Campylobacter jejuni. Our six-month study aimed to evaluate sources and pathways governing long-term presence of C. jejuni in a pasture-based dairy herd. C. jejuni was detected in all sample types (soil, pasture, stock drinking water, bird, rodents and cow faeces). It was persistently detected from cow (54%; 49/90 samples) and bird (36%; 77/211) faeces. Genetic comparison of 252 C. jejuni isolates identified 30 Multi-Locus Sequence Types (ST). ST-61 and ST-42 were persistent in the herd and accounted for 43% of the cow isolates. They were also detected on pasture collected from fields both recently and not recently grazed, indicating that grazed pasture is an important pathway and reservoir for horizontal transmission among cows. ST-61 accounted for 9% of the bird isolates and was detected at four of the six sampling events, suggesting that bird populations might contribute to the cycling of ruminant-adapted genotypes on-farm. Overall, the results indicated that management of grazed pasture and supplementary feed contaminated by bird droppings could be targeted to effectively reduce transmission of C. jejuni to dairy herds, the farm environment and ultimately to humans.
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Kuhn KG, Nygård KM, Guzman-Herrador B, Sunde LS, Rimhanen-Finne R, Trönnberg L, Jepsen MR, Ruuhela R, Wong WK, Ethelberg S. Campylobacter infections expected to increase due to climate change in Northern Europe. Sci Rep 2020; 10:13874. [PMID: 32807810 PMCID: PMC7431569 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-70593-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Global climate change is predicted to alter precipitation and temperature patterns across the world, affecting a range of infectious diseases and particularly foodborne infections such as Campylobacter. In this study, we used national surveillance data to analyse the relationship between climate and campylobacteriosis in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden and estimate the impact of climate changes on future disease patterns. We show that Campylobacter incidences are linked to increases in temperature and especially precipitation in the week before illness, suggesting a non-food transmission route. These four countries may experience a doubling of Campylobacter cases by the end of the 2080s, corresponding to around 6,000 excess cases per year caused only by climate changes. Considering the strong worldwide burden of campylobacteriosis, it is important to assess local and regional impacts of climate change in order to initiate timely public health management and adaptation strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Gaardbo Kuhn
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Karin Maria Nygård
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Bernardo Guzman-Herrador
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Linda Selje Sunde
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ruska Rimhanen-Finne
- Department of Health Security, National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Linda Trönnberg
- Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Reija Ruuhela
- Weather and Climate Change Impact Research, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Wai Kwok Wong
- Department of Hydrology, Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate, Oslo, Norway
| | - Steen Ethelberg
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Prevention, Statens Serum Institut, Artillerivej 5, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Global Health Section, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Elson R, Davies TM, Jenkins C, Vivancos R, O'Brien SJ, Lake IR. Application of kernel smoothing to estimate the spatio-temporal variation in risk of STEC O157 in England. Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol 2019; 32:100305. [PMID: 32007279 DOI: 10.1016/j.sste.2019.100305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 09/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Identifying geographical areas with significantly higher or lower rates of infectious diseases can provide important aetiological clues to inform the development of public health policy and interventions designed to reduce morbidity. We applied kernel smoothing to estimate the spatial and spatio-temporal variation in risk of STEC O157 infection in England between 2009 and 2015, and to explore differences between the residential locations of cases reporting travel and those not reporting travel. We provide evidence that the distribution of STEC O157 infection in England is non-uniform with respect to the distribution of the at-risk population; that the spatial distribution of the three main genetic lineages infecting humans (I, II and I/II) differs significantly and that the spatio-temporal risk is highly dynamic. Our results also indicate that cases of STEC O157 reporting travel within or outside the UK are more likely to live in the south/south-east of the country, meaning that their residential location may not reflect the location of exposure that led to their infection. We suggest that the observed variation in risk reflects exposure to sources of STEC O157 that are geographically prescribed. These differences may be related to a combination of changes in the strains circulating in the ruminant reservoir, animal movements (livestock, birds or wildlife) or the behavior of individuals prior to infection. Further work to identify the importance of behaviours and exposures reported by cases relative to residential location is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Elson
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections, United Kingdom; School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom.
| | - Tilman M Davies
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Claire Jenkins
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Vivancos
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, 61 Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5EQ, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J O'Brien
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections, United Kingdom; Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Iain R Lake
- National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Gastrointestinal Infections, United Kingdom; School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, United Kingdom
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Rushton SP, Sanderson RA, Diggle PJ, Shirley MDF, Blain AP, Lake I, Maas JA, Reid WDK, Hardstaff J, Williams N, Jones NR, Rigby D, Strachan NJC, Forbes KJ, Hunter PR, Humphrey TJ, O'Brien SJ. Climate, human behaviour or environment: individual-based modelling of Campylobacter seasonality and strategies to reduce disease burden. J Transl Med 2019; 17:34. [PMID: 30665426 PMCID: PMC6341592 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-019-1781-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background With over 800 million cases globally, campylobacteriosis is a major cause of food borne disease. In temperate climates incidence is highly seasonal but the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood, making human disease control difficult. We hypothesised that observed disease patterns reflect complex interactions between weather, patterns of human risk behaviour, immune status and level of food contamination. Only by understanding these can we find effective interventions. Methods We analysed trends in human Campylobacter cases in NE England from 2004 to 2009, investigating the associations between different risk factors and disease using time-series models. We then developed an individual-based (IB) model of risk behaviour, human immunological responses to infection and environmental contamination driven by weather and land use. We parameterised the IB model for NE England and compared outputs to observed numbers of reported cases each month in the population in 2004–2009. Finally, we used it to investigate different community level disease reduction strategies. Results Risk behaviours like countryside visits (t = 3.665, P < 0.001 and t = − 2.187, P = 0.029 for temperature and rainfall respectively), and consumption of barbecued food were strongly associated with weather, (t = 3.219, P = 0.002 and t = 2.015, P = 0.045 for weekly average temperature and average maximum temperature respectively) and also rain (t = 2.254, P = 0.02527). This suggests that the effect of weather was indirect, acting through changes in risk behaviour. The seasonal pattern of cases predicted by the IB model was significantly related to observed patterns (r = 0.72, P < 0.001) indicating that simulating risk behaviour could produce the observed seasonal patterns of cases. A vaccination strategy providing short-term immunity was more effective than educational interventions to modify human risk behaviour. Extending immunity to 1 year from 20 days reduced disease burden by an order of magnitude (from 2412–2414 to 203–309 cases per 50,000 person-years). Conclusions This is the first interdisciplinary study to integrate environment, risk behaviour, socio-demographics and immunology to model Campylobacter infection, including pathways to mitigation. We conclude that vaccination is likely to be the best route for intervening against campylobacteriosis despite the technical problems associated with understanding both the underlying human immunology and genetic variation in the pathogen, and the likely cost of vaccine development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen P Rushton
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy Research Group, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Roy A Sanderson
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy Research Group, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK.
| | - Peter J Diggle
- Lancaster Medical School, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YG, UK
| | - Mark D F Shirley
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy Research Group, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Alasdair P Blain
- Modelling, Evidence and Policy Research Group, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Iain Lake
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - James A Maas
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich 33, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - William D K Reid
- Ecology Research Group, School of Natural and Environmental Science, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Jo Hardstaff
- Institute of Psychology, Health and Society, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, L69 3BX, UK
| | - Nicola Williams
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, Liverpool University, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK
| | - Natalia R Jones
- School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich, NR4 7TJ, UK
| | - Daniel Rigby
- School of Social Sciences, The University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK
| | - Norval J C Strachan
- School of Natural and Computing Sciences/Food Standards Agency Scotland, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3FX, UK
| | - Ken J Forbes
- School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB25 2ZD, UK
| | - Paul R Hunter
- Norwich Medical School, University of East Anglia, Norwich 33, NR4 7TJ, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Sarah J O'Brien
- Institute of Infection and Global Health, Liverpool University, Liverpool, L69 7BE, UK.,NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Gastrointestinal Infections, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
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