Brucelosis: zoonosis de importancia en México / Brucellosis: a zoonosis of importance in Mexico

Introduction: Brucellosis is one of the most frequent zoonosis in most parts of the world. This zoonosis remains a great problem to public health in developing countries, although developed countries have successfully controlled it. Mexico still shows a high annual brucellosis incidence in humans; thus, the country is considered around the world as an endemic brucellosis country. Aim: To describe the connection/association between this zoonosis and the current epidemiological situation in the Mexican population. Methods: Perusal of research reports, epidemiological studies and veterinarian reviews performed in Mexico, using data bases such as PubMed, Thompson Reuters, Mesh research. Conclusion: The risk of infection by Brucella in Mexico is associated with the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, mainly fresh cheeses.

Introducción: La brucelosis es una de las enfermedades zoonóticas más frecuentes en la mayor parte del mundo. Mientras que en los países desarrollados han logrado con éxito su control, en los países en vías de desarrollo continúa siendo un gran problema de salud pública. México continúa presentando alta incidencia anual de brucelosis en humanos, por lo que es considerado un país endémico de brucelosis. Objetivo: Describir la relación de esta zoonosis con la situación epidemiológica actual en la población de México. Material y Métodos: Consulta de reportes de investigación, estudios epidemiológicos y revisiones veterinarias, realizadas en México, a través de bases de datos como PubMed, Thompson Reuters y Meshresearch. Conclusión: El riesgo del contagio de Brucella spp. en México está asociado al consumo de productos lácteos sin pasteurizar, principalmente quesos frescos.

Mexican unpasteurised fresh cheeses are contaminated with Salmonella spp., non-O157 Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli and potential uropathogenic E. coli strains: A public health risk.

Fresh cheeses are a main garnish of Mexican food. Consumption of artisanal fresh cheeses is very common and most of them are made from unpasteurised cow milk. A total of 52 fresh unpasteurised cheeses of five different types were purchased from a variety of suppliers from Tabasco, Mexico. Using the most probable number method, 67% and 63% of samples were positive for faecal coliforms and E. coli, respectively; revealing their low microbiological quality. General hygienic conditions and practices of traditional cheese manufacturers were poor; most establishments had unclean cement floors, all lacked windows and doors screens, and none of the food-handlers wore aprons, surgical masks or bouffant caps. After analysing all E. coli isolates (121 strains) for the presence of 26 virulence genes, results showed that 9 (17%) samples were contaminated with diarrheagenic E. coli strains, 8 harboured non-O157 Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), and one sample contained both STEC and diffusely adherent E. coli strains. All STEC strains carried the stx1 gene. Potential uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains were isolated from 15 (29%) samples; the most frequent gene combination was fimA-agn43. Two samples were contaminated with Salmonella. The results demonstrated that unpasteurised fresh cheeses produced in Tabasco are of poor microbiological quality and may frequently harbour foodborne pathogens. Food safety authorities in Mexico need to conduct more rigorous surveillance of fresh cheeses. Furthermore, simple and inexpensive measures as establishing programs emphasizing good hand milking practices and hygienic manufacturing procedures may have a major effect on improving the microbiological quality of these food items.

[Brucellosis: a zoonosis of importance in Mexico]. / Brucelosis: zoonosis de importancia en México.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is one of the most frequent zoonosis in most parts of the world. This zoonosis remains a great problem to public health in developing countries, although developed countries have successfully controlled it. Mexico still shows a high annual brucellosis incidence in humans; thus, the country is considered around the world as an endemic brucellosis country. AIM: To describe the connection/association between this zoonosis and the current epidemiological situation in the Mexican population. METHODS: Perusal of research reports, epidemiological studies and veterinarian reviews performed in Mexico, using data bases such as PubMed, Thompson Reuters, Mesh research. CONCLUSION: The risk of infection by Brucella in Mexico is associated with the consumption of unpasteurized dairy products, mainly fresh cheeses.