Occurrence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Campylobacter spp. on fresh and refrigerated chicken meat products in Central Italy.

This study investigated the presence and the level of Campylobacter spp. contamination in 41 thigh samples (with skin) and 37 skinless breast samples collected at the end of slaughter (T1) and after 10 day period at refrigeration temperature (4°C) (T2), corresponding to their commercial shelf life. The isolates were phenotypically classified as Campylobacter spp. and successively identified by conventional multiplex PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates from fresh thigh and breast samples was also determined via the microdilution method (MIC) in Eucamp microtitre plates with known scalar concentrations of: gentamicin (GEN), streptomycin (ST), ciprofloxacin (CIP), tetracycline (TET), erythromycin (ERY), and nalidixic acid (NA). A greater percentage of positivity for Campylobacter spp. (P < 0.001) was observed in thighs and C.jejuni appeared to be the most common species identified at this level (P < 0.001) followed from its association with C.coli. There was a global reduction of Campylobacter spp. in both thigh and breast samples at T2 (P < 0.001) showing that the refrigeration was able to reduce Campylobacter count. The prevalence of resistance to CIP, TET, NA, and ERY was evidenced for C.jejuni and C. coli. The co (TET-NA, CIP-NA) and multiple resistant (CIP-TET-NA, CIP-TET- NA-ERY) isolates came from the thigh products. It should be highlighted the presence of Campylobacter spp. isolates resistant to ST occurred in breast samples, responsible for the ST-CIP co-resistance and ST-CIP-TE multi-resistance profiles, higher in breast than in thigh products (P > 0.001). The presence of Campylobacter isolates resistant to ST can be further investigated since it is used for therapeutic treatment of several bacterial diseases in humans.

Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni isolated from broiler chicken in farms and at time of slaughter in central Italy.

AIMS: Genetic diversity and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni were investigated along the broiler chicken production chain in central Italy. METHODS AND RESULTS: Campylobacter sp. isolated from cloacal swabs in farms (n = 116) and from the neck skin of chilled and eviscerated carcasses at slaughter (n = 24) were identified as C. coli (n = 99) and C. jejuni (n = 41) by multiplex PCR. Characterization by single amplified fragment length polymorphism (s-AFLP) revealed a specific genotype of Campylobacter for each farm. Minimal inhibitory concentration showed high prevalence of fluoroquinolones (70%), tetracycline (70%) and erythromycin (30%) resistance among C. coli isolates. Campylobacter jejuni isolates showed lower prevalence of fluoroquinolone (39%) and tetracycline (10%) resistance, and all isolates were susceptible to erythromycin. The S-AFLP types of the C. coli and C. jejuni isolates were associated with their antimicrobial resistance profiles (P < 0·001). CONCLUSIONS: The genetic diversity detected in Campylobacter isolates suggested that a specific genotype was harboured in each farm. A considerable number of C. coli isolates were resistant to erythromycin. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Campylobacter coli was detected more frequently than C. jejuni in contrast to common findings for poultry. The high prevalence of 30% resistance to erythromycin in C. coli strains isolated from poultry is worrisome, as this is the first antibiotic of choice to treat human campylobacteriosis.

Computerized local anesthetic delivery vs. traditional syringe technique. Subjective pain response.

A study was designed to determine if there are changes in the perception of pain when the flow rate and pressure of an injected anesthetic are precisely controlled. Fifty dentists were given contralateral palatal injections. One side was injected with the Wand injector, a new delivery system that uses a microprocessor and an electric motor to precisely regulate flow rate during administration. The control side was injected using a standard manual syringe, in which flow rate and pressure are operator-dependent and cannot be controlled accurately. The subjects used two subjective scales to describe their perceived pain experience. When their responses were analyzed the Wand injector was found to be two- to three-times less painful than the manual injection. The results were statistically significant (p < .001). The authors conclude that there is an optimal flow rate of anesthetic solution at which the perception of pain during an injection is minimized.

[The world system of Jewish migration in historical perspective]. / Le systeme mondial de migration juive en perspective historique.

PIP: "This article examines the main tendencies of international Jewish migration during the last century. An [effort has been made] to reconstruct the global volume of these migrations from all departure places to all destinations. The intensity of the major trends [has] been evaluated...[to] distinguish the variable weight of migrations towards the major Western countries and towards the State of Israel (and before its creation, of Palestine). The migratory waves towards Israel are subject to a more detailed analysis through which we attempt to understand better the various levels of emigration from the different countries, the context of these migrations, and their main causes." (EXCERPT)^ieng