Novel Sampling Method for Assessing Human-Pathogen Interactions in the Natural Environment Using Boot Socks and Citizen Scientists, with Application to Campylobacter Seasonality.
Novel Sampling Method for Assessing Human-Pathogen Interactions in the Natural Environment Using Boot Socks and Citizen Scientists, with Application to Campylobacter Seasonality.
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DOI：
10.1128/aem.00162-17
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发表时间：
2017-07-15
影响因子：
4.4
通讯作者：
ENIGMA Consortium
中科院分区：
文献类型：
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作者：
Jones NR;Millman C;van der Es M;Hukelova M;Forbes KJ;Glover C;Haldenby S;Hunter PR;Jackson K;O'Brien SJ;Rigby D;Strachan NJC;Williams N;Lake IR;ENIGMA Consortium
本文介绍了一种在自然环境中进行病原体取样的新方法。它使用织物靴袜穿在步行者的鞋子上，以便在大范围内收集复合样品。广域取样更适合于关注人类暴露于病原体的研究（例如，休闲散步）。这种抽样方法是使用公民科学方法来实现的：三组穿着长筒袜的步行者在英格兰西北（NW）和东安格利亚（EA）地区的16个月内进行了6条路线中的一条，共40次。为了验证这一方法，我们报告了这种公民科学方法的成功实施，观察到47%的靴子袜子上检测到弯曲杆菌细菌，并且观察到从个人步行的多个靴子袜子产生一致的结果。结果表明，家畜为主的西北地区弯曲杆菌水平高于EA（55.8%对38.6%）。弯曲杆菌的存在在不同地区之间存在季节性差异，两个地区都有冬季高峰，但西北部有春季高峰。靴袜上弯曲杆菌的存在与环境温度呈负相关（P = 0.011），与降水呈正相关（P < 0.001），结果与我们对弯曲杆菌存活和材料粘附在靴袜上的概率的理解一致。空肠弯曲杆菌为优势菌种；大肠弯曲杆菌主要局限于家畜为主的西北地区。来源归因分析表明，空肠梭菌的潜在传染源主要为西北地区的绵羊和EA地区的野生鸟类，但在人类发病高峰期和非高峰期之间没有差异。关于病原体从环境转移到人类的途径，文献中存在争议。我们报告了一种使用靴子袜子和公民科学技术采样人类病原体相互作用的新方法的成功，这使我们能够通过访问自然环境对可能发生的人类病原体相互作用进行采样。这与传统的环境采样形成对比，传统的环境采样基于现场采样技术，不采样人类与病原体的相互作用。我们的方法对试图了解病原体从环境到人的传播的科学家具有实用价值。我们的研究结果提供了从娱乐访问中暴露弯曲杆菌的风险的见解，以及对风险的季节性差异和这些模式背后的因素的理解。我们强调了主要遇到的弯曲杆菌种类和空肠梭菌的潜在来源。
This paper introduces a novel method for sampling pathogens in natural environments. It uses fabric boot socks worn over walkers' shoes to allow the collection of composite samples over large areas. Wide-area sampling is better suited to studies focusing on human exposure to pathogens (e.g., recreational walking). This sampling method is implemented using a citizen science approach: groups of three walkers wearing boot socks undertook one of six routes, 40 times over 16 months in the North West (NW) and East Anglian (EA) regions of England. To validate this methodology, we report the successful implementation of this citizen science approach, the observation that Campylobacter bacteria were detected on 47% of boot socks, and the observation that multiple boot socks from individual walks produced consistent results. The findings indicate higher Campylobacter levels in the livestock-dominated NW than in EA (55.8% versus 38.6%). Seasonal differences in the presence of Campylobacter bacteria were found between the regions, with indications of winter peaks in both regions but a spring peak in the NW. The presence of Campylobacter bacteria on boot socks was negatively associated with ambient temperature (P = 0.011) and positively associated with precipitation (P < 0.001), results consistent with our understanding of Campylobacter survival and the probability of material adhering to boot socks. Campylobacter jejuni was the predominant species found; Campylobacter coli was largely restricted to the livestock-dominated NW. Source attribution analysis indicated that the potential source of C. jejuni was predominantly sheep in the NW and wild birds in EA but did not differ between peak and nonpeak periods of human incidence. IMPORTANCE There is debate in the literature on the pathways through which pathogens are transferred from the environment to humans. We report on the success of a novel method for sampling human-pathogen interactions using boot socks and citizen science techniques, which enable us to sample human-pathogen interactions that may occur through visits to natural environments. This contrasts with traditional environmental sampling, which is based on spot sampling techniques and does not sample human-pathogen interactions. Our methods are of practical value to scientists trying to understand the transmission of pathogens from the environment to people. Our findings provide insight into the risk of Campylobacter exposure from recreational visits and an understanding of seasonal differences in risk and the factors behind these patterns. We highlight the Campylobacter species predominantly encountered and the potential sources of C. jejuni.