A total of 292 imported and domestic bottled mineral waters (90 brands) obtained from consumers and retailers were examined, by eye, for observable microbial foreign bodies. Fungal and bacterial foreign contaminants were found in 45 samples of water (20 brands) and in 14 samples of water (10 brands), respectively. Of the samples of water found to be contaminated, 41 (22 brands) were imported and 18 (8 brands) were produced domestically. Of 22 brands that were contaminated, 20 (91%) had been sterilized by at least one method. Forty-eight (98%) of 49 samples confirmed with foreign bodies were less than 1 year old. Among the moulds isolated the most predominant genus was Penicillium, followed by Acremonium and Cladosporium. The samples that contained fungi were less contaminated by bacteria than those that contained observable bacterial foreign bodies.

Five Shigella strains isolated from stool cultures of imported diarrheal cases in Japan, did not react to any antisera of the established Shigella serovars. These strains had the typical biochemical characteristics of Shigella dysenteriae, and were biochemically identical. All strains were positive in the Sereny test and other tests for invasivness; these indicate that they can cause shigellosis in humans. The results of antigenic analysis revealed that they did not belong to any of the recognized or provisional serovars, and were serologically indistinguishable. They had the same drug-resistance pattern (CP.TC.SM.ABPC.ST) and plasmid-profile. Strain 96-204 is designated as the test strain for this new serovar.

An epidemic outbreak of both norovirus (NV) and astrovirus (ASV) occurred on a research ship surveying Tokyo Bay, causing acute gastroenteritis in 26 of its 37 crew members. The presence of viral pathogens in fecal specimens was analyzed, and noroviruses were identified by reverse transcription-PCR in 18 (48.6%) of these specimens. In addition, astroviruses were identified in 14 (37.8%) of the fecal samples from the affected crew members, and multiple viral infections of both NV and ASV were observed in 6 cases. The genogrouping of the NV-positive samples was then examined by dot blot hybridization, and it was determined that all of the isolates were from genogroup II (GII). No bacterial pathogens were subsequently isolated from fecal specimens.

Table 1 Antiseptic drug products for viral inactivation and removal by hand rubbing trial (A to C), wet wipes (D to G), and functional water (H to K)

In viral gastroenteritis outbreaks occurred by Norovirus (NV), NV was detected not only from patients but also from healthy persons who have taken the same food, and also detected from healthy staff members working at community places such as hospital, school and nursing home. The number of fecal NV genome copies of patients, healthy persons and food handlers are examined by real-time PCR method, to investigate foodborne gastroenteritis and person to person transmission outbreaks. There is no significant difference on the number of NV genome copies in feces between patients, and NV-detected healthy persons. Those result indicate asymptomatic carrier of NV who were working as food handlers or staff members at community places will become an origin of food-borne gastroenteritis or person to person transmission outbreaks.