Bacteriology and Virology

Humblet et al 2012 prioritized 100 animal diseases and zoonoses in Europe using 57 prioritization criteria. The method of disease prioritization has been defined as the “organization of listed diseases into a hierarchy, considering their respective impacts”. Five aspects of a pathogen were considered: epidemiology, prevention/control, effects on economy/trade, zoonotic characteristics, and effect on society. [1]

Berni Canniri et al 2011 explain  links among early nutrition, epigenetic processes and diseases  in later life, suggesting that maternal and neonatal diet may have long-lasting effects in the development of diseases such as  insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, obesity, dyslipidaemia, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, development and function of gut microbiota. [1]

The German Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut discovered the Schmallenberg virus which caused an undetermined disease in animals  in late 2011. Sheep, cattle and goats presented fever, decreased milk production, and diarrhea, malformed newborn animals and stillborn calves, goats an lambs. A study leaded by Martin Beer used metagenomic analysis to identify the  novel orthobunyavirus. The epidemic spread from Germany to the Netherlands, Belgium, Great Britain, France, Italy, Luxembourg and Spain. [1]

Clostridium difficile infections are related to food infections and 94% are healthcare contamination. The current epidemic strain of Clostridium difficile is the BI/NAP1/027, toxinotype III strain. This strain is more virulent than foregoing strains. It has an increased toxin A and B production, polymorphisms in binding domain of toxin B, and presents increased sporulation. [1]

Every growing season bacterial and viral outbreaks linked to cantaloupe are reported. Food poisoning outbreaks linked to CantalupCantaloupe-linked infections are top 5 of the list of fruits and vegetables for outbreaks. This is largely due to their growing conditions and the potential to support the growth of bacteria.

The Center for Science in the Public Interest  CSPI points out that eating raw oysters or other shellfish contaminated with deadly Vibrio vulnificus bacteria present a serious health risk. The contaminated oysters are mainly harvested from the Gulf Coast region, especially during the warmer summer months. [1]

CDC  reports the detection in humans of the virus H3N2v, which is a variant of the HaN2 virus having  genes from avian, swine, and human influenza viruses. The new virus had acquired  acquired the matrix (M) gene from the 2009 H1N1 pandemic virus [1]

Lupinosis is a mycotoxicosis caused by the ingestion of toxins produced by the fungus Diaporthe toxica (Phomopsis leptostromiformis) which grows on lupin plants.  Allen and Randall 1993 found that in addition to being an hepatotoxicity, lupinosis also resulted in injury to muscle, kidney and adrenal cortex. [1]

Knowles et al. 2012 report that foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks recently affected Japan and South Korea in eastern Asia that were free of FMD. The serotype A and O viruses caused these outbreaks. The origin of the viruses was the mainland Southeast Asia. [1]

According to Sapone et al. 2010, an increasing number of consumers look for gluten free food products, following the current awareness about gluten reactions. The authors describe the three main forms of gluten reactions: Allergic (wheat allergy), autoimmune (coeliac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, and gluten ataxia), and possibly immune-mediated (gluten sensitivity). [1]
New nomenclature and classifications are being suggested by Sapone's group.