# Microbiology: Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capability/Capacity Development 2020-2021

> **NIH FDA U19** · HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH · 2020 · $75,000

## Abstract

Hawaii State Department of Health 
 State Laboratories Division 
Laboratory Preparedness and Response Branch 
 Biological Response Section 
Discipline A – Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capability/Capacity Development - Cyclospora 
Project Summary: 
Cyclosporiasis otherwise known as "traveler's diarrhea" is caused by a protozoan parasite, Cyclospora 
cayatanensis. The infection is acquired by the ingestion of infective oocysts from fecal-contaminated food or 
water. Cyclosporiasis in the United States has been frequently linked to consumption of imported fresh 
produce including leafy greens and berries. Since the mid-1990's cases have been reported in the United 
States usually linked to consumption of imported fresh produce. In 2013-2015, the Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 1400 cases in a multi-state outbreak of infection due to C. 
cayatanensis. This multi-state outbreak was linked to fresh cilantro grown in Puebla, Mexico. From 2016- 
2019, US statistics showed a dramatic increase of Cyclosporiasis linked to multi-states outbreaks and clusters 
of infection. 
According to a 2016 report prepared by the University of Hawaii – Hilo for the Hawaii Department of 
Agriculture, eighty five percent of food supply in Hawaii is imported, nationally and internationally. This makes 
Hawaii vulnerable to food-borne illnesses. No cases of cyclosporiasis have been identified in a Hawaii resident 
in the past ten years. The absence of cases in Hawaii maybe due in part to absence of sensitive tests to 
examine stool samples for C. cayatanenesis. 
The objective of this proposal is to establish Cyclospora food testing capability in the HI-DOH State 
Laboratories Division (SLD) FERN Microbiology laboratory. It is hoped that by developing this capability, 
testing can be done in-state without the need to send to the nearest FDA Office which is five hours away by air. 
The ability to test food samples in-state will shorten Turn-Around-Time (TAT) and results can support 
investigations for intervention and mitigation purposes. Additionally, the ability to test food products for 
Cyclospora can aid in epidemiological investigations of possible cases. Having both the ability to test clinical 
stool samples and test potentially contaminated food products will aid in establishing an epidemiological link 
and aid in a more efficient tracing of cases.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10175095
- **Project number:** 1U19FD007124-01
- **Recipient organization:** HAWAII STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
- **Principal Investigator:** Remedios B Gose
- **Activity code:** U19 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** FDA
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $75,000
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2025-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10175095

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10175095, Microbiology: Analytical Track 5: Microbiology Capability/Capacity Development 2020-2021 (1U19FD007124-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10175095. Licensed CC0.

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