Foodborne Illness Flashcards
what are the main foodborne illnesses in the UK
The main diseases in these areas are measles, whooping cough, diptheria and scarlet fever- the numbers have went down
how many salmonella cases are there
Salmonella causes 2,500 hospital admissions
what are the annual sources of foodborne illnesses
poultry meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and beef and lamb
what are the 2 types of foodborne illnesses
foodborne infetcions and intoxications
what are foodborne infections
foodborne infections= Living microbes needed and Growth in gut and damage to the host
what are foodborne intoxications
Toxin produced as a result of microbial growth, Ingestion of toxin needed to cause disease and Microbes may be absent or dead! More difficult to identify source and to trace it’s spread
what causes foodborne intoxications (bacteria etc)
-Fungi
-Algae
-Bacteria
-Most common type is ingestion of toxins in foods in which bacteria have grown- Staphylococcal food poisoning, Botulism and Clostridium perfringens food poisoning
what foods are at risk of Staphylococcal intoxication
meat and meat products, poultry and egg products, salads: egg, tuna, chicken, potato, bakery products: cream-filled pastries, cream pies, and chocolate eclairs, sandwich fillings and milk and dairy products.
what does Clostridium botulinum: botulism effect
-Affect nervous system - headache, vertigo, double vision, weakness, difficulty swallowing, progressive respiratory paralysis
-prefers no or low oxygen - produces toxin
-rare but very serious, often fatal or long-term recocvery necessary
-symptoms= double vision, difficult eye movement, swallowing and speech
where does Vegetarian and spore forms
found in soil, water, intestinal tracts of animals and fish
what do Clostridium perfringens cause
-Toxin-mediated infection= organisms eaten in food, stays in intestine and produces toxin
-mid-way between intoxication and infection
-Mild illness= Symptoms 8-22 hours
-Source= soil, dust, human and animal faeces
-Foods= cooked meats, chili, stews, poultry, gravies, baked beans, other thick dishes
what is Ergot
a fungal disease of rye grass. It transforms the grain into enlarged, hard, dark spur-like structures
where does ergot grow
It grows best in damp conditions. Variations in weather are therefor crucial for its growth. LSD, a popular street drug some years ago, can be extracted from ergot. (in an irony so frequent in medicine, ergot–a poison–is used to control excessive bleeding in childbirth.)
what is ergotism
is a form of fungal poisoning caused by the ingestion of the ergot fungus. It infects porridge and breads made from the grain. Ergot is best known for the two frequent extreme forms of the disease: convulsive and gangrenous. The reddening or blistering of the skin has earned it the occasional name of St. Anthony’s Fire
describe salmonella
-Gram negative rods, motile
-Facultative anaerobes
-Grows between 7-48 oC (opt. 37 oC), pH 4-8
-Killed by heat (72 oC for 15 sec.) and acid (pH 4.0 for 72 hr)
-Resists freezing and drying
