Yersinia enterocolitica prevalence and diversity in a pig slaughterhouse

Yersinia enterocolitica is involved in human foodborne infections. Pigs are considered as a major reservoir in many countries. The aim of the study was to contribute to the evaluation of the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in France in pigs at the slaughterhouse level with optimized detection methods based on ISO 10273-2003

Campylobacter in the Pork Food Chain : a quantitative hazard analysis

Campylobacter are one of the most frequent causes of bacterial enteritis in industrialized countries and are widespread in food animals. Pigs are known to be largely contaminated in farms, but few data exist about the status of the pork food chain. The purpose of this study was to quantify the Campylobacter contamination of the French pork food chain: prevalence, contamination level, bactenal species in primary production (piglets and fattening pigs when slaughtered), and in first and second transformation process (from carcasses before chilling to deboned meat cuts)

Impact of the slaughter process on the pork carcasses contamination by Yersinia entrocolitica

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of the tongue handling practice on the contamination of the pork carcasses: the tongue removed with the pluck set (3 slaughterhouses) vs the intact tongue inside the head (3 slaughterhouses). A total of 1920 pigs from 120 different farms were sampled both on their tonsils and carcass surfaces over a one year period. The individual prevalence of Y. enterocolitica on tonsils and carcasses was unexpectedly low and estimated respectively to be 5.7% [4.7-6.9] and 0.6% [0.3-1.0] from the pooled samples. The presence of Y. enterocolitica on the carcasses was statistically linked to its presence on tonsils. It was nearly five times higher on pigs with positive tonsils, than on pigs with negative tonsils. Despite the experimental design, we were not able to confirm that the removal of the tongue on the slaughter line had a significant impact on the carcass contamination with Yersinia enterocolitica. These results confirm that cross contaminations occur during the slaughtering process and that good hygiene practices are necessary to limit the transfer of Y. enterocolitca from the tonsils, or the feces, to the carcasses

Yersinia enteroco/itica prevalence in a French slaughterhouse: first results

Yersinlia enterocolitica is involved in human foodbome infections. Pigs are considered as a major reservoir in many countries. The aim of the study was to contribute to the evaluation of the prevalence of Y. enterocolitica in France in pigs at the slaughterhouse level with optimized detection methods based on ISO 10273-2003. Several samples of tonsils over nine consecutive months were analyzed in a single slaughterhouse. Enumeration and isolation were achieved by using CIN agar and Y eCM chromogenic medium (modified from the Weagant medium, 2008). Two enrichment media were used: a peptone, sorbitol and biliary salts broth (PSB) and the Irgasan, Ticarcillin and potassium chlorate broth (ITC)

Protein pattern transfer for biosensor applications

This paper presents a very simple, industrially scalable method for transferring a high-resolution, biologically active protein pattern from one substrate to another. We demonstrate the transfer of a protein pattern formed initially by microcontact printing from a silicon surface (to which this form of printing is applicable) onto a glass or polymer substrate, almost independently of the surface/bulk properties of the second substrate. A very thin, spin-coated layer of a sugar is used to preserve the structure and organization of proteins during the subsequent plasma deposition of a siloxane polymer, after which the protein pattern could simply be peeled off the silicon substrate and glued onto any other desired substrate. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Seroprevalence and risk factors for toxoplasma infection among pregnant women in Aydin province, Turkey

BACKGROUND: The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women at first trimester of their pregnancy and to follow up the seroconversion for next two trimesters, and to identify the risk factors and possible contamination routes in Aydin province, Turkey. METHOD: The sample size was calculated as 423 on a prevalence of 50%, d=0.05 at a confidence level of 95% with 10% addition. It was a cross-sectional study with multistage sampling. After a questionnaire applied to the pregnant women, anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies were studied with ELISA and IFA, values in conflict with DA test, where IgM antibodies were studied with ELISA and for borderline or positive values of IgM avidity test was used. RESULTS: The mean age of 389 (92.9%) of pregnant women in the study was 24.28+/-4.56 years, the seroprevalence of anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies for toxoplasmosis was 30.1%. Seroprevalence was increased with age (p=0.001) and with drinking water consumption other than bottled water (p=0.042). No significant relations were observed between anti-Toxoplasma IgG antibodies and education level, being native or migrant, abortion history, consumption of meat, vegetable and milk/milk products, personal or kitchen hygiene habits, cat owning at home of the pregnant women. No IgM antibody was detected. CONCLUSION: One of every three pregnant women in Aydin was at risk of toxoplasmosis at the first trimester of their pregnancy. Increased seroprevalance with age was a predictable result because of increasing time of exposure. Increased seroprevalence with consumption of municipal and uncontrolled water (well/spring water) supplies was similar with latest epidemiological findings

Maternal Serologic Screening to Prevent Congenital Toxoplasmosis: A Decision-Analytic Economic Model

We constructed a decision-analytic and cost-minimization model to compare monthly maternal serological screening for congenital toxoplasmosis, prenatal treatment, and post-natal follow-up and treatment according to the current French protocol, versus no systematic screening or perinatal treatment. Costs are based on published estimates of lifetime societal costs of developmental disabilities and current diagnostic and treatment costs. Probabilities are based on published results and clinical practice in the United States and France. We use sensitivity analysis to evaluate robustness of results. We find that universal monthly maternal screening for congenital toxoplasmosis with follow-up and treatment, following the French (Paris) protocol, leads to savings of $620 per child screened. Results are robust to changes in test costs, value of statistical life, seroprevalence in women of childbearing age, fetal loss due to amniocentesis, incidence of primary T. gondii infection during pregnancy, and to bivariate analysis of test costs and incidence of primary T. gondii infection. Given the parameters in this model and a maternal screening test cost of$12, screening is cost-saving for rates of congenital infection above 1 per 10,000 live births. Universal screening according to the French protocol is cost saving for the US population within broad parameters for costs and probabilities