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This study quantified the association of rodent fruit damage and the microbiological quality of irrigation water on the risk of microbiological contamination of strawberries collected from 18 U-pick farms across five different districts in the Guangzhou metropolitan region of southern China. Fifty-four composite strawberries samples, with or without evidence of rodent or avian foraging damage (i.e., bitten), along with 16 irrigation water samples, were collected during the spring of 2014 and winter of 2015 from our cohort of 18 farms. Composite strawberry samples and irrigation water were analyzed for total coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella, E. coli O157, Giardia, and Cryptosporidium. Total coliforms and E. coli were detected in 100% and ~90% of irrigation water samples, respectively. In contrast, Cryptosporidium was detected in only two water samples, while Salmonella, E. coli O157, and Giardia were not detected in any water samples. Strawberries with signs of being bitten by wildlife had significantly higher concentrations of total coliforms and E. coli, compared to strawberries with no physical evidence of rodent damage (p < 0.001). Similarly, Cryptosporidium was detected in 7/18 (39%) of bitten, 4/18 (22%) of edge, and 5/18 (28%) of central strawberry samples, respectively. Concentration of E. coli on strawberries (p < 0.001), air temperature (p = 0.025), and presence of Cryptosporidium in irrigation water (p < 0.001) were all associated with the risk of Cryptosporidium contamination on strawberries. Salmonella and Giardia were detected in

This study assessed microbiological safety of water from public swimming pools in Guangzhou, China. Water samples from 39 outdoor municipal swimming pools were collected from late June to early September, 2013 and subjected to detection of protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and bacteria (Pseudomonas aeruginos, total coliforms, E. coli, E. coli O157, Shigella, and Salmonella). Cryptosporidium and Giardia were both detected in 5 (12.8%) swimming pools. Total coliforms were detected in 4 (10.3%) samples with concentrations ranging from 1.3 to 154.0 MPN/100 mL while E. coli was detected in 4 (10.3%) samples with concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 5.3 MPN/100 mL. P. aeruginosa was detected in 27 (69.2%) samples but E. coli O157, Shigella and Salmonella were not detected. Among these swimming pools, 9 (23%) met the Chinese National Standard of residual chlorine levels and 24 (62%) were tested free of residual chlorine at least once. The multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) analysis showed that all P. aeruginosa isolates belonged to new sequence types (STs) with dominant ST-1764 and ST-D distributed in different locations within the area. Some P. aeruginosa strains were resistant to medically important antibiotics. Results indicate potential public health risks due to the presence of microbiological pathogens in public swimming pools in this area.

Strains of Francisella spp. were isolated from cooling water from an air conditioning system in Guangzhou, China. These strains are Gram negative, coccobacilli, non-motile, oxidase negative, catalase negative, esterase and lipid esterase positive. In addition, these bacteria grow on cysteine-supplemented media at 20 °C to 40 °C with an optimal growth temperature of 30 °C. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that these strains belong to the genus Francisella. Biochemical tests and phylogenetic and BLAST analyses of 16S rRNA, rpoB and sdhA genes indicated that one strain was very similar to Francisella philomiragia and that the other strains were identical or highly similar to the Francisella guangzhouensis sp. nov. strain 08HL01032 we previously described. Biochemical and molecular characteristics of these strains demonstrated that multiple Francisella species exist in air conditioning systems.

Objective To describe changes in rabies surveillance and management in Guangzhou, China between 1951 and 2015, and to analyse human rabies cases over that period. Methods Rabies control policies and strategies implemented by the Guangzhou government were reviewed for three periods: 1951 to 1978, 1979 to 2000 and 2001 to 2015. Data on human rabies deaths and exposure were obtained from Guangzhou and national health and disease records. The demographic characteristics of human cases are reported using descriptive statistics. Findings Between 1951 and 2015, the number of organizations cooperating on rabies control increased: there were two between 1951 and 1978, six between 1979 and 2000, and nine between 2001 and 2015. The number of human rabies cases reported in these periods was 331, 422 and 60, respectively. Organizations involved included city and district centres for disease control and prevention, rabies outpatient clinics, medical institutions and police. Overall, 88% (713/813) of cases occurred in rural districts, though, between 1951 and 2015, the distribution shifted from being predominantly rural to being both urban and rural. The number of people exposed to rabies increased annually. The biggest increases were among those injured by a pet dog or other animal: 3.26 and 4.75 times, respectively, between 2005 and 2015. Conclusion Increased cooperation on rabies control between civil organizations in Guangzhou over decades was associated with a marked decrease in the number of human rabies cases. The Guangzhou experience could thereby provide guidance for other cities experiencing similar rabies epidemics. [phrase omitted] [phrase omitted] Objectif Decrire l'evolution de la surveillance et de la gestion de la rage a Guangzhou, en Chine, entre 1951 et 2015, et analyser les cas de rages humaines survenus au cours de cette periode. Methodes Les politiques et strategies de controle de la rage mises en oeuvre par le gouvernement de Guangzhou ont ete examinees au regard de trois periodes: de 1951 a 1978, de 1979 a 2000 et de 2001 a 2015. Les donnees relatives aux deces et a l'exposition des personnes a la rage proviennent des dossiers de sante et sur les maladies de Guangzhou et du pays. Les caracteristiques demographiques des cas humains sont presentees a l'aide de statistiques descriptives. Resultats Entre 1951 et 2015, le nombre d'organisations agissant en cooperation pour controler la rage a augmente: elles etaient au nombre de deux entre 1951 et 1978, six entre 1979 et 2000, et neuf entre 2001 et 2015. Le nombre de cas de rage signales au cours de ces periodes s'elevait respectivement a 331, 422 et 60. Les organisations en question incluaient des centres de prevention et de controle de la maladie au niveau des villes et des districts, des dispensaires pour patients ambulatoires atteints de la rage, des institutions medicales et la police. En tout, 88% (713/813) des cas sont survenus dans des districts ruraux. Neanmoins, entre 1951 et 2015, la repartition a cesse d'etre principalement rurale pour devenir aussi bien urbaine que rurale. Le nombre de personnes exposees a la rage s'est accru d'annee en annee. Les plus fortes hausses ont concerne les personnes blessees par un chien de compagnie ou un autre animal: 3,26 et 4,75 fois, respectivement, entre 2005 et 2015. Conclusion Le renforcement de la cooperation en matiere de controle de la rage entre diverses organisations civiles a Guangzhou depuis plusieurs decennies a ete associe a une nette diminution du nombre de cas de rage. L'experience de Guangzhou pourrait donc donner des orientations a d'autres villes touchees par des epidemies de rage similaires. [phrase omitted] Objetivo Describir los cambios en la vigilancia y la gestion de la rabia en Guangzhou, China, entre 1951 y 2015 y analizar los casos de rabia en humanos durante ese periodo. Metodos Las politicas y estrategias de control de la rabia aplicadas por el gobierno de Guangzhou se revisaron durante tres periodos: De 1951 a 1978, de 1979 a 2000 y de 2001 a 2015. Se recopilaron los datos sobre las muertes y la exposicion a la rabia en humanos en Guangzhou y sobre los registros nacionales de salud y enfermedad. Las caracteristicas demograficas de los casos en humanos se registran mediante estadisticas descriptivas. Resultados Entre 1951 y 2015, el numero de organizaciones que cooperaban en el control de la rabia aumento: hubo dos entre 1951 y 1978, seis entre 1979 y 2000, y nueve entre 2001 y 2015. El numero de casos de rabia notificados en estos periodos fue de 331, 422 y 60, respectivamente. Entre las organizaciones participantes figuraban los centros urbanos y de distrito para el control y la prevencion de enfermedades, las clinicas ambulatorias para el control de la rabia, las instituciones medicas y la policia. En total, el 88 % (713/813) de los casos tuvieron lugar en distritos rurales, aunque, entre 1951 y 2015, la distribucion paso de ser predominantemente rural a ser tanto urbana como rural. El numero de personas expuestas a la rabia aumento anualmente. Los mayores aumentos se produjeron entre los heridos por un perro domestico u otro animal: 3,26 y 4,75 veces, respectivamente, entre 2005 y 2015. Conclusion El aumento de la cooperacion en el control de la rabia entre las organizaciones civiles de Guangzhou durante decadas se asocio con una marcada reduccion del numero de casos de rabia. La experiencia de Guangzhou podria servir de guia a otras ciudades que sufren epidemias de rabia similares., Abstracts in [phrase omitted] Francais, [phrase omitted] and Espanol at the end of each article. Introduction Rabies is a fatal, zoonotic, disease caused by an RNA virus of the genus [...]

Background: The number of human rabies cases caused by pet dogs in Guangzhou has been decreasing after years of comprehensive interventions. Consequently, attacks by stray dogs become a major issue in rabies control. Objectives: To share our experience of successfully dealing with rabies to provide some inspiration for prevention and control in countries and regions affected by it. Methods: A multidisciplinary One Health response was initiated to control this outbreak. Rabies virus was detected by PCR in the brain tissue of the associated stray dog. The sequences were aligned with reference sequences downloaded from GenBank using ClustalX. The maximum likelihood method implemented in MEGA 5.0 software package was used in a phylogenetic analysis of the aligned sequences. Results: Twelve patients with exposure to the stray dog were identified in the field investigation. Rabies vaccines and immunoglobulin were administered to all patients within 48 h. After 1 year of follow‐up, no exposed patients showed symptoms. Maximum likelihood analysis of the nucleotide sequences obtained from the PCR products indicated that the rabies virus in the dog was closely related to isolates from neighbouring provinces of Guangdong as well as those from surrounding countries of China. Conclusions: Multidisciplinary One Health intervention is effective not only in the control of rabies but also in rapid emergency responses to attacks by rabid stray dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brucellosis, a zoonotic disease, causes severe pain and impairment in humans. In 2012, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (China CDC) reported 39,515 new cases of human brucellosis, [...]