Epidemiology of free-living amoebae in the Philippines: a review and update.

Free-living amoebae (FLA) are considered environmental pathogens and thus pose a public health threat. Their ubiquity in natural sources may magnify the potential severity of health outcomes in the future. However, less attention was given despite several probable public health risks that arise from the presence of pathogenic strains in the environment.

Antibody-Direct Epifluorescent Filter Technique and Immunomagnetic Separation for 10-h Screening and 24-h Confirmation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Beef.

Rapid screening of beef for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was shown to be feasible using a 10-h enrichment in modified buffered peptone water and the antibody-direct epifluorescent filter technique (Ab-DEFT). The Ab-DEFT involved membrane filtration, fluorescent antibody staining and epifluorescence microscopy and was accomplished in less than 1 h. The procedure allowed detection of the pathogen artificially inoculated into beef patties at 0.