Enterococcus Spp. Survival Through the Use of Standard Protocol for Clostridium Sp. Isolation

The genera Clostridium and Enterococcus are very different from each other, both morphologically and physiologically. Due to the high resistance by the sporulation capacity of Clostridium species, the thermal shock is a characteristic tool used for the isolation and identification of these microorganisms, this way, it would eliminate any other bacteria that did not present spores. The objective of this work is to show that Enterococcus sp. resist the temperature treatment and grow in culture media used for the isolation of Clostridium sp. For this, the present study initially attempted to identify reducing sulfite clostridia in poultry products, through the use of specific culture media and heat shock treatment. However, the PCR did not detect the presence of Clostridium sp. Then, sequencing of the 16S rDNA region was performed, which showed that the reducing sulfite colonies that were being isolated were, actually, Enterococcus spp. With this, some tests were carried out using different temperature and time combinations in the thermal shock, as well as the use of five different selective and differential culture media, in an attempt to eliminate any contaminants, but all without success, because these bacteria resisted to all modification. Therefore, the standard protocol for the isolation of bacteria of the genus Clostridium does not eliminate Enterococcus, which can lead to failures in the quantification and qualification of sulfite reducing microorganisms, a fact that can significantly affect food safety and animal health.(AU)

Enterococcus Spp. Survival Through the Use of Standard Protocol for Clostridium Sp. Isolation

The genera Clostridium and Enterococcus are very different from each other, both morphologically and physiologically. Due to the high resistance by the sporulation capacity of Clostridium species, the thermal shock is a characteristic tool used for the isolation and identification of these microorganisms, this way, it would eliminate any other bacteria that did not present spores. The objective of this work is to show that Enterococcus sp. resist the temperature treatment and grow in culture media used for the isolation of Clostridium sp. For this, the present study initially attempted to identify reducing sulfite clostridia in poultry products, through the use of specific culture media and heat shock treatment. However, the PCR did not detect the presence of Clostridium sp. Then, sequencing of the 16S rDNA region was performed, which showed that the reducing sulfite colonies that were being isolated were, actually, Enterococcus spp. With this, some tests were carried out using different temperature and time combinations in the thermal shock, as well as the use of five different selective and differential culture media, in an attempt to eliminate any contaminants, but all without success, because these bacteria resisted to all modification. Therefore, the standard protocol for the isolation of bacteria of the genus Clostridium does not eliminate Enterococcus, which can lead to failures in the quantification and qualification of sulfite reducing microorganisms, a fact that can significantly affect food safety and animal health.

Invasive slug Meghimatium pictum (Stoliczka, 1873) infected by Angiostrongylus costaricensis Morera & Céspedes, 1971, and the possible risk of human infection associated with grape consumption.

Many molluscs may be infected with angiostrongylid larvae. Following the histopathological diagnosis of abdominal angiostrongyliasis in a grape farmer from southern Brazil, molluscs in the area were investigated. During a nocturnal search, 245 specimens of slugs were collected and identified as the invasive Chinese slug Meghimatium pictum. Angiostrongylus costaricensis worms were recovered from mice that were experimentally infected with larvae obtained from 11 (4.5%) of the molluscs. This study presents the first report of M. pictum being identified as an intermediate host for A. costaricensis. Most of the slugs were collected from grape plants, which suggests that transmission may be associated with grape consumption.

The use of γ-rays analysis by HPGe detector to assess the gross alpha and beta activities in waters.

This paper describes an alternative method for evaluating gross alpha and beta radioactivity in waters by using γ-rays analysis performed with hyper-pure germanium detector (HPGe). Several gamma emissions related to α and ß- decays were used to provide the activity concentration data due to natural radionuclides commonly present in waters like 40K and those belonging to the 238U and 232Th decay series. The most suitable gamma emissions related to ß- decays were 214Bi (1120.29 keV, 238U series) and 208Tl (583.19 keV, 232Th series) as the equation in activity concentration yielded values compatible to those generated by the formula taking into account the detection efficiency. The absence of isolated and intense γ-rays peaks associated to α decays limited the choice to 226Ra (186.21 keV, 238U series) and 224Ra (240.99 keV, 232Th series). In these cases, it was adopted appropriate correction factors involving the absolute intensities and specific activities for avoiding the interferences of other γ-rays energies. The critical level of detection across the 186-1461 keV energy region corresponded to 0.010, 0.023, 0.038, 0.086, and 0.042 Bq/L, respectively, for 226Ra, 224Ra, 208Tl, 214Bi and 40K. It is much lower than the WHO guideline reference value for gross alpha (0.5 Bq/L) and beta (1.0 Bq/L) in waters. The method applicability was checked by the analysis of groundwater samples from different aquifer systems occurring in the Brazilian states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Mato Grosso do Sul. The waters exhibit very different chemical composition and the samples with the highest radioactivity levels were those associated with lithotypes possessing enhanced uranium and thorium levels. The technique allowed directly discard the 40K contribution to the gross beta activity as potassium is an essential element for humans.

QUANTIFICATION OF ENTEROBACTERIA AND CLOSTRIDIUM SPP. IN POULTRY SLAUGHTERHOUSES SANITARY CONVEYORS BELTS

The increase in production and consumption of chicken meat has occurred due to modernization in this area. Such increase caused the concern about the transmission of pathogens to humans; however, with proper hygiene this transmission can be controlled. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the pre-operational and operational hygiene in sanitary conveyors belts of chicken cuts in slaughterhouses through Clostridium spp. and Enterobacteria quantification. Statistical data analysis for Clostridium spp. colony count showed a difference between the studied slaughterhouses and the types of cleaning performed on sanitary conveyors belts (p

Quantification of enterobacteria and clostridium spp. In poultry slaughterhouses sanitary conveyors belts / Quantificação de enterobactérias e clostridium spp. Em esteiras condutoras de cortes de frango em frigoríficos

The increase in production and consumption of chicken meat has occurred due to modernization in this area. Such increase caused the concern about the transmission of pathogens to humans; however, with proper hygiene this transmission can be controlled. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the pre-operational and operational hygiene insanitary conveyors belts of chicken cuts in slaughterhouses through Clostridium spp. and Enterobacteria quantification.Statistical data analysis for Clostridium spp. colony count showed a difference between the studied slaughterhouses and the types of cleaning performed on sanitary conveyors belts (p<0,0001). Already statistical analysis for Enterobacteriaceae colony count showed significant differences only between the visited slaughterhouses (p<0,0001),with no difference between the types of conveyors belts cleaning (p=0,4057). The results showed that there was avariation in bacterial count among the slaughterhouses and the hygiene process in sanitary conveyors belts were deficient because they presented counts higher than the values recommended by the international organizations.(AU)

O aumento da produção e do consumo per capita de carne de frango ocorreu devido a modernização neste setor. Tal aumento gerou preocupação com a transmissão de patógenos para o ser humano, porém com uma higienização adequada essa transmissão pode ser controlada. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a higiene pré-operacional e operacional das esteiras condutoras de cortes de frangos através da quantificação de Clostridium spp. e Enterobactérias. As análises estatísticas da contagem de Clostridium spp. mostraram uma diferença entre os frigoríficos visitados e entre os tipos de limpeza realizados nas esteiras (p<0,0001). Já as análises estatísticas para a contagem de Enterobactérias mostraram diferenças significativas somente entre os frigoríficos visitados (p<0,0001), não havendo diferença entre os tipos de limpeza das esteiras (p=0,4057). Os resultados demonstraram que houve uma variação na contagem bacteriana entre os frigoríficos e que a higienização das esteiras foram deficientes pois apresentaram contagens superiores aos valores recomendado pelas organizações internacionais.(AU)

Quantification of enterobacteria and clostridium spp. In poultry slaughterhouses sanitary conveyors belts / Quantificação de enterobactérias e clostridium spp. Em esteiras condutoras de cortes de frango em frigoríficos

The increase in production and consumption of chicken meat has occurred due to modernization in this area. Such increase caused the concern about the transmission of pathogens to humans; however, with proper hygiene this transmission can be controlled. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the pre-operational and operational hygiene insanitary conveyors belts of chicken cuts in slaughterhouses through Clostridium spp. and Enterobacteria quantification.Statistical data analysis for Clostridium spp. colony count showed a difference between the studied slaughterhouses and the types of cleaning performed on sanitary conveyors belts (p<0,0001). Already statistical analysis for Enterobacteriaceae colony count showed significant differences only between the visited slaughterhouses (p<0,0001),with no difference between the types of conveyors belts cleaning (p=0,4057). The results showed that there was avariation in bacterial count among the slaughterhouses and the hygiene process in sanitary conveyors belts were deficient because they presented counts higher than the values recommended by the international organizations.

O aumento da produção e do consumo per capita de carne de frango ocorreu devido a modernização neste setor. Tal aumento gerou preocupação com a transmissão de patógenos para o ser humano, porém com uma higienização adequada essa transmissão pode ser controlada. Assim, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a higiene pré-operacional e operacional das esteiras condutoras de cortes de frangos através da quantificação de Clostridium spp. e Enterobactérias. As análises estatísticas da contagem de Clostridium spp. mostraram uma diferença entre os frigoríficos visitados e entre os tipos de limpeza realizados nas esteiras (p<0,0001). Já as análises estatísticas para a contagem de Enterobactérias mostraram diferenças significativas somente entre os frigoríficos visitados (p<0,0001), não havendo diferença entre os tipos de limpeza das esteiras (p=0,4057). Os resultados demonstraram que houve uma variação na contagem bacteriana entre os frigoríficos e que a higienização das esteiras foram deficientes pois apresentaram contagens superiores aos valores recomendado pelas organizações internacionais.