Ultrasonic decontamination in smoked salmon experimentally contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes: Preliminary results

The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effects of ultrasound (sonication) and their combination with temperature (thermosonication) on the inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes (LM) in smoked salmon. The trial was conducted on smoked salmon samples experimentally contaminated with a cocktail of 4 strains of Listeria monocytogenes (LM ATCC 19114, LM ATCC 15313, LM ATCC 19111 and LM ATCC 7644) at a final concentration of 8 log cfu/g and kept at 4°C until its use. Thermosonication treatments between 40°C and 50°C for 5, 10 and 15 minutes proved to be more effective without altering the sensory characteristics of the food

Hepatitis E Virus Detection in Hunted Wild Boar Liver and Muscle Tissues in Central Italy

In different European countries, including Italy, hepatitis E virus (HEV) has been recognized as an emerging public health concern. Humans are infected through the orofecal route by the ingestion of contaminated uncooked or undercooked animal-origin foodstuffs. Wild boars (Sus scrofa) have gained a crucial role as viral reservoirs. HEV-3 is the most frequently identified genotype from hunted wild boar liver and muscle tissues. The Marche region, more specifically Ascoli Piceno province, is characterized by a rooted hunting tradition and related product consumption. In this research study, 312 liver and 296 muscle specimens were screened using biomolecular assays, and HEV RNA was detected from 5.45% and 1.35% of liver and muscle samples, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that positive animals were infected by genotype 3 subtype c. Based on the environmental pathogen characteristics, HEV has also evolved to guarantee its survival in a wild environment. Therefore, wild boars and ruminants have a key role in its persistence. Epidemiological data regarding HEV circulation have resulted as necessary, and biomolecular analysis represents an important means of monitoring and establishing preventive measures. A multidisciplinary approach could provide a wide perspective regarding HEV and infectious implications on human, animal, and environmental health

Intradiaphragmatic abscesses in a wild boar (Sus scrofa): Inspective implications based on anatomopathological evidences

The intradiaphragmatic localization of an abscess is rarely described in humans and in other animal domestic and wild species, and can be caused by penetrative traumas (i.e., firearm injuries). Here we describe two intradiaphragmatic abscesses in a hunted adult male wild boar (Sus scrofa) pluck, associated with adhesion phenomena with the contiguous anatomical structures (pleural, phrenic, and glissonian serosas) and observed during the post mortem inspection, in accordance with the Reg. EU 627/2019. One of these lesions also presented a phreno-abdominal fistula. We found in cytopathological evaluation of the neoformations' content the presence of spheroidal bacterial soma, characterized by linearly concatenated "Streptococcus-like" aggregation pattern. Furthermore, microbiological assays revealed a polymicrobial pattern characterized by the presence of telluric microorganisms, some of which have a marked pyogenic action (Streptococcus suis type I, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Carnobacterium divergens, and Lactobacillus sakei). Our results and collected evidence demonstrate the pathogenetic hypothesis of bacterial contamination secondary to penetrative trauma caused by a not-mortal projectile's wound, defining the inspective behaviour according to the cogent legislation. These lesions, in the reason of their potential relation to toxemia, bacteremia and septicemia phenomena, represent a sanitary risk that impose, from a normative point of view, the total condemnation of the carcass. These inspective implications, originating from the observation and interdisciplinary description of the anatomopathological and microbiological features of the lesions, are directly projected on the normative scenario, providing useful elements to guarantee the health of the consumer

Safety of extended interval dosing immune checkpoint inhibitors:a multicenter cohort study

BACKGROUND: Real-life spectrum and survival implications of immune-related adverse events (irAEs) in patients treated with extended interval dosing (ED) immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are unknown. METHODS: Characteristics of 812 consecutive solid cancer patients who received at least 1 cycle of ED monotherapy (pembrolizumab 400 mg Q6W or nivolumab 480 mg Q4W) after switching from canonical interval dosing (CD; pembrolizumab 200 mg Q3W or nivolumab 240 mg Q2W) or treated upfront with ED were retrieved. The primary objective was to compare irAEs patterns within the same population (before and after switch to ED). irAEs spectrum in patients treated upfront with ED and association between irAEs and overall survival were also described. RESULTS: A total of 550 (68%) patients started ICIs with CD and switched to ED. During CD, 225 (41%) patients developed any grade and 17 (3%) G3 or G4 irAEs; after switching to ED, any grade and G3 or G4 irAEs were experienced by 155 (36%) and 20 (5%) patients. Switching to ED was associated with a lower probability of any grade irAEs (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 0.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.64 to 0.99; P = .047), whereas no difference for G3 or G4 events was noted (aOR = 1.55, 95% CI = 0.81 to 2.94; P = .18). Among patients who started upfront with ED (n = 232, 32%), 107 (41%) developed any grade and 14 (5%) G3 or G4 irAEs during ED. Patients with irAEs during ED had improved overall survival (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] = 0.53, 95% CI = 0.34 to 0.82; P = .004 after switching; aHR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.35 to 0.93; P = .025 upfront). CONCLUSIONS: Switching ICI treatment from CD and ED did not increase the incidence of irAEs and represents a safe option also outside clinical trials.</p

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile in Salmonella spp. isolates from swine food chain

The aim of this survey was to examine the prevalence and the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of Salmonella spp. isolated from swine food chain. A total of 435 samples were collected: 360 from slaughterhouse (150 carcasses, 30 cecal samples, 180 environmental samples) and 75 from Italian traditional pork dry sausages. Thirty-six Salmonella were isolated and identified by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR): 13,3% (4/30) in fecal samples, 5,5% (10/180) in environmental samples, 7,3% (11/150) in carcasses, and 14,6% (11/75) in Italian traditional dry sausages. Salmonella serotypes were: S. Typhimurium (44,4%), S. Typhimurium monophasic variant (8,3%), S. Typhi (2,8%), S. Enteritidis (22,2%), S. Rissen (16,6%) and S. Derby (5,5%). Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of AMR Salmonella spp. isolates was executed through automatic system (VITEK 2, bioMerieux) and PCR assays. Salmonella spp. showed phonotypical and genotypical resistance to at least one or more classes of antibiotic. All Salmonella spp. were resistant to aminoglycoside (amikacin and tobramycin) and gentamicin, 86,1% strains were resistant to tetracycline, 55,5% strains were resistant to ampicillin and piperacillin, 25% strains to trimethoprim, 5,5% strains to chloramphenicol, 2,8% strains to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and nitrofurantoin. Among Salmonella isolates, the most detected AMR genes were catA for chloramphenicol (94,4%), nitrofuran nfsA (77.7%), nfsB (86,1%) and, for fluoroquinolone par C (100%) and gyrA (94,4%). This study reported epidemiological data regarding Salmonella spp. and AMR's circulation in the swine food chain. This phenomenon (AMR) has critical repercussions on the final consumer health; therefore, it represents a crucial One-Health issue

ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE OF STHAPYLOCOCCUS AUREUS ISOLATED FROM FOOD HANDLERS

Staphylococcus aureus (S. a.) is one of the leading causes of all food‐borne illnesses worldwide. The aim of  this  study  is  to  assess  the  prevalence  of  S.  a.  strains  in  food  handlers  and  their  profile  of  antibiotic  resistance.

Aspetti tecnologici e igienico-sanitari in laboratori artigianali di porchetta abruzzese

The social, economical, technological and production aspects in traditional workshops processing “Porchetta Abruzzese” were evaluated. A significant number of them (16) were tested for: the application of Good Manufacturing Practices, the level of training of the personnel and the hygienic and sanitary conditions of the working environment (after cleaning and sanitization) and of the operators (before starting work). The results showed that 75% of the workshops were family run businesses, with an annual production of less than 200 porchetta. According to the data obtained from the questionnaires, all the workshops tested were consistent to the GMP rules. The microbiological data, however, showed non adequate hygienic conditions regarding both the working environments and the operators in 11 workshops. Pathogen microrganisms such as S. aureus and L. monocytogenes were only found occasionally. In conclusion, the need to instil a “hygenic knowledge”, in the operators through adequate professional formation courses has emerged. This is the only way in order to improve and qualify traditional products such as “Porchetta Abruzzese”

Overcoming Multidrug Resistance in Salmonella spp. Isolates Obtained From the Swine Food Chain by Using Essential Oils: An in vitro Study

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, and new approaches are needed to circumvent animal and food-borne resistant pathogens. Among the new strategies, the combination of antibiotics with natural compounds such as essential oils (EOs) could be an alternative to challenge bacterial resistance. The present study evaluates the phenotypic and genotypic antibiotic resistance of 36 Salmonella enterica (16 S. Typhimurium, 3 monophasic variant S. Typhimurium, 8 S. Enteritidis, 6 S. Rissen, 1 S. Typhi, and 2 S. Derby) strains, isolated from the swine production chain. The isolates displayed phenotypic resistance to gentamicin, amikacin, tobramycin, and tetracycline, while the resistance genes most commonly detected were parC, catA, nfsB, nfsA, blaTEM, tetA, and tetB. Then 31/36 Salmonella isolates were chosen to evaluate resistance to tetracycline and Thymus vulgaris, Eugenia caryophyllata, and Corydothymus capitatus EOs by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Finally, the synergistic effect between tetracycline and each EOs was evaluated by the checkerboard method, calculating the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) index. Among the EOs, C. capitatus displayed the best bioactivity in terms of MICs, with the lowest values (0.31 and 0.625 μl/ml). On the contrary, the strains showed the ability to grow in the presence of the maximum concentration of tetracycline employed (256 μg/ml). While not displaying a real synergism according to the FIC index, the combination of tetracycline compounds and the three EOs resulted in a significant reduction in the MIC values to tetracycline (4 μg/ml), suggesting a restoration of the susceptibility to the antibiotic in Salmonella spp