Incubation Period, Spore Shedding Duration, and Symptoms of Enterocytozoon bieneusi Genotype C Infection in a Foodborne Outbreak in Denmark, 2020.
Clin Infect Dis
; 75(3): 468-475, 2022 08 31.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-34791090
BACKGROUND: Microsporidia are rarely reported to cause outbreaks of diarrhea. We describe a foodborne outbreak of microsporidiosis from a workplace canteen in November 2020 in Denmark. METHODS: A probable case was defined as any person using the canteen between 4 November and 13 December 2020, reporting at least one gastrointestinal symptom, whereas a confirmed case also had an Enterocytozoon bieneusi positive stool sample. A web-based questionnaire was used to collect clinical, epidemiological, and food exposure data. We performed a retrospective cohort study and tested stool samples from affected individuals for bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogens, including E. bieneusi. RESULTS: Altogether, 195 individuals completed the questionnaire. We identified 52 cases (65% male; median age 45 years [range 25-65]). Diarrhea (90%), fatigue (83%), and abdominal pain (79%) were the most commonly reported symptoms. Eight cases were laboratory-confirmed and had E. bieneusi genotype C. The incubation period was between 5 and 12 days, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-detectable spore shedding occurred up to 43 days after symptom onset. Disease was associated with consuming food from the workplace canteen on 4 November 2020 (relative risk [RR[, 2.8 [95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.4 - 5.4]) and lunchboxes containing open sandwiches (RR, 3.2 [95% CI: 1.4 - 7.2]) served that day. CONCLUSIONS: This is the second documented foodborne outbreak of E. bieneusi genotype C-associated diarrhea worldwide. Epidemiological findings advocated an open sandwiches lunchbox from 4 November 2020, as a likely source. E. bieneusi may be an under-reported cause of outbreaks of diarrhea, and testing for it might be useful in foodborne outbreak investigations.
Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Enterocytozoon
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Etiology_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prevalence_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
/
Aged
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
/
Middle aged
País como assunto:
Europa
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article