15 - Food & Water borne bacterial diseases Flashcards
Gastroenteritis
inflammation of stomach and intestinal lining. Called food poisoning when food is source of pathogen
Colonisation of the host
Infection may be non invasive (bacteria remain on epithelial surface) or invasive (bacteria cross the epithelium)
Food intoxication
- Bacteria secrete an enterotoxin that disrupts the intestinal mucosa
- Presence of the living bacterium not required for symptoms
Stomach and small intestine
- Acidic pH
- Low microbial load, few pathogens (e.g. Helicobacter pylori)
Large intestine
- Mainly anaerobes and facultative anaerobes
- ~2000 uncultured species essential for health and aid in digestion of food
Physical defences of the GIT
- Tight junctions between epithelial cells
- Mucins secreted from goblet cells
Chemical defences of the GIT
Low pH (<3) in stomach
Immunological defences of the GIT
- GALT (gut associated lymphoid tissue)
- Paneth cells secrete antimicrobial defensins
Mechanical defences of the GIT
Constant shedding of epithelial cells and replacement by differentiation of stem
cells into enterocytes
How do bacterial pathogens cause disease in the GIT?
- Intoxication
- Adherence and secretion of toxins
- Injection of effectors by type III and type IV secretory systems
- Invasion
Intoxication
preformed toxin ingested and presence of living microbes in food not required
Diseases that arise through intoxication
- Staphylococcal food poisoning
- Bacillus cereus food poisoning
- Botulism: Clostridium botulinum
Staphylococcus aureus
Gram positive cocci in clusters
Clinical symptoms of Staphylococcal food poisoning
- Pain, cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, nausea
- Intoxication in short period (1 to 8 hr, duration <24hrs)
Epidemiology of Staphylococcal food poisoning
- Contaminates foods
(custard, ham, ice cream, meats) - Bacteria present in nose, skin lesions, thus food may
be contaminated by food handlers
̶- S. aureus cells are resistant to heat, drying and high osmotic pressure
Main virulence factors of Staphylococcal food poisoning
- Numerous enterotoxins (24)
- Heat stable (survive boiling 30mins)
- Superantigens
- Act on gut receptors and trigger vomiting
Superantigens
cause non-specific stimulation of T cells resulting in massive release of cytokines and inflammation
Bacillus cereus
- Gram positive endospore-forming bacillus
- Endospores are heat resistant (survive boiling)
Clinical symptoms of Bacillus cereus food poisoning
vomiting and diarrhoea
Epidemiology of Bacillus cereus food poisoning
- Found in soil, vegetation
- Heating food may not kill spores
- Rice especially susceptible e.g. re-heated fried rice
- Spores germinate as food cools
- Vegetative cells release enterotoxins
Main virulence factors of Bacillus cereus food poisoning
- 2 types of enterotoxins
- Emetic toxin
- Diarrhoeal toxin
Emetic toxin
Triggers vomiting. 2 to 5 hrs incubation period (an intoxication)
Diarrhoeal toxin
Diarrhoea. 8 to 16 hrs incubation period (an infection where bacteria colonise)
Clostridium botulinum
Gram positive endospore-forming anaerobic bacillus
Clinical symptoms of Botulism
- Symptoms within 12-72 hrs of toxin ingestion
- Blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness, flaccid paralysis
- Death in 1/3 untreated patients from respiratory or cardiac failure