SUMMARYTo determine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriage in poultry and slaughterhouse personnel, 40 Dutch broiler flocks, in six slaughterhouses and 466 personnel were sampled. Of the employees, 26 were positive (5 . 6 %), indicating a higher risk of exposure when compared to the general Dutch population (0 . 1 %). This risk was significantly higher for personnel having contact with live animals (5 . 2 %) -especially hanging broilers on the slaughterline (20 . 0%) -than for all other personnel (1 . 9 %). Conventional electric stunning conferred a significantly higher risk of MRSA carriage for employees than CO 2 stunning (9 . 7% vs. 2 . 0%). A total of 405 broilers were sampled upon their arrival at the slaughterhouse, of which 6 . 9% were positive. These broilers originated from 40 Dutch slaughter flocks of which 35 . 0% were positive. MRSA contamination in the different compartments of slaughterhouses increased during the production day, from 8 % to 35 %. Of the 119 MRSA isolates, predominantly livestock-associated MRSA ST398 was found, although 27 . 7 % belonged to ST9 (spa type t1430). There is an increased risk of MRSA carriage in personnel working at broiler slaughterhouses, particularly those having contact with live animals.

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(2013) Community incidence of pathogen-specific gastroenteritis: reconstructing the surveillance pyramid for seven pathogens in seven European Union member states. Epidemiology and infection, 141 (8 SUMMARYBy building reconstruction models for a case of gastroenteritis in the general population moving through different steps of the surveillance pyramid we estimated that millions of illnesses occur annually in the European population, leading to thousands of hospitalizations. We used data on the healthcare system in seven European Union member states in relation to pathogen characteristics that influence healthcare seeking. Data on healthcare usage were obtained by harmonized cross-sectional surveys. The degree of under-diagnosis and underreporting varied by pathogen and country. Overall, underreporting and under-diagnosis were estimated to be lowest for Germany and Sweden, followed by Denmark, The Netherlands, UK, Italy and Poland. Across all countries, the incidence rate was highest for Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. Incidence estimates resulting from the pyramid reconstruction approach are adjusted for biases due to different surveillance systems and are therefore a better basis for international comparisons than reported data.

Cytotaxonomic analysis of the polytene chromosomes from larvae of the Simulium damnosum Theobald complex from the island of Bioko in Equatorial Guinea is reported, and a new endemic cytoform is described. Chromosomally this cytoform is close to both S. squamosum (Enderlein) and S. yahense Vajime & Dunbar, but is not identical to either. However, it is morphologically and enzymatically identical to S. yahense. The Bioko form was also found to differ from other cytoforms of the S. damnosum complex in West Africa in the copy number or RFLP pattern of several different repetitive DNA sequences. It is clear that the Bioko form is genetically distinct from other populations of the S. damnosum complex, and whilst it is closest to S. yahense, it shows features that suggest a high degree of geographical and genetic isolation. Such isolation is an important consideration in the assessment of the potential for onchocerciasis vector eradication on Bioko.

SUMMARYThis study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for methicillin-resistantStaphylococcus aureus(MRSA) on 50 Dutch broiler farms. Of 145 persons living and/or working on these farms, eight tested positive for MRSA (5·5%). Investigation of 250 pooled throat samples of broilers and 755 dust samples resulted in four farms where MRSA-positive samples were present (8·0%). All isolates belonged to the CC398 complex. Living and/or working on a MRSA-positive farm was a risk for MRSA carriage; 66·7% of people on positive farms were MRSA positivevs. 1·5% on negative farms (P<0·0001). Due to the low number of positive farms and persons, and high similarity in farm management, it was impossible to draw statistically valid conclusions on other risk factors. For broiler farming, both farm and human MRSA prevalence seem much lower than for pig or veal farming. However, MRSA carriage in people living and/or working on broiler farms is higher compared to the general human population in The Netherlands (5·5%vs. <0·1%). As broiler husbandry systems are not unique to The Netherlands, this might imply that people in contact with live broilers are at risk for MRSA carriage worldwide.