food-borne illness

What Is Campylobacter?

What Is Campylobacter?

Campylobacter bacteria is one of the leading causes of food-borne illness.  Babies less than one year old, teens, and young adults are the people most commonly infected with Campylobacter (also known as campylobacteriosis). Campylobacter bacteria is typically transmitted through contaminated food or water.  Campylobacter bacteria can infect the gastrointestinal tract and cause fever, stomach cramps, [...]

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What Is Shigella?

What Is Shigella?

Shigella are common bacteria that cause infection in the digestive tract.  Shigellosis is the name of the infection caused by Shigella bacteria.  Shigella bacteria produce toxins that attack the lining of the large intestine, causing swelling, ulceration of the intestinal wall, and bloody diarrhea.  This is a form of severe food poisoning. Diarrhea associated with [...]

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What Is Trichinosis?

What Is Trichinosis?

Trichinosis (also called trichinellosis, trichiniasis, or trichinelliasis) is an illness caused by parasites, called roundworms (Trichinella spp.), that can infect and damage many different tissues of the body.  Even though the parasites are able to pass through the intestinal tract and other tissues, muscle tissues are where the majority of these roundworms stay.  Trichinosis is [...]

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What Is Giardia?

What Is Giardia?

Giardia are protozoans, tiny, one-celled parasitic microorganisms that have the potential to cause serious illness in people and animals.   Illness caused by the Giardia parasite is called giardiasis, which is a diarrheal illness.  Once an animal or person has been infected, the parasite lives in the intestine and is passed out of the body [...]

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What Is Salmonella?

What Is Salmonella?

Salmonella (S.) is the genus name for a wide variety (over 2,500) of bacteria. Each type can be distinguished by its particular protein coating. The types are very similar in all other aspects.  Salmonella bacteria are flagellated, rod-shaped, Gram stain-negative, and are known to cause illness in humans, birds (especially poultry), and animals worldwide. Salmonellosis [...]

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Granola Bar Recalls Due to Salmonella-How Does This Happen?

Granola Bar Recalls Due to Salmonella-How Does This Happen?

There has recently been another recall of granola bars due to potential Salmonella contamination.  How does Salmonella get into granola bars, and why does this keep happening?  Should you be concerned?  Salmonella is the genus name for over 2,500 different bacteria.  Salmonella are rod-shaped, flagellated, Gram-stain negative bacteria, and are known to cause illness in [...]

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What is E. Coli?

What is E. Coli?

E. coli is the shortened name for Escherichia coli, which is a common type of bacteria that is known to cause food-borne illness.  Interestingly, not all E. coli bacteria will make you sick.  In fact, there are strains of the bacteria that are normally present in the intestines of the human body, where they assist [...]

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