Production of Staphylococcus aureus enterotoxin a in raw milk at high temperatures.

Improper processing and storage of raw milk contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus at elevated temperatures can result in the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins, especially type A (SEA), which is most frequently associated with food poisoning outbreaks such as the large one in Osaka, Japan, in 2000. In this study, the characteristics of S. aureus growth and SEA production at various high temperatures in raw milk samples were studied using two raw milk samples naturally containing low and high levels of natural microflora. The optimal temperatures found for SEA production in the two milk types were as high as 40 and 44°C (range, 36 to 48°C), and SEA production was dependent on the initial dose of S. aureus. These high temperatures were close to that of the outbreak in Japan. Thus, it was concluded that temperature was critical for SEA production in raw milk. It was also observed that natural microflora in the milk samples considerably suppressed SEA production but not staphylococcal growth. On the other hand, the amount of toxin in most milk samples decreased after peaking during storage.

Elevated serum cardiac troponin I in cattle with theileriosis.

BACKGROUND: Theileria annulata is a blood parasite affecting ruminants. Hemolytic anemia, secondary hypoxia, and vasculitis are the most important features of tropical theileriosis. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of electrocardiographic findings and changes in cardiovascular biochemical markers including cTnI concentrations in cattle naturally infected with theileriosis in the absence of acute cardiac failure. ANIMALS: Ninety adult Holstein cattle (>1 year) with clinical and laboratory evidence of theileriosis and 30 healthy cattle served as controls. METHODS: Case-control study in which blood samples were collected and randomized after clinical, hematologic, parasitologic examination and laboratory confirmation and electrocardiographic recording on all animals, serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB) were evaluated. RESULTS: Serum concentration of cTnI was significantly higher in cattle with theileriosis (mean: 0.028 ng/mL; range: 0.005-0.21 ng/mL; control mean: 0.011; range: <0.005-0.09 ng/mL; P = .003). There was significant correlation between serum level of cTnI and PCV (r = -0.257; P < .001) and also between cTnI and parasitemia (r = 0.515; P < .001). Mean serum activities of AST and CK-MB were 107 ± 46 and 301 ± 103 U/L in sick animals, which were significantly higher than healthy cattle (P = .002 and P = .041, respectively). There were no pathologic arrhythmias detected in sick animals. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Theileriosis is a risk factor for elevation of cardiac biomarkers in naturally infected Holstein cattle. Severity of anemia and parasitemia might contribute to the pathophysiology of myocardial damage. The prognostic significance of increased serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in cattle with hemolytic anemia merits further investigation.

Effect of native microflora on the growth kinetics of salmonella enteritidis strain 04-137 in raw ground chicken.

Effects of native microflora (NM) on growth kinetics of Salmonella Enteritidis strain 04-137 were studied in raw ground chicken. First, samples of ground chicken with high and low levels of NM (10(7.1) and 10(4.9) CFU/g, respectively) were spiked with Salmonella at doses ranging from 10(1) to 10(4) CFU/g. The growth kinetics, including the rate constant of growth, r, and the lag period, were similar, but the maximum cell level, N(max), was higher at higher initial Salmonella doses for both NM levels. Second, samples of ground chicken with high and low NM levels (10(6.8) and 10(4.7) CFU/g, respectively) were spiked with Salmonella and then stored at various constant temperatures ranging from 8 to 32°C. Both N(max) and r for Salmonella were higher at higher temperatures for both NM levels. Although r for total bacteria, which consisted of NM and Salmonella, was also higher at higher temperatures, N(max) was constant at all temperatures for both NM levels. Further, Salmonella growth was compared among samples of ground chicken with high and low NM levels and samples of sterilized chicken. Salmonella growth, characterized by both N(max) and r, was highest in sterilized chicken, followed by chicken with the low NM level. Our growth model successfully described and analyzed the growth of Salmonella and total bacteria in chicken at constant temperatures; using the data obtained, the model also successfully predicted the growth of Salmonella and total bacteria in chicken stored at dynamic temperatures. Our study clarified the effects that different doses of NM in ground chicken had on the growth kinetics of the Salmonella strain and demonstrated the usability of the growth model for foods with NM.

Bovine subclinical ketosis in dairy herds in Iran.

Subclinical ketosis (SCK) is defined as elevated concentrations of ketone bodies in the absence of clinical signs of ketosis. It is an important metabolic disease in dairy cattle during early lactation and is associated with losses in milk production and several other periparturient diseases. Limited information is available regarding the prevalence of SCK in dairy herds in Iran. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine the incidence of SCK in the dairy herds in Kerman province of Iran using serum beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) concentrations, and (ii) to investigate the relationship between serum concentrations of BHB and glucose of cows with SCK. In the present study, 90 multiparous Holstein cows (4-6 years old) from 11 commercial dairy herds were evaluated 3-4 weeks after calving. The distribution of blood BHB concentrations seemed to suggest a cut-off point of 1200 micromol/L between cows with and without SCK. At this cut-off point, 14.4% of tested cows (13/90) were classified as subclinically ketotic, with the prevalence rate within herd ranging from 10% to 20%. Cows with SCK were detected in all the investigated dairies except one. Blood glucose concentrations in cows with SCK were significantly lower (p < or = 0.05) than in cows without SCK, and serum BHB and glucose concentration were inversely correlated (r = -0.43, p < or = 0.05). The results suggest that, using a cut-off of 1200 micromol/L, BHB concentrations can be used during early lactation for diagnosis and to make management decisions for prevention and treatment.