The long-term goal of this project is to reduce the number and size of outbreaks caused by food contaminated with Cyclospora cayetanensis. Identification of sources of contamination is key to achieving this goal. Foodborne outbreaks of cyclosporiasis have become an unwelcome summer event and the number of identified cases has increased in recent years [1]. Outbreaks have been linked to salad greens, basil, cilantro, raspberries, snow peas and other fresh produce [2, 3], the type of healthy foods we are all encouraged to eat. Unfortunately, the exact vehicle often cannot be determined. Even when the food is identified, the point of contamination may not be found, the discovery may be made only after the season for that produce is over and hundreds of people are sickened. One of the challenges in reducing the burden of disease is linking cases to each other as well as to contaminated foods in order to more quickly identify a supplier or grower. By identifying Cyclospora in specific foods or environmental sources our goal is to shorten the timeline to identify the source of an outbreak and ultimately reduce the number of cases of cyclosporiasis.
