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Detection of multiple enteric virus strains within a foodborne outbreak of gastroenteritis: an indication of the source of contamination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 November 2004

C. I. GALLIMORE ,
C. PIPKIN ,
H. SHRIMPTON ,
A. D. GREEN ,
Y. PICKFORD ,
C. McCARTNEY ,
G. SUTHERLAND ,
D. W. G. BROWN  and
J. J. GRAY
C. I. GALLIMORE
Affiliation:
Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus Laboratory, Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
C. PIPKIN
Affiliation:
Headquarters Defence Medical Education & Training Agency, Fort Blockhouse, Gosport, UK
H. SHRIMPTON
Affiliation:
Central Air and Admiralty Medical Board HMS Sultan, Gosport, UK
A. D. GREEN
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Control, Defence Medical Services Department, FASC Camberley, Camberley, UK
Y. PICKFORD
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Control, Defence Medical Services Department, FASC Camberley, Camberley, UK
C. McCARTNEY
Affiliation:
Communicable Disease Microbiology Support Services Division, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
G. SUTHERLAND
Affiliation:
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (Infection Control Nursing Officer, PCRF), Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
D. W. G. BROWN
Affiliation:
Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus Laboratory, Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
J. J. GRAY
Affiliation:
Enteric, Respiratory and Neurological Virus Laboratory, Specialist and Reference Microbiology Division, Health Protection Agency, London, UK
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Abstract

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An outbreak of acute gastroenteritis of suspected viral aetiology occurred in April 2003 in the British Royal Fleet Auxillary ship (RFA) Argus deployed in the Northern Arabian Gulf. There were 37 cases amongst a crew of 400 personnel. Of 13 samples examined from cases amongst the crew, six enteric viruses were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR). Five different viruses were identified including, three norovirus genotypes, a sapovirus and a rotavirus. No multiple infections were detected. A common food source was implicated in the outbreak and epidemiological analysis showed a statistically significant association with salad as the source of the outbreak, with a relative risk of 3·41 (95% confidence interval of 1·7–6·81) of eating salad on a particular date prior to the onset of symptoms. Faecal contamination of the salad at source was the most probable explanation for the diversity of viruses detected and characterized.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 41 - 47
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press