Nonsecretors were highly susceptible to norovirus GI.3 in a foodborne outbreak.

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Norovirus (NoV) that enters drinking water sources with wastewater discharges is a common cause of waterborne outbreaks. The impact of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) on the river Göta älv (Sweden) was studied using monitoring and hydrodynamic modeling. The concentrations of NoV genogroups (GG) I and II in samples collected at WWTPs and drinking water intakes (source water) during one year were quantified using duplex real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. The mean (standard deviation) NoV GGI and GGII genome concentrations were 6.2 (1.4) and 6.8 (1.8) in incoming wastewater and 5.3 (1.4) and 5.9 (1.4) log genome equivalents (g.e.) L in treated wastewater, respectively. The reduction at the WWTPs varied between 0.4 and 1.1 log units. In source water, the concentration ranged from below the detection limit to 3.8 log g.e. L. NoV GGII was detected in both wastewater and source water more frequently during the cold than the warm period of the year. The spread of NoV in the river was simulated using a three-dimensional hydrodynamic model. The modeling results indicated that the NoV GGI and GGII genome concentrations in source water may occasionally be up to 2.8 and 1.9 log units higher, respectively, than the concentrations measured during the monitoring project.

Background Erythema migrans (EM) is the most common manifestation of Lyme borreliosis. Here, we examined EM patients in Norwegian general practice to find the proportion exposed to tick-transmitted microorganisms other than Borrelia, and the impact of co-infection on the clinical manifestations and disease duration. Methods Skin biopsies from 139/188 EM patients were analyzed using PCR for Neoehrlichia mikurensis, Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Babesia spp. Follow-up sera from 135/188 patients were analyzed for spotted fever group (SFG) Rickettsia, A. phagocytophilum and Babesia microti antibodies, and tested with PCR if positive. Day 0 sera from patients with fever (8/188) or EM duration of ≥ 21 days (69/188) were analyzed, using PCR, for A. phagocytophilum, Rickettsia spp., Babesia spp. and N. mikurensis. Day 14 sera were tested for TBEV IgG. Results We detected no microorganisms in the skin biopsies nor in the sera of patients with fever or prolonged EM duration. Serological signs of exposure against SFG Rickettsia and A. phagocytophilum were detected in 11/135 and 8/135, respectively. Three patients exhibited both SFG Rickettsia and A. phagocytophilum antibodies, albeit negative PCR. No antibodies were detected against B. microti. 2/187 had TBEV antibodies without prior immunization. There was no significant increase in clinical symptoms or disease duration in patients with possible co-infection. Conclusions Co-infection with N. mikurensis, A. phagocytophilum, SFG Rickettsia, Babesia spp. and TBEV is uncommon in Norwegian EM patients. Despite detecting antibodies against SFG Rickettsia and A. phagocytophilum in some patients, no clinical implications could be demonstrated.

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Adiox® is a state-of-the-art dioxin removal technology that has established itself as a cost-effective way to reduce dioxin emissions to the atmosphere. Adiox is a construction material in which carbon particles are dispersed in a polymer such as polypropylene. Several types of components such as tower packings for wet scrubbers, demisters (droplet separators) and dry or semi-wet fixed bed fillings can be produced from Adiox material.The majority of the Adiox installations can be divided into three main categories: a) Adiox as police filter to reduce or eliminate the "memory effect" in scrubber systems with upstream dioxin removal in bag house filters. b) Adiox in combination with other dioxin removal technologies in order to improve the overall dioxin removal and increase the safety margins. c) Adiox as the primary dioxin removal system for meeting the EU waste incineration directive with an emission requirement of < 0.1 ng TEQ/m 3 (n., d.g., 11% O 2 ). At Måbjergvaerket in Denmark, wet Adiox scrubbers in combination with one electrostatic precipitator per line act as the main dioxin filter since the fall of 2004. The dioxin measurements carried out so far show stack concentrations far below the emission limit. If Adiox is employed in a dry absorber instead of a wet scrubber, the specific removal efficiency is higher, which leads to smaller equipment sizes. A full-scale dry absorber has been in operation at the Linköping municipal waste incineration facility since the end of 2006. After use, Adiox can be incinerated, thereby destroying the dioxins.