Publications by authors named "Megin C Nichols"

Objective: To understand large animal veterinarians' knowledge of select zoonotic diseases that cause livestock abortions and identify barriers to using personal protective equipment (PPE).

Sample: A convenience sample of 469 veterinarians currently working with livestock.

Procedures: We sent an electronic survey invitation to large animal veterinarians through various veterinary organizations.

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The objective of this study was to determine sources of Shiga toxin-producing O157 (STEC O157) infection among visitors to Farm X and develop public health recommendations. A case-control study was conducted. Case-patients were defined as the first ill child (aged <18 years) in the household with laboratory-confirmed STEC O157, or physician-diagnosed hemolytic uremic syndrome with laboratory confirmation by serology, who visited Farm X in the 10 days prior to illness.

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Problem/condition: Salmonella, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and Listeria monocytogenes are the leading causes of multistate foodborne disease outbreaks in the United States. Responding to multistate outbreaks quickly and effectively and applying lessons learned about outbreak sources, modes of transmission, and risk factors for infection can prevent additional outbreak-associated illnesses and save lives. This report summarizes the investigations of multistate outbreaks and possible outbreaks of Salmonella, STEC, and L.

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Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), health departments, and other state and federal partners have linked contact with live poultry to 70 human Salmonella outbreaks in the United States from 2000 to 2017, which resulted in a total of 4,794 illnesses, 894 hospitalizations, and 7 deaths. During human salmonellosis outbreaks environmental sampling is rarely conducted as part of the outbreak investigation. CDC was contacted by state health officials on June 12, 2018, to provide support during an investigation of risk factors for Salmonella infections linked to live poultry originating at a mail-order hatchery.

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Article Synopsis
  • Infections from food pathogens can also come from non-food sources like animals, humans, and the environment, leading to outbreaks influenced by these connections.
  • A One Health approach, which combines efforts from human, animal, and environmental sectors, is crucial for effectively investigating and managing presumed foodborne outbreaks.
  • Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is key for tracking outbreaks, but it faces challenges due to genetic variations found in pathogens from non-human sources, necessitating efficient methods for detection and investigation.
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In the United States, multistate Salmonella outbreaks are most commonly linked to a food source; however, contact with live animals can also result in outbreaks of human illness. To characterize Salmonella outbreaks linked to animal contact and examine differences compared to foodborne outbreaks, we analysed data reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention through the National Outbreak Reporting System (NORS) from 2009 to 2014 with a primary mode of transmission listed as "animal contact" or "food." Four hundred and eighty-four outbreaks with animal contact or foodborne transmission were reported through NORS; of these outbreaks, 99 (20.

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Campylobacter causes an estimated 1.3 million diarrheal illnesses in the United States annually (1). In August 2017, the Florida Department of Health notified CDC of six Campylobacter jejuni infections linked to company A, a national pet store chain based in Ohio.

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Objective: Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) surveillance systems monitor morbidity, mortality, and vaccine impact; accurate surveillance is important to detect changes in epidemiology. We evaluated completeness of IPD reporting in New Mexico by comparing data from the Hospital Inpatient Discharge Database (HIDD) and the New Mexico Active Bacterial Core Surveillance (ABCs) program.

Methods: We linked data from the HIDD and the ABCs program.

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Infection of total knee or hip arthroplasty by Brucella species is a rare complication. We describe the case of a failed hip replacement secondary to infection by Brucella abortus, as well as presentation, treatment course, and 2-year follow-up. In addition, we review the literature for features of periprosthetic Brucella species infections, and we describe the common exposures, clinical presentations, preoperative evaluation, and treatments used in the reported cases.

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Objective: To describe the epidemiology, clinical signs, and treatment practices in dogs with Yersinia pestis infection in New Mexico.

Design: Retrospective case series.

Animals: 62 dogs with plague in New Mexico.

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