hussni mohammed

Campylobacter spp. are among the ten top leading causes of foodborne diseases around the world and are capable of triggering severe gastroenteritis with potential for severe sequelae. Fresh camel milk is one of the most common hospitality gestures among certain cultures. We investigated the potential risk of illness from the consumption of camel milk contaminated with Campylobacter spp. in Qatar and identified critical intervention points that would contribute to mitigating its consequences. Quantitative risk assessment (QRA) methodology with a combination of deterministic and stochastic approaches was employed to address this objective. Data on the likelihood of either C. jejuni or C. coli in camel milk or in humans was obtained through repeat cross-sectional studies in these populations in Qatar. Estimates of the adverse health effects were computed using risk characterization which integrated data on the hazard, the probability of exposure, and dose-response models. Our analyses showed that the probability of illness for a healthy female from the consumption of camel milk contaminated with C. jejuni ranged from 5 x 10-3 to 24 x 10-2 depending on the amount of milk consumed. The risk of illness for males was higher (13 x 10-3 to 30 x 10-2). The estimates of illness were three times higher for immunocompromised females in comparison to healthy females. Immunocompromised males had a five-times higher risk of illness in comparison to healthy men. The computed risk of illness from consumption of camel milk contaminated with either C. jejuni or C. coli could be significantly mitigated by increasing the efficacy of sterilizing or pasteurization before serving.

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the risk of illness from the consumption of Mutton contaminated with Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Qatar and to highlight intervention points that would contribute to mitigating its associated risk. The quantitative risk assessment (QRA) methodology was employed to address this objective. Our approach consisted of a combination of deterministic and stochastic approaches. Data on the probability of E. coli O157:H7 in animals, animal products, retail, and humans were obtained through repeat cross-sectional studies. Estimates of the adverse health effects were computed using risk characterization which integrated data on hazard characterization and exposure assessment, including dose-response models. The probability of illness for a healthy female from the consumption of mutton contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 eating at a restaurant ranged from 7×10-3 to 28×10-2 depending on the amount of food consumed. However, the risk for the same female eating at home is less (5×10-3 to 24×10-2). The estimates of illness are three times higher for immunocompromised females exposed either at a restaurant or at home. The risk of illness due to this pathogen could be significantly reduced for either gender under different scenarios by increasing the efficacy of roasting the mutton before consumption.

Foodborne pathogens represent one of the major challenges to health systems around the world. This risk is exacerbated by the presence of antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) pathogens. Knowledge on the presence of these pathogens in the food supply chain would help in establishing intervention strategies to mitigate their risk. The objective of this study was to detect AMR among serotypes of Escherichia coli (E. coli) food adulterants serotypes of E. coli in the food supply chain and among isolates from gastroenteritis cases. E. coli isolates recovered form animals, meet processing plants, retail, and humans were examined for the presence of AMR using phenotypic and genotypic approaches. AMR to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, and tetracycline were detected in all isolates recovered from these sources at different levels. Similarly, presence of the bla-Tem, bla-SHV, aadA, and strAB genes were detected in isolates from these sources but there was no significant correlation between the genetic detection and phenotypic expression AMR.

Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) is a heterotrimeric AB-type genotoxin produced by several clinically important bacterial pathogens To better understand the risk of CDT within the food supply and human gastroenteritis patients in Qatar, we investigated the frequency of the CDT gene (cdtB) among Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains recovered from food products, animal livestock, and human gastroenteritis patients. In this cross-sectional study, E. coli isolates were screened for cdtB using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). cdtB positive strains were further examined for E. coli cdtB gene types (cdt I, cdt II, cdt III, cdt IV, and cdtV), serotypes O157: H7, and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. Screening for other virulent factors, stx (Shiga toxin gene) and eae (gene that encodes intimin) genes were also performed. The cdtB gene was detected in E. coli isolates sourced from all three groups; animal livestock (17%), retail foods (8%), and human gastroenteritis patients (3%). Although the incidence of cdtB gene harboring E. coli is relatively low among gastroenteritis patients, there is still a risk of infection from animal reservoirs as well as retail food products. Among the three groups, E. coli isolates from humans had the lowest occurrence of cdtB, stx, eae, and O157: H7. Furthermore, we advise implementing further monitoring at the food production and preparation level.

Foodborne illness has been determined to be one of the major limitations to the advancement of world health. Bacterial pathogens among the leading causes of foodborne illness are Escherichia coli (E. coli), Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria. The risk of these pathogens was investigated among gastroenteritis cases in the diverse population of the state of Qatar. Fecal samples from patients admitted to Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) with complaints of gastroenteritis were screened for the targeted pathogens using a combination of bacterial enrichments and molecular detection. Salmonella was the most common pathogen (42.9%), followed by E. coli (35.3%), and Campylobacter (21.0%). C. jejuni was the most common species of Campylobacter (67.4%). The probability of detection of E. coli decreased with age. Meanwhile, both probabilities of detection of Campylobacter and Salmonella increased with age. Listeria monocytogenes was much less common among gastroenteritis cases compared to the other pathogens.