Water and Foodborne Diseases Overview

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary infectious agent responsible for cholera?

Escherichia coli

Salmonella enterica

Shigella dysenteriae

Vibrio cholerae (correct)

What are common symptoms of waterborne diseases?

Diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, fever (correct)

Skin rash and muscle pain

Chest pain, coughing, and fatigue

Headache, sore throat, and fever

What type of diarrhea is characteristic of severe cholera cases?

Foamy diarrhea

Rice water diarrhea (correct)

Green watery diarrhea

Blood-stained diarrhea

Which organism is a common fecal coliform?

Escherichia coli Signup and view all the answers

Which serotype of Vibrio cholerae is associated with the ongoing seventh pandemic?

O1 El Tor Signup and view all the answers

What is the mortality rate for cholera patients with treatment?

20% Signup and view all the answers

What is the Most Probable Number (MPN) method primarily used for?

Estimating cell number based on bacterial growth Signup and view all the answers

What is the main mode of transmission for cholera?

Fecal-oral route Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT typically included in selective and differential media for coliform testing?

Steroids Signup and view all the answers

What is a primary prevention strategy for waterborne diseases?

Wastewater treatment and water purification Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following treatment methods is critical for managing severe cases of cholera?

Water and electrolyte replacement Signup and view all the answers

What is the virulence factor that mediates the pathogenicity of Vibrio cholerae?

Cholera toxin Signup and view all the answers

Fecal coliforms are derived from which source?

The gut of warm-blooded animals Signup and view all the answers

Which procedure is used to test water samples for fecal coliforms?

Membrane filter method Signup and view all the answers

Where is cholera considered endemic?

Southern Asia Signup and view all the answers

Cholera and Typhoid are classified under which category of diseases?

Waterborne diseases Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary infectious agent responsible for Typhoid Fever?

Salmonella enterica serotype typhi Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following symptoms is NOT typically associated with Typhoid Fever?

Coughing Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated mortality rate of Typhoid Fever when antibiotic treatment is provided?

1-4% Signup and view all the answers

Which method is identified as the best prevention strategy for an outbreak of Typhoid Fever?

Improve sanitation and potable water Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of Salmonella pathogenicity island 7 in Typhoid Fever?

Encodes genes for virulence factors Signup and view all the answers

What genetic disorder is commonly associated with mutations in the CFTR protein?

Cystic Fibrosis Signup and view all the answers

How is Typhoid Fever primarily transmitted?

Fecal-oral route Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the impact on mucus in the airways of a patient with Cystic Fibrosis?

Mucus becomes thick due to hypertonic airway cells Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated economic burden of major foodborne illnesses in the United States per year?

$15.5 billion Signup and view all the answers

Which age group was significantly affected in the 1903 Ithaca Typhoid outbreak?

Incoming class of college students Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of infected individuals may develop a chronic asymptomatic infection in the gall bladder?

3-5% Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic is true about Listeria monocytogenes?

It can survive outside the human body but can also be an opportunistic pathogen. Signup and view all the answers

What is a common response of a Cystic Fibrosis patient when infected with cholera?

They have the same susceptibility and experience diarrhea. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Waterborne Diseases

Waterborne diseases are illnesses transmitted through contaminated water.
Common waterborne diseases include: water treatment issues, fecal coliforms, typhoid, and cholera.
Gastroenteritis, common symptoms include diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever. About 1.8 million deaths annually worldwide are caused by fecal-oral transmission.

Foodborne Diseases

Common foodborne diseases include Listeria.
A wide variety of bacteria, protozoa, and viruses are responsible
Water treatment: includes removing large particles, coagulation, filtration, and chlorination, to produce safe drinking water.

Fecal Coliforms

Coliforms are a generic term for Gram-negative, non-sporulating, facultative aerobic rods.
Fecal coliforms are present in the gut of warm-blooded animals.
Escherichia coli is a common fecal coliform.
Water and recreational water are routinely tested for coliforms as indicator organisms.
A medium for selective and differential coliforms may include lactose, a pH indicator, and antimicrobials that inhibit Gram-positives.

Membrane Filter (MF) Method

Testing for fecal coliforms and E. coli can be done using a membrane filter method.
A sample of 100 ml water is filtered through a membrane.
The membrane is then placed on a selective and differential medium.
The number of colony-forming units (CFUs) per 100 ml of water is determined.

EMB Agar

EMB agar is selective and differential for coliforms.
It includes lactose, an inhibitor of Gram-positive bacteria, and a pH indicator.
The fermentation of lactose produces acid, changing the color of the medium.

Most Probable Number (MPN) Method

The MPN method is used for testing fecal coliforms and E. coli.
The water sample is diluted.
The diluted sample is inoculated into tubes containing a selective and differential medium.
The number of tubes that grow bacteria is used to estimate the cell number.

Typhoid Fever

Infectious agent: Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi
Epidemiology: Rare in developed nations, endemic in much of Asia (~21 million cases and 161,000 deaths in 2013, according to WHO).
Reservoir: Humans are the main reservoir.
Transmission: Fecal-oral, contaminated water.
Symptoms: High fever, abdominal pain, symptoms last weeks-months (25% mortality without treatment, 1–4% with antibiotic treatment).Chronic asymptomatic infection occurs in the gall bladder.

Typhoid Fever - 1903 Ithaca Outbreak

Ithaca, New York lacked secure water supply/ filtration.
10–15% of incoming students experienced 'freshman diarrhea.'
1350 cases (10% population) and 82 deaths (29 Cornell students)

Listeriosis

Agent: Listeria monocytogenes, Gram-positive bacteria.
Found in soil, water, and the intestinal tracts of diverse mammals (and birds). (5-10% are carriers with no sign of disease.)
Transmission: In foodborne outbreaks.
Transmission source: dairy products, meats (ready to eat).
able to survive freezing, excessive heat, and drying. Also, thrives in refrigerators (Psychrotolerant.)
Symptoms: Fever, muscle aches, sometimes diarrhea or other GI symptoms.
Susceptible individuals can have invasive disease (inflammation of intestinal tract, septicemia, meningitis, encephalitis).
Pregnant women can experience miscarriage, life-threatening infections.
Epidemiology (in US): ~1600 cases annually, 260 fatalities.

Cholera

Agent: Vibrio cholerae, Gram-negative bacteria.
Found in coastal habitats, lives on zooplankton and crustaceans.
More than 200 serotypes, few cause disease (01, 01 El Tor, 0139 – 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th pandemics, respectively).
Vibrio cholerae can be found on copepods.
Reservoir: Coastal habitats (endemic) and humans (pandemic).
Symptoms: Diarrhea (often mild), 2-3 days to onset. 10–20% of cases are severe (up to 20 L per day of rice water diarrhea). 50–60% mortality without treatment, 20% mortality with treatment.
Epidemiology (worldwide): Rare in developed nations, endemic in Southern Asia, and pandemics of cholera (3–5 million cases annually with >100,000 deaths).
Virulence factor: Cholera toxin (CT, an AB exotoxin). Aids entry into host cells by endocytosis and lysing phagosomes (Cytotoxin LLO).
Prevention: Wastewater treatment & Water Purification, simple filtration (e.g. sari cloth). Detection: Differential media

Foodborne Illness in the US

Roughly 1 in 6 Americans (48 million) gets sick each year, with 128,000 hospitalizations and 3,000 deaths.
Norovirus outbreaks in hospitals and cruise ships cost about $2 billion per year.
The economic burden of major foodborne illnesses in the US in 2015 was estimated at $15.5 billion.

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Description

This quiz covers the essential concepts of waterborne and foodborne diseases, detailing common illnesses, symptoms, and the role of water treatment. Explore the importance of understanding fecal coliforms and their impact on health. Test your knowledge on the prevention and management of these diseases.