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1.
Foods ; 12(4)2023 Feb 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36832760

ABSTRACT

Ready-to-eat meat products have been identified as a potential vehicle for Listeria monocytogenes. Postprocessing contamination (i.e., handling during portioning and packaging) can occur, and subsequent cold storage together with a demand for products with long shelf life can create a hazardous scenario. Good hygienic practice is augmented by intervention measures in controlling post-processing contamination. Among these interventions, the application of 'cold atmospheric plasma' (CAP) has gained interest. The reactive plasma species exert some antibacterial effect, but can also alter the food matrix. We studied the effect of CAP generated from air in a surface barrier discharge system (power densities 0.48 and 0.67 W/cm2) with an electrode-sample distance of 15 mm on sliced, cured, cooked ham and sausage (two brands each), veal pie, and calf liver pâté. Colour of samples was tested immediately before and after CAP exposure. CAP exposure for 5 min effectuated only minor colour changes (ΔE max. 2.7), due to a decrease in redness (a*), and in some cases, an increase in b*. A second set of samples was contaminated with Listeria (L.) monocytogenes, L. innocua and E. coli and then exposed to CAP for 5 min. In cooked cured meats, CAP was more effective in inactivating E. coli (1 to 3 log cycles) than Listeria (from 0.2 to max. 1.5 log cycles). In (non-cured) veal pie and calf liver pâté that had been stored 24 h after CAP exposure, numbers of E. coli were not significantly reduced. Levels of Listeria were significantly reduced in veal pie that had been stored for 24 h (at a level of ca. 0.5 log cycles), but not in calf liver pâté. Antibacterial activity differed between but also within sample types, which requires further studies.

2.
Foods ; 11(23)2022 Nov 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36496672

ABSTRACT

Assuring the safety of muscle foods and seafood is based on prerequisites and specific measures targeted against defined hazards. This concept is augmented by 'interventions', which are chemical or physical treatments, not genuinely part of the production process, but rather implemented in the framework of a safety assurance system. The present paper focuses on 'Cold Atmospheric pressure Plasma' (CAP) as an emerging non-thermal intervention for microbial decontamination. Over the past decade, a vast number of studies have explored the antimicrobial potential of different CAP systems against a plethora of different foodborne microorganisms. This contribution aims at providing a comprehensive reference and appraisal of the latest literature in the area, with a specific focus on the use of CAP for the treatment of fresh meat, fish and associated products to inactivate microbial pathogens and extend shelf life. Aspects such as changes to organoleptic and nutritional value alongside other matrix effects are considered, so as to provide the reader with a clear insight into the advantages and disadvantages of CAP-based decontamination strategies.

3.
Life (Basel) ; 11(12)2021 Dec 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34947864

ABSTRACT

Viral contamination of edible bivalves is a major food safety issue. We studied the virucidal effect of a cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) source on two virologically different surrogate viruses [a double-stranded DNA virus (Equid alphaherpesvirus 1, EHV-1), and a single-stranded RNA virus (Bovine coronavirus, BCoV)] suspended in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DMEM). A 15 min exposure effectuated a statistically significant immediate reduction in intact BCoV viruses by 2.8 (ozone-dominated plasma, "low power") or 2.3 log cycles (nitrate-dominated, "high power") of the initial viral load. The immediate effect of CAP on EHV-1 was less pronounced, with "low power" CAP yielding a 1.4 and "high power" a 1.0 log reduction. We observed a decline in glucose contents in DMEM, which was most probably caused by a Maillard reaction with the amino acids in DMEM. With respect to the application of the virucidal CAP treatment in oyster production, we investigated whether salt water could be sanitized. CAP treatment entailed a significant decline in pH, below the limits acceptable for holding oysters. In oyster slurry (a surrogate for live oysters), CAP exposure resulted in an increase in total nitrogen, and, to a lower extent, in nitrate and nitrite; this was most probably caused by absorption of nitrate from the plasma gas cloud. We could not observe a change in colour, indicative for binding of NOx to haemocyanin, although this would be a reasonable assumption. Further studies are necessary to explore in which form this additional nitrogen is deposited in oyster flesh.

4.
J Food Prot ; 82(7): 1135-1140, 2019 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31225975

ABSTRACT

HIGHLIGHTS: RTE meat products from the Republic of Kosovo were tested for contamination. L. monocytogenes was more prevalent in dried or fermented than in cooked-cured meats. E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae were more prevalent in nonpackaged dried or fermented meats. Concentrations of biogenic amines were higher in dried or fermented than in cooked-cured meats.


Subject(s)
Bacteria , Biogenic Amines , Food Microbiology , Meat Products , Bacteria/isolation & purification , Biogenic Amines/analysis , Colony Count, Microbial , Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Fermented Foods/microbiology , Food, Preserved/microbiology , Kosovo , Listeria monocytogenes/isolation & purification , Meat Products/analysis , Meat Products/microbiology , Prevalence
5.
Minerva Chir ; 71(5): 286-92, 2016 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27356147

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The risk of developing postoperative complications after primary Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) is relatively low. Nevertheless, postoperative complications can have serious consequences in terms of severe morbidity and health care costs. Identification of potential predictors is useful for further reduction of the postoperative complication rate. METHODS: This retrospective study included all patients undergoing primary RYGB between January 2010 and December 2013, using data from a prospectively collected database. Patients' characteristics, operative details and perioperative outcome were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 773 patients (14.5% male) were included for analysis, with a mean age of 42.1±10.4 years and a mean Body Mass Index of 42.8±4.3 kg/m2. A total of 66 (8.5%) direct postoperative complications occurred. Clavien-Dindo grade 3a and higher occurred in 55 patients. Univariate analysis identified age (P=0.013), gender (P=0.017), BMI over 50 kg/m2 (P=0.096), hypertension (P=0.099), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (P=0.002) and previous upper gastrointestinal surgery (P=0.095) as potential predictors. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male gender (OR 2.412; 95%CI [1.212-4.797]) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) (OR 3.716; 95%CI [1.543-8.949]) were found to be independent predictors for the occurrence of major complications after primary RYGB. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed a number of potential predictors, of which male gender and COPD after multivariate regression analysis were found to be independent predictive factors for the occurrence of major complications after primary RYGB.


Subject(s)
Gastric Bypass , Laparoscopy , Obesity, Morbid/surgery , Adult , Body Mass Index , Conversion to Open Surgery , Female , Gastric Bypass/methods , Gastroplasty/methods , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Obesity, Morbid/complications , Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive/complications , Reoperation , Retrospective Studies , Risk Factors , Treatment Outcome
6.
World J Gastrointest Surg ; 8(3): 238-45, 2016 Mar 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27022451

ABSTRACT

AIM: To compare the results after revision of primary vertical banded gastroplasty (Re-VBG) and conversion to sleeve gastrectomy (cSG) or gastric bypass (cRYGB). METHODS: In this retrospective single-center study, all patients with a failed VBG who underwent revisional surgery were included. Medical charts were reviewed and additional postal questionnaires were sent to update follow-up. Weight loss, postoperative complications and long-term outcome were assessed. RESULTS: A total 152 patients were included in this study, of which 21 underwent Re-VBG, 16 underwent cSG and 115 patients underwent cRYGB. Sixteen patients necessitated a second revisional procedure. No patients were lost-to-follow-up. Two patients deceased during the follow-up period, 23 patients did not return the questionnaire. Main reasons for revision were dysphagia/vomiting, weight regain and insufficient weight loss. Excess weight loss (%EWL) after Re-VBG, cSG and cRYGB was, respectively, 45%, 57% and 72%. Eighteen patients (11.8%) reported postoperative complications and 27% reported long-term complaints. CONCLUSION: In terms of additional weight loss, postoperative complaints and reintervention rate, Roux-en-Y gastric bypass seems feasible as a revision for a failed VBG.

7.
Appl Environ Microbiol ; 81(14): 4600-6, 2015 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25934615

ABSTRACT

Antimicrobial resistance in microbes poses a global and increasing threat to public health. The horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes was thought to be due largely to conjugative plasmids or transposons, with only a minor part being played by transduction through bacteriophages. However, whole-genome sequencing has recently shown that the latter mechanism could be highly important in the exchange of antimicrobial resistance genes between microorganisms and environments. The transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes by phages could underlie the origin of resistant bacteria found in food. We show that chicken meat carries a number of phages capable of transferring antimicrobial resistance. Of 243 phages randomly isolated from chicken meat, about a quarter (24.7%) were able to transduce resistance to one or more of the five antimicrobials tested into Escherichia coli ATCC 13706 (DSM 12242). Resistance to kanamycin was transduced the most often, followed by that to chloramphenicol, with four phages transducing tetracycline resistance and three transducing ampicillin resistance. Phages able to transduce antimicrobial resistance were isolated from 44% of the samples of chicken meat that we tested. The statistically significant (P = 0.01) relationship between the presence of phages transducing kanamycin resistance and E. coli isolates resistant to this antibiotic suggests that transduction may be an important mechanism for transferring kanamycin resistance to E. coli. It appears that the transduction of resistance to certain antimicrobials, e.g., kanamycin, not only is widely distributed in E. coli isolates found on meat but also could represent a major mechanism for resistance transfer. The result is of high importance for animal and human health.


Subject(s)
Bacteriophages/genetics , Escherichia coli/genetics , Escherichia coli/virology , Gene Transfer, Horizontal , Meat/virology , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Bacteriophages/metabolism , Chickens , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Escherichia coli/metabolism , Escherichia coli Proteins/genetics , Escherichia coli Proteins/metabolism , Humans , Meat/microbiology , Transduction, Genetic
8.
Poult Sci ; 93(7): 1818-24, 2014 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24864290

ABSTRACT

We investigated the influence of lactic acid treatment of pheasant meat before vacuum-packaged storage of 3, 7, and 10 d at +6°C on microbiota and pH. Breast muscle samples were collected from carcasses of slaughtered as well as from hunted (shot) wild pheasants. Immersion of meat samples in 3% (wt/wt) lactic acid for 60 s effectuated a significant drop in pH of approximately 0.5 to 0.7 units, which remained during the entire storage period. In parallel, total aerobic counts of such treated and stored samples were on an average 1.5 to 1.7 log units lower than in non-acid-treated samples. Similar results were found for Enterobacteriaceae. A significant decrease in pH was measured at d 7 and 10 in the acid-treated samples in comparison with the untreated ones. In summary, the immersion of pheasant breast meat cuts in dilute lactic acid significantly reduced microbiota during vacuum-packed storage, even at slight temperature abuse conditions.


Subject(s)
Food Microbiology , Food Preservation/methods , Lactic Acid/chemistry , Meat/microbiology , Vacuum , Animals , Colony Count, Microbial , Food Packaging , Galliformes , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Meat/standards , Pectoralis Muscles/microbiology , Random Allocation , Temperature
9.
Vet Q ; 33(3): 161-71, 2013.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23998892

ABSTRACT

Although many animal diseases have been eradicated from the European Union (EU), the animal production sectors in the EU are still under a major threat of disease pathogens introduced by travellers into a country through illegal importation of wildlife or production animals, and/or food products of animal origin. These may carry (exotic) pathogens or toxic metabolites that are hazardous for public health and have a zoonotic potential. According to experts, newly emerging diseases will most probably be zoonotic in nature. The control systems and inspection measures at the borders are, in general, sufficient to control the import of disease pathogens through commercial consignments, as regularly reported by the Food and Veterinary Office (FVO). The Schengen Agreement in the EU has pushed such inspections to the outer borders of the EU in the context of freedom of movement of 'goods' - including live animals and foods of animal origin - people and services within the EU (Treaty of Rome). However, it is questionable whether this policy and the inspection measures taken are effective in reducing public and animal health risks in the EU to an acceptable level. Risk assessment studies point to the potential dangers of illegal imports by travellers. This review article discusses the current status quo and more, in particular, the weaknesses of the current inspection procedures related to biosecurity and suggestions for improvement are made.


Subject(s)
Animal Diseases/prevention & control , European Union , Livestock , Zoonoses/prevention & control , Animal Diseases/transmission , Animals , Humans , Risk Factors , Travel , Zoonoses/transmission
10.
Surg Endosc ; 27(8): 2751-9, 2013 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23436082

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Anastomotic leakages are severe complications of upper gastrointestinal surgery with serious morbidity and mortality. Until recently, only abscess drainage was possible. Since 2007, removable and repositionable covered metal self-expandable stents (RReCoMSeS) have been used in our hospital to cover leaks. METHODS: Patients with postsurgical gastrointestinal leaks treated with RReCoMSeS between January 2007 and March 2010 were retrospectively evaluated and described. RESULTS: Twenty-six patients were treated with RReCoMSeS (totally covered Choo/Hanaro and partially covered Endoflex stents). Included patients had anastomotic leaks after esophagectomy (15) and bariatric surgery (11). Overall successful sealing of the leak occurred in 81 % (including multiple procedures). In total 33 RReCoMSeS were used (mean 1.3 stents and 1.7 procedures per patient). Twenty-one of 33 RReCoMSeS succeeded in sealing the leak (64 %). Migration occurred in 24 % RReCoMSeS, and 9 % disintegrated. One stent (3 %) caused a perforation. CONCLUSIONS: RReCoMSeS are a safe alternative for treating postsurgical leaks in the upper gastrointestinal tract. In 81 % of patients and with 64 % of the inserted stents, leaks were sealed successfully, with few complications. Fewer stents per patient were needed thanks to their repositionability. Stent migration is a major problem.


Subject(s)
Anastomotic Leak/surgery , Coated Materials, Biocompatible , Device Removal , Digestive System Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Stents , Adult , Aged , Anastomotic Leak/epidemiology , Digestive System Surgical Procedures/methods , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Netherlands/epidemiology , Prosthesis Design , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate/trends , Tertiary Care Centers
11.
J Vet Med Educ ; 39(2): 169-79, 2012.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22718004

ABSTRACT

Prompted by developments in the agri-food industry and associated recent changes in European legislation, the responsibilities of veterinarians professionally active in veterinary public health (VPH), and particularly in food hygiene (FH), have increasingly shifted from the traditional end-product control toward longitudinally integrated safety assurance. This necessitates the restructuring of university training programs to provide starting competence in this area for veterinary graduates or a sub-population of them. To date, there are substantial differences in Europe in the way in which graduate programs in FH/VPH are structured and in the time allocated to this important curricular group of subjects. Having recognized this, the European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education (EAEVE) recently instituted a working group to analyze the current situation, with a view to produce standard operating procedures allowing fair and transparent evaluations of universities/faculties constituting its membership and in concurrence with explicit European legislation on the professional qualifications deemed necessary for this veterinary discipline. This article summarizes the main conclusions and recommendations of the working group and seeks to contribute to the international efforts to optimize veterinary training in FH/VPH.


Subject(s)
Education, Veterinary/standards , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Hygiene/standards , Public Health/standards , Animal Husbandry , Curriculum , Education, Veterinary/organization & administration , Europe , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
12.
Vet Q ; 31(2): 73-5, 2011 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22029851

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Campylobacter jejuni is one of the most important agents of zoonotic disease. Production as well as companion animals can be the infectious source for Campylobacteriosis in humans. Hence, epidemiological research on animal colonization, survival in food of animal origin, and human Campylobacteriosis is of high priority. As such studies involve worldwide co-operations and should include further typing of isolates in reference centers, using a reliable method for transportation is essential. In the case of C. jejuni, a pathogenic and microaerophilic bacterium, special safety precautions as well as particular transport conditions that guarantee survival of isolates are required. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to test various media and temperatures for the transportation of C. jejuni under aerobic conditions and to identify a cheap, effective and easy method that is appropriate for long distance transportation and can be applied by most veterinary/medical laboratories with a basic infrastructure. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We examined Mueller-Hinton (MH) agar with and w/o 2% horse blood and m-CCDA at room temperature and 2 ± 2 (SD)°C under atmospheric conditions for survival of Campylobacter strains. RESULTS: MH agar with 2% horse blood, suitable transport vials, and an optimum temperature of 2 ± 2°C provided survival of three Campylobacter type strains for at least one month under atmospheric conditions. This was validated by a transport test in which 101 isolates were shipped from Turkey to Austria. All isolates could be recultured and 97% survived more than one month in the transport medium. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that the described approach is suitable for inter-laboratory transport of C. jejuni isolates.


Subject(s)
Bacteriological Techniques/methods , Campylobacter jejuni/growth & development , Specimen Handling/methods , Agar , Animals , Culture Media , Horses/blood , Survival Analysis , Temperature , Turkey
13.
Vet Q ; 31(2): 87-97, 2011 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22029853

ABSTRACT

In managing risks associated with the human consumption of honey, all sectors of the production chain must be considered, including the primary production phase. Although the introduction of the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system has not been made compulsory for purposes of quality and safety control in farming operations, European legislation makes many references to the key role of primary production in food safety management and the HACCP system has been indicated as the preferred tool to ensure that consumers are provided with safe foods. This article describes a systematic HACCP-based approach to identifying, preventing and controlling food safety hazards occurring in primary apicultural production. This approach serves as a useful tool for beekeepers, food business operators, veterinary advisors, and for Food and Veterinary Official Control Bodies in their planning and conducting of audits and for establishing priorities for the evaluation of training programmes in the apicultural sector.


Subject(s)
Food Safety/methods , Honey , Risk Management/methods , Animals , Beekeeping/methods , Bees , Clostridium , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Food Microbiology , Honey/microbiology , Honey/standards , Humans
14.
Vet Q ; 31(1): 29-47, 2011 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22029819

ABSTRACT

Prompted by FAO/WHO's and the European Commission's recognition that documents on Good Farming Practices (GFPs) and Good Veterinary Practices (GVPs) in apicultural production are hardly available, part 1 of this contribution provides an update of current apicultural production and associated best practices to ensure animal and public health. Major bee health and disease prevention issues and risk management options at the primary production level are summarised with particular reference to the role of the veterinary practitioner/consultant and the official veterinarian in a control function in the safe production of honey.


Subject(s)
Beekeeping/methods , Bees , Food Safety/methods , Risk Management/methods , Animals , Beekeeping/standards , Europe , Food Microbiology , Health Status , Honey/microbiology , Honey/standards , Primary Prevention , Safety Management , Veterinary Medicine
15.
J Food Prot ; 74(8): 1338-44, 2011 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21819663

ABSTRACT

We studied microbiological and sensory effects of treating pig tissue for 15 s with 55 and 10°C sprays of acetic acid (AA; 0.15 to 0.3 M) and lactic acid (LA; 0.1 to 0.2 M) solutions prior to the tissue being subjected to steam condensation (18 s at 65°C or 10 s at 75°C). LA or AA spraying and then steam treatment resulted in 3- to 4-log average reductions of Pseudomonas fragi and Yersinia enterocolitica inocula (6 to 7 log CFU/cm(2)), regardless of acid temperature or concentration. Buffered LA or 1:1 mixtures of AA:LA and then steam treatment yielded similar reductions. Most of the acid-steam-treated samples had microbial counts below the limit of detection (2 log CFU/cm(2)); thus, the results likely underestimate the potential of this procedure. When the period between inoculation and acid-steam treatment was extended from 0.5 to 24 h, up to a 1-log-higher microbial reduction was observed, due to a 1- to 2-log-greater initial contamination. Increasing the LA contact time to 6 min increased the microbial reduction by 0.8 log. Acid-steam treatment effected lower L* values (darker color) on pigskin, but higher L* values on muscle and fat tissue (paler color). Many muscle samples exhibited lower a* values and off-color brown hues. Off-odors were observed immediately after treatment, but with the exception of fat tissue and AA-treated samples, they largely disappeared during further storage. Off-flavors were only detected in AA-treated muscle samples.


Subject(s)
Bacteria/growth & development , Disinfectants/pharmacology , Food Handling/methods , Food Preservation/methods , Meat/microbiology , Acetates/pharmacology , Animals , Atmospheric Pressure , Consumer Product Safety , Food Contamination/analysis , Food Contamination/prevention & control , Humans , Lactic Acid/pharmacology , Meat/standards , Steam , Swine
16.
Wien Klin Wochenschr ; 120(19-20): 587-98, 2008.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19083162

ABSTRACT

Zoonoses are diseases that are transmitted naturally between animals and humans. The control of food-borne zoonoses within the European Union is a prerequisite for assuring a functional internal market and consequently represents an important item on the political agenda. Unfortunately, until recently, gaining a clear view of the current incidence of food-borne zoonoses and the prevalence of its causative agents has been frustrated by the absence of reliable monitoring and reporting systems. Similarly, it has become clear that, Europe wide, one has witnessed only limited success with regard to the control of important food-borne agents such as Salmonella spp. The European Union has adopted legislation to remedy this situation and to control food-borne zoonoses in primary production. This contribution discusses the incentives for introducing EU Directive 2003/99/EC and EU Regulation No. 2160/2003, summarises their essentials and discusses major ramifications of both pieces of legislation for the prevention of food-borne zoonoses. It is concluded that there is reason for cautious optimism concerning human salmonellosis, while for other food-borne zoonoses there should be a call for action.


Subject(s)
Animal Husbandry/legislation & jurisprudence , Communicable Disease Control/legislation & jurisprudence , Consumer Product Safety/legislation & jurisprudence , European Union/organization & administration , Foodborne Diseases/prevention & control , Safety Management/legislation & jurisprudence , Zoonoses/transmission , Animals , Humans
17.
Res Microbiol ; 158(5): 405-12, 2007 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17449228

ABSTRACT

Recently, ethidium monoazide (EMA) has been proposed as a means of reducing the real-time PCR signal originating from free DNA and dead bacterial cells by selectively entering damaged cells and blocking the DNA for PCR amplification via photoactivation. The present study investigated the effect of EMA on viable and dead bacterial cells using real-time PCR, plate count method and microscopy. The foodborne pathogens Campylobacter jejuni and Listeria monocytogenes were used as a Gram-negative and a Gram-positive model organism, respectively. EMA/real-time PCR analysis of heat-treated cultures of C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes containing 2.6x10(5) and 4x10(5) viable and 3x10(6) and 2x10(6) dead cells/ml, respectively, yielded 2x10(3) and 5.2x10(4) bacterial cell equivalents/ml after EMA treatment, thus underestimating the viable cell count in the samples. Similar results were obtained when analyzing late exponential phase cultures of C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes. Inhibition of growth by EMA was observed. It depended on the concentration of the bacterial cells present in the sample and the EMA concentration used (100-1 microg/ml). An EMA concentration at which dead cells would stain brightly and viable cells would not stain at all or would be very pale was not identified, as revealed by comparison with the results of a commercial live/dead stain. The results suggest that EMA influences not only dead but also viable cells of C. jejuni and L. monocytogenes. Thus EMA/real-time PCR is a poor indicator of cell viability.


Subject(s)
Azides/pharmacology , Campylobacter jejuni/drug effects , Listeria monocytogenes/drug effects , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Campylobacter jejuni/growth & development , Colony Count, Microbial , DNA, Bacterial/genetics , Listeria monocytogenes/growth & development , Microbial Viability/drug effects , Microbial Viability/genetics
18.
Mol Cell Probes ; 21(4): 282-7, 2007 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17383153

ABSTRACT

A real-time PCR method for fast comparison of different DNA isolation methods to remove PCR inhibitors from samples is presented. A fixed amount of target-200 copies of a 79-bp region of the COCH gene of the zebrafish (Danio rerio)-was added to each PCR reaction together with isolated DNA from different types of samples including chicken feces. Four commercial DNA isolation kits and a chelex-based technique were compared using this method. The copy numbers calculated and the endpoint fluorescence were statistically compared to the values of 22 control samples containing the control target and water instead of isolated DNA, processed together in the same PCR run. The level of the endpoint fluorescence was more often negatively influenced by inhibitors than the copy number calculated, suggesting a more pronounced effect on the plateau phase of the reaction by limiting one or more compounds in the PCR reaction.


Subject(s)
DNA/isolation & purification , Polymerase Chain Reaction/methods , Reagent Kits, Diagnostic , Animals , Chickens , Data Interpretation, Statistical , Zebrafish
19.
Ann N Y Acad Sci ; 1081: 534-42, 2006 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17135565

ABSTRACT

A cross-sectional survey was designed to investigate the proportion of tetracycline residues in marketed pork in suburb and urban districts in Hanoi. A total of 290 raw muscle samples were randomly collected from open markets in these districts. The samples were qualitatively screened for tetracycline residues using the agar inhibition test, and Bacillus cereus (ATCC 11778) as the reference strain. The inconclusive samples were then analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The positive samples from either test were defined as positive results. Overall, 5.5% of all collected samples were positive for tetracycline residues. The proportion of positive samples from shops in suburb districts was significantly (P < 0.05) different from those collected from shops in urban districts. So, the factor of region was identified as a risk factor of tetracycline residue proportion in raw pork with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.03 (95% CI = 1.12, 14.45). For the other factors, such as season, type of shop, type of abattoir, origin of meat, etc., the difference in proportion of positive samples within each factor was substantial but not statistically significant. These factors were identified as nonrisk factors. Such a high proportion may pose a potential hazard to public health, particularly since they might induce drug resistance of pathogenic micro-organisms.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/analysis , Drug Residues/analysis , Drug Resistance, Bacterial , Food Contamination/analysis , Meat/analysis , Tetracycline/analysis , Abattoirs , Animals , Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid , Cross-Sectional Studies , Humans , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Odds Ratio , Risk Assessment , Seasons , Socioeconomic Factors , Suburban Population , Swine , Urban Population , Veterinary Drugs/analysis , Vietnam
20.
Microb Drug Resist ; 12(4): 278-83, 2006.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-17227214

ABSTRACT

Controversy exists on veterinary drug application in food animal production and the relevance for human health of antimicrobial resistant commensals isolated from food. The aim of this study was to analyze antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from retail meat of various animal species (including wild roe deer) in Austria. Our results were analyzed taking into consideration the current practices of Austrian veterinarians with regard to their use of antibiotic drugs during pig, poultry, and beef production. Resistant isolates were found most often in pork (76%) followed by poultry (63%) and beef (40%). On wild deer carcasses purchased from Austrian hunters only one isolate was found to be resistant. The latter indicates that antimicrobial resistance is not yet an environmental problem in animals living in the wild. The common use of tetracyclines in veterinary medication in various animal species is clearly reflected in the incidence of antimicrobial resistant isolates in commensal E. coli. The intensive use of fluoroquinolones in poultry could explain the high numbers of nalidixic acid resistant isolates found on poultry meat. Our findings partly explain the impact of veterinary drug application on the resistance development of E. coli isolated from meat.


Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Escherichia coli Infections/veterinary , Escherichia coli/drug effects , Escherichia coli/genetics , Meat/microbiology , Animals , Austria , Drug Resistance, Bacterial/genetics , Escherichia coli/classification , Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Escherichia coli Infections/microbiology , Food Contamination/analysis , Food Microbiology , Meat Products/microbiology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Veterinary Medicine
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