Source: UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA submitted to NRP
INTERNATIONAL CYCLOSPORA CONFERENCE
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
AFRI COMPETITIVE GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1030037
Grant No.
2023-67017-40060
Cumulative Award Amt.
$49,998.00
Proposal No.
2022-11681
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jun 1, 2023
Project End Date
May 31, 2025
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[A1332]- Food Safety and Defense
Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA
200 D.W. BROOKS DR
ATHENS,GA 30602-5016
Performing Department
CAES-Food Safety Center
Non Technical Summary
Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidian parasite that causes gastrointestinal illness in humans. It is endemic in several countries and for the past 28 years it has been affecting the U.S. population when foods contaminated with Cyclospora oocysts are consumed raw. Since 2013, close to 10,000 cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in the U.S. Some of these cases were associated with outbreaks linked to the consumption of basil, salad greens, romaine lettuce, and cilantro. 2,299 domestic cases were reported in 2018 and a third of these were associated with two multistate outbreaks linked to prepackaged vegetable trays and salads sold at a fast food chain. Since then, imported and domestically grown cilantro and romaine lettuce have been involved in foodborne outbreaks in the U.S. urging the need to bring together scientists to discuss the advances gained in the past and to address the needs to control Cyclospora outbreaks and reduce its prevalence in endemic locations. We propose the following objectives:1) Organize an international conference where scientists that work with Cyclospora from the U.S. and overseas can meet and present their basic and applied research on this parasite.2) Prepare a white paper summarizing the information presented at the conference and identify areas where more research should be focused to better understand the parasite. It will also address important research gaps on Cyclospora and how we can control/prevent cyclosporiasis.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
72240991110100%
Knowledge Area
722 - Zoonotic Diseases and Parasites Affecting Humans;

Subject Of Investigation
4099 - Microorganisms, general/other;

Field Of Science
1110 - Parasitology;
Goals / Objectives
Long term goals of this projectThis Cyclospora conference will be the place where information will be shared, and research gaps identified. Researchers will have the opportunity to start working on them. This will be the first of many more annual International Cyclospora Conferences.Approach for Conference Grant Applications The objective of this proposal is to address the lack of coordinated efforts from the scientific community to understand, control, and prevent Cyclospora cayetanensis infections in the U.S. and elsewhere. A conference would bring together many Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) in one place to discuss and brainstorm as a collective on what research and implementations are needed.
Project Methods
Dr. Ortega (PI) will personally invite key researchers to participate in the conference. Initial contact has already been initiated and the response is extremely positive from the key speakers. Selected letters of support have been requested and are attached to this application. Further communications with specific details of the conference will be sent to them once funding has been granted. All communications are being done via email, WhatsApp, or phone.A web site for the conference will be created to promote the event. The web site will have information such as the date, venue, registration information, and announcement of confirmed speakers. The conference will also be open to give the opportunity to other scientists to submit posters. Abstracts will be checked by SMEs to determine suitability of the topic.

Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:Cyclospora cayetanensis is a coccidia foodbonre parasite that causes gastointestinal illness in hiuman and affects americans every year with most of the cases rportes during the summer months. The transmission is mostly foodborne specifically by consumption of raw fresh produce (herbs) and fruits. Since 2015 outbreaks in the US were associated with cilantro imported fom Mexico and salad greens produced in the US. The goal of this project was to bring together subject matter experts at an international Cyclospora conference where current knowedge of cyclosporiasis was shared and to identfy knowledge gaps that need to be targeted to reduce the incidence of this parasite in the US and elsewhere. The meeting was held at the Emory Conference Center Hotel on March 7-8, 2024. On day 1, the biology, pathology, clinical presentation, and characteristicas specific of this parasite including environmental condition needed for this parasite to become infectious were presented. The epidemiology and recent outbreaks in the US (domestic cases and travellers) and other endemic countries were discussed. On day 2, advances on diagnostic metods, studies performed by CDC, FDA and EPA were shared and discussions pertaining to research gaps were addressed as a group. Speakers from academia (University of Arizona, University of Delaware, University of Georgia, Virginia Tech, and Johns Hopkins University), governamental agencies and fresh produce industry. Speakers from international universities were also present (China, Colombia, Mexico, England, Canada, and Italia). They presented their studies and participated in discussions critical to research gaps. Posters were presented by students. The meeting was well received and requests to hae a second meeting was voiced by the participants. A summary of this conference is being prepared and will be submitted at the Clinical Microbiology Reviews journal. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Web site and a peer reviewed manuscript to be submitted in the following months. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Bring together Cyclopora experts to provide the latest advances on Cyclospora research and address the knowledge gaps to reduce the incidence of Cyclospora in the US.

Publications


    Progress 06/01/23 to 05/31/24

    Outputs
    Target Audience:The International Cyclospora Conference took place on March 7-8, 2024. The conference venue was at the Emory Conference Center Hotel. The target audience were scientists from state and federal agencies, academia, fresh produce industry, and food science graduate students. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Graduate students had a unique opportunity to meet the experts in the fresh produce industry and Cyclospora, talk about their projects, and seek advise for their research. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?The presentations - with consent of the presenters - were distributed to participants. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?As proposed, a white paper with the information obtained from the conference is being prepared and will be submitted for publication at a food safety journal.

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? The first goal of the conference were accomplished successfully. Subject matter experts on fresh produce and Cyclospora were brought together to give talks on new information and research associated with fresh produce and Cyclospora. In addition, research gaps were identified and discussed. Participants had the opportunity to network with other scientists from the US and overseas and initiate conversations about future research that needs to be addressed to reduce the burden of cyclosporiasis in the US and elsewhere.

    Publications