Last data update: Sep 16, 2024. (Total: 47680 publications since 2009)
Records 1-15 (of 15 Records) |
Query Trace: Kearney G [original query] |
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Salmonella Vitkin outbreak associated with bearded dragons, Canada and United States, 2020-2022
Paphitis K , Habrun CA , Stapleton GS , Reid A , Lee C , Majury A , Murphy A , McClinchey H , Corbeil A , Kearney A , Benedict K , Tolar B , Forrest RO . Emerg Infect Dis 2024 30 (2) 225-233 We identified 2 cases of Salmonella enterica serovar Vitkin infection linked by whole-genome sequencing in infants in Ontario, Canada, during 2022. Both households of the infants reported having bearded dragons as pets. The outbreak strain was also isolated from an environmental sample collected from a patient's bearded dragon enclosure. Twelve cases were detected in the United States, and onset dates occurred during March 2021-September 2022 (isolates related to isolates from Canada within 0-9 allele differences by core-genome multilocus sequence typing). Most US patients (66.7%) were <1 year of age, and most (72.7%) had reported bearded dragon exposure. Hospitalization was reported for 5 (38.5%) of 13 patients. Traceback of bearded dragons identified at least 1 potential common supplier in Southeast Asia. Sharing rare serovar information and whole-genome sequencing data between Canada and the United States can assist in timely identification of outbreaks, including those that might not be detected through routine surveillance. |
Emergence of a novel Salmonella enterica serotype Reading clone is linked to its expansion in commercial turkey production, resulting in unanticipated human illness in North America (preprint)
Miller EA , Elnekave E , Flores-Figueroa C , Johnson A , Kearney A , Munoz-Aguayo J , Tagg KA , Tschetter L , Weber BP , Nadon CA , Boxrud D , Singer RS , Folster JP , Johnson TJ . bioRxiv 2019 855734 Concurrent separate human outbreaks of Salmonella enterica serotype Reading occurred in 2017-2019 in the United States and Canada, which were both linked to the consumption of raw turkey products. In this study, a comprehensive genomic investigation was conducted to reconstruct the evolutionary history of S. Reading from turkeys, and to determine the genomic context of outbreaks involving this rarely isolated Salmonella serotype. A total of 988 isolates of U.S. origin were examined using whole genome-based approaches, including current and historical isolates from humans, meat, and live food animals. Broadly, isolates clustered into three major clades, with one apparently highly adapted turkey clade. Within the turkey clade isolates clustered into three subclades, including an “emergent” clade that only contained isolates dated 2016 or later, including many of the isolates from these outbreaks. Genomic differences were identified between emergent and other turkey subclades suggesting that the apparent success of currently circulating subclades clade is, in part, attributable to plasmid acquisitions conferring antimicrobial resistance, gain of phage-like sequences with cargo virulence factors, and mutations in systems that may be involved in beta-glucuronidase activity and resistance towards colicins. U.S. and Canadian outbreak isolates were found interspersed throughout the emergent subclade and the other circulating subclade. The emergence of a novel S. Reading turkey subclade, coinciding temporally with expansion in commercial turkey production and with U.S. and Canadian human outbreaks, indicates that emergent strains with higher potential for niche success were likely vertically transferred and rapidly disseminated from a common source.Importance Increasingly, outbreak investigations involving foodborne pathogens are confounded by the inter-connectedness of food animal production and distribution, necessitating high-resolution genomic investigations to determine their basis. Fortunately, surveillance and whole genome sequencing, combined with the public availability of these data, enable comprehensive queries to determine underlying causes of such outbreaks. Utilizing this pipeline, it was determined that a novel clone of Salmonella Reading has emerged that coincides with increased abundance in raw turkey products and two outbreaks of human illness in North America. The rapid dissemination of this highly adapted and conserved clone indicates that it was likely obtained from a common source and rapidly disseminated across turkey production. Key genomic changes may have contributed to its apparent continued success in the barn environment, and ability to cause illness in humans. |
Multinational outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to enoki mushrooms imported from The Republic of Korea 2016-2020
Pereira E , Conrad A , Tesfai A , Palacios A , Kandar R , Kearney A , Locas A , Jamieson F , Elliot E , Otto M , Kurdilla K , Tijerina M , Son I , Pettengill JB , Chen Y , Fox T , Lane C , Aguillon R , Huffman J , Sheau Fong Low M , Wise M , Edwards L , Bidol S , Blankenship HM , Rosen HE , Leclercq A , Lecuit M , Tourdjman M , Herber H , Singleton LS , Viazis S , Bazaco MC . J Food Prot 2023 86 (7) 100101 Keeping the global food supply safe necessitates international collaborations between countries. Health and regulatory agencies routinely communicate during foodborne illness outbreaks, allowing partners to share investigational evidence. A 2016-2020 outbreak of Listeria monocytogenes infections linked to imported enoki mushrooms required a multinational collaborative investigation among the United States, Canada, Australia, and France. Ultimately, this outbreak included 48 ill people, 36 in the United States and 12 in Canada, and was linked to enoki mushrooms sourced from one manufacturer located in the Republic of Korea. Epidemiologic, laboratory, and traceback evidence led to multiple regulatory actions, including extensive voluntary recalls by three firms in the United States and one firm in Canada. In the United States and Canada, the Korean manufacturer was placed on import alert while other international partners provided information about their respective investigations and advised the public not to eat the recalled enoki mushrooms. The breadth of the geographic distribution of this outbreak emphasizes the global reach of the food industry. This investigation provides a powerful example of the impact of national and international coordination of efforts to respond to foodborne illness outbreaks and protect consumers. It also demonstrates the importance of fast international data sharing and collaboration in identifying and stopping foodborne outbreaks in the global community. Additionally, it is a meaningful example of the importance of food sampling, testing, and integration of sequencing results into surveillance databases. |
A multi-provincial Salmonella Typhimurium outbreak in Canada associated with exposure to pet hedgehogs, 2017-2020
Fagan-Garcia K , Denich L , Tataryn J , Janicki R , Osch Ovan , Kearney A , Misfeldt C , Nadon C , Gaulin C , Mah V , Raminderjeet Sandhu , Waltenburg M , Bijay Adhikari , Hanan Smadi , Lowe AM . Can Commun Dis Rep 2022 48 (6) 282-290 Background: In October 2020, an investigation began in Canada on an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections of the same strain as a concomitant outbreak in the United States (US) that was linked to pet hedgehogs. The objective of this article is to identify the source of the outbreak, determine if there was a link between the Canadian and US outbreaks and identify risk factors for infection to inform public health interventions. |
Salmonella typhimurium outbreak associated with exposure to pet hedgehogs, 2017-2020
Fagan-Garcia K , Denich L , Tataryn J , Janicki R , Osch Ovan , Kearney A , Misfeldt C , Nadon C , Gaulin C , Mah V , Raminderjeet Sandhu , Waltenburg M , Bijay Adhikari , Hanan Smadi , Lowe AM . Can Commun Dis Rep 2022 48 (6) 282-290 Background: In October 2020, an investigation began in Canada on an outbreak of Salmonella Typhimurium infections of the same strain as a concomitant outbreak in the United States (US) that was linked to pet hedgehogs. The objective of this article is to identify the source of the outbreak, determine if there was a link between the Canadian and US outbreaks and identify risk factors for infection to inform public health interventions. |
Correlation between Phenotypic and In Silico Detection of Antimicrobial Resistance in Salmonella enterica in Canada Using Staramr.
Bharat A , Petkau A , Avery BP , Chen J , Folster J , Carson CA , Kearney A , Nadon C , Mabon P , Thiessen J , Alexander DC , Allen V , ElBailey S , Bekal S , German GJ , Haldane D , Hoang L , Chui L , Minion J , Zahariadis G , VanDomselaar G , Reid-Smith RJ , Mulvey MR . Microorganisms 2022 10 (2) Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of Salmonella supports both molecular typing and detection of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Here, we evaluated the correlation between phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) and in silico prediction of AMR from WGS in Salmonella enterica (n = 1321) isolated from human infections in Canada. Phenotypic AMR results from broth microdilution testing were used as the gold standard. To facilitate high-throughput prediction of AMR from genome assemblies, we created a tool called Staramr, which incorporates the ResFinder and PointFinder databases and a custom gene-drug key for antibiogram prediction. Overall, there was 99% concordance between phenotypic and genotypic detection of categorical resistance for 14 antimicrobials in 1321 isolates (18,305 of 18,494 results in agreement). We observed an average sensitivity of 91.2% (range 80.5100%), a specificity of 99.7% (98.6100%), a positive predictive value of 95.4% (68.2100%), and a negative predictive value of 99.1% (95.6100%). The positive predictive value of gentamicin was 68%, due to seven isolates that carried aac(3)-IVa, which conferred MICs just below the breakpoint of resistance. Genetic mechanisms of resistance in these 1321 isolates included 64 unique acquired alleles and mutations in three chromosomal genes. In general, in silico prediction of AMR in Salmonella was reliable compared to the gold standard of broth microdilution. WGS can provide higher-resolution data on the epidemiology of resistance mechanisms and the emergence of new resistance alleles. 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. |
Use of Drug-Level Testing and Single-Genome Sequencing to Unravel a Case of HIV Seroconversion on PrEP.
Spinelli MA , Lowery B , Shuford JA , Spindler J , Kearney MF , McFarlane JR , McDonald C , Okochi H , Phung N , Kuncze K , Jee K , Johannessen D , Anderson PL , Smith DK , Defechereux P , Grant RM , Gandhi M . Clin Infect Dis 2020 72 (11) 2025-2028 Cases of seroconversion on PrEP should be carefully investigated given their public health implications and rarity. We report a case of transmitted drug resistance causing seroconversion on PrEP in spite of high adherence, confirmed with dried blood spot and segmental hair drug-level testing and single-genome sequencing. |
Emergence of a Novel Salmonella enterica Serotype Reading Clonal Group Is Linked to Its Expansion in Commercial Turkey Production, Resulting in Unanticipated Human Illness in North America.
Miller EA , Elnekave E , Flores-Figueroa C , Johnson A , Kearney A , Munoz-Aguayo J , Tagg KA , Tschetter L , Weber BP , Nadon CA , Boxrud D , Singer RS , Folster JP , Johnson TJ . mSphere 2020 5 (2) Two separate human outbreaks of Salmonella enterica serotype Reading occurred between 2017 and 2019 in the United States and Canada, and both outbreaks were linked to the consumption of raw turkey products. In this study, a comprehensive genomic investigation was conducted to reconstruct the evolutionary history of S. Reading from turkeys and to determine the genomic context of outbreaks involving this infrequently isolated Salmonella serotype. A total of 988 isolates of U.S. origin were examined using whole-genome-based approaches, including current and historical isolates from humans, meat, and live food animals. Broadly, isolates clustered into three major clades, with one apparently highly adapted turkey clade. Within the turkey clade, isolates clustered into three subclades, including an "emergent" clade that contained only isolates dated 2016 or later, with many of the isolates from these outbreaks. Genomic differences were identified between emergent and other turkey subclades, suggesting that the apparent success of currently circulating subclades is, in part, attributable to plasmid acquisitions conferring antimicrobial resistance, gain of phage-like sequences with cargo virulence factors, and mutations in systems that may be involved in beta-glucuronidase activity and resistance towards colicins. U.S. and Canadian outbreak isolates were found interspersed throughout the emergent subclade and the other circulating subclade. The emergence of a novel S Reading turkey subclade, coinciding temporally with expansion in commercial turkey production and with U.S. and Canadian human outbreaks, indicates that emergent strains with higher potential for niche success were likely vertically transferred and rapidly disseminated from a common source.IMPORTANCE Increasingly, outbreak investigations involving foodborne pathogens are difficult due to the interconnectedness of food animal production and distribution, and homogeneous nature of industry integration, necessitating high-resolution genomic investigations to determine their basis. Fortunately, surveillance and whole-genome sequencing, combined with the public availability of these data, enable comprehensive queries to determine underlying causes of such outbreaks. Utilizing this pipeline, it was determined that a novel clone of Salmonella Reading has emerged that coincided with increased abundance in raw turkey products and two outbreaks of human illness in North America. The rapid dissemination of this highly adapted and conserved clone indicates that it was likely obtained from a common source and rapidly disseminated across turkey production. Key genomic changes may have contributed to its apparent continued success in commercial turkeys and ability to cause illness in humans. |
Reduced evolutionary rate in reemerged Ebola virus transmission chains.
Blackley DJ , Wiley MR , Ladner JT , Fallah M , Lo T , Gilbert ML , Gregory C , D'Ambrozio J , Coulter S , Mate S , Balogun Z , Kugelman J , Nwachukwu W , Prieto K , Yeiah A , Amegashie F , Kearney B , Wisniewski M , Saindon J , Schroth G , Fakoli L , Diclaro JW 2nd , Kuhn JH , Hensley LE , Jahrling PB , Stroher U , Nichol ST , Massaquoi M , Kateh F , Clement P , Gasasira A , Bolay F , Monroe SS , Rambaut A , Sanchez-Lockhart M , Scott Laney A , Nyenswah T , Christie A , Palacios G . Sci Adv 2016 2 (4) e1600378 On 29 June 2015, Liberia's respite from Ebola virus disease (EVD) was interrupted for the second time by a renewed outbreak ("flare-up") of seven confirmed cases. We demonstrate that, similar to the March 2015 flare-up associated with sexual transmission, this new flare-up was a reemergence of a Liberian transmission chain originating from a persistently infected source rather than a reintroduction from a reservoir or a neighboring country with active transmission. Although distinct, Ebola virus (EBOV) genomes from both flare-ups exhibit significantly low genetic divergence, indicating a reduced rate of EBOV evolution during persistent infection. Using this rate of change as a signature, we identified two additional EVD clusters that possibly arose from persistently infected sources. These findings highlight the risk of EVD flare-ups even after an outbreak is declared over. |
Healthier school environment leads to decreases in childhood obesity: the Kearney Nebraska Story
Heelan KA , Bartee RT , Nihiser A , Sherry B . Child Obes 2015 11 (5) 600-7 BACKGROUND: Schools play a role in addressing childhood obesity by implementing healthy eating and physical activity strategies. The primary aim of this case study was to describe prevalence of overweight and obesity among elementary school students in a rural Mid-western community between 2006 and 2012. The secondary aim was to use a novel approach called "population dose" to retrospectively evaluate the impact dose of each strategy implemented and its estimated potential population level impact on changes in overweight and obesity. METHODS: Weight and height were directly measured annually beginning in January 2006 to assess weight status, using BMI (kg/m(2)), for all kindergarten to fifth-grade students (N approximately 2400 per year). Multiple evidence-based strategies were implemented in nine schools to increase physical activity and healthy eating behaviors. BMI reporting and revised school meal programs were implemented districtwide. Comprehensive school physical activity programs, school food environment, and supportive/promotional strategies were implemented at individual schools. RESULTS: The absolute change in prevalence of obesity (BMI ≥95th percentile) decreased from 16.4% to 13.9%, indicating a 15.2% relative change in prevalence of obesity in 6 years. There was an inverse relationship between the number of strategies implemented and prevalence of overweight and obesity over time. CONCLUSIONS: District and school-level approaches have the potential to impact childhood obesity. Schools can successfully implement strategies to address overweight and obesity, but the extent of implementation between schools may vary. Population dose analysis can be used to estimate impact of clusters of strategies to address overweight/obesity. |
A decade of environmental public health tracking (2002-2012): progress and challenges
Kearney GD , Namulanda G , Qualters JR , Talbott EO . J Public Health Manag Pract 2015 21 Suppl 2 S23-35 BACKGROUND: The creation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Environmental Public Health Tracking Program spawned an invigorating and challenging approach toward implementing the nation's first population-based, environmental disease tracking surveillance system. More than 10 years have passed since its creation and an abundance of peer-reviewed articles have been published spanning a broad variety of public health topics related primarily to the goal of reducing diseases of environmental origin. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate peer-reviewed literature related to Environmental Public Health Tracking during 2002-2012, recognize major milestones and challenges, and offer recommendations. DESIGN: A narrative overview was conducted using titles and abstracts of peer-reviewed articles, key word searches, and science-based search engine databases. MAIN OUTCOMES: Eighty published articles related to "health tracking" were identified and categorized according to 4 crossed-central themes. The Science and Research theme accounted for the majority of published articles, followed by Policy and Practice, Collaborations Among Health and Environmental Programs, and Network Development. CONCLUSIONS: Overall, progress was reported in the areas of data linkage, data sharing, surveillance methods, and network development. Ongoing challenges included formulating better ways to establish the connections between health and the environment, such as using biomonitoring, public water systems, and private well water data. Recommendations for future efforts include use of data to inform policy and practice and use of electronic health records data for environmental health surveillance. |
Fish consumption patterns and mercury exposure levels among women of childbearing age in Duval County, Florida
Traynor S , Kearney G , Olson D , Hilliard A , Palcic J , Pawlowicz M . J Environ Health 2013 75 (6) 8-15 Consumption of fish containing methylmercury can pose serious health concerns including neurotoxic effects in adults and toxicity to the fetuses of mothers exposed during pregnancy. In the study described in this article, the authors examined fish consumption patterns and measured hair mercury levels of women of childbearing age in a coastal county in Florida. Women from the community participated in a risk factor assessment survey (N = 703). Hair samples (n = 698) were collected and analyzed for mercury. The authors identified 74.8% below detection limit; 25.2% had detectable limits of mercury, while 7% exceeded 1 mcg/g. Hair mercury levels increased with fish consumption and age. Race, income, and education levels were also associated with increased hair mercury levels. Women of Asian/Pacific Islander origin had the highest levels. Although reported fish consumption exceeded the recommendations for women of childbearing age, the study population had lower mercury levels than other comparative studies in Florida and at national levels. |
Failure to confirm XMRV/MLVs in the blood of patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a multi-laboratory study
Simmons G , Glynn SA , Komaroff AL , Mikovits JA , Tobler LH , Hackett J Jr , Tang N , Switzer WM , Heneine W , Hewlett IK , Zhao J , Lo SC , Alter HJ , Linnen JM , Gao K , Coffin JM , Kearney MF , Ruscetti FW , Pfost MA , Bethel J , Kleinman S , Holmberg JA , Busch MP . Science 2011 334 (6057) 814-7 Murine leukemia viruses (MLVs), including xenotropic-MLV-related virus (XMRV), have been controversially linked to chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). To explore this issue in greater depth, we compiled coded replicate samples of blood from 15 subjects previously reported to be XMRV/MLV-positive (14 with CFS) and from 15 healthy donors previously determined to be negative for the viruses. These samples were distributed in a blinded fashion to nine laboratories, which performed assays designed to detect XMRV/MLV nucleic acid, virus replication, and antibody. Only two laboratories reported evidence of XMRV/MLVs; however, replicate sample results showed disagreement, and reactivity was similar among CFS subjects and negative controls. These results indicate that current assays do not reproducibly detect XMRV/MLV in blood samples and that blood donor screening is not warranted. |
Urinary trichlorophenol levels and increased risk of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among US school-aged children
Xu X , Nembhard WN , Kan H , Kearney G , Zhang ZJ , Talbott EO . Occup Environ Med 2011 68 (8) 557-61 BACKGROUND: Trichlorophenols (TCPs) are organochlorine compounds which are ubiquitous in the environment and well known for their carcinogenic effects. However, little is known about their neurotoxicity in humans. OBJECTIVES: Our goal was to examine the association between body burden of TCPs (ie, 2,4,5-TCP and 2,4,6-TCP) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS: We calculated ORs and 95% CIs from logistic regression analyses using data from the 1999-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to evaluate the association between urinary TCPs and parent-reported ADHD among 2546 children aged 6-15 years. RESULTS: Children with low levels (<3.58 mcg/g) and high levels (≥3.58 mcg/g) of urinary 2,4,6-TCP had a higher risk of parent-reported ADHD compared to children with levels below the limit of detection (OR 1.54, 95% CI 0.97 to 2.43 and OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.66, respectively; p for trend=0.006) after adjusting for covariates. No association was found between urinary 2,4,5-TCP and parent-reported ADHD. CONCLUSION: Exposure to TCP may increase the risk of behavioural impairment in children. The potential neurotoxicity of these chemicals should be considered in public health efforts to reduce environmental exposures/contamination, especially in countries where organochlorine pesticides are still commonly used. |
Studying associations between urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular diseases in the United States
Xu X , Cook RL , Ilacqua VA , Kan H , Talbott EO , Kearney G . Sci Total Environ 2010 408 (21) 4943-8 The association between background, enduring environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and cardiovascular diseases has not been well studied in the general population. In this study, we used the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2001-2004 to investigate the associations between eight monohydroxy PAHs (OH-PAHs) and self-report CVD. In a logistic regression model adjusting for cigarette smoking and other covariates, phenanthrene metabolite, 2-hydroxyphennathrene (2-PHEN), was significantly associated with self-report CVD. Compared to subjects within the lowest tertile of 2-PHEN, subjects within the middle and highest tertiles had higher self-report CVD (the 2nd tertile: AOR=1.29, 95%CI: 0.97-1.72; the 3rd tertile: AOR=1.45, 95%CI: 1.01-2.07; p for trend=0.04). In addition, fluorene metabolite (i.e. 2-hydroxyfluorene) also showed a marginally significant linear trend with self-report CVD (p for trend=0.07). Further studies are necessary to explore the associations between these highly prevalent pollutants and CVD. |
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