Bacterial contamination human diseases

In general, the clinical presentation of the human diseases associated with the ingestion of marine seafood toxins is similar to that of any other food poisoning disease. However, a number of clinical issues make these diseases particularly difficult to diagnose and treat. For example, the neurotoxic syndromes associated with CFP, PSP, and NSP represent points along a continuum of disease severity rather than clinically exclusive diseases. Even if fish or other seafood is the suspected source of a disease outbreak, diarrhea associated with the outbreak could be misdiagnosed as originating from bacterial rather than from phycotoxin contamination. 

Melioidosis Bacterial disease of rodents that can be transmitted to humans via food contaminated by rodent droppings or biting flies. 

NOES (1999) National Occupational Exposure Survey 1981-83. Unpublished data as of July 1999. Cincinnati, OH, Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control, National Institute for Occupahonal Safety and Health Nohmi, T., Miyata, R., Yoshikawa, K. Ishidate Jr, M. (1985) [Mutagenicity tests on organic contaminants in city water and related compounds. I. Bacterial mutagenicity tests.] Eisei Shikenjo Hokoku, 103, 60-64 (in Japanese)... 

From time immemorial, surface water played a pivotal role to human life as a source of drinking water because of its easy access compared with any other water source. A few decades ago, the use of contaminated surface water sources was found to contribute to the transmission of waterborne bacterial diseases. Thus, a paradigm shift in water usage from surface to groundwater was inevitable. 

In addition to its role in human physiology, iodine is an integral part of a number of compounds important for fighting infectious diseases. Secretion of these compounds in the upper digestive tract and eyes helps ensure that those parts of the body constantly exposed to outside contamination remain free of bacterial infection. Loss of these iodine-containing protective compounds could place people at risk of bacterial infections. The presence of the symporter at these locations is central to providing the needed iodine for immunologic protection. 

Tularemia (francisella tularensis), also known as rabbit fever, deerfly fever, and Ohara s disease, like the plague, is a bacterial infection that can occur naturally from the bite of insects, usually ticks and deerflies. The disease can also be acquired from contact with infected rabbits, muskrats, and squirrels, ingestion of contaminated food, or inhalation of contaminated dust. Once contracted, it is not directly spread from human to human. Tularemia remains infectious in the blood for about 2 weeks and in lesions for a month. It remains ineffective in deerflies for 14 days and ticks throughout their lifetime (about 2 years). The disease can occur at anytime of the year, but is most common in the early winter during rabbit hunting season and in the summer when tick and deerfly activity is at its peak. Tularemia contracted naturally has a death rate of approximately 5%. 

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