Objectives Kudoa septempunctata is a marine myxosporean parasite implicated in seafood-borne acute gastroenteritis, predominantly associated with the consumption of raw olive flounder. This study aimed to characterize the molecular and genetic features of K. septempunctata-associated with foodborne outbreaks in the Republic of Korea from 2016 to 2024. Methods: We reviewed 415 suspected foodborne outbreaks reported through national surveillance between 2016 and 2024. Among these, 37 outbreaks with complete clinical, epidemiological, and laboratory data from 2020 to 2024—including K. septempunctata testing and genotyping—were analyzed in detail. Results: Diarrhea (88.8%) and vomiting (61.2%) were the most common symptoms. The detection rate of K. septempunctata was significantly higher in specimens collected ≤24 hours after raw fish consumption (69.8%) than in those collected > 24 hours after consumption (35.9%). Outbreak occurrence was higher during warmer months (May–October) than during other periods, although this difference was not statistically significant. All sequences obtained from patient specimens belonged to sequence type 3 (ST3) of K. septempunctata. Conclusion: Since 2020, the proportion of reported outbreaks associated with Kudoa has increased, indicating its continued public health relevance. The timing of specimen collection is a key determinant of K. septempunctata detection, as diagnostic yield declines significantly when specimens are collected more than 24 hours after exposure. These findings highlight the need for standardized rapid investigation protocols and an integrated surveillance system linking clinical data with seafood supply-chain information.
<sec><title>Objectives</title><p>The objective of this review is to propose an appropriate course of action for improving the guidelines followed by food handlers for control of infection. For this purpose, previous epidemiological reports related to acute gastroenteritis in food service businesses mediated by food handlers were intensively analyzed.</p></sec><sec><title>Methods</title><p>Relevant studies were identified in international databases. We selected eligible papers reporting foodborne infectious disease outbreaks. Among primary literature collection, the abstract of each article was investigated to find cases that absolutely identified a causative factor to be food handlers’ inappropriate infection control and the taxon of causative microbial agents by epidemiological methodologies. Information about the sites (type of food business) where the outbreaks occurred was investigated.</p></sec><sec><title>Results</title><p>A wide variety of causative microbial agents has been investigated, using several epidemiological methods. These agents have shown diverse propagation pathways based on their own molecular pathogenesis, physiology, taxonomy, and etiology.</p></sec><sec><title>Conclusion</title><p>Depending on etiology, transmission, propagation, and microbiological traits, we can predict the transmission characteristics of pathogens in food preparation areas. The infected food workers have a somewhat different ecological place in infection epidemiology as compared to the general population. However, the current Korean Food Safety Act cannot propose detailed guidelines. Therefore, different methodologies have to be made available to prevent further infections.</p></sec>
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Objectives
The purpose of this study was to examine the diversity of the <i>G</i> and <i>P</i> types of human rotavirus strains isolated in South Korea during 2000 to 2004. Methods
We selected 38 Group A rotavirus isolates among 652 fecal samples, which were collected from infants and children < 5 years of age with acute gastroenteritis or diarrhea admitted in 8 hospitals representative of five provinces of South Korea between 2000 and 2004. Rotavirus <i>P</i>- and <i>G</i>-genotypes were determined by nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis was performed. Results
One <i>G1P[4]</i> consisted <i>G1-Id-P[4]-V</i>; one <i>G1P[6]</i> consisted <i>G1-Id-P[6]-Ia</i>; nine <i>G1P[8]</i> consisted <i>G1-Ib-P[8]-Ia</i> (<i>n</i>=3), <i>G1-Ic-P[8]-Ia</i> (<i>n</i>=1), and <i>G1-Id-P[8]-Ia</i> (<i>n</i>=5); 13 <i>G2P[4]</i> consisted <i>G2-V-P[4]-V</i>; two <i>G3P[4]</i> consisted <i>G3-IIId-P[4]-V</i>; five <i>G3P[8]</i> consisted <i>G3-IIId-P[8]-Ia</i>; four <i>G4P[6]</i> consisted <i>G4-Ie-P[6]-Ia</i>; two <i>G4P[8]</i> consisted <i>G4-Ie-P[8]-II</i>; one <i>G9P[6]</i> consisted <i>G9-III-P[6]-Ia</i>. Conclusions
A considerable amount of rotavirus genotypic diversity was detected in South Korea from 2000 to 2004. These findings are important to develop the effective vaccines and to undertake epidemiologic studies.
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