An analysis of raw chicken intended for consumption by people and animals found high levels of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli, researchers reported last week at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) Global Congress.

In the study, which was also published on a pre-print server in March, researchers from the University of Bristol analyzed 58 samples of raw beef, chicken, pork, and lamb sold for human consumption at grocery stores in Bristol and 15 samples of chicken-based raw dog food from specialty pet stores for the presence of resistant E coli. The samples were tested for resistance to amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, spectinomycin, streptomycin.

Overall, 81% of the meat samples for human consumption and 87% of the chicken-based raw dog food samples were positive for E coli. Among the grocery-store purchased meat samples, uncooked chicken had the highest levels of E coli resistant to amoxicillin (93%), spectinomycin (100%), streptomycin (100%), and the critically important antibiotic ciprofloxacin (47%)—significantly higher than found in uncooked beef, pork, and lamb. 

Similar levels of resistant E coli were found in the chicken-based raw dog food samples, with 87% positive for resistance to spectinomycin and streptomycin and 47% positive for ciprofloxacin resistance.

Appropriate handling of uncooked meat, raw dog food

The analysis also found that the most common E coli sequence types (STs) in the chicken-based raw dog food samples (ST10, ST162, and ST744) were the same as those found in a previous study on fluoroquinolone resistance in dogs by the same research team. In that study, the presence of those STs in dog fecal samples was strongly associated with a raw meat diet.

"Our findings that raw dog food is similarly contaminated with resistant bacteria provides an explanation for why dogs fed raw meat are more likely to excrete these bacteria," the authors said in an ESCMID press release.

The authors add that the findings highlight the need for consumers to cook meat thoroughly and follow the same appropriate hygiene practices when handling uncooked meat and raw dog food.

Today a new meta-analysis of six randomized controlled trials in JAMA Neurology finds no increase in seizures in the month following COVID vaccination. 

The study compared the incidence of new-onset seizures between the 63,521 vaccine and 54,919 placebo recipients involved in randomized controlled trials conducted in the last 4 years.

“The new onset seizures following vaccination, even with the different types of vaccine, we found no statistical difference,” study author Churl-Su Kwon, MD, MPH, said in an interview posted online on the journal site. 

In the vaccine group there were 9 seizure events reported, compared to 1 in the placebo group, resulting in an odds ratio of 2.70  (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.76 to 9.57) during the 28 days following vaccination.

When analyzing the entire study periods included in the analysis (median time 43 days), the authors reported no significant difference between the vaccine and placebo groups in terms of incident new-onset seizure (13/43,724 events [0.03%] in vaccine and 5/40 612 [0.012%] in placebo recipients; odds ratio 2.31; 95% CI, 0.86 to 3.23).

The findings suggest that there is no difference in risk of seizure incidence among vaccinated individuals vs placebo recipients

"The findings suggest that there is no difference in risk of seizure incidence among vaccinated individuals vs placebo recipients," the authors concluded. "However, the risk of seizure occurrence after SARS-CoV-2 infection seems to be relatively high."

For the first time, a wild deer in Pierce County, Wisconsin, has been confirmed to have chronic wasting disease (CWD), the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) reports today.

The 4- to 5-year-old doe, which had showed signs of illness, was found in Spring Lake, which is located within 10 miles of the Dunn and St. Croix county borders. 

As a result of the finding, Pierce County will begin a 3-year baiting and feeding ban on May 15, St. Croix County will ban baiting and feeding for 2 years starting on the same date, and Dunn County will renew its current ban. The DNR said it will also host a public meeting.

Found in deer and other cervids such as moose and elk, the infectious illness is caused by misfolded proteins known as prions. The disease poses an ongoing threat to cervids, given that CWD can spread from animal to animal and through environmental contamination. 

No human cases have been reported, but health officials urge people to avoid eating the meat of infected animals and to take precautions when field-dressing or butchering cervids.

• Amid a sharp rise in US maternal and congenital syphilis cases over the past few years, Colorado's governor recently issued a statewide public health order to address the state's persistent and sharp increase in congenital syphilis. In a recent statement, officials said congenital syphilis cases rose sevenfold from 2018 to 2023. So far this year, 25 cases have been confirmed, including five stillbirths and two newborn deaths. The public health order expands access to testing during pregnancy and stipulates that healthcare providers must offer testing more frequently during pregnancy. Also, it requires testing at correctional facilities.
• Health officials in Madison, Wisconsin, recently reported a measles case involving someone who traveled to and works in neighboring Rock County. In a statement, Public Health Madison and Dane County said it is working with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (WDHS) and the Rock County Department of Health to identify contacts and potential exposures. The WDHS identified potential exposures at two healthcare facilities in Janesville, as well as a gas station in Milton, an electronics repair shop in Madison, and a fast food restaurant in Cottage Grove. The infection is part of a rise in global cases, including in the United States. In its latest weekly update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on April 26 reported three more cases, raising the national total to 128 from 20 jurisdictions, more than double the cases reported for 2023.