Foodborne pathogens and disease最新文献

{"title":"Bongkrekic Acid: A New Threat for Food Safety?","authors":"Rakesh Sehgal, Chandra Kanta Bhusal","doi":"10.1177/15353141251389591","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251389591","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Bongkrekic acid (BA) represents an emerging food safety threat with significant public health implications. This review examines the current understanding of BA, a potent mitochondrial toxin produced by <i>Burkholderia gladioli</i> pathovar <i>cocovenenans</i>, which has caused numerous foodborne illness outbreaks with mortality rates ranging from 30% to 100%. The toxin, first identified in 1895 from Indonesian fermented coconut products (tempe bongkrek), has been implicated in over 300 cases globally, with recent outbreaks reported in China, Indonesia, Mozambique, and Taiwan. BA production occurs in fermented foods under specific conditions, including neutral pH, temperatures of 22-30°C, and high fatty acid content, particularly oleic acid. Common implicated foods include fermented corn flour, rice noodles, rehydrated mushrooms, and coconut products. As little as 1-1.5 mg can be fatal, causing gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms progressing to multi-organ failure. The toxin's unique mechanism involves inhibiting mitochondrial adenine nucleotide translocase, disrupting cellular ATP/ADP transport with no known antidote. Detection relies on chromatography and mass spectrometry, though newer ELISA and immunochromatographic methods are being developed. Prevention through proper food handling and awareness remains critical, as treatment is purely supportive. Enhanced surveillance and diagnostic capabilities are urgently needed to address this growing threat.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145312751","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Gastric Morphology During Gastroscopy Associated with <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Infection.","authors":"Mo Qu, Chendi Wang","doi":"10.1177/15353141251388852","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251388852","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>As a Gram-negative, microaerophilic bacterium, <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) colonizes and thrives in the gastric mucosa. To enable early detection and treatment of <i>H. pylori</i> infection through exploring the clinical value of white light gastroscope endoscopic features in diagnosing <i>H. pylori</i>. A retrospective analysis was conducted on 968 patients who underwent routine gastroscopy over a 2-year period (March 1st, 2021-March 1st, 2023). A significant association was observed between <i>H. pylori</i> infection and age (<i>p</i> < 0.001), family history of <i>H. pylori</i> infection (<i>p</i> < 0.001), and gastric symptoms (<i>p</i> < 0.001). White light gastroscope findings demonstrated that diffuse erythema (<i>p</i> < 0.001), spotted redness (<i>p</i> < 0.001), mucosal swelling (<i>p</i> < 0.001), elongated and enlarged folds (<i>p</i> < 0.001), digestive tract ulcers (<i>p</i> < 0.001), proliferative polyps (<i>p</i> = 0.018), and erosions with depression (<i>p</i> < 0.001) were more frequent in <i>H. pylori</i>-infected individuals. Conversely, old bleeding spots (<i>p</i> = 0.003), gastric fundic glandular polyps (<i>p</i> = 0.048), and regular arrangement of collecting venules (RAC) (<i>p</i> < 0.001) were less common in <i>H. pylori</i>-infected patients. Diffuse erythema (odds ratio [OR] = 3.84, <i>p</i> = 0.002), spotted redness (OR = 2.63, <i>p</i> = 0.008), mucosal swelling (OR = 1.97, <i>p</i> = 0.007), elongated and enlarged folds (OR = 2.15, <i>p</i> = 0.015), digestive tract ulcers (OR = 1.49, <i>p</i> = 0.036), and erosions with depression (OR = 1.86, <i>p</i> = 0.022) were identified as independent risk factors for <i>H. pylori</i> infection, while the RAC served as a protective factor.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145291684","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Global Prevalence of <i>Haemonchus contortus</i> in Ruminants: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.","authors":"Yuan Ma, Jinbao Lv, Lei Zhang, Xi Zhu, Zhiguo Liu, Rui Wang","doi":"10.1177/15353141251387598","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251387598","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Haemonchus contortus</i> is a highly pathogenic gastrointestinal nematode that significantly impacts ruminant health and productivity. Despite extensive research, a comprehensive understanding of the global prevalence of <i>H. contortus</i> infections and associated risk factors remains lacking. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Literature on <i>H. contortus</i> in ruminants was retrieved from PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Scopus, and Google Scholar up to January 1, 2025. Pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using a random-effects model. A meta-analysis of 64 studies on <i>H. contortus</i> infection in ruminants worldwide revealed a pooled prevalence of 37%. Continent subgroup significantly influenced prevalence (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with the highest rate reported in Europe and the lowest in Oceania. Environmental factors played a critical role, with regions classified under the Cwb climate exhibiting significantly higher infection rates than other climate zones (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Higher prevalence was also associated with high-altitude areas, annual rainfall ≥800 mm, and lower temperatures. Host-related factors were equally important, with animals over 1 year of age and females showing greater susceptibility. These findings underscore the importance of developing control strategies adapted to different climates and host species, with a particular emphasis on targeted surveillance and deworming efforts against <i>H. contortus</i> in high-risk regions to reduce infection burden and support sustainable ruminant production.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145285906","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ocular Toxoplasmosis Infection Leading to Uveitis or Chorioretinal Lesions: A Systematic Review.","authors":"Kylie Boyd, Kristina Condrey, Ayeisha Rosa Hernandez, Erika Austhof, Lifeng Lin, Joanne Dehnbostel, Sandra Hoffmann, Christina Flaxel, Zelin Wang, Kristen Pogreba-Brown","doi":"10.1177/15353141251382884","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251382884","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><b><i>Introduction:</i></b> <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i> (<i>T. gondii</i>) infections affect approximately 30% of the population worldwide. This systematic review of ocular sequelae from toxoplasmosis explores in greater depth the outcomes found in our previous scoping review. Uveitis and ocular lesions can be acute or recurrent following infection and result in long-term and often irreversible effects. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and used the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool to evaluate articles for inclusion. Data extraction included the frequency and proportion of participants who developed uveitis or chorioretinal lesions, the type, anatomical locations affected, and disease burden. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Utilizing an inclusion criterion that included a physical examination combined with laboratory confirmation, 63 articles from 27 countries spanning a publication period from 2000 to 2023 were included. Most reported outcomes in these articles included uveitis (<i>n</i> = 61), chorioretinal lesions (<i>n</i> = 42), or both (<i>n</i> = 40). Meta analysis results indicate that the proportion of ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) cases resulting in lesions was lower than uveitis, with the highest estimates reported in Asia. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Uniform diagnostic methodology was only found in articles describing congenital case populations arising from toxoplasmosis monitoring programs. Consistent use of nomenclature, consistent diagnostic testing, and standardized reporting of patient demographics by researchers would greatly aid in understanding the burden of disease experienced.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145257742","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Preharvest Animal Management Controls and Intervention Options for Reducing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157:H7 and Other Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>E. coli</i> Shedding in Cattle: A Critical Analysis.","authors":"Hunter G Perez, Darren S Seidel, Todd R Callaway","doi":"10.1177/15353141251386418","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251386418","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC; also known as enterohemorrhagic <i>E. coli</i>) are virulent foodborne pathogenic bacteria that are frequently isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of beef and dairy cattle. The beef industry is committed to ensuring a safe and wholesome food supply; as a result, the industry has investigated a number of methods to reduce STEC by implementing changes on the farm and in the processing plant. While interventions can reduce STEC entry into the food chain, the introduction of hurdles does not remove the need to ensure animal health and utilize proper animal management and sanitation procedures on the farm and in the processing plant. This review addresses the latest literature investigating potential preharvest STEC (both <i>E. coli</i> O157:H7 and other non-O157:H7 STEC serotypes) intervention strategies. On-farm interventions to reduce STEC in cattle can be divided up into three broad categories: (1) animal management and transport practices, (2) feed and water management, and (3) live animal treatments. Ultimately, preharvest intervention strategies are imperfect and may not always be complementary with other pathogen reduction strategies as part of a coordinated multiple-hurdle approach. By reducing the burden of STEC entering processing plants, we can increase the effectiveness of in-plant interventions and further reduce human illnesses.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145257767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiological Examination of Frozen Corn Linked to a National Salmonellosis Outbreak Reveals Gaps in Product Hygiene and Thermal Inactivation.","authors":"Mary Rao, Sandeep Tamber","doi":"10.1177/15353141251386427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1177/15353141251386427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>A nationwide outbreak of <i>Salmonella enterica</i> ser. Enteritidis linked for the first time to frozen corn occurred in Canada from September 2021 to January 2022. To identify potential contributing factors, contaminated corn samples were analyzed and compared to unrelated retail samples. Contaminated corn samples had significantly lower sugar content (9% vs. 12%) and higher levels of background microbiota (total aerobic mesophiles, <i>Enterobacteriaceae</i>, and total coliforms) compared to retail samples. <i>S</i>. <i>enterica</i> ser. Enteritidis was recovered from the contaminated corn samples at low levels (average = 5 most probable number [MPN]/100 g). These levels were stable over 3 years of frozen storage (average = 3 MPN/100 g). The response of the outbreak strain to heat was comparable to laboratory strains of the same serovar. Heating retail corn samples artificially inoculated with 1 × 10⁸ colony-forming units of <i>S</i>. <i>enterica</i> ser. Enteritidis by immersion in a 90°C water bath for 7 min resulted in a linear decrease of cells over time as the temperature of the food sample increased. Extrapolation of the data suggests a five-log reduction would require a cooking time of 8 min, corresponding to a food sample temperature of 66°C. However, cooking naturally contaminated corn samples beyond these parameters to a temperature of 74°C failed to completely eliminate <i>Salmonella</i>. The results of this study highlight the hazards associated with the presence of <i>Salmonella</i> in frozen vegetables and emphasize the need for improved hygiene during processing and the development of clear, validated cooking procedures to mitigate risks associated with frozen vegetables.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145231877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular Characterization of Whole Genome Sequencing of <i>Salmonella</i> spp. in Shapingba District, Chongqing, China, 2016-2023.","authors":"Fei Chen, Xin Zhang, Jie Zheng, Yu Tang, Xiaoxia Fan, Yulan Huang, Haihong Jia, Xiaorong Yang","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0138","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0138","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, <i>Salmonella</i> infection is a major global public health concern, particularly in food safety. This study analyzed the genomes of 102 <i>Salmonella</i> strains isolated between 2016 and 2023 from food, foodborne disease patients, and food poisoning incidents, focusing on their molecular characteristics, antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), and virulence genes. <i>S. enterica</i> serovar Enteritidis (37.3%) and <i>S. enterica</i> serovar Typhimurium (21.6%, including its monophasic variant 1,4,[5],12:i:-) were the main strains among 22 serotypes. Multilocus sequence typing revealed 23 sequence types (STs), with ST11, ST19, and ST34 as the most prevalent. All strains carried at least 24 ARGs. Detection rates for <i>aac(6')-Iy</i>, <i>bla</i>_TEM-1, and <i>sul2</i> ranged from 44.1% to 63.7%, mainly in <i>S.</i> Enteritidis and <i>S.</i> Typhimurium. Rates for <i>qnrS1</i>, <i>sul1</i>, and <i>aadA</i> were 12.8% to 16.7%, while <i>mcr-1</i> appeared in one ST34 <i>S.</i> Typhimurium strain. All strains contained at least 98 virulence genes. The genes <i>pefABCD</i>, <i>mig-5</i>, and <i>spvBCD</i> were in 48.0% of strains, while <i>rck</i> was found in 36.3%, mainly linked to <i>S.</i> Enteritidis and <i>S.</i> Typhimurium. The <i>tssM</i> gene was found in 37.3% of the strains, exclusively in <i>S.</i> Enteritidis. Core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms (cgSNPs) analysis grouped the strains into nine clusters, with 75.5% belonging to three major groups. Food poisoning event 1 was correlated with cluster 3, while events 2 and 3 were linked to cluster 1. Across events, SNP differences among strains were ≤6. Strains with SNP differences ≤10 were also found in other clusters. This method is promising for tracking sporadic cases and identifying potential foodborne safety incidents. <i>Salmonella</i> strains in the region exhibit substantial genetic diversity, demonstrating the efficacy of cgSNPs analysis for source tracking. Ongoing surveillance is essential given the prevalence of ARGs and virulence genes. This study provides a data foundation for local <i>Salmonella</i> epidemiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"684-691"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143003059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibacterial Effect of Lime Juice Against <i>Streptococcus suis</i> and Other Bacteria in Minced Pork.","authors":"Duangdaow Khunbutsri, Khomson Satchasataporn, Tanyanant Kaminsonsakul, Sarawan Kaewmongkol, Nattakan Meekhanon","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0084","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0084","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Streptococcus suis</i> is a significant zoonotic pathogen, capable of causing severe illnesses such as septicemia and meningitis in both swine and humans. Its transmission through pork consumption necessitates effective food safety measures. Lime juice, known for its antimicrobial properties, presents a potential alternative to reduce <i>S. suis</i> contamination in pork products. This study investigated the antibacterial efficacy of lime juice specifically against <i>S. suis</i> and its potential to reduce bacterial contamination in minced pork, aiming to determine optimal treatment parameters for mitigating <i>S. suis</i> transmission through pork consumption. Seven strains of <i>S. suis</i> representing serotypes known to cause zoonotic disease were cultured, and lime juice was prepared. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration tests consistently demonstrated the antibacterial effect of lime juice against <i>S. suis</i>. Survival curve analyses showed significant bacterial reduction within 15 min at 25% (v/v) lime juice concentration. In minced pork, lime juice caused a notable decrease in total bacteria and <i>S. suis</i> counts after 15 min. This study demonstrates the potential of lime juice as an antibacterial agent against a representative strain of <i>S. suis</i> in pork. However, the results also highlight that lime juice alone may not eliminate all viable bacteria. Therefore, incorporating lime juice treatment together with proper cooking practices remains crucial to ensure safe consumption of pork products.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"723-728"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142766110","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Draft Whole-Genome Sequencing and Phenotypic Analysis of <i>Salmonella</i> from Retail Aquatic Products in Weifang.","authors":"Jiaxin Han, Mingming Yu, Fengjuan Zhang, Xiaohong Xia, Changda Su, Peipei Qi, Caijing Han, Fengxiang Zhang","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0113","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0113","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p><i>Salmonella</i> is one of the most common causative agents of infectious diarrhea in humans, but in China, there are very limited data on the presence of <i>Salmonella</i> in aquatic products. This study describes the isolation of <i>Salmonella</i> from aquatic products in Weifang, China, from April 2022 to April 2023. Seven out of 160 (4.38%) retail aquatic product samples were positive for <i>Salmonella</i>. Two distinct serotypes were identified: <i>Salmonella enterica</i> subsp. <i>enterica</i> serovar Senftenberg (<i>n</i> = 4) and <i>S. enterica</i> subsp. <i>diarizonae</i> serovar IIIb 59:z10:z57 (<i>n</i> = 3). The results of molecular typing of isolates with the same serotype were consistent. Only one of the isolates was resistant to ampicillin, while the other isolates were not resistant to the tested antibiotics, suggesting that <i>Salmonella</i> in aquatic products in this region are relatively susceptible to antibiotics. There were 17 resistance genes in the 7 strains, 13 of which were shared. <i>golS, MdtK, mdsA</i>, and <i>mdtG</i> were unique to <i>S.</i> Senftenberg. A total of 155 virulence genes were annotated in the <i>S.</i> Senftenberg isolates, and 136 virulence genes were annotated in the <i>S.</i> IIIb 59:z10:z57 isolates. The <i>S.</i> Senftenberg isolates harbored more adhesion-related genes than the <i>S.</i> IIIb 59:z10:z57 isolates. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed that ST34 has been the most prevalent type of <i>Salmonella</i> in China since 2020, followed by ST11. The predominant type of <i>Salmonella</i> in aquaculture is ST14. This study provided additional genetic information about <i>Salmonella</i> in aquatic sources, providing a basis for subsequent research related to risk assessment, antibiotic resistance mechanisms, and so forth.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"692-699"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142794459","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Possibility of Vertical Transmission of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in Sika Deer in Japan.","authors":"Akiko Yamazaki, Yoshitaka Yamaguchi, Tatsuya Hiroshima, Yui Urushibara, Yukiko Shirafuji, Shinya Fukumoto, Yoichi Kamata","doi":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0090","DOIUrl":"10.1089/fpd.2024.0090","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In recent years, the wild deer population in Japan has grown exponentially, causing severe feeding damage to the agricultural and forestry industries. Therefore, the game meat industry is being promoted for effective utilization of hunted animals. Wild animals are not hygienically controlled and can serve as reservoirs for pathogenic microorganisms. However, epidemiological information on wild animals in Japan remains insufficient. Recently, food poisoning-like cases have occurred because of raw venison infection with <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. As the prevalence of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in sika deer is very high in Japan and even fawns are infected, this study attempted to verify the vertical infection of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in sika deer in Japan. Genetic detection of <i>Sarcocystis</i> 18S ribosomal RNA in fetal and maternal tissues from early to late gestation in sika deer revealed <i>Sarcocystis</i> Types 1-5 and <i>Sarcocystis fayeri</i> in the mother and fetus. Types 1, 2, 4, and 5 were detected in the maternal tissues of Ezo sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon yesoensis</i>) in Hokkaido, whereas Types 1 and 2 and <i>S. fayeri</i> were detected in fetuses. Types 1-5 were detected in Honshu sika deer (<i>Cervus nippon centrali</i>s) in Mie Prefecture but not in the fetuses. Types 1, 2, and 4 were detected in the udder and milk samples. This indicates that <i>Sarcocystis</i> Types 1 and 2 and <i>S. fayeri</i> have the ability to pass through the placenta of sika deer and invade fetal tissues and Types 1, 2, and 4 may be transmitted orally via milk. These findings suggest that there is transplacental and transmammary transmission of <i>Sarcocystis</i> spp. in sika deer.</p>","PeriodicalId":12333,"journal":{"name":"Foodborne pathogens and disease","volume":" ","pages":"729-736"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2025-10-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142616962","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"农林科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}