Microbial quality of raw horse milk

Consumption of horse milk has become popular in developed countries, especially among people suffering from bowel problems and skin diseases. Since the positive effect is supposedly not observed after pasteurisation, the product is mostly consumed as raw milk. Since the microbiological quality of this milk has not been systematically surveyed, in this study we examined the presence of spoilage- and pathogenic microorganisms in 123 samples of horse milk collected in The Netherlands and Belgium. Hygiene and faecal indicators were found in a wide range of numbers. Although Salmonella, Campylobacter and Listeria were not found, these pathogens showed no reduction in challenge tests with artificially contaminated horse milk stored for 1 week at 7 °C. Since faecal indicators were present and able to grow at 7 °C, combined with the fact that pathogens may easily end up and survive in the milk, it is not advised to consume raw horse milk

Prevalence and Genetic Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Slaughtered Animals in Bangladesh▿

To determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in slaughter animals in Dhaka, Bangladesh, we collected rectal contents immediately after animals were slaughtered. Of the samples collected from buffalo (n = 174), cows (n = 139), and goats (n = 110), 82.2%, 72.7%, and 11.8% tested positive for stx1 and/or stx2, respectively. STEC could be isolated from 37.9%, 20.1%, and 10.0% of the buffalo, cows, and goats, respectively. STEC O157 samples were isolated from 14.4% of the buffalo, 7.2% of the cows, and 9.1% of the goats. More than 93% (n = 42) of the STEC O157 isolates were positive for the stx2, eae, katP, etpD, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli hly (hlyEHEC) virulence genes. STEC O157 isolates were characterized by seven recognized phage types, of which types 14 (24.4%) and 31 (24.4%) were predominant. Subtyping of the 45 STEC O157 isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed 37 distinct restriction patterns, suggesting a heterogeneous clonal diversity. In addition to STEC O157, 71 STEC non-O157 strains were isolated from 60 stx-positive samples from 23.6% of the buffalo, 12.9% of the cows, and 0.9% of the goats. The STEC non-O157 isolates belonged to 36 different O groups and 52 O:H serotypes. Unlike STEC O157, most of the STEC non-O157 isolates (78.9%) were positive for stx1. Only 7.0% (n = 5) of the isolates were positive for hlyEHEC, and none was positive for eae, katP, and etpD. None of the isolates was positive for the iha, toxB, and efa1 putative adhesion genes. However, 35.2% (n = 25), 11.3% (n = 8), 12.7% (n = 9), and 12.7% (n = 9) of the isolates were positive for the lpfO113, saa, lpfAO157/01-141, and lpfAO157/OI-154 genes, respectively. The results of this study provide the first evidence that slaughtered animals like buffalo, cows, and goats in Bangladesh are reservoirs for STEC, including the potentially virulent STEC strain O157

<Note>Invasive ants of tropical origin at mid-high altitude and latitude: adaptation and invasiveness

Recent discovery of longhorn crazy ant (Paratrechina longicornis) at mid-high altitude and latitude raises a series of ecological and evolutionary issues as this invasive ant, although reportedly originated from tropical regions, seems to be able to survive through cold environments. We thus are interested in understanding if colonization of longhorn crazy ant into these areas involves thermal adaptation, and if such adaptive potential results from behavioral/physiological plasticity or strong genetic basis. Here we reported some preliminary data and also presented future research framework of my laboratory on dissecting the adaptive mechanisms of this invasive ant. Results are expected to serve baseline information for development of management strategy on ant invasion under different temperature regimes

Wild, insectivorous bats might be carriers of Campylobacter spp.

The transmission cycles of the foodborne pathogens Campylobacter and Salmonella are not fully elucidated. Knowledge of these cycles may help reduce the transmission of these pathogens to humans. The presence of campylobacters and salmonellas was examined in 631 fresh fecal samples of wild insectivorous bats using a specially developed method for the simultaneous isolation of low numbers of these pathogens in small-sized fecal samples (≤ 0.1 g). Salmonella was not detected in the feces samples, but thermotolerant campylobacters were confirmed in 3% (n = 17) of the bats examined and these pathogens were found in six different bat species, at different sites, in different ecosystems during the whole flying season of bats. Molecular typing of the 17 isolated strains indicated C. jejuni (n = 9), C. coli (n = 7) and C. lari (n = 1), including genotypes also found in humans, wildlife, environmental samples and poultry. Six strains showed unique sequence types. This study shows that insectivorous bats are not only carriers of viral pathogens, but they can also be relevant for the transmission of bacterial pathogens. Bats should be considered as carriers and potential transmitters of Campylobacter and, where possible, contact between bats (bat feces) and food or feed should be avoided

Catching sites of <i>Campylobacter</i>-positive bats in the Netherlands.

<p>Catching sites of <i>Campylobacter</i>-positive bats in the Netherlands.</p

Information of isolated strains: Catching date and -location of the bats, bat species, <i>Campylobacter</i> species, Sequence Type (ST) and clonal complex (if existing).

<p>Information of isolated strains: Catching date and -location of the bats, bat species, <i>Campylobacter</i> species, Sequence Type (ST) and clonal complex (if existing).</p

Clonal complexes of <i>Campylobacter</i> sequence types found in feces from bats and common sources of isolates within the MLST database (https://pubmlst.org/campylobacter/).

<p>Clonal complexes of <i>Campylobacter</i> sequence types found in feces from bats and common sources of isolates within the MLST database (<a href="https://pubmlst.org/campylobacter/" target="_blank">https://pubmlst.org/campylobacter/</a>).</p

Number of <i>Campylobacter-</i>positive bats (total number of bats sampled) in 2007 and 2008.

<p>Number of <i>Campylobacter-</i>positive bats (total number of bats sampled) in 2007 and 2008.</p