Experimental infection and detection of necrotizing hepatopancreatitis bacterium in the American lobster Homarus americanus.

Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis bacterium (NHPB) is an obligated intracellular bacteria causing severe hepatopancreatic damages and mass mortalities in penaeid shrimp. The worldwide distribution of penaeid shrimp as alien species threatens the life cycle of other crustacean species. The aim of the experiment was to evaluate the possibility of experimentally infecting the American lobster (Homarus americanus) with NHPB extracted from shrimp hepatopancreas. Homogenates from infected shrimp were fed by force to lobsters. Other group of lobsters was fed with homogenates of NHPB-free hepatopancreas. After the 15th day from initial inoculation, the presence of NHPB was detected by polymerase chain reaction in feces and hepatopancreas from lobsters inoculated with infected homogenates. Necrotized spots were observed in the surface of lobster hepatopancreas. In contrast, lobsters fed on NHPB-free homogenates resulted negative for NHPB. Evidence suggests the plasticity of NHPB which can infect crustacean from different species and inhabiting diverse latitudes. Considering the results, the American lobster could be a good candidate to maintain available NHPB in vivo.

[Isolation of Listeria seeligery from cecum of vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus)]. / Aislamiento de Listeria seeligeri de ciego de vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus maximus).

Recent food listeriosis outbreaks confirm that more faithful isolation and identification methods for Listeria monocytogenes or other potentially pathogen microorganisms are required. Furthermore, the human and animal reservoir role in the ecology of this disease must be established. Listeria spp. in the vizcacha intestinal content was determined by two isolation procedures, starting from 10 g of homogenized samples in 40 ml of PBS. I)0.1 ml was stripped on phenylethanol agar, selective agar for Listeria and acryflavin ceftazidin agar, then incubated at 37 degrees C for 48 h, suspected colonies were identified by preliminary tests (Gram, hemolysis, catalase, esculin hydrolisis and motility at 22 degrees C) and confirmatory tests (indol, methyl red, Voges Proskauer, nitrate and carbohydrate fermentation) (Table 1). Antibiotic susceptibility, protein profile by PAGE and pathogenic power in mice were determined. II) The remaining homogenate was incubated at 4 degrees C in 100 ml of Donnelly and Baigent enrichment broth, weekly or monthly with subcultures until 30 days or 6-8 months, respectively. The subcultures were followed up as in I). A L. seeligeri strain, susceptible to antibiotics suggested for L. monocytogenes and exhibiting resistance to some second and third generation cephalosporins, was isolated (Table 2). The protein profile of both species was coincident, but L. seeligeri was not virulent for mice. The finding of L. seeligeri in an animal (4.0%) used as human feeding source is of interest due to its potential pathogen power.

Investigaçäo sobre a microbiota de caudas de lagostas Panulirus argus (Latreille) ou Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille) processadas com tripolifosfato de sódio / Research about microbiota of the tail of the lobster Panulirus argus (Latreille) or Panulirus laevicauda (Latreille) processed with sodium tripoliphosphate

Foram avaliadas as condiçöes higiênico-sanitárias de 100 amostras de caudas de lagostas, durante a etapa de adiçäo de Tripolifosfato de Sódio (TPF), em uma indústria de pesca, do município de Fortaleza-CE. Paralelamente foram analisadas 75 amostras da soluçäo de TPF a 5%, correspondentes às amostras de lagostas retiradas, através da quantificaçäo das bactérias psicrotróficas e de S. aureus; da determinaçäo do Número Mais Provável (NMP) de coliformes fecais e da pesquisa de Salmonela. Os resultados, comparados aos padröes microbiológicos brasileiros vigentes, indicam ausência de Salmonella em todas as amostras. S. aureus, em lagostas, foi detectado numa variaçäo de zero a 1,7 x 10**3 UFC/g na etapa I e zero nas demais etapas. As soluçöes de TPF apresentaram zero na etapa I e numa variaçäo de zero a 8,05 x 10 UFC/ml e zero a 2,8 x 10**3 UFC/ml nas etapas II e III, respectativamente. Em lagostas e soluçöes de RPF, os NMPs de coliformes fecais obtidos variaram de <3a> 1,1 x 10**/g e as contagens de psicrotróficas nestas amostras oscilaram de 10**9 UFC/g e 10**3 a 10**8 UFC/ml respectivamente

The first reported case from Panamá of acute gastroenteritis caused by Vibrio parahaemolyticus.

The first confirmed case of Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis in Panama is reported. This marine organism, causing food poisoning in some countries and isolated only recently from seawater in Panama, was recovered from the stools of a patient with acute gastroenteritis, as well as from fresh shrimp used in preparing seafood dishes. This person and 39 other individuals became acutely ill a few hours after eating shrimp at the same restaurant.