Research Article
Food Poisoning Outbreak at Qarn Al Alam, Dakhliyah Governorate, Oman, January 2025
Ahmed Al-Busaidi*
,
Shady Abdelrahman Kamel,
Mohammed Al-Tobi,
Salim Al-Busaidi,
Kishor Duthade
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
1-9
Received:
19 November 2025
Accepted:
8 December 2025
Published:
9 February 2026
Abstract: Background: From January 26 to January 30, 2025, an outbreak of foodborne sickness occurred among workers at a specific company camp in Qarn Al Alam, Al-Dakhyilia governorate, Oman. This outbreak clearly affected 49 workers, who experienced symptoms like diarrhoea, fever, , vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating food from the camp. The Rapid Response Team (RRT) of Al Dakhliyah governorate was activated to investigate and oversee the outbreak. Objectives: to confirm the existence of the outbreak, to identify the mode, vehicle of transmission, initiates appropriate control measures and roles to prevent the future similar outbreaks.Method: A case-control study was conducted to investigate the outbreak. Cases were defined as any workers/staff of the specific company who ate from the camp in Qarn Al Alam and had diarrhea and/or any one of the signs/symptoms of fever, vomiting, and abdominal pain among from 26th January 2025 to 30th January 2025. Any workers of the specific company who ate from same camp without reporting symptoms were defines as control. Data collection included interviews, environmental assessments, and clinical histories. Food samples and clinical specimens were tested to validate the causes of the illnesses and identify the most common foodborne germs. Data was analyzed by SPSS program. Results: A total of 49 workers were infected by the outbreak. The interval between the occurrence of the first and the last case was 76 hrs. Most of the cases were in the age group 20-39 years. The majority of cases were among Indians, who were followed by Pakistanis and Bangladeshis. The most common symptom, which affected workers of all ages, was diarrhea, which was followed by fever and abdominal pain. The clinical picture was compatible with mild acute gastroenteritis. A breakdown of food safety and basic personal hygiene was detected among the food handlers. The stool cultures of cases and food handlers were positive for Salmonella species. The identical DNA fingerprinting pattern confirmed Salmonella enteritis strains originating from the cases and food handlers. Conclusion: We concluded that the source of outbreak was the food handlers. The importance of food safety and rigors environmental safety is emphasized. Basic personal hygiene and training of food handlers in restaurants are recommended with public health measurements.
Abstract: Background: From January 26 to January 30, 2025, an outbreak of foodborne sickness occurred among workers at a specific company camp in Qarn Al Alam, Al-Dakhyilia governorate, Oman. This outbreak clearly affected 49 workers, who experienced symptoms like diarrhoea, fever, , vomiting, and abdominal pain after eating food from the camp. The Rapid Res...
Show More
Research Article
Clinical Utility of Anti-nuclear Antibodies and Extractable Nuclear Antigen for Diagnosis of Connective Tissue Disorders
Gutam Patnaik,
Madhusmita Patnaik,
Dharitri Mohapatra,
Debasish Sahoo,
Nirupama Chayani,
Shrabanti Sarkar,
Ramesh Sethy*
Issue:
Volume 2, Issue 1, February 2026
Pages:
10-18
Received:
8 March 2025
Accepted:
29 January 2026
Published:
24 February 2026
DOI:
10.11648/j.ajmst.20260201.12
Downloads:
Views:
Abstract: Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are associated with the production of multiple autoantibodies, predominantly anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and their subsets known as extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). Although ANA detection by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is routinely used for screening CTDs, these methods are limited by non-specificity. The present study evaluated the clinical utility of ENA profiling in conjunction with conventional ANA testing for CTD screening. Clinically suspected CTD patients were screened for ANA using ELISA and IIF, followed by ENA antibody detection using ELISA and line blot immunoassay (LIA). Out of a total of 274 clinically suspected cases analyzed, ANA positivity was observed in 23.7% of cases by indirect immunofluorescence and 26.2% by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. ENA analysis among ANA-positive cases revealed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as the most prevalent CTD (68%), while Sjögren’s syndrome was the least common (1%). Among ENA specificities, U-RNP antibodies showed the highest frequency (56.9%), whereas PM-Scl antibodies were least frequent (1%). Although IIF remains the gold standard for ANA detection, ELISA is a useful initial screening tool, as IIF may fail to detect low-positive ANA cases identified by ELISA. Interpretation of ANA positivity should always be made in appropriate clinical context and confirmed by more specific tests such as ENA profiling. The observed geographical variation in ENA antibody frequency and CTD patterns highlights the need for further region-specific studies to better define antibody prevalence in CTDs.
Abstract: Connective tissue disorders (CTDs) are associated with the production of multiple autoantibodies, predominantly anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) and their subsets known as extractable nuclear antigens (ENA). Although ANA detection by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is routinely used for screening CTDs, t...
Show More
