From Foodborne Disease Outbreak (FBDO) to Investigation: The Plant Toxin Trap, Brittany, France, 2018
Author:
Watier-Grillot Stéphanie1, Larréché Sébastien23, Mazuet Christelle4, Baudouin Frédéric5, Feraudet-Tarisse Cécile6ORCID, Holterbach Lise1, Dia Aïssata1, Tong Christelle1, Bourget Laure7, Hery Sophie8, Pottier Emmanuel9, Bouilland Olivier9, Tanti Marc1, Merens Audrey23, Simon Stéphanie6ORCID, Diancourt Laure4, Chesnay Aurélie7, Pommier de Santi Vincent110
Affiliation:
1. French Armed Forces Centre for Epidemiology and Public Health (CESPA), 13014 Marseille, France 2. Bégin Military Teaching Hospital, 94160 Saint-Mandé, France 3. Inserm, UMR-S1144, France & Paris Cité University, 75006 Paris, France 4. National Reference Centre for Anaerobic Bacteria and Botulism, Institut Pasteur, Paris Cité University, CEDEX 15, 75724 Paris, France 5. IMPROVE Laboratory, 80480 Dury, France 6. Department of Medications and Healthcare Technologies (DMTS), Paris-Saclay University, CEA, INRAE, SPI, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France 7. Laboratory of the French Armed Forces Commissariat, 49130 Les Ponts-de-Cé, France 8. Naval Group, Department of Occupational Health, 29200 Brest, France 9. Brest Arsenal Medical Center, 29200 Brest, France 10. Vectors–Tropical and Mediterranean Infections Joint Research Unit (VITROME), Aix-Marseille University, 13005 Marseille, France
Abstract
On 6 July 2018, the Center for Epidemiology and Public Health of the French Armed Forces was informed of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis among customers of a dining facility at a military base in Brittany, France. A total of 200 patients were reported out of a population of 1700 (attack rate: 12%). The symptoms were mainly lower digestive tract disorders and occurred rapidly after lunch on 5 July (median incubation period: 3.3 h), suggesting a toxin-like pathogenic process. A case–control survey was carried out (92 cases and 113 controls). Statistical analysis pointed to the chili con carne served at lunch on 5 July as the very likely source of poisoning. Phytohaemagglutinin, a plant lectin, was found in the chili con carne at a concentration above the potentially toxic dose (400 HAU/gram). The raw kidney beans incorporated in the chili con carne presented a high haemagglutination activity (66,667 HAU/gram). They were undercooked, and the phytohaemagglutinin was not completely destroyed. FBDOs due to PHA are poorly documented. This study highlights the need to develop methods for routine testing of plant toxins in food matrices. Improved diagnostic capabilities would likely lead to better documentation, epidemiology, and prevention of food-borne illnesses caused by plant toxins.
Subject
Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis,Toxicology
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