COMPARISON BETWEEN TETRACYCLINE RESISTANT ENTEROCOCCI ISOLATED FROM SHEEP AND TYPICAL CHEESE IN THE GEOGRAPHICAL AREA OF “PARCO NAZIONALE DEI MONTI SIBILLINI”

Enterococci were isolated from sheep faeces and cheese taken in the «Parco nazionale dei monti Sibillini»; then they were submitted to the antibiotic susceptibility test and to the PCR reaction to amplify tet M and tet O genes. The analysis showed that 23,64% of Enterococci from sheep and 30,77% from cheese were resistant to tetracycline; 14 strains from sheep and 5 from cheese contained tet M and tet O genes as genetic determinants of resistance. These results allow to say that resistant bacteria and genes have the possibility to be transferred from animals to derived food; therefore reducing antibiotic use in farm animals could affect the amount of resistant microorganisms that can reach human beings using this way of diffusion

Prevalence of Johne\u27s-disease infections in Umbria, Italy

Ukupno 788 uzoraka seruma uzetih od mliječnih goveda u Umbriji, Italija, ispitano je na prisustvo antitijela na Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) pomoću komercijalnog ELISA testa (imunoenzimski test). Uzorkovane životinje uzgajane su na 19 farmi iz središnjeg dijela pokrajine Umbrije (okruzi Perugia i Assisi). Koristeći graničnu vrijednost za pozitivan test prema preporuci proizvođača, utvrđene su 44 pozitivne životinje (5,6%). Na temelju osjetljivosti i specifičnosti ELISA testa koje navodi proizvođač, izračunato je da je ukupna učestalost bolesti u mliječnih goveda u Umbriji ustvari iznosila 9,7% (granice pouzdanosti 99%, 7,0%, 12,4%).A total of 788 serum samples from dairy cattle in Umbria, Italy, were tested for the presence of antibodies to Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) using a commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The sampled animals came from 19 herds representative of the central area of the Umbria County (Perugia and Assisi districts). Using the manufacturers suggested cut-off for a positive test, 44 animals (5.6%) were positive. Using the sensitivity and specificity claimed by the manufacturer of the ELISA kit, the true prevalence in Umbria dairy cattle overall was calculated as 9.7% (99% CI, 7.0%, 12.4%).Insgesamt 788 Serummuster, genommen von Milchrindvieh in Umbria/Italien, wurden auf Anwesenheit von Antikörpern auf Mycobacterium avium subsp. Paratuberculosis (MAP) mit Hilfe von kommerziellem ELISA Test (Immunoenzymtest) geprüft. Die gemusterten Tiere wurden auf 19 Farmen in mittlerem Teil der Provinz Umbria (Kreise Perugia und Assisi) gezüchtet. Nach Anweisung des Herstellers benutzte man den Grenzwert für positiven Test, so wurden 44 positive Tiere (5,6 %) festgestellt. Auf Grund der Empfindlichkeit und der Spezifität des ELISA Testes, die der Hersteller anführt, wurde ausgerechnet, dass die gesamte Häufigkeit der Krankheit bei Milchrindvieh in Umbria wirklich 9,7 % betrug (Grenzen der Zuversichtlichkeit 99 %, 7,0 %, 12,4 %).E’ stata valutata la prevalenza dell’enterite paratubercolare in alcuni allevamenti di bovini da latte in Umbria. Allo scopo č stato effettuato uno screening tramite test ELISA che consente l’individuazione di animali con immunitŕ umorale nei confronti di MAP (Mycobacterium avium complex). Il test ELISA ha messo in evidenza una prevalenza variabile nelle aziende saggiate, con una media complessiva del 5.6% ed una prevalenza vera nella regione del 9.7% (limiti fiduciari 99%, 7.0%, 12.4%)

CONSIDERATIONS ON MEAT INSPECTION PROCEDURES IN THE LIGHT OF CONDEMNATIONS AT AN ITALIAN EU SLAUGHTERHOUSE IN THE PERIOD 2004-2009

Post-mortem findings of 373.901 cattle slaughtered at an EC abattoir are reported. Results show high incidence of pneumonia and hepatic lesions. Total condemnation of the whole carcass has happened 91 times in Bovine species, 1073 times in swine species, 40 in sheep. In the light of the EC Regulation N.854/2004 of the European parliament and of the council of 29th April 2004 that lays down specific rules for the organization of official controls of products of animal origin destined for human consumption, authors outline the examples of simplification and partial redrafting of the existing laws on the basis of the opinions expresses by the EFSA. Comparison to other European countries and an estimate of economic damage are discussed

Growth Inhibition of Selected Microorganisms by an Association of Dairy Starter Cultures and Probiotics

Several growth curves for selected pathogens and hygiene indicators alone and vs selected dairy starter cultures (LAB) and commercial probiotics have been performed. All strains for LAB and commercial probiotics were inoculated as pure cultures into skim milk to get an initial cocci:bacilli:enterocci ratio of 2:1:1 and a concentration of approx 107 cfu mL–1 until challenge vs selected pathogens and hygiene indicators. Selected pathogens came from the collection of the Laboratorio di Ispezione degli Alimenti di O.A. or were reference strains (Escherichia coli, CSH26 K12, Staphylococcus aureus, 27R, Salmonella Derby 27, Pseudomonas fluorescens ATCC 13525, Listeria innocua ATCC 33090). Each strain was inoculated into skim milk to get an initial concentration of approx 106 cfu mL–1. Growth curves in skim milk for the following challenges were studied: i) sterility control; ii) association LAB; iii) association of LAB vs each selected pathogen or hygiene indicator; iv) selected pathogen or hygiene indicator alone. The challenges were carried out in BHI broth and in skim milk at 37°C. The highest reduction was observed in milk but in general the association of LAB and the probiotic was able to limit the growth of pathogens and hygiene indicators.http://www.aspajournal.itindex.php/ijas/indexam201

Evolution under different storage conditions of anomalous blue coloration of Mozzarella cheese intentionally contaminated with a pigment-producing strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens

Several widespread occurrences of anomalous blue coloration of Mozzarella cheese have been recorded in the United States and some European countries. Official laboratory analysis and health authorities have linked the occurrences to contamination of the processing water with strains of Pseudomonas fluorescens, although several experts questioned how to unequivocally link the blue color to the presence of the microorganism. To establish a method to determine whether a given Pseudomonas spp. strain is responsible for the defect and study the evolution of the coloration under different storage conditions, we developed an in vitro system for the evaluation of blue coloration of Mozzarella cheese intentionally contaminated with strains of P. fluorescens. The purpose of the system was to determine whether P.fluorescens strains, isolated from Mozzarella cheese with anomalous blue coloration, were able to reproduce the blue coloration under controlled experimental conditions. Thirty-six trials of experimental inoculation of Mozzarella cheese in different preservation liquids were conducted using various suspensions of P.fluorescens (P. fluorescens ATCC 13525, P.fluorescens CFBP 3150, and P. fluorescens 349 field strain isolated from blue-colored Mozzarella cheese) at different concentrations and incubated at different temperatures. Growth curves of all tested P.fluorescens strains demonstrated that after 3 d of incubation the concentration was generally >106 cfu/g of Mozzarella cheese incubated in either tryptic soy broth (control) or conditioning brine. Prolonged incubation for 5 d at either 20°C or 8°C led to concentrations up to 109 cfu/g of Mozzarella cheese incubated in tryptic soy broth and up to 108 cfu/g of Mozzarella cheese incubated in preservation liquid. All Mozzarella cheeses inoculated with the field strain of P. fluorescens, except those opened 1 h after packaging and stored at 8°C, showed the characteristic anomalous blue coloration, which appeared from 1 to 72 h after opening the packaging, and was proportional to colony count, duration of storage, and storage temperature. With the proposed system, which enabled a larger number of samples to be analyzed under controlled experimental conditions and a large amount of data to be generated in a short time, we described precisely how and under which conditions the presence of P. fluorescens in Mozzarella cheese is responsible for the anomalous blue coloration. The system will help producers intercept contaminated batches and help consumers avoid the conditions under which the defect can appear.Grants from Fondazione Cassa di Risparmio di Perugia (Italy) and from the Ministero degli Affari Esteri, Direzione Generale per la Promozione e Cooperazione Culturale (Rome, Italy),http://www.journals.elsevier.com/journal-of-dairy-sciencehb2017Paraclinical Science

Assessment of welfare issues during traditional slaughter of goats in Pretoria, South Africa

Goats are traditionally slaughtered to celebrate marriages and births, venerate ancestors, address personal problems, or perform a ritual during funerals. The objective of this study was to assess nonhuman animal welfare issues associated with the traditional slaughter of goats in and around Pretoria, South Africa. Participatory research methods were used to interview 105 respondents. Four of those interviewed were visited to observe the slaughter process. The most common method of transport was a vehicle (47%), followed by transport on foot (30%). The distance traveled (68%) was usually less than 10 km, and in all cases, it was less than 50 km. The most common (57%) method of restraining goats during transport was tying all 4 legs together. During slaughter, assistants held the head and legs of the goat (55%). Prior to slaughter, the majority of goats were tied under a tree (66%). In total, 97% of the goats were slaughtered within 24 hr, and no stunning was performed. In this study, animal welfare problems were widespread. Research should be undertaken to find practical ways to address animal welfare issues during traditional slaughter

Religious slaughter and animal welfare: data from an online consultation

Two are the main results of the online survey, which was conducted with the purpose to examine the purchase behavior of a group of consumers and their views on animal welfare and religious slaughter. First result is the respondents’ great interest about the question on animal welfare, which is in accordance with the growing interest of European citizens about this issue. Second is the demand for a more transparent labeling of animal products, which would be also concerning animal welfare and slaughter method used. These results are in conflict with marketing analysis, which find that consumers want to receive only positive information. Paradoxically, the more information is transmitted to reassure consumers the higher risk to alarm them