Seasonality and zoonotic foodborne pathogens in Canada: relationships between climate and Campylobacter, E. coli and Salmonella in meat products

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.1017/S0950268819000797

Language of the publication
English
Date
2019-05
Type
Article
Author(s)
  • Smith, B. A.
  • Meadows, S.
  • Meyers, R.
  • Parmley, E. J.
  • Fazil, A.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press

Abstract

Infections due to Campylobacter, Escherichia coli and Salmonella pose a significant health burden in Canada, resulting in major costs to the health care system and economic impacts due to lost productivity resulting from illness. Recent literature suggests that climate may play a role in the prevalence of these pathogens along the food chain. This study used integrated surveillance data to examine associations between weather variables, serving as a proxy for climate, in agricultural areas and Campylobacter, generic E. coli and Salmonella contamination on samples of beef, poultry and swine meat products in Canada. Various temperature metrics (average, maximum and variability) were correlated with Campylobacter prevalence along the food chain. The prevalence of E. coli and Salmonella was correlated with both precipitation and temperatures metrics; however, analysis for E. coli was limited to beef and swine meats at retail settings, because prevalence in other combinations approached 100%, which obviated further analysis. Campylobacter contamination in poultry and swine at abattoir and retail settings demonstrated a seasonal trend, with increased prevalence generally from June or July through November, compared to the baseline month of December. Based on these analyses, Campylobacter is the most likely foodborne bacteria studied whose occurrence in meat products is affected by climatic changes in Canada. An exploratory analysis of data at the provincial scale, using Ontario as an example, revealed similar directional relationships between climate and bacterial prevalence.

Subject

  • Health

Keywords

  • Campylobacter,
  • climate,
  • Escherichia coli,
  • salmonella,
  • food-borne zoonoses

Rights

Peer review

Yes

Identifiers

PubMed ID
31364535
ISSN
0950-2688

Article

Journal title
Epidemiology and infection
Journal volume
147
Article number
190

Citation(s)

Smith BA, Meadows S, Meyers R, Parmley EJ, Fazil A. Seasonality and zoonotic foodborne pathogens in Canada: relationships between climate and Campylobacter, E. coli and Salmonella in meat products. Epidemiol Infect. 2019 Jan;147:e190. doi: 10.1017/S0950268819000797.

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Collection(s)

Communicable diseases

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