[Epidemiological and etiological surveillance study of infectious diarrhea in Shanghai in 2013-2015]

Pathogenic Surveillance of Foodborne Illness-Related Diarrhea - Beijing Municipality, China, 2013-2023

What is already known about this topic?

Foodborne diseases present a significant public health concern, particularly in China, where they represent a significant food safety challenge. Currently, there is a need for a thorough and systematic analysis of the extended epidemiological patterns of foodborne diseases in Beijing Municipality.

What is added by this report?

Monitoring results show that Norovirus and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) are the most commonly identified foodborne diarrheal pathogens. Individuals aged 19-30 are at a higher risk of foodborne diarrhea in Beijing, with Salmonella infection being associated with fever symptoms.

What are the implications for public health practice?

This study analyzes 11 years of consecutive monitoring data to enhance understanding of the epidemiological and clinical features of foodborne diarrhea in Beijing. It aims to identify high-risk populations, assist in clinical pathogen identification and treatment, and support the development of tailored preventive strategies.

Absence of norovirus contamination in shellfish harvested and commercialized in the Northeast coast of Brazil

Norovirus (NoV) is the main cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide. Although NoV spreads mainly from person to person, it is estimated that a large proportion of NoV outbreaks are caused by foodborne transmission. Bivalve mollusks are one of the most important foods involved in NoV transmission to humans. Little is known about NoV prevalence in shellfish harvested and commercialized in Brazil. The aim of this study was to map, for the first time, the distribution of NoV contamination in oysters and mussels harvested and commercialized in the coast of Pernambuco state, northeast Brazil. A total of 380 mollusks (260 oysters and 120 mussels) were collected between February and August 2017 either directly from harvesting areas or obtained from beach vendors at 17 sites in Pernambuco. Samples were processed and tested for NoV contamination using a SYBR Green real-time PCR assay. All samples were negative for NoV GI or GII contamination, suggesting a low risk of NoV contamination from this food source during the study period. Additional surveys in different areas of the Brazilian coast are warranted to monitor the risk of NoV infection upon seafood consumption.

Prevalence of Enteropathogens in Outpatients with Acute Diarrhea from Urban and Rural Areas, Southeast China, 2010-2014

Acute diarrhea is an important public health issue. Here, we focused on the differences of enteropathogens in acute diarrhea between urban and rural areas in southeast China. Laboratory- and sentinel-based surveillance of acute diarrhea (≥ 3 loose or liquid stools/24 hours) was conducted at 16 hospitals. Fecal specimens were tested for bacterial (Aeromonas sp., Campylobacter sp., diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, Plesiomonas shigelloides, non-typhoidal Salmonella, Shigella sp., Vibrio sp., and Yersinia sp.) and viral (adenovirus, astrovirus, Norovirus, Rotavirus, and Sapovirus) pathogens. Descriptive statistics were used. Between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2014, 4,548 outpatients with acute diarrhea were enrolled (urban, n = 3,220; rural, n = 1,328). Pathogens were identified in 2,074 (45.6%) patients. Norovirus (25.7%), Vibrio parahaemolyticus (10.2%), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) (8.8%), group A Rotavirus (7.0%), and enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) (5.6%) were the most common pathogens. Enteropathogens were less common in urban than in rural areas (42.0% versus 54.4%, P < 0.001). In urban areas, EAEC and ETEC were more common in high-income than in middle-income regions. Interventions targeting the most common enteropathogens can substantially reduce the burden of acute diarrhea in southeast China.

Genotypic prevalence of norovirus GII in gastroenteritis outpatients in Shanghai from 2016 to 2018

BACKGROUND

With the help of an existing citywide comprehensive surveillance on gastroenteritis outpatients, although norovirus genogroup II (NoV GII) was tested routinely, its genotypes were never investigated systematically on a municipal level. This study aimed to understand the prevalence, major genotypes and evolutional trends of NoV GII in Shanghai during the period of 2016-2018, and to provide molecular bases for early warning for any potential NoV outbreaks.

METHODS

27 sentinel hospitals from all 16 districts were recruited by stratified probability proportional to size (PPS) method in Shanghai comprehensive diarrhea surveillance programme. Stool samples were collected and screened for NoV GII by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). For samples that were positive in qRT-PCR, conventional RT-PCR was performed to amplify the ORF1-ORF2 junction of NoV GII gene. Generated sequences were typed by RIVM online genotyping tool, and then strains of interest were analyzed phylogenetically using MEGA 6.0.

RESULTS

A total of 7883 stool samples were collected from diarrhea outpatients, among which 6474 were from adults and 1409 were from children. 13.66% (1077 cases) were screened positive in qRT-PCR for NoV GII, from which 71.96% (775 cases) were sequenced successfully. The top three genotypes were GII.Pe/GII.4 (37%), GII.P17/GII.17 (26%) and GII.P16/GII.2 (17%). While GII.Pe/GII.4 detection rate decreased significantly over the 3 years (from 48.4 to 20.9%); GII.P16/GII.2 appeared for the first time in October 2016 and rose rapidly to 27.0% in 2017, but fell back to 23.4% in 2018. Meanwhile there was a significant increase for both GII.P12/GII.3 and GII.P7/GII.6 recombinant genotypes detected in adult population in 2018. Phylogenic analysis revealed the existence of multiple gene clusters within both of these recombinant genotypes.

CONCLUSION

Unlike the alternating circulation of GII.4 and non-GII.4 NoV observed in 2016 or 2017, the genotype profile of NoV GII in 2018 was characterized by the co-prevalence of multiple recombinant genotypes. A recent increase in detection rate in less reported recombinant genotypes such as GII.P12/GII.3 and GII.P7/GII.6 among adult population calls for a continuing close monitoring on NoV GII genotypes in case of potential local outbreaks.