Comprehensive evaluation of abattoirs with no Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point plan in Tucumán,Argentina / Evaluación integral de frigoríficos sin un plan de análisis de peligros y puntos críticos de control en Tucumán, Argentina

Abstract This work focused on the comprehensive study of two provincial transit abattoirs inTucumán, Argentina, with no Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. Visits (n = 20)were conducted between 2016 and 2018 during the operational and post-operational processes.Risk was estimated and the bacteriological analysis of carcass and environmental samples wasperformed. Risk estimation showed the predominance of high risk in both abattoirs. The maindeviations from the HACCP plan were: deficient building conditions, deficient workflow, lack of sectorization of changing rooms and bathrooms, lack of implementation of Standardized Sanitary Operational Procedures, and no food safety training of workers. The counts of indi-cator microorganisms from both abattoirs were not significant. Salmonella spp. was isolated from 7.5% carcass and 7.3% environmental samples. The Salmonella serovars identified were Cerro, Corvallis, Havana and Agona. Shiga toxin (stx) genes were detected in 24.4% carcass and 30.9% environmental samples. The isolates were characterized as Escherichia coli O8:H7/stx1, O116:H49/stx2 and O136:H40/stx2. Based on these results, it would be possible to implement an improvement plan in Tucumán abattoirs together with the local health authorities. Still, the need to work jointly with the sanitary authority in search of a unique sanitary standard for Argentina remains unaddressed.

Resumen Este trabajo se centró en el estudio integral de dos frigoríficos de tránsito provincial en Tucumán, Argentina, carentes de un plan de análisis de peligros y puntos críticos de control (HACCP, por sus siglas en inglés). Las visitas (n = 20) se realizaron entre 2016 y 2018 durante los procesos operativos y posoperativos. Se realizó la estimación del riesgo y el análisis bacteriológico de medias reses y muestras ambientales. La estimación del riesgo demostró un predominio de riesgo alto en ambos frigoríficos. Las principales desviaciones del plan HACCP fueron las deficientes condiciones edilicias, un inadecuado flujo de trabajo, la falta de sectorización de vestuarios y banños, una implementación nula de procedimientos operativos estandarizados de saneamiento y una insuficiente capacitación en seguridad alimentaria de los operarios. Los recuentos de microorganismos indicadores de ambos frigoríficos no presentaron diferencias significativas. Salmonella spp. se aisló del 7,5% de muestras de medias reses y del 7,3% de muestras ambientales. Se identificaron las siguientes serovariedades de Salmonella: Cerro, Corvallis, Havana y Agona. Se detectaron genes de toxina Shiga (sfx) en el 24,4% de las muestras de medias reses y en el 30,9% de las muestras ambientales. Los aislamientos se caracterizaron como Escherichia coli O8:H7/sfx1, O116:H49/sfx2 y O136:H40/sfx2. Teniendo en cuenta estos resultados, sería posible implementar un plan de mejoramiento en frigoríficos de Tucumán conjuntamente con las autoridades locales de salud. Aun así, sigue sin abordarse la necesidad de trabajar en vinculación con las autoridades sanitarias en la búsqueda de una norma integrada única para Argentina.

Mycobacterium leprae virulence-associated peptides are indicators of exposure to M: leprae in Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal

Silent transmission of Mycobacterium leprae, as evidenced by stable leprosy incidence rates in various countries, remains a health challenge despite the implementation of multidrug therapy worldwide. Therefore, the development of tools for the early diagnosis of M. leprae infection should be emphasised in leprosy research. As part of the continuing effort to identify antigens that have diagnostic potential, unique M. leprae peptides derived from predicted virulence-associated proteins (group IV.A) were identified using advanced genome pattern programs and bioinformatics. Based on human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-binding motifs, we selected 21 peptides that were predicted to be promiscuous HLA-class I T-cell epitopes and eight peptides that were predicted to be HLA-class II restricted T-cell epitopes for field-testing in Brazil, Ethiopia and Nepal. High levels of interferon (IFN)-γ were induced when peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from tuberculoid/borderline tuberculoid leprosy patients located in Brazil and Ethiopia were stimulated with the ML2055 p35 peptide. PBMCs that were isolated from healthy endemic controls living in areas with high leprosy prevalence (EChigh) in Ethiopia also responded to the ML2055 p35 peptide. The Brazilian EChigh group recognised the ML1358 p20 and ML1358 p24 peptides. None of the peptides were recognised by PBMCs from healthy controls living in non-endemic region. In Nepal, mixtures of these peptides induced the production of IFN-γ by the PBMCs of leprosy patients and EChigh. Therefore, the M. leprae virulence-associated peptides identified in this study may be useful for identifying exposure to M. leprae in population with differing HLA polymorphisms.

Seroprevalence and risk factors of human cysticercosis in a community of Shandong, China.

A community-based seroepidemiologic survey on Taenia solium cysticercosis in humans was carried out in Shandong Province, China. Blood specimens from 2,898 residents were collected and examined for anti-cysticercus antibody. Information on demographic and potential risk factors was obtained using a standardized questionnaire. The overall seroprevalence of cysticercosis was 3.2%. Seropositivity tended to increase with age ranging from 1.8% in children under 6 years of age to 5.7% in those over 60 years old. Distance between village residence and the town of the community was negatively associated with seropositivity (Chi-square for trend test p = 0.02). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified four risk factors for cysticercosis infection in the community: defecating indiscriminately (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.01-1.81), being unable to identify diseased pork (OR = 4.09, 95% CI 1.53-10.97), raising pigs (OR = 1.36, 95% CI 1.09-1.69), and more than 60 years old (OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.10-2.02. These findings have implications for developing appropriate strategies for the control of Taenia solium cysticercosis in the community.