This thesis is concerned with the application of recently developed epidemiological and statistical tools to inform the optimisation of a national surveillance strategy of considerable importance to human health. The results of a series of epidemiological investigations of surveillance strategies for zoonotic Salmonella are presented. Salmonella are one of the most common and serious zoonotic foodborne pathogenic bacteria globally. These studies were motivated by the increasing focus on the cost-effectiveness of surveillance while maintaining consumer confidence in food supply. Although data from the Danish Salmonella surveillance and control programme has been used in these investigations, the techniques may be readily applied to other surveillance data of similar quality. The first study describes the spatial epidemiological features of Danish Salmonella surveillance and control programme data from 1995 to 2004, using a novel method of spatially adaptive smoothing. The conditional probability of a farm being a case was consistently high in the the south-west of Sonderjylland on the Jutland peninsula, identifying this area for further investigation and targeted surveillance. The identification of clustering of case farms led into the next study, which closely examines one year of data, 2003, for patterns of spatial dependency. K-function analyses provided evidence for aggregation of Salmonella case farms over that of all farms at distances of up to six kilometres. Visual semivariogram analyses of random farm-level effects from a Bayesian logistic regression model (adjusted for herd size) of Salmonella seropositivity, revealed spatial dependency between pairs of farms up to a distance of four kilometres apart. The strength of the spatial dependency was positively associated with slaughter pig farm density. We describe how this might inform the surveillance programme by potentially targeting herds within a four kilometre radius of those with high levels of Salmonella infection. In the third study, farm location details, routinely recorded surveillance information, and industry survey data from 1995 were combined to build a logistic seroprevalence model. This identified wet-feeding and specific pathogen free herd health status as protective factors for Salmonella seropositivity, while purchasing feed was a risk factor. Once adjusting for these covariates, we identified pockets of unexplained risk for Salmonella seropositivity and found spatial dependency at distances of up to six km (95% CI: 2–35 km) between farms. A generalised linear spatial model was fitted to the Jutland data allowing formal estimation of the range of spatial correlation and a measure of the uncertainty about it. There was a large within-farm component to the variance, suggesting that gathering more farm level information would be advantageous if this approach was to be used to target surveillance strategy. The fourth study again considers data from the whole study period, 1995 to 2004. A detailed temporal analysis of the data revealed there was no consistent seasonal pattern and correspondingly no benefit in targeting sampling to particular times of the year. Spatiotemporal analyses suggested a local epidemic of increased seroprevalence occured in west Jutland in late 2000. Lorelogram analyses showed a defined period of statistically significant temporal dependency, suggesting that there is little value in sampling more frequently than every 10 weeks on the average farm. The final study uses findings from the preceding chapters to develop a zero-inflated binomial model which predicts which farms are most at risk of Salmonella, and then preferentially samples these high-risk farms. This type of modelling allows assessment of similarities and differences between factors that affect herd infection status (introduction) and those that affect the seroprevalence in infected herds (persistence and spread). The model suggested that many of the herds where Salmonella was not detected were infected but at a low prevalence. Using cost and sensitivity, we compared the results with those under the standard sampling scheme based on herd size, and the recently introduced risk-based approach. Model based results were less sensitive, but showed significant cost savings. Further model refinements, sampling schemes, and the methods to evaluate their performance are important areas for future work, and should continue to occur in direct consultation with Danish authorities.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniv., 2007. / Härtill 6 uppsatser.

Na atualidade é cada vez mais comum o consumo de refeições fora de casa. No Brasil, além da opção dos restaurantes comerciais, em escolas, universidades e mesmo em hospitais, é muito comum a presença de serviços de alimentação dentro das empresas onde os funcionários realizam as refeições, durante o seu turno de trabalho. Em paralelo, a incidência de surtos de Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos (DTA) ainda é uma realidade no Brasil e no mundo. Esses fatos têm intensificado a necessidade de implementação dos sistemas de gestão da segurança dos alimentos (SGSA) e seus controles no ramo de serviços de alimentação. Em meio a esse contexto, o presente estudo avaliou as estratégias de gestão da segurança dos alimentos adotadas após a fusão de duas grandes empresas do ramo de restaurantes industriais no Brasil, cada uma com mais de 30 anos desde a fundação, cuja união deu origem a uma empresa de aproximadamente 39 mil colaboradores e uma receita combinada de R$ 2 bilhões, servindo em média 1,8 milhões de refeições diariamente. Para isso, nesse estudo foram analisados crítica e estatisticamente os indicadores de gestão de segurança dos alimentos (taxa de ocorrências alimentares, auditorias internas e capacitações) dos 1 440 restaurantes distribuídos no Brasil, considerando um total de 4 488 dados ao longo de seis anos (2010 a 2015), contemplando o período anterior e posterior à fusão, e implantação do novo sistema de gestão. A análise qualitativa das práticas de gestão de segurança dos alimentos adotadas foi realizada através da Análise SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), que possibilitou identificar a base da escolha da nova estratégia de gestão de segurança dos alimentos adotada após a fusão. A análise estatística dos indicadores possibilitou identificar as oportunidades de melhoria, assim como as estratégias de sucesso na implantação do SGSA. Os resultados demonstraram uma correlação linear entre a conformidade dos itens críticos (IC) e técnica operacional (TO) da auditoria interna, com o menor número de ocorrências alimentares em unidades que apresentaram 100% de conformidade em IC. Ainda, restaurantes com um histórico de auditorias internas apresentaram melhores resultados, principalmente quando foram avaliados a cada quatro meses. Também foi observado que as unidades com líderes treinados apresentaram melhores resultados em auditoria interna para IC proporcionalmente à sua maior frequência de participação. Além disso, essas unidades também reportaram mais suspeitas de ocorrências alimentares do que as unidades cujos líderes não haviam recebido treinamento. Da mesma forma, as unidades com equipes operacionais treinadas no mínimo anualmente apresentaram melhores resultados de auditoria interna do que as não treinadas, sendo identificado que a frequência quadrimestral de treinamentos resultou nos melhores resultados de TO e IC. Esses resultados foram avaliados e discutidos, utilizando outros trabalhos de referência bibliográfica no tema, permitindo assim, a elaboração de uma proposta de modelo de SGSA para Serviços de Alimentação. / Currently, eating out is becoming increasingly usual. In Brazil, in addition to the option of commercial restaurants, schools, universities and even hospitals, it is very common the presence of food services within companies where employees eat meals during their work shift. On the other hand, the incidence of outbreaks of Foodborne Diseases (FD) is still a reality in Brazil and in the world. These facts have intensified the need to implement food safety management systems (FSMS) and their controls in the food services sector. Considering this context, the present study evaluated the food safety management strategies adopted after the merger of two large industrial restaurant companies in Brazil, each with more than 30 years since their foundation, whose union gave rise to a company of approximately 39 thousand employees and a combined revenue of R$ 2 billion, serving on average 1.8 million meals daily. Therefore, in this study, the indicators of food safety management (food event rate, internal audits and training) of the 1 440 restaurants distributed in Brazil were analyzed critically and statistically, considering a total data of 4 488 over six years (2010 to 2015), before and after the merger, and implementation of a new management system. The qualitative analysis of food safety management practices was carried out through the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, which enabled to identify the basis for choosing the new food safety management strategy adopted after the merger. Statistical analysis of the indicators allowed the identification of opportunities for improvement, as well as successful strategies in the implementation of the FSMS. The results showed a linear correlation between the compliance of critical items (CI) and operational technique (OT) of the internal audit, with the lowest number of food occurrences in units that presented 100% compliance with CI. Moreover, restaurants with a history of internal audits performed better, especially when they were evaluated every four months. It was also observed that the units with trained leaders presented better results in internal audit for CI in proportion to their higher frequency of participation. In addition, these units also reported more suspicion of food occurrences than units whose leaders had not received training. Likewise, the units with operational teams trained at least annually presented better internal audit results than the non-trained ones, and the quarterly frequency of training resulted in the best results of OT and CI. These results were evaluated and discussed, through other academic articles in the theme, allowing the elaboration of a proposal of the FSMS model for Food Services.

Submitted by Alexandre Sousa (alexandre.sousa@incqs.fiocruz.br) on 2015-05-11T18:47:14Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_YONE_Silva.pdf: 1159360 bytes, checksum: 60a775dd2a6e18b51fe5d2a0b20946b3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandre Sousa (alexandre.sousa@incqs.fiocruz.br) on 2015-05-11T18:47:25Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_YONE_Silva.pdf: 1159360 bytes, checksum: 60a775dd2a6e18b51fe5d2a0b20946b3 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Alexandre Sousa (alexandre.sousa@incqs.fiocruz.br) on 2015-05-11T18:47:34Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_YONE_Silva.pdf: 1159360 bytes, checksum: 60a775dd2a6e18b51fe5d2a0b20946b3 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-11T18:47:34Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_YONE_Silva.pdf: 1159360 bytes, checksum: 60a775dd2a6e18b51fe5d2a0b20946b3 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009 / Fundação Oswaldo Cruz. Instituto Nacional de Controle de Qualidade em Saúde / Os alimentos, necessidade básica para todos os seres humanos, influenciam diretamente na qualidade de vida, por terem relação com a manutenção, prevenção ou recuperação da saúde. Os agravos à saúde resultantes da ingestão de alimentos impróprios ao consumo humano representam, atualmente, um dos mais disseminados e crescentes problemas de Saúde Pública. Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos são definidas como aquelas usualmente de natureza infecciosa ou tóxica causada por agentes que invadem o organismo através da ingestão de alimentos. O presente trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de conhecer o perfil epidemiológico dos surtos de Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos e a evolução das DTA ocorridos no município do Rio de Janeiro, no período de 2005 a 2008. Foram coletados dados dos relatórios finais de investigação de surtos pela Vigilância Sanitária Municipal do Rio de Janeiro. No total, ocorreram 305 surtos envolvendo 2299 pessoas. O principal agente etiológico identificado nos surtos foi Staphylococcus aureus(30,7%), seguido por Coliformes Termotolerantes(22,6%). Os principais alimentos envolvidos nesses surtos foram os pratos prontos para consumo. Foi possível relacionar cerca de 06 diferentes fatores predisponentes, sendo que a falta de asseio (39%) foi o mais frequente. Dos 305 surtos investigados 33,8% ocorreram em restaurantes; 18,4% em residências e, 17,1% em creches/escolas. Os principais documentos extraídos durante a investigação dos surtos foram o TAAA e o TVS. Com os dados disponíveis, evidencia-se a necessidade de educar a população quanto aos riscos que os alimentos contaminados representam; a importância da ação de investigação de agravos à saúde causados pela ingestão de alimentos contaminados; e a necessidade de constante capacitação dos profissionais envolvidos na investigação dos surtos, para que através dos resultados obtidos seja possível fornecer parâmetros para intervenções em práticas de manipulação de alimento. / he food, basic need for all human beings directly influence the quality of life, by having regard to the maintenance, prevention or recovery of health. The health problems resulting from the ingestion of food unfit for human consumption are, currently, one of the most widespread and growing public health problem. Foodborne diseases are usually defined as those in nature caused by infectious or toxic agents that invade the body through the ingestion of food. This work was carried out to ascertain the epidemiological profile of outbreaks of diseases transmitted by food and the evolution of DTA occurring in Rio de Janeiro, in the period 2005 to 2008. Were collected data infinal reports of outbreak investigation by the Sanitary Surveillance Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. In total, there were 305 outbreaks involving 2299 persons. The main etiologic agent was identified in outbreaks Staphylococcus aureus(30.7%), followed by thermotolerant coliforms (22.6%). The main foods involved in outbreaks were the foodready for consumption. It was possible to relate about 06 different predisposing factors, and the lack of cleanliness (39%) was the most frequent. Of the 305 investigated outbreaks occurred in restaurants 33.8%, 18.4% in households, and 17.1% in kindergartens / schools. The main documents taken during the investigation of outbreaks were the TAAA and TVS. With the data available, shows the need to educate the population about the risk that food contaminated represent, the importance of action research of diseases caused by ingestion of contaminated food, and the need for constant training of professionals involved in research the outbreaks, so that through the results is possible to provide parameters for practical interventions in the handling of food.

Na atualidade é cada vez mais comum o consumo de refeições fora de casa. No Brasil, além da opção dos restaurantes comerciais, em escolas, universidades e mesmo em hospitais, é muito comum a presença de serviços de alimentação dentro das empresas onde os funcionários realizam as refeições, durante o seu turno de trabalho. Em paralelo, a incidência de surtos de Doenças Transmitidas por Alimentos (DTA) ainda é uma realidade no Brasil e no mundo. Esses fatos têm intensificado a necessidade de implementação dos sistemas de gestão da segurança dos alimentos (SGSA) e seus controles no ramo de serviços de alimentação. Em meio a esse contexto, o presente estudo avaliou as estratégias de gestão da segurança dos alimentos adotadas após a fusão de duas grandes empresas do ramo de restaurantes industriais no Brasil, cada uma com mais de 30 anos desde a fundação, cuja união deu origem a uma empresa de aproximadamente 39 mil colaboradores e uma receita combinada de R$ 2 bilhões, servindo em média 1,8 milhões de refeições diariamente. Para isso, nesse estudo foram analisados crítica e estatisticamente os indicadores de gestão de segurança dos alimentos (taxa de ocorrências alimentares, auditorias internas e capacitações) dos 1 440 restaurantes distribuídos no Brasil, considerando um total de 4 488 dados ao longo de seis anos (2010 a 2015), contemplando o período anterior e posterior à fusão, e implantação do novo sistema de gestão. A análise qualitativa das práticas de gestão de segurança dos alimentos adotadas foi realizada através da Análise SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats), que possibilitou identificar a base da escolha da nova estratégia de gestão de segurança dos alimentos adotada após a fusão. A análise estatística dos indicadores possibilitou identificar as oportunidades de melhoria, assim como as estratégias de sucesso na implantação do SGSA. Os resultados demonstraram uma correlação linear entre a conformidade dos itens críticos (IC) e técnica operacional (TO) da auditoria interna, com o menor número de ocorrências alimentares em unidades que apresentaram 100% de conformidade em IC. Ainda, restaurantes com um histórico de auditorias internas apresentaram melhores resultados, principalmente quando foram avaliados a cada quatro meses. Também foi observado que as unidades com líderes treinados apresentaram melhores resultados em auditoria interna para IC proporcionalmente à sua maior frequência de participação. Além disso, essas unidades também reportaram mais suspeitas de ocorrências alimentares do que as unidades cujos líderes não haviam recebido treinamento. Da mesma forma, as unidades com equipes operacionais treinadas no mínimo anualmente apresentaram melhores resultados de auditoria interna do que as não treinadas, sendo identificado que a frequência quadrimestral de treinamentos resultou nos melhores resultados de TO e IC. Esses resultados foram avaliados e discutidos, utilizando outros trabalhos de referência bibliográfica no tema, permitindo assim, a elaboração de uma proposta de modelo de SGSA para Serviços de Alimentação. / Currently, eating out is becoming increasingly usual. In Brazil, in addition to the option of commercial restaurants, schools, universities and even hospitals, it is very common the presence of food services within companies where employees eat meals during their work shift. On the other hand, the incidence of outbreaks of Foodborne Diseases (FD) is still a reality in Brazil and in the world. These facts have intensified the need to implement food safety management systems (FSMS) and their controls in the food services sector. Considering this context, the present study evaluated the food safety management strategies adopted after the merger of two large industrial restaurant companies in Brazil, each with more than 30 years since their foundation, whose union gave rise to a company of approximately 39 thousand employees and a combined revenue of R$ 2 billion, serving on average 1.8 million meals daily. Therefore, in this study, the indicators of food safety management (food event rate, internal audits and training) of the 1 440 restaurants distributed in Brazil were analyzed critically and statistically, considering a total data of 4 488 over six years (2010 to 2015), before and after the merger, and implementation of a new management system. The qualitative analysis of food safety management practices was carried out through the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats) analysis, which enabled to identify the basis for choosing the new food safety management strategy adopted after the merger. Statistical analysis of the indicators allowed the identification of opportunities for improvement, as well as successful strategies in the implementation of the FSMS. The results showed a linear correlation between the compliance of critical items (CI) and operational technique (OT) of the internal audit, with the lowest number of food occurrences in units that presented 100% compliance with CI. Moreover, restaurants with a history of internal audits performed better, especially when they were evaluated every four months. It was also observed that the units with trained leaders presented better results in internal audit for CI in proportion to their higher frequency of participation. In addition, these units also reported more suspicion of food occurrences than units whose leaders had not received training. Likewise, the units with operational teams trained at least annually presented better internal audit results than the non-trained ones, and the quarterly frequency of training resulted in the best results of OT and CI. These results were evaluated and discussed, through other academic articles in the theme, allowing the elaboration of a proposal of the FSMS model for Food Services.

Submitted by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-09-27T12:09:55Z No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Larissa de Assis Lima - 2018.pdf: 3058046 bytes, checksum: a5b939547ee386a987c881d0c897ef1c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-09-27T12:09:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Larissa de Assis Lima - 2018.pdf: 3058046 bytes, checksum: a5b939547ee386a987c881d0c897ef1c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-07-11 / Item withdrawn by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-10-01T11:33:22Z Item was in collections: Mestrado em Biociência Animal (RJ) (ID: 126) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Larissa de Assis Lima - 2018.pdf: 3058046 bytes, checksum: a5b939547ee386a987c881d0c897ef1c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Item reinstated by Liliane Ferreira (ljuvencia30@gmail.com) on 2018-10-01T11:35:58Z Item was in collections: Mestrado em Biociência Animal (RJ) (ID: 126) No. of bitstreams: 2 Dissertação - Larissa de Assis Lima - 2018.pdf: 3058046 bytes, checksum: a5b939547ee386a987c881d0c897ef1c (MD5) license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) / Foodborne Diseases (FVB) are public health problem with Salmonella spp., one of the main pathogens in poultry industry. The objective was to evaluate the sanitary management of a small aviary in Jataí-GO and its relation with the presence of Salmonella spp. The establishment was characterized as family run poultry businesses with small scale production and female management. In two plots were collected for microbiological analysis environmental samples at the entrance (D0); at 28° (D28) and at 60° (D60) days; carcasses, evisceration gutter and defeathering machine. The pH and chlorine of the water were also analyzed; ambient temperatures and carcasses were measured and a good production practices monitoring form was carried out. Data analysis was descriptive considering current legislation. There was absence of Salmonella spp. in all samples (bottoms of the chicks' transport boxes; residues of egg shells from the boxes; starter grower and fattening feed; and disposable overshoes of chicks reception sheds, feeders and drinking fountains, screens, area outside the shed and compost house) and adequate values of pH, chlorine and temperature. These results showed that implementation and rigor in the monitoring of the standards present in Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) and Standard Operating Procedures in the process of creation and processing of chicken meat, besides controlling the propagation of this pathogen in the plants and in the carcasses, ensured a final quality product to the consumer. / As Doenças Veiculadas por Alimentos (DVA) são uma problemática de saúde pública, sendo a Salmonella spp. um dos principais patógenos na avicultura. Objetivou-se avaliar o manejo sanitário de um aviário de pequeno porte em Jataí-GO e sua relação com a presença de Salmonella spp. O estabelecimento era caracterizado como agricultura familiar com produção em pequena escala e gestão feminina. Em dois lotes foram coletas amostras para análises microbiológicas do ambiente na entrada (D0), no 28º (D28) e no 60º (D60) dia; das carcaças, da bancada de evisceração e da depenadeira. Também foram aferidos o pH e o cloro da água; aferido as temperaturas do ambiente e das carcaças e realizado formulário de acompanhamento das boas práticas de produção. A análise dos dados foi descritiva considerando a legislação vigente. Verificou-se ausência de Salmonella spp. em todas as amostras (fundos das caixas de transporte dos pintinhos; resíduos das cascas de ovos das caixas; rações das fases inicial e engorda; própés da cama do galpão de recepção dos pintinhos, comedouros e bebedouros, paredes e telas, área externa ao galpão e composteira; e carcaças) e valores adequados de pH, cloro e temperatura. Desta forma, a implementação e o rigor no monitoramento dos padrões presentes nos programas de Boas Práticas de Fabricação (BPF) e Procedimentos Padrão de Higiene Operacional (PPHO) no processo de criação e processamento da carne de frango, além de controlar a propagação desse patógeno nos plantéis e nas carcaças, asseguraram um produto final de qualidade ao consumidor

A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose de distribuição mundial, altamente prevalente na população humana e animal. A doença é geralmente benigna e autolimitada, mas pode ocasionar déficits visuais graves em cerca de 2 a 3% dos indivíduos acometidos, e ainda, assumir formas graves e letais em pacientes imunossuprimidos e em fetos de gestantes com infecção aguda. As principais formas de transmissão da doença são o consumo de água e alimentos crus contaminados com oocistos e a ingestão de carne crua ou mal cozida contendo cistos teciduais do Toxoplasma gondii. Na literatura há relatos de vários surtos epidêmicos de toxoplasmose humana, porém a análise descritiva destes surtos é pontual e restrita, com informações isoladas em relação período de incubação e gravidade dos sintomas que poderiam estar relacionados à forma infectante do agente. No presente trabalho analisamos a influência da forma infectante do T. gondii no quadro da doença aguda humana, através de revisão sistemática das principais bases de dados bibliográficos na área de Saúde Pública (Cochrane, Embase, Food Sciences & Tech Abstracts, Lilacs, PubMed, Scopus e Web of Science), além de publicações em boletins epidemiológicos (Boletim Epidemiológico Paulista, Boletim Eletrônico Epidemiológico SVS) e anais de congressos nacionais e internacionais de áreas correlatas. As pesquisas nas bases de dados bibliográficos foram realizadas utilizando idiomas em português e inglês para os termos: surtos de toxoplasmose humana (human toxoplasmosis outbreak). Os critérios de inclusão dos estudos levaram em consideração artigos e resumos que relatassem surtos epidêmicos de toxoplasmose humana com descrição da forma infectante do agente e quadro clínico da doença. Na busca eletrônica inicial, foram obtidos 431 artigos referentes a surtos mundiais e nacionais de toxoplasmose humana, provenientes de diferentes formas de transmissão da doença, porém foram elegíveis para o trabalho somente 33 artigos, incluindo um surto ocorrido recentemente na região de Araraquara, Estado de São Paulo, cuja investigação epidemiológica foi conduzida por nossa equipe. A análise da revisão sistemática sugere que o número de casos confirmados nos surtos é maior quando a transmissão ocorre por oocistos, sendo o solo e a água associados a esta forma de transmissão. Quanto aos achados clínicos, a infecção por cistos parece induzir um período de incubação menor do que o observado para oocistos. Não houve relação da forma infectante com o sexo predominante e faixa etária nas populações amostrais. Os surtos foram descritos mais frequentemente nas Américas que em outros continentes. Estes dados sugerem que a forma infectante do T.gondii interfere no quadro da toxoplasmose aguda. / Toxoplasmosis is a zoonosis of worldwide distribution, highly prevalent in the human and animal population. The disease is usually benign and self-limiting but can cause severe visual deficits in about 2 to 3% of affected individuals, and also take serious and lethal in immunosuppressed patients and in fetuses of pregnant women with acute infection. The most important modes of transmission are consumption of water and uncooked food contaminated with oocysts and the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing tissue cysts of Toxoplasma gondii. In literature there are reports of several human toxoplasmosis outbreaks, but the descriptive analysis of these outbreaks is punctual and restricted, with isolated information regarding the incubation period and severity of symptoms that could be related to the infective form of the agent. In this study we analyze the influence of infective form of T. gondii in the context of acute human disease, through a systematic review of the major bibliographic databases in the area of Public Health (Cochrane, Embase, Food Sciences & Tech Abstracts, Lilacs, PubMed, Scopus e Web of Science), as well as publications in epidemiological bulletins (Boletim Epidemiológico Paulista, Boletim Eletrônico Epidemiológico SVS) and annals of national and international conferences in related areas. This research on bibliographic databases was performed using English and Portuguese languages for the terms: human toxoplasmosis outbreak (surtos de toxoplasmose humana). The inclusion criteria of the studies took into consideration articles and abstracts that reported outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis with description of the infective form of the agent and the clinical disease. In the initial electronic search, 431 articles were obtained regarding global and national outbreaks of human toxoplasmosis from different main forms of disease transmission, but were eligible to work only 33 articles, including a recent outbreak in the region of Araraquara State of São Paulo, which epidemiological investigation was conducted by our team. The analysis of systematic review suggests that the number of confirmed cases in outbreaks is greater when the transmission occurs by oocysts, and the soil and water are associated with this form of transmission. Regarding clinical findings, cysts infection seems to induce an incubation period less than that observed for oocysts. No relationship between the infective form with the predominant sex and age group in the sample populations. Outbreaks were reported more frequently in the Americas than in other continents. These data suggest that the infective form of T. gondii interferes in the context of acute toxoplasmosis.

Submitted by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-17T14:30:07Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Rosemeri_Feijó.pdf: 1542995 bytes, checksum: 6e932435071d8dcda014760c79bc799e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-17T14:52:17Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Rosemeri_Feijó.pdf: 1542995 bytes, checksum: 6e932435071d8dcda014760c79bc799e (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Aline Batista (alinehb.ufpel@gmail.com) on 2018-05-17T14:52:23Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Rosemeri_Feijó.pdf: 1542995 bytes, checksum: 6e932435071d8dcda014760c79bc799e (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-17T14:52:23Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 0 bytes, checksum: d41d8cd98f00b204e9800998ecf8427e (MD5) Dissertacao_Rosemeri_Feijó.pdf: 1542995 bytes, checksum: 6e932435071d8dcda014760c79bc799e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015-05-22 / Sem bolsa / A cantina é um dos locais, dentro da escola, onde são realizadas as refeições e adquiridos os alimentos pelos alunos para seu consumo. Este local deve proporcionar bem estar e oferecer uma alimentação adequada, tanto em qualidade nutricional como em qualidade higiênico-sanitária. Neste sentido, a importância deste estudo consiste em conhecer as cantinas das escolas da cidade de Pelotas/RS, com o principal objetivo de caracterizá-las quanto aos tipos de alimentos produzidos e comercializados, assim como quanto às suas condições higiênico-sanitárias. O estudo foi transversal, do tipo censo, realizado entre os meses de abril e setembro de 2014, em 87 escolas e 26 cantinas da cidade. Foram aplicados os seguintes instrumentos: Questionário de caracterização da escola, Questionário de caracterização da cantina, Check list de oferta e publicidade de alimentos e Lista para a verificação das boas práticas de fabricação. Foi realizada coleta de água de ponto localizado dentro da área de manipulação de cada cantina, sendo realizada dosagem de cloro e análise microbiológica para detecção de coliformes totais e Escherichia coli. Como resultados importantes foram verificados a baixa interferência na produção e comercialização de alimentos pela comunidade na cantina escolar, poucos locais com Alvará Sanitário e nutricionista, proprietários sem capacitação em manipulação de alimentos, elevada frequência de comercialização de alimentos não saudáveis, adequação às condições higiênico-sanitárias da maioria das cantinas, porém com alguns itens insatisfatórios como instalações físicas, manejo de resíduos, manipulador, documentação e registro. Para melhorar as condições do serviço prestado e assegurar a qualidade nutricional e sanitária dos alimentos produzidos e comercializados nas cantinas são necessárias ações educativas que envolvam toda comunidade escolar. / The canteen is one of the places within the school, where they are made meals and foods purchased by students for their consumption. This place should provide well-being and provide adequate food, both in nutritional quality as in sanitary conditions. In this regard, the importance of this study is to understand the canteens of schools in the city of Pelotas / RS, with the main objective to characterize them as to the types of produced and marketed food, as well as to their sanitary conditions. The study was cross-sectional, the type census, held between April and September 2014 in 87 schools and 26 canteens in the city. The following instruments were applied: school characterization questionnaire, canteen characterization questionnaire, offering Checklist and advertising of foods and list for verification of good manufacturing practices. Point of water collection was held located within the area of handling each canteen, being held chlorine dosing and microbiological analysis to detect total coliforms and Escherichia coli. As important results have been verified to low interference in the production and marketing community for food in the school canteen, few places with Sanitary Permit and nutritionist, unskilled owners in food handling, high frequency marketing of unhealthy foods, adaptation to hygienic conditions health of most canteens, but with some unsatisfactory items as physical facilities, waste management, handler, documentation and registration. To improve the service conditions and ensure the nutritional and sanitary quality of food produced and sold in the canteens are required educational activities involving the whole school community.

Bacillus cereus is a group of ubiquitous facultative anaerobic spore forming Gram-positive rods commonly found in soil. It has been detected and implicated in several contaminated food products and raw milk in dairy farms and it causes foodborne gastroenteritis by producing several toxins. This study is aimed at characterizing virulence determinants of B. cereus from cow‟s raw milk. A total of 400 raw milk samples were collected in Fort Hare Dairy Trust and Middledrift Dairy Farm; and cultured on Polymyxin pyruvate Egg-Yolk Mannitol Bromothymol Agar (PEMBA) for 48 hours at 37°C. DNA was isolated from the isolates and 16S rDNA was amplified and sent to Central Analytical Laboratory for sequencing. The gyrB gene of B. cereus was also used to confirm the identity of the isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility profiles of the isolates together with virulence genes were investigated. Multilocus Sequence typing was used to investigate the genetic relatedness of some selected isolates. Furthermore, spores of the isolates were produced, harvested and their concentrations determined. All (100%) of the isolates were identified as having a 96-99% similarity to B. cereus, B. thuringiensis and B. anthracis using sequencing; while gyrB gene was observed in all (100%) of the isolates. Three virulence genes nheA, nheB, nheC encoding for non haemolysin enterotoxin were amplified in all (100%) the isolates. All (100%) of the isolates were susceptible to doxycycline, gentamycin, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin. Resistance to rifampicin and penicillin G was predominant with equal rate of 100%, while susceptibility to erythromycin, clindamycin and doxycycline ranged from 60% to 100%. The selected isolates were related and are descendants of the same ancestor. All (100%) the isolates produced spores. The B. cereus isolates contain virulence genes, has multiple antibiotic drug resistance and produce spores, which poses a health risk to the public and cannot be used as probiotics.

Micromachined biosensors are used in chemical and biological applications. A biosensor which uses mass based transduction is called a mass sensor. Mass sensors are used to detect extremely small mass of biomolecules such as proteins, viruses or even parts of DNA in the range of femtograms (10-15 gm) to zeptograms (10−21 gm). Highly effective and reliable microcantilevers are used for detecting the mass of biomolecules using either static deflection or dynamic resonant peak shifts. The main objective of our work is to investigate the effect of elasticity of the attached mass on the shift in the resonant frequency and examine the validity of the rigid mass assumption used in the literature. The natural frequencies of a resonator are either found by solving the governing differential equation or approximately using Rayleigh-Ritz method. The mass of a body, attached to a resonator beam is determined using resonant frequency shift method. In our study, we derive an analytical expression for ‘δm’ based on the shift in frequency ‘δf’ that accounts for the elasticity of the added mass and the location of the mass on the beam. We study the simplest model to incorporate these effects where the added mass is itself modeled as a single degree of freedom spring-mass system. The entire system is represented as a 2-DOF lumped model of cantilever and the attached elastic mass. The natural frequencies are obtained using eigenvalue analysis. We study the mass estimation of Escherichia Coli (E. Coli), a food borne pathogen, using experimental results reported in the literature. We treat E.Coli as an elastic mass and model it as a single degree of freedom system to account for its elasticity. We use the elastic model as well as the rigid mass model to check the results available in the literature and point out the difference that results in mass estimation using the two models. To demonstrate the effect of elasticity on mass sensing using the resonant peak shift technique, we conduct mesoscale experiments. Since the fundamental principle does not depend on any phenomenon exclusively dependent on micro scales, the mesoscale experiments are justified. For this purpose, an experimental set-up with metallic cantilevers and flexible rubber strands as attached masses are used. We also use our experimental set-up to study the effect of positional inaccuracy of the added mass (rigid) in the computation of its mass from the shift in the resonance frequency. The results obtained show that elasticity of the added mass as well as its position on the resonator affect the computed mass but this effect is dependent on the relative stiffness and mass of the resonator and the added mass. We also observe the limitations of the experiments in carrying out studies over the desired range of parameters. We also create a computational model of the system and carry out simulations to explore a larger range of parameter values. In particular, we create an FEM model of our system in ANSYS, and carry out modal analysis for the cantilever beam resonator with and without the added mass, varying the relative stiffness and mass of the two components (the cantilever beam and the added mass). We compare the results of shift in the resonant frequency with those obtained from the rigid mass model. The results show the effect of elasticity clearly in certain ranges of relative stiffness and mass.