Estimating sensitivity and specificity of a PCR for boot socks to detect Campylobacter in broiler primary production using Bayesian latent class analysis.

The present study compares three different assays for sample collection and detection of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks, based on (i) the collection of faecal samples from intestinal organs (caecum), (ii) individual faecal droppings collected from the bedding and (iii) faecal material collected by socks placed on the outside of a pair of boots (boot socks) and used for walking around in the flock. The two first methods are examined for Campylobacter using a culture method (ISO-10272-2:2006), while the boot socks are tested using PCR.

Analysis of Campylobacter jejuni isolates of various sources for loci associated with Guillain-Barré Syndrome.

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of the Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) and related diseases. These autoimmune diseases are caused by antibodies cross-reacting with the peripheral (GBS) and central neural tissue (Miller Fisher syndrome - MFS, Bicker-staff's brainstem encephalitis - BBE), leading to acute polyneuropathy. Recently, specific gene loci in C.

A food-borne outbreak of Shigella sonnei gastroenteritis, Austria, 2008.

We report on the first foodborne outbreak of Shigella sonnei described in Austria. On July 14 2008, AGES was informed of a cluster of 22 laboratory-confirmed cases of infection with S. sonnei restricted to public health district X in the province of Salzburg.

An outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis in an Austrian hospital, winter 2006-2007.

Background: Norovirus is easily spread from person to person by the fecal-oral route and through aerosols or by vehicles such as contaminated food or water. The virus is able to survive in the environment for many days, which enables outbreaks to be prolonged. We describe a norovirus outbreak and its control measures in an Austrian secondary-level hospital during December 2006 - February 2007.

Campylobacteriosis in Austria: situation and trends.

Campylobacter species are among the most commonly identified causative agents of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in humans worldwide. In Austria, campylobacteriosis has been a notifiable disease since 1996 and its incidence has increased continuously over the past years. Improvement of notification has led to an important increase in knowledge of the epidemiology of this disease in Austria.