Assessing the Health Risk and Trophic Transfer of Lead and Cadmium in Dairy Farming Systems in the Mantaro Catchment, Central Andes of Peru.

This study investigated lead (Pb) and cadmium (Cd) transfer in three dairy farming areas in the Mantaro river headwaters in the central Peruvian Andes and at varying distances from the mining complex at La Oroya. At each of these sites, the transfer of trace metals from the soil to raw milk was estimated, and a hazard assessment for lead and cadmium was carried out in scenarios of minimum, average, and maximum milk consumption in a Peruvian population aged 2-85. Pb and Cd were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. Significantly, the concentrations of lead and cadmium were found to exceed the maximum limits recommended by the World Health Organization, with a positive geospatial trend correlated with the distance from mining activity. Both Pb and Cd were found to be transferred through the soil-pasture-milk pathway, with the primary source of Cd being phosphate-based fertilizers used in pasture improvement. Pb was found to be the most significant contributor to the Hazard Index (HI) with those under 19 years of age and over 60 recording an HI of >1, with infants being the most vulnerable group due to their greater milk consumption in relation to their body weight. A marginal increase in contamination was observed in the dry season, indicating the need for studies to be expanded over several annual cycles.

INOCUIDAD ALIMENTARIA Y ENFERMEDADES TRANSMITIDAS POR ALIMENTOS (ETAS); SUS EFECTOS EN LA SALUD HUMANA: UNA REVISIÓN / FOOD SAFETY AND FOODBORNE DISEASES; ITS EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH: A REVIEW

INTRODUCCIÓN: En la actualidad la Organización de las Naciones Unidas (ONU) como una de sus metas proyectadas al 2030 es que los alimentos sean inocuos, con seguridad alimentaria, nutritiva y suficiente, debido a que en los últimos años se ha incrementado el número de casos de Enfermedades Transmitidas por Alimentos (ETAs). La inocuidad de los alimentos es un principio básico de salud y como característica intrínseca de un alimento es que el mismo no debe causar daño a la salud. OBJETIVO: describir la importancia de la inocuidad alimentaria y los microorganismos patógenos más frecuentes que se presentan en los alimentos. METODOLOGÍA: se realizó una revisión narrativa conformada de artículos científicos a partir del año 2019 al 2023. RESULTADOS: los microoganismos que frecuentemente son causantes de las ETAs son: Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes, ocasionando a nivel mundial elevados casos de diarreas relacionadas directamente con alimentos y agua contaminada, y que actualmente van en incremento. CONCLUSIÓN: las principales causas de las ETAs son por el aumento del comercio internacional de los alimentos contaminados, así como el incremento en la migración de aquellas personas que estén infectadas favoreciendo la propagación, reemergencia y aparición de microorganismos patógenos en alimentos contaminados por las malas prácticas de higiene, con la capacidad de generar infecciones, intoxicaciones y brotes en la población. Por lo anterior los organismos gubernamentales a nivel mundial, nacional y local establecen estrategias para abatir esta problemática de salud pública, pero son insuficientes, debiendo reforzar las acciones concretas de prevención y promoción.

INTRODUCTION: Due to the number of cases of Foodborne Diseases (ETAs) in recent years, the United Nations (UN) currently establishes as one of its goals for 2030 that food be safe, secure, nutritious, and sufficient. Food safety is a basic requirement, and an intrinsic characteristic of a food is that it should not negatively impact health. OBJECTIVE: to describe the importance of food safety and identify the most common pathogenic microorganisms that occur in food. Methodology: a narrative review was carried, out consisting of scientific articles from 2019 to 2023. RESULTS: the microorganisms that frequently cause ETAs are: Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Hepatitis A, Vibrio cholerae, Listeria monocytogenes, which cause frequent cases of diarrhea worldwide due to contaminated food and water, and which are currently increasing. CONCLUSION: the main causes of ETAs are the increase in international trade in contaminated foods, and the increase in the migration of people who are infected. Poor hygiene in food handling practices favor the contamination, spread, re-emergence and appearance of pathogenic microorganisms in foods, with the capacity to generate infections, poisonings and outbreaks in the population. Government agencies at the global, national, and local levels establish strategies to combat this public health problem, but they are insufficient, and specific prevention and promotion actions must be reinforced.

Potentially pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria spp. in Brazilian unpasteurized cheese production / Staphylococcus aureus e Listeria spp. potencialmente patogênicos na produção de queijos não pasteurizados

This study aimed to identify potentially pathogenic microorganisms (Listeria innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and several virulence genes) in unpasteurized cheese production in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Listeria species were detected in 68 (64.14%) out of 106 samples of bovine feces, swabs from milkers' and cheese handlers' hands, milking buckets, raw milk, whey, water, cheese processing surface,s and utensils. All the samples collected at one farm were contaminated with Listeria spp. L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, or L. monocytogenes were not detected in the samples collected in this study. A set of 391 Staphylococcus spp. isolates were obtained in these samples, from which 60 (15.31%) were identified as S. aureus using PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). S. aureus carrying virulence genes (eta, hlg, seg, seh, sei) were detected in milk, in swabs from cheese handler's hands, whey, milk, sieves, buckets, and cheese. The hlg gene (encodes gamma hemolysin) was detected in all the S. aureus isolates. These findings show that poor hygienic practice is associated with a higher risk of pathogenic bacteria in milk or cheese, providing useful information for public health authorities to increase food safety surveillance and prevent the dissemination of pathogens.

O objetivo desse estudo foi identificar microrganismos potencialmente patogênicos (Listeria innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, L. monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus e diversos genes de virulência) na produção de queijos de leite cru na região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Listeria foram detectadas em 68 (64,14%) das 106 amostras obtidas de fezes bovinas, suabes das mãos de ordenhadores e queijeiros, baldes, leite cru, soro, água, superfícies e utensílios da produção de queijos. Todas as amostras coletadas em uma fazenda estavam contaminadas com Listeria spp. L. innocua, L. seeligeri, L. ivanovii, e L. monocytogenes não foram detectadas nas amostras coletadas nesse estudo. Um conjunto de 391 isolados de Staphylococcus spp. foram obtidos das amostras, e desses 60 (15,31%) foram identificados como S. aureus pela PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction). S. aureus contendo genes de virulência (eta, hlg, seg, seh, sei) foram detectados em leite, mãos dos ordenhadores, soro, utensílios e queijos. O gene hlg (gama-hemolisina)foi detectado em todos os isolados de S. aureus.Esses resultados demonstram que práticas inadequadas de higiene estão associadas com um maior risco da presença de bactérias patogênicas no leite e queijos crus, fornecendo informações para as autoridades de saúde pública para incrementarem a vigilância e prevenirem a disseminação de patógenos.

HERisk: An improved spatio-temporal human health risks assessment software.

Risk assessment is considered an essential tool to assist in the management and mitigation of polluted areas, especially those associated with economic activities that significantly degrade the environment, such as mining. However, most of the methodologies of risk assessment adopt the deterministic approach of using a fixed value for ascertaining the hazards derived from exposure to chemical pollutants. However, this is not the case of the Human, Ecological and Radiological Risk (HERisk) code, which allows space-time assessments of ecological, radiological, and human health risks. Indeed, this work aims to describe this new software (enhanced version of HHRISK), which not only improves the performance of the code but also increases its applicability and versatility. To showcase its usefulness in evaluating ecological pollution and human health risk were studied the contents of potentially toxic elements (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soils and surface waters from the nickel mining area in the municipality of Itagibá (Bahia, Brazil). The obtained results showed that metals are non-homogeneous distributed, suggesting the presence of local enrichment sources, mainly related to human activities. The statistical analyses carried out revealed that mining and agricultural activities are possibly responsible for the contents of these pollutants in both soils and surface waters. The calculated ecological indices of pollution confirmed anthropogenic pollution around the mining area, especially in the locations closest to sterile waste piles. The results of the human health risk assessment revealed that the ingestion of meat and contaminated water are the main routes for entering the potentially toxic elements to the human body and that Co is the chemical specie that poses the highest risk in the entire region. The hazard index (HI) values indicated that the whole area around the mine should be considered as a high risk for human health.

Norovirus GII.Pe Genotype: Tracking a Foodborne Outbreak on a Cruise Ship Through Molecular Epidemiology, Brazil, 2014.

Norovirus (NoV) is recognized as the most common cause of foodborne outbreaks. In 2014, an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis occurred on a cruise ship in Brazil, and NoV became the suspected etiology. Here we present the molecular identification of the NoV strains and the use of sequence analysis to determine modes of virus transmission. Food (cream cheese, tuna salad, grilled fish, orange mousse, and vegetables soup) and clinical samples were analyzed by ELISA, conventional RT-PCR, qRT-PCR, and sequencing. Genogroup GII NoV was identified by ELISA and conventional RT-PCR in fecal samples from 5 of 12 patients tested (41.7%), and in the orange mousse food sample by conventional RT-PCR and qRT-PCR. Two fecal GII NoV samples and the orange mousse GII NoV sample were successfully genotyped as GII.Pe (ORF 1), revealed 98.0-98.8% identities among them, and shared phylogenetically distinct cluster. Establishing the source of a NoV outbreak can be a challenging task. In this report, the molecular analysis of the partial RdRp NoV gene provided a powerful tool for genotyping (GII.Pe) and tracking of outbreak-related samples. In addition, the same fast and simple extraction methods applied to clinical samples could be successfully used for complex food matrices, and have the potential to be introduced in routine laboratories for screening foods for presence of NoV.

Cádmio, cromo e chumbo em arroz comercializado no Rio Grande do Sul / Cadmium, chromium and lead in rice marketed in Rio Grande do Sul

O Rio Grande do Sul é o maior produtor nacional de arroz irrigado por alagamento do Brasil e algumas lavouras cultivam o arroz irrigado há mais de 100 anos. Nos cultivos, são utilizados insumos agrícolas, muitos dos quais apresentam metais pesados em sua composição. Essa preocupação leva em consideração principalmente os elementos não essenciais às plantas, como o Pb, Cr e Cd, e que oferecem risco à saúde humana. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo quantificar os teores de Cd, de Cr e de Pb no arroz vendido nos estabelecimentos comerciais do RS. As extrações dos elementos das amostras foram feitas pelo método USEPA 3050B. Para as quantificações dos metais, foi utilizada a Espectrometria de Emissão Óptica por Plasma Acoplado Indutivamente (ICP-OES). Os elementos quantificados nas amostras de grãos vendidos em estabelecimentos comerciais apresentaram-se dentro dos limites permitidos pela legislação.(AU)

The state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is the largest producer of flood-irrigated rice in Brazil and some fields flooded rice are cultivated for more than 100 years. In rice production are being utilized various inputs, many of which have heavy metals in its composition. This preoccupation considers especially nonessential elements to plants such as Pb, Cr and Cd, which provide risks to human health. This study aimed to quantify the levels of Cd, Cr and Pb in rice grains sold in markets retailers in RS. The elements were extracted from the samples through the USEPA 3050B method and quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The elements quantified in samples of grains rice sold in markets retailers were within the limits allowed by law.(AU)

Cádmio, cromo e chumbo em arroz comercializado no Rio Grande do Sul / Cadmium, chromium and lead in rice marketed in Rio Grande do Sul

RESUMO:O Rio Grande do Sul é o maior produtor nacional de arroz irrigado por alagamento do Brasil e algumas lavouras cultivam o arroz irrigado há mais de 100 anos. Nos cultivos, são utilizados insumos agrícolas, muitos dos quais apresentam metais pesados em sua composição. Essa preocupação leva em consideração principalmente os elementos não essenciais às plantas, como o Pb, Cr e Cd, e que oferecem risco à saúde humana. Esta pesquisa teve por objetivo quantificar os teores de Cd, de Cr e de Pb no arroz vendido nos estabelecimentos comerciais do RS. As extrações dos elementos das amostras foram feitas pelo método USEPA 3050B. Para as quantificações dos metais, foi utilizada a Espectrometria de Emissão Óptica por Plasma Acoplado Indutivamente (ICP-OES). Os elementos quantificados nas amostras de grãos vendidos em estabelecimentos comerciais apresentaram-se dentro dos limites permitidos pela legislação.

ABSTRACT:The state of Rio Grande do Sul (RS) is the largest producer of flood-irrigated rice in Brazil and some fields flooded rice are cultivated for more than 100 years. In rice production are being utilized various inputs, many of which have heavy metals in its composition. This preoccupation considers especially nonessential elements to plants such as Pb, Cr and Cd, which provide risks to human health. This study aimed to quantify the levels of Cd, Cr and Pb in rice grains sold in markets retailers in RS. The elements were extracted from the samples through the USEPA 3050B method and quantified by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES). The elements quantified in samples of grains rice sold in markets retailers were within the limits allowed by law.

Guía de Práctica Clínica ​(GPC) para prevencion, diagnostico y tratamiento de la enfermedad diarreica aguda en niños menores de 5 años / Clinical Practice Guideline (CPG) for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of acute diarrheal disease in children under 5 years of age

Evaluar, desde la perspectiva del sistema de salud colombiano, la relación de costo-efectividad del zinc para la prevención y tratamiento de EDA en niños menores de cinco años Específicos de CoIombia. Identificar el consumo de recursos asociados al uso del zinc para la prevención y tratamiento de EDA en niños menores de cinco años en Colombia. Medir y valorar los recursos consumidos por cada una de las estrategias. Construir un modelo de decisiones que permita sintetizar la evidencia clínica y económica para determinar cuál y en qué escenarios una estrategia puede resultar costo-efectiva para el país.

Heterogeneidade da virulência de cepas de Listeria monocytogenes, pertencentes a diferentes sorotipos, isoladas de amostras de alimento, do ambiente de processamento e de amostra clínica / Virulence heterogeneity of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolates from, food, food processing line and clinical samples belonging to different serotypes

Listeria monocytogenes é um patógeno intracelular facultativo responsável por listeriose, uma doença de origem alimentar. Dentre os 13 sorotipos de L. monocytogenes existentes, o sorotipo 4b é o mais freqüentemente isolado de humanos, enquanto os sorotipos 1/2a, 1/2b e 1/2c são mais freqüentes em alimentos e amostras ambientais. O estudo da variabilidade de virulência de quatro cepas de L. monocytogenes recentemente isoladas (1/2B - alimento; 1/2C e 4BENV - ambiente de processamento de alimento; 4BCLIN - sangue), além de duas outras cepas de casos de listeriose (P14 e P14A), foi o objetivo deste trabalho. Avaliou-se a capacidade de invasão, proliferação intracelular, citotoxicidade, disseminação intercelular, polimerização de filamentos de actina e transcrição gênica dos genes de virulência actA, plcA e plcB das cepas em modelos celulares eucarióticos MDBK, HeLa e L929. A cepa de origem alimentar 1/2B apresentou características de invasão, taxa de multiplicação (IGC), assim como a disseminação intercelular, semelhantes às cepas clínicas P14 e 4BCLIN em células HeLa. As cepas de origem ambiental (1/2C e 4BENV), apesar da baixa capacidade de invasão em todas linhagens celulares empregadas, apresentaram IGC superior às demais cepas estudadas e disseminação intercelular superior ou similar às cepas clínicas, dependendo da célula eucariótica. As cepas de origem clínica 4BCLIN, P14, P14A tiveram maiores porcentagens de invasão nas linhagens MDBK e L929, porém, em relação à população intracelular (UFC/mL), as cepas 4BCLIN e P14A foram superiores às demais. Estas últimas também foram citotóxicas às células HeLa, induzindo à liberação de LDH e à morte por necrose. Já as cepas de origem alimentar, ambiental e a cepa clínica P14 não foram citotóxicas às células HeLa e MDBK. Em relação à polimerização dos filamentos de actina não houve diferença estatística entre as cepas. Todos os genes de virulência estudados apresentaram maior número de transcritos para as cepas de origem não clínica (1/2B, 1/2C e 4BENV). Sendo assim, todas as cepas de L. monocytogenes estudadas possuem potencial patogênico, por apresentar pelo menos duas características relacionadas à virulência da espécie. Alimentos possivelmente contaminados com estas cepas representam risco à saúde pública

Listeria monocytogenes is a facultative intracellular pathogen responsible for listeriose, a foodborne disease. Amongst the 13 serotypes of L. monocytogenes, the serotype 4b is more frequently isolated from clinical samples while the serotypes 1/2a, 1/2b and 1/2c are associated with food and food processing environment. The study of the virulence variability of four L. monocytogenes strains recently isolated (1/2B - food; 1/2C and 4BENV - food processing environment; 4BCLIN blood), as well as two strains of listeriosis (P14 and P14A) was the aim of this work. Eukaryotic cellular models HeLa, MDBK and L929 were used to evaluate the invasion capacity, intracellular proliferation, cytotoxicity, intercellular dissemination and polymerization of actin tails of L. monocytogenes strains. Gene transcription of the virulence genes actA, plcA and plcB was also conducted. The food isolate 1/2B presented invasion characteristics, multiplication index (IGC), as well as the intercellular dissemination, similar to the clinical strains P14 and 4BCLIN in HeLa cells. Environmental strains (1/2C and 4BENV), although showing a low capacity of invasion in all cellular models, had the highest IGC comparing to the other isolates. They also showed similar to or higher intercellular dissemination than the clinical ones, depending on the cell line used. The clinical strains 4BCLIN, P14, P14A presented greater invasion capacity in MDBK and L929 cells than all other isolates. However, in relation to the intracellular population (CFU/mL) the isolates 4BCLIN and P14A showed superior results. These strains were also cytotoxic to HeLa cells, inducing LDH release and death due to necrosis. The food, environmental and P14 isolates were not cytotoxic to HeLa and MDBK cells. There was no statistical difference in actin tail polymerization between the strains. The non-clinical isolates (1/2B, 1/2C and 4BENV) presented higher number of transcripts for than the clinical ones. In conclusion, all L. monocytogenes strains studied showed pathogenic potential, based on expression of at least two characteristics related to the virulence of the species. The presence of these strains in food represents public health risk