CYCLOSPORA--
NEW BIOLOGICAL BOMB TUCSON
Overview Public health officials are seeking the cause of a recent
outbreak of Cyclospora Cayetamensis, a protozoan parasite. The microbe can cause
cramping abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, nausea, fever and extreme fatigue; it
is treatable with antibiotics sold as Bactrim or Septra, and is generally not
fatal. A number of fresh fruits and vegetables have been suggested as a carrier,
but, at this point, there is no compelling evidence and no common thread that
can point to any cause. What is Cyclospora? Cyclospora, once thought
to be linked to blue-green algae, has been identified as a new protozoan parasite
and is a relative of Cryptosporidium. Whereas Cryptosporidium can be transmitted
from one infected human to another human, Cyclospora requires a period of time
to work into the environment and must be ingested. Based on our research, we are
certain humans are most likely infected through ingestion of water containing
the infectious stage of the parasite, commonly called the oocyst stage. Once acquired,
it takes from four days to a week before signs of infection are noted. The infection
may last anywhere from one to four weeks. People who are immune compromised are
at greater risk, and therapeutic intervention is required. Strong evidence indicates
that humans are the only likely host of Cyclospora. Epidemiology of Cyclospora
After 20 years of research, we are starting to define the epidemiological
link of Cyclospora to water. In Nepal, the organism was actually detected in water.
CYCLOSPORA passes from an infected individual in unsporulated (immature) state
and requires one to two weeks time under ideal conditions to become infectious.
Ideal conditions which lead to Cyclospora becoming infectious include exposure
to moisture and temperatures of at least 25 degrees C, (77 to 89 degrees F.).
A moist environment is necessary for the organism to sporulate, and become infectious.
Identifying Cyclospora Cyclospora is an extremely difficult organism
to identify, which may account for some of the problems in pinpointing a cause
of the illnesses recently observed. Without confirmation, it is difficult to be
sure that we are, in fact, confronting a Cyclospora outbreak in all instances.
The most important element in the identification is an attempt to sporulate the
organism in order to see the defining characteristics of the infectious stage.
One must look at the internal structure of the occyst after it sporulates, and
only then can one be 100 percent certain that the organism is Cyclospora. If it
turns out that some of the outbreaks have been caused by another parasite, the
ability to determine the source of the contamination will be severely compromised.
Can Cyclospora be Spread by Food? It is highly unlikely that fruits
or vegetables could be the primary source of infection in terms of growing or
shipping practices. They would literally have to be grown in human fecal waste
and exposed to direct surface contact. It is also unlikely that the organism can
be transmitted from infected food handlers because if their hands were contaminated
with the feces, the organisms would still be in an unsporulated and immature stage.
Cyclospora would still need up to two weeks to become infectious. Virtually
every past outbreak has occurred near water, whether it was a lake, a reservoir
tank on the top of a building or a cellar contaminated with sewer water. At
this point in the investigation, of the current outbreak it is premature to hypothesize
about any specific food as a possible carrier of the parasite. In fact, such speculation
could compromise ongoing investigation. "Dr. Sterling and his colleague, Dr.
Ortega are credited with identifying the Cyclospora parasite and determining its
maturation process. His team is recognized as among the foremost authorities on
the parasite." CONTACT: California Strawberry Commission Teresa
Thorne, 408/724-1301
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 19, 1996--Since May 1996, CDC has received
reports of clusters and sporadic cases of infection with the parasite Cyclospora
cayetanensis that occurred in May and June in the United States and Canada(1).
This report describes preliminary findings of an investigation by the New Jersey
Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and updates the findings of
other ongoing investigations. New Jersey During June 17-26, 1996,
NJDHSS received reports of 42 sporadic cases of laboratory-confirmed Cyclospora
infection (by light microscopic examination of a stool specimen) among New Jersey
residents. To assess possible risk factors for infection among persons with sporadic
cases, NJDHSS conducted a case-control study. A case was defined as laboratory-confirmed
Cyclospora infection and symptoms of gastroenteritis (e.g., diarrhea) with onset
during May 1 - June 20, 1996, in a New Jersey resident aged greater than or equal
to 18 years. Two age-matched (plus or minus 10 years) controls (aged greater than
or equal to 18 years) were selected by random-digit dialing; to be eligible, controls
could not have had loose stools during the two-week period before onset of symptoms
for the referent case-patient (i.e., the period of interest). In addition,
case-patients and matched controls must have been in New Jersey during the period
of interest and not have traveled outside the United States and Canada during
the month before the symptom onset. Investigators interviewed 30 case-patients
and 60 controls by telephone and used a standardized questionnaire that asked
about possible exposures (including consumption of 17 fruits and 15 vegetables,
water and soil exposures, and animal contact) during the period of interest.
Case-patients and controls were similar by age (median age of case-patients: 47.5
years, range: 20-81 years, sex, and educational level. Twenty (69%) of 29-case-patients
and four (7%) of 60 controls had eaten raspberries. In multivariate conditional
logistic regression analysis, only consumption of raspberries was significantly
associated with illness (odds ratio and 95% confidence interval were undefined
because of a denominator of 0, p (less than) 0.001 (computed using the score test).
Consumption of strawberries was not significantly associated with illness.
Other Investigations Approximately 850 cases of laboratory-confirmed
Cyclospora infection in persons residing in the United States and Canada whose
onset of illness was in May and June 1996 have been reported to CDC and Health
Canada. Approximately 14% of all cases have been reported from Ontario, Canada;
nearly all (approximately 99%) of the other cases have been reported from states
east of the Rocky Mountains. Fourteen states, the District of Columbia, and Ontario
are each investigating clusters of cases related to specific events (e.g., a luncheon)
and/or at least 30 sporadic cases (i.e., not related to any identified event).
Six other states have each reported less than or equal to 10 sporadic cases.
Most sporadic and event-related cases have occurred in immunocompetent adults.
Fifteen case-patients have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported.
The most recent event associated with cases occurred on June 8 (i.e., exposure
date), and the most recent laboratory-confirmed sporadic case occurred in a person
with onset of symptoms on June 27. With the possible exception of a few events
for which limited information is available, raspberries were served at the 42
events under investigation. For 12 (29%) of the events, raspberries were either
the only berry served or were served separately from other berries. Initial investigations
of three events that occurred in May had attributed risk for Cyclospora infection
to consumption of strawberries; however, further investigation indicated that
raspberries and other berries also were served (one event) or may have been served
(two events). Preliminary findings of case-control studies by health departments
in Florida and New York City also indicate an association between consumption
and raspberries and risk for Cyclospora infection. The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA), CDC, and other health and food-safety agencies in the United States and
Canada are tracing the sources of the raspberries that were served at the events.
Findings from the first 21 tracebacks completed by CDC and state agencies indicate
that raspberries grown in some regions of Guatemala either definitely were or
could have been served at each of these events; for 17 of these 21 events, the
only source of raspberries was Guatemala. Efforts are ongoing to identify the
specific source(s) of the raspberries and possible modes of contamination.
Reported by: Health Protection Br, Health Canada, J Hoffmann, MD, Z Liu, MD, C
Genese, MBA, G Wolf, MBA, W Manley, MA, K Pilot, E Dalley, MA, L Finelli, DrPH,
Acting State Epidermiologist, New Jersey Dept of Health and Senior Svcs. Prevention
Effectiveness Activity, Office of the Director, and Div of Field Epidemiology,
Epidemiology Program Office; Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Br, Div of Bacterial
and Mycotic Diseases, and Div of Parasitic Diseases, National Center for Infectious
Diseases, CDC. -0- Note to Editors: The multistate outbreak of infection with
the emerging pathogen Cyclospora has been investigated by state and local health
departments, CDC, health officials in Canada, and other organizations. Although
the findings of these investigations have demonstrated consistent associations
between risk for Cyclospora infection and antecedent consumption of raspberries,
some case-patients have not reported raspberry consumption; this finding may reflect
poor recall and, for some persons with cases not related to events, different
sources of infections. The preliminary investigations indicate that some regions
of Guatemala were the most likely sources of the epidemiologically implicated
raspberries. The growing season in Guatemala is ending, and recent imports of
raspberries from that country have markedly decreased. The specific mode of contamination
of the raspberries and whether contamination occurred in Guatemala or after the
raspberries have been shipped from the country have not yet been determined. CDC,
FDA, the government of Guatemala, growers, exporters, and trade associations are
collaborating in ongoing investigations to evaluate these issues. Since the latter
half of June, FDA has begun to examine shipments of raspberries from Guatemala
for Cyclospora. Cyclospora oocysts have not been found on any of the raspberries
that have been tested to date. FDA, CDC, and others are developing standardized
methods for such testing and are evaluating their sensitivity. As always,
produce should be thoroughly washed before it is eaten. This practice should decrease
but may eliminate the risk for transmission of Cyclospora. Health departments
that identify cases of Cyclospora infection should contact CDC's Division of Parasitic
Diseases, National Center for Infectious Disease, telephone 770/488-7760.
Reference 1. CDC. Outbreaks of Cyclospora cayetanensis infection -- United States,
1996. MMWR 1996; 45:549-51. CONTACT: Center for Disease Control,
404/639-3286 AOL-- KEYWORD: GEORGIA NEW JERSEY CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY
KEYWORD: MEDICINE BW0178 JUL 19,1996
Release at 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) By Mike Cooper ATLANTA, July 18
(Reuter) - Contaminated raspberries from Guatemala appear to have caused intestinal
illnesses that sickened hundreds of people in the United States and Canada this
spring, federal health officials said Thursday. The U.S. Centres for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) said about 850 people became ill because of cyclospora
infection in 20 states, the District of Columbia and the Canadian province of
Ontario in May and June.
GUATEMALA CITY, July 19 (Reuter) -
Guatemalan farmers have rejected a U.S. health report that pointed to their raspberries
as the cause of 850 cases of intestinal illness in the United States and Canada
this spring. ``They are still researching here and up to today they have not
found any link indicating Guatemalan raspberries are the problem,'' said Rodolfo
Quezada, a berry grower and exporter. Quezada, a member of the Guatemalan
berry commission, said the report by the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) had failed to verify a link between its raspberries and the cases
of stomach sickness reported in 20 U.S. states, the District of Columbia and the
Canadian province of Ontario in May and June.
APPLICATION:
Editor: Balaam's Ass Speaks: Steve Van Nattan Disclaimer:
The following suggestion is what our family does. There is not
official approval of our actions, but all missionaries in the developing world
follow these defensive methods, or some method similar. We know from its handling
of AIDS that the CDC will not inform the American public of a biological danger
until it is very well developed. California and Texas strawberries have
also been under consideration as the carrier. Why? Mexicans cross
the borders to illegally work the fields in both states. The real bomb may
very well be that Mexico has sent us the microbes. The CDC would find that
very politically delicate, and they would take months to move on the thing. Thus....
Here is my suggested way to avoid this biological bomb. Soak all vegetables
and fruit in a weak solution of bleach. A couple of capfuls in a sink of
water should be enough. Then let the vegies and fruit air dry to evaporate
the bleach. Also, the fruit and vegies can be put in the sink and sprayed
with a solution of water soluble Lysol. This is the method we have been
using for about five years since we learned that AIDS can be transmitted just
as easily as TB. After spraying the vegies and fruit, let them sit for ten
minutes, then rinse them. Do not assume that oranges and bananas are safe
because they have a skin. Since you must handle the fruit to eat it, you
could easily become infected. Also, American vegies and fruit are just as
dangerous for other reasons. Grumpy field hands in the lettuce fields have
a nice little trick they like to play on the gringos in the big cities. They
urinate in heads of lettuce when nature calls. Be careful folks.
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