Consumption of foods by young children with diagnosed campylobacter infection - a pilot case-control study

Objective: To determine whether parentally reported habitual intake of specific foods differed between children with diagnosed Campylobacter jejuni infection and children of a comparison group without diagnosed infection. Design, setting and subjects: Information was collected from the parents or primary caregivers of South Australian children aged 1–5 years with diagnosed C. jejuni (cases, n = 172) and an age- and gender-matched group of uninfected children (controls, n = 173). Frequency of consumption of 106 food and drink items was determined for the preceding two months by food-frequency questionnaire. Four children in the control group had recorded diarrhoeal episodes during the assessment period and were excluded, so 169 responses were evaluated for this group. Information was gathered on possible confounders including socio-economic status. Response frequencies were classified into three levels of consumption (rarely, weekly or daily) and statistical comparison was made by frequency of consumption of foods versus the ‘rarely’ classification for cases and controls, respectively. Results: Frequency of consumption of most foods, including starchy foods and fruits and vegetables, did not differ between cases and controls. However, reported consumption of eight food items (block and processed cheese (slices and spread), salami/fritz (a form of processed sausage), chicken nuggets, pasteurised milk, fish (canned or fresh) and hot French fries) was significantly higher by controls. Conclusions: The hypothesis that reported consumption of starchy foods was lower by cases than by controls was not supported by the data. However, consumption of some processed and unprocessed foods was higher by controls. Some of these foods have established bactericidal actions in vitro that may indicate a possible mechanism for this apparent protection

Using online citizen science to develop students' science capabilities

In 2018, a research project funded by New Zealand’s teaching and learning research initiative (TLRI) explored the impact of online citizen science (OCS) projects on the science educa primary school children in New Zealand. This article provides an intion of depth case study from this project in order to share ways in which one teacher used OCS projects specifically to develop students’ science capability, ‘critique evidence’. Comparin g data from students’ conversations and work with the progress indicators for the science capabilities released by the Ministry of Education in 2019 suggests that many of the students were achieving at or above the expected level. We suggest that teacher p rofessional learning and development in relation to the intent of science in the NZC, and the purpose of the science capabilities, was a significant enabler

Cattle and sheep farms as reservoirs of Campylobacter

Aim: This is a review of the natural Campylobacter colonization and transmission among ruminant livestock in the dairy farm environment. Methods and Results: Using cultural detection methods and enumeration techniques the distribution of Campylobacter in ruminant animals at birth, on the farm, at slaughter and in the farm environment have been examined. Colonization and shedding rates are higher among young animals while patterns of shedding in adult animals may be seasonal. Stored and land-dispersed slurries provide a reservoir for scavenging birds and flies and a source for runoff. Conclusions: The dairy farm plays a significant role in the dissemination of Campylobacter sub-types that can cause disease in the human community. Significance and Impact of Study: An understanding of the role of the dairy farm in the environmental cycle of Campylobacter is required in order to devise intervention strategies.</p