Analysis of Kudoa septempunctata as a cause of foodborne illness and its associated differential diagnosis

Abstract

Foodborne outbreaks caused by Kudoa septempunctata and the characteristics of these cases were reported by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) in its annual surveillance report. In addition, KCDC suggests the need for a new nationwide policy to prevent the spread of K. septempunctata and consequent food poisoning [1]. The numerous myxosporean species of the genus Kudoa reported around the world are not pathogenic to humans [2]. However, K. septempunctata has recently been considered as a human pathogen since it was first identified in olive flounders. This parasite was identified as a causative agent of food poisoning by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan in December 2012, and its pathogenesis was also studied in an experiment using 4 to 5-day old mice [3,4]. However, other mice studies had conflicting results [5], and studies on humans have not been reported with regard to this new species. Based on these grounds, Chung et al. [6] recently suggested that epidemiologic causality between K. septempunctata and food poisoning lacks scientific validity.Meanwhile, based on the epidemiological investigation data, the cases of K. septempunctata food poisoning are characterized by a short incubation period and mild gastrointestinal distress [4], OBJECTIVES:Recently kudoa septempuctata in olive flounders is suggested as a cause of food poisoning, however whether kudoa septempuctata can affect human gastrointestinal systems is controversial and its pathogenecity remains unclear. In view of the field epidemiology, food poisonings caused by kudoa septempuctata should be distinguished from those caused by staphylococcus aureus and bacillus cereus. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests the possibilities of misdiagnosis in the investigations of food poisoning by staphylococcus aureus and bacillus cereus with kudoa septempuctata. METHODS: The statistics of food poisoning investigations published by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in

First report of Kudoa sp. in the palate and pharyngeal musculature of Gobioides grahamae Palmer and Wheeler, 1955 (Perciformes, Gobiidae) from Marajó Island, Brazil

“…Jeon et al (2014) suggested that, owing to the outbreaks that have been described, it is necessary to develop effective, feasible methods to detect K. septempunctata to ensure food safety and to facilitate marketing. According to Lee (2017), in 2015, a total of 11 outbreaks caused by K. septempunctata were described associated with the consumption of sushi and sashimi. Diarrhea and vomiting were the most common symptoms observed in these outbreaks.…”

Relationship between shipping amounts of olive flounder aquacultured from Jejudo and the reported events of acute food poisoning by Kudoa septempunctata in 2015, South Korea: an ecological study

“…Moreover, it was suggested that the 11 events of food poisoning that reported in 2015 might not have been caused by K. septempunctata . First, because epidemiologic characteristics, including incubation period and clinical symptoms suggested that the food poisoning could be caused in combination with either Staphylococcus aureus or Bacillus cereus ; especially because of the difficulty in detecting toxins and pathogenic agents for both types of food poisoning during the epidemiological investigations [ 9 ]. Second, owing to the differences in the monthly distribution of the 11 events.…”

“…On the other hand, as there were differences in reported events depending on the month, correlation with monthly variation of sales amounts of olive flounders aquacultured from Jejudo needed to be considered [ 9 ]. In other words, if K. septempunctata were the pathogenic myxozoa causing the acute food poisoning, there would be a higher risk of food poisoning events when the intake of olive flounder aquacultured from Jejudo increased.…”

Analysis of Kudoa septempunctata as a cause of foodborne illness and its associated differential diagnosis

“…With great interest, I read the paper entitled, “Analysis of Kudoa septempunctata as a cause of foodborne illness and its associated differential diagnosis”, written by Lee [ 1 ], which was published in Epidemiology and Health in March 2017. The pathogenicity of K. septempunctata was advocated for in an article written by Kawai et al [ 2 ] in Japan, but this proposal was argued against in 2 studies conducted by Ahn et al [ 3 ] and Jang et al [ 4 ] in South Korea (here-after Korea) using suckling mice.…”

“…According to the study by Lee [ 1 ] in Korea, 11 foodborne outbreaks in 2015 provide support for the possibility of K. septempunctata pathogenicity. However, there are limitations to this argument because those outbreak investigations were case series studies, not case-control studies or retrospective cohort studies.…”