Lecture 12 - Foodborne pathogens

Question 1

What is gastroenteritis? List the causes

Answer 1

Gastroenteritis is an acute stomach sickness caused by foodborne pathogens such as Parasites, bacteria but mainly virus i.e. Norovirus. The symptoms include vomiting, diarrhoea, fever and malaise. It is one of the leading causes of death by infectious diseases.

Question 2

What are the three main ways of contamination?

Answer 2

Food is grown in contaminated conditions - irrigation water or fertiliser contains human faeces
During packaging food is washed with contaminated water
During packaging or preparation of food the handler contaminated the food with pathogen

Question 3

Describe food poisoning give microbial examples of bacterial and viral contaminations. Describe the symptoms.

Answer 3

Food poisoning is the contamination of food which leads to sickness. The symptoms of food poisoning differs between virus such as Norovirus or bacterial Salmonella contamination. Usually bacterial contamination symptoms are more readily within 12 hours generally causing diarrhea and GI upset. Whereas incubation time for viral contamination such as Norovirus is 1 - 2 days which would normally cause vomiting and diarrhea.