Foodborne Illness

Campylobacteriosis is an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Campylobacter. These bacteria live in many different animals. Campylobacter is one of the most common bacterial causes of diarrheal illness in the United States and the most commonly reported bacterial enteric pathogen in Indiana.

DISEASE	PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Campylobacter	Campylobacter jejuni BACTERIA	2-5 days	5-7 days 3-5 days	Diarrhea which may be watery or bloody, fever, nausea, headache	Chicken, unpasteurized milk, water	Infection	Domestic and wild animals (intestinal tract)

Cryptosporidium is passed in the stool of an infected person or animal. It is a parasite that can survive outside of the body for long periods of time and is highly resistant to chlorine. You can become infected after accidentally consuming food or water contaminated with oocysts.

Cyclosporiasis is a diarrheal illness caused by the parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis. People become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water that has been contaminated with feces containing the parasite.

E. coli is a bacteria that normally lives in the intestines of healthy people and animals. There are more than 700 serotypes of E. coli. Most varieties are harmless but some can make you sick with diarrhea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever.

PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Escherichia coliBACTERIA	2-5 days	5-10 days 2-5 days	Diarrhea (may be bloody), abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever, HUS	Undercooked ground beef, imported cheeses, unpasteurized milk or juice, cider, alfalfa sprouts	Infection/ Intoxication	Human intestinal tract, animals (especially cattle)

Giardiasis is a parasite that lives in the intestine of people and animals. You can become infected after accidentally ingesting the parasite from contact with contaminated soil, food, water, surfaces, and people sick with giardia.

Listeriosis is a serious bacterial infection caused by eating food contaminated with Listeria. The illness primarily affects pregnant women and their newborns, older adults, and adults with weakened immune systems.

DISEASE	PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Listeriosis	Listeria monocytogenes BACTERIA	2 days – 3 weeks 4-21 days	Indefinite; high fatality in the immuno-compromised	Nausea, vomiting, chills, headache, fever, backache, meningitis	Unpasteurized dairy foods, vegetables, meat, poultry, seafood, raw and smoked fish, ready-to-eat foods	Infection	Domestic and wild animals, humans, soil

Noroviruses are a group of viruses called caliciviruses. They are often referred to as “the stomach flu” or “food poisoning”.  Norovirus is highly contagious and causes severe vomiting and diarrhea. Anyone can get infected by having direct contact with an infected person, consuming contaminated food or water, or touching contaminated surfaces and putting unwashed hands in your mouth.

DISEASE	PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Norovirus infection	Noro Virus	12-96 hours	1-2 days	Low-grade fever, chills, headache, muscle ache, and fatigue	Ready-to-eat foods (salad, sandwiches, bread) shellfish	Infection	Human intestinal tract

Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella. Salmonella lives in the intestinal tracts of animals. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces or touching infected animals, their feces, or their environment.

DISEASE	PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Salmonellosis	Salmonella (facultative) BACTERIA	8-72 hours 18-36 hours	2-3 days	Abdominal pain, headache, fever, nausea, diarrhea, chills, cramps	Poultry, eggs, meat, meat products, milk, smoked fish, protein foods, juice	Infection	Domestic and wild animals, humans

Scombroid fish poisoning, or histamine fish poisoning, is a syndrome resembling an allergic reaction that occurs after eating fish contaminated with high levels of histamine. The most common fish with this illness include the Scombridae family (tuna, mackerel, skipjack, and bonito) as well as mahi mahi, bluefish, marlin and escolar. The histamine forms when these fish are not kept properly refrigerated.

Shigellosis is an infectious disease caused by a group of bacteria called Shigella. The Shigella bacteria pass from one infected person to the next. Shigella are present in the stools of infected persons while they are sick. Transmission occurs when basic hygiene and handwashing habits are not practiced, toddlers are not fully toilet trained, family members of sick children are infected, and swimming in and drinking contaminated water.

DISEASE	PATHOGEN	INCUBATION PERIOD/MEAN	DURATION OF ILLNESS	SYMPTOMS	FOODS IMPLICATED	TYPE OF ILLNESS	RESERVOIR
Shigellosis	Shigella (facultative) BACTERIA	1-7 days 1-3 days	Indefinite	Diarrhea, fever, chills, cramps, lassitude, nausea, dehydration	Moist, mixed foods, milk, potato, tuna, bean, and macaroni salads, apple cider	Infection	Human feces, flies

Toxoplasmosis is an infection by a parasite called Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite is found everywhere in the environment. Certain people are more likely to have serious illness due to toxoplasmosis. Cats are important in the transmission of toxoplasmosis because of people handling their feces. People can also get toxoplasmosis by eating or handling raw or undercooked pork, lamb or venison, eating unwashed fruits and vegetables grown in soil contaminated with cat feces or drinking contaminated water.

Vibriosis is an infection with a bacteria in the Vibrio family. People are exposed to Vibrio by consuming raw or undercooked seafood or exposing a wound to seawater. Most infections are seasonal and occur in the summertime when water temperatures are warmer.

Yersiniosis is an infectious disease caused most often by the Yersinia entercolitica bacteria. Yersiniosis most often occurs in young children and mimics the symptoms of appendicitis. Yersiniosis can be transmitted by eating contaminated food, especially raw or undercooked pork products. Care must be taken while preparing foods such as raw pork intestines (chitterlings) to prevent contaminating foods, surfaces, toys, and bottles. The bacteria can also be transmitted through the stool of an infected person.