Foodborne Salmonellosis in Italy: Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium and Monophasic Variant 4,[5],12:i- Isolated from Salami and Human Patients.

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (STm) and its monophasic variant 4,[5],12:i:- (VMSTm) have been responsible for an increased number of foodborne infections in humans in Europe in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the origin of three foodborne salmonellosis outbreaks that occurred in Pavia Province (Lombardy region, northern Italy) in 2010. Phenotypic and genetic characteristics of the STm and VMSTm isolates from patients and from food that were recovered in the framework of the three outbreaks were evaluated through serotyping, phage typing, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). Salami from three artisan producers, which had all purchased meat from the same slaughterhouse, was the food source of infection in outbreak I. STm isolates were recovered from salami and patients with symptoms of gastroenteritis. These isolates had the same PFGE type and the same rare MLVA profile (3-18-9-NA-211). The same molecular profiles were found in an STm isolate from a salami, which likely was the source of another family outbreak (II). A VMSTm strain with common phenotypic and molecular profiles was isolated from three hospitalized patients and identified as the cause of another putative outbreak (III). During the following 3 years (2011 through 2013), 360 salami produced in Pavia Province were monitored for the presence of S. enterica . In 2011, no STm and VMSTm isolates were recovered from 159 salami tested. During 2012 and 2013, 13.9% of 201 tested salami harbored S. enterica , and half of the isolates were VMSTm, mainly in salami from those artisan producers involved in the previous outbreaks. These isolates were genetically variable, especially in terms of MLVA profiles. The data collected suggest that from 2012, VMSTm has replaced STm in the environments of the salami producers monitored in this study, and these data confirm the dominance of this emergent serovar along the pork supply chain

A Probable Fatal Case of Oleander (Nerium oleander) Poisoning on a Cattle Farm: A New Method of Detection and Quantification of the Oleandrin Toxin in Rumen

Oleander (Nerium oleander) is an ornamental plant common in tropical and sub-tropical regions that is becoming increasingly widespread, even in temperate regions. Oleander poisoning may occur in animals and humans. The main active components contained in the plant are cardiac glycosides belonging to the class of cardenolides that are toxic to many species, from human to insects. This work describes a case of oleander poisoning that occurred on a small cattle farm and resulted in the fatality of all six resident animals. Furthermore, the investigation of the poisonous agent is described, with particular focus on the characterization of the oleandrin toxin that was recovered from the forage and rumen contents. The innovation of this study is the first description of the detection and quantification of the oleandrin toxin by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) in rumen

Piano di controllo e certificazione per la paratubercolosi bovina: criteri e analisi costo-beneficio

Vengono descritte le Linee Guida per il controllo e la certificazione nei confronti della paratubercolosi bovina recentemente e laborate dal CRN per la paratubercolosi su richiesta del Ministero della Salute e recepite dalla Regione Lombardia. Le Linee Guida prevedono la segnalazione obbligatoria dei casi clinici di paratubercolosi e l’adesione volontaria ad un sistema di classificazione del rischio, basato sugli esiti di esami sierologici eseguiti secondo protocolli codificati. Negli allevamenti negativi, l’allevatore può aderire al Piano di Certificazione, mentre in caso di allevamenti infetti può applicare un Piano di Controllo, basato sull’adozione di misure di biosicurezza e di opportuni test diagnostici. Vengono poi analizzati i danni economici causati dalla paratubercolosi e viene infine descritta una analisi costo-beneficio rispettivamente di un Piano di Controllo e di Certificazione in una azienda tipo di 100 vacche, con produzione media annua di 90 qli. Relativamente al controllo, si è tenuto conto dei costi dei programmi diagnostici e della gestione sanitaria e dei benefici derivanti dalla riduzione dei danni economici causati dalla paratubercolosi. La simulazione prevede diverse situazioni di prevalenza iniziale dell’infezione e assume un azzeramento dei danni nel giro di 7 anni. Calcolando il delta tra i costi e i benefici per le tre situazioni di prevalenza, il delta è positivo per le aziende ad alta prevalenza (4.232,0 €/annuo), positivo, ma più ridotto per le aziende a media prevalenza (1.029,7 €/annuo) ed è lievemente negativo per gli allevamenti a bassa prevalenza (-376,7 €/anno). Anche per la certificazione si è tenuto conto dei costi dei test diagnostici e della gestione sanitaria per il mantenimento dell’indennità e dei benefici ipotetici derivanti da un pagamento differenziato del latte e degli animali venduti. Dall’analisi risulta che la semplice applicazione di un premio di qualità variabile da 0,002 a 0,005 €/lt, sommato alla qualificazione commerciale dei capi venduti, porterebbe ad un vantaggio economico costante nel mantenimento della certificazione

Homocysteine potentiates seizures and cell loss induced by pilocarpine treatment

Patients affected by recurrent seizures frequently present increased homocysteine plasma levels in consequence of treatment with antiepileptic drugs. Homocysteine is proconvulsant and can affect the response to antiepileptic drugs. In addition, high homocysteine plasma levels represent a risk factor for cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. To better define the role of increased homocysteine in epilepsy, we analyzed the effects of homocysteine pretreatment in the pilocarpine model of status epilepticus (SE), which is used to mimic temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) in rodents. Precisely, we investigated whether a moderate hyperhomocysteinemia, unable to cause seizures, could sensitize rats to pilocarpine and cooperate in inducing brain lesions. We found that a subthreshold dose of pilocarpine (200 mg/kg) is sufficient to induce SE in the majority (approximately 90%) of rats pretreated with homocysteine for 2 weeks, whereas only 40% of saline-treated controls developed SE following the same pilocarpine dose. Furthermore, homocysteine pretreatment led to a significant increase in neuronal cell loss evaluated by counting toluidine blue-stained or Fluoro-Jade-positive cells in hippocampal and parahippocampal regions. Pilocarpine augmented amyloid beta expression in both animal groups. However, pretreatment with homocysteine favored the intraneuronal fibrillar conformation of amyloid beta, thus promoting neurodegeneration. These findings indicate that increased homocysteine levels enhance seizure activity and neurodegeneration in pilocarpine-treated rats and suggest that similar detrimental effects may occur in patients affected by TLE

Possible Relevance of Receptor-Receptor Interactions between Viral- and Host-Coded Receptors for Viral-Induced Disease

It has been demonstrated that some viruses, such as the cytomegalovirus, code for G-protein coupled receptors not only to elude the immune system, but also to redirect cellular signaling in the receptor networks of the host cells. In view of the existence of receptor-receptor interactions, the hypothesis is introduced that these viral-coded receptors not only operate as constitutively active monomers, but also can affect other receptor function by interacting with receptors of the host cell. Furthermore, it is suggested that viruses could also insert not single receptors (monomers), but clusters of receptors (receptor mosaics), altering the cell metabolism in a profound way. The prevention of viral receptor-induced changes in host receptor networks may give rise to novel antiviral drugs that counteract viral-induced disease

100. Ochratoxigenic moulds in the air of a salami ripening room in Pavia Oltrepò

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin synthesized by several Aspergillus and Penicillium species when certain condition of temperature, humidity and pH occur. Mycotoxins are produced and released in cereals and vegetal foodstuffs but also in fermented meat products. Traditional salami are colonized by fungi present in the air of ripening room, because no fungal starter is usually added. Even if moulds play an important role in the correct ripening of fermented meat, the presence of OTA proved to be nephrotoxic, carcinogenic, teratogenic and immunotoxic (1) has to be monitored. This work is part of a project funded by Ministry of Health aimed to search for ochratoxin A and ochratoxigenic moulds presence in salami manufactured in Lombardy and Emilia Romagna. Since in Pavia Oltrepo’ were found Aspergillus westerdijkiae, a strong OTA-producer and the OTA above law’s limits (1µg/kg of meat) (2) in two salami manufactured from the same producer in two different periods of 2014, we have sampled the air and the surfaces of this family-run factory to identify the source of contamination. Quantitative air sampling was conducted with SAS Super ISO 100 using PDA medium (Potato Dextrose Agar). The air volumes aspirated were 200 and 100 liters in each ripening room and 200 liters in the other environments (the laboratory, the bakery and the outdoor environment). For the qualitative analysis, the same medium was used. For surface sampling five swabs from different points of the ripening rooms and two from salami belonging to different batch produced in 2015 were collected. Fungal loads were evaluated on PDA and DRBC (Dichloran Rose Bengala Cloramphenicol Agar) media after 5 days at 25 °C incubation (3). Moulds identification was performed observing macroscopic and microscopic features as suggested by dichotomic keys for Aspergillus and Penicillium species (4,5). All fungal loads resulted high and A. westerdijkiae was the predominant species in all rooms, except for the outdoor environment in which it was anyway found. As regarding the surfaces, A. westerdijkiae was isolated from 4/5 points of the ripening rooms and from both the salami produced in 2015. This massive contamination of ochratoxigenic strains is very dangerous because it was proved that these strains are able to produce ochratoxin A, 691 µg/kg and 9,4 µg/kg respectively in two salami manufactured in 2014. For this reason is crucial to sanitize all rooms and implement the strategies to prevent this kind of contamination or at least ochratoxin A synthesis

Redox Status, Estrogen and Progesterone Production by Swine Granulosa Cells Are Impaired by Triclosan

Triclosan is a chlorinated biphenolic with a broad spectrum of antiseptic activities used in cosmetics and hygiene products. Continuous exposure can lead to absorption and bioaccumulation of this substance with harmful health effects. In fact, previous studies have shown that Triclosan acts as an endocrine-disrupting chemical on reproductive organs, with consequent negative effects on reproductive physiology. Therefore, to assess potential adverse impacts on fertility, we tested Triclosan on swine granulosa cells, a model of endocrine reproductive cells. We examined its effects on the main features of granulosa cell functions such as cell growth (BrdU incorporation and ATP production) and steroidogenesis (17-β estradiol and progesterone secretion). Moreover, since oxidant–antioxidant balance plays a pivotal role in follicular function, redox status markers (superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide production, enzymatic and non-enzymatic scavenging activity) were studied. Our results show that Triclosan significantly inhibits cell growth (p p p p < 0.05) enzymatic defense systems. Collectively, these data suggest a disruption of the main granulosa cell functions, i.e., proliferation and hormone production, as well as an imbalance in redox status. On these bases, we can speculate that Triclosan would impair granulosa cell functions, thus exerting negative effects on reproductive function. Further studies are needed to explore lower Triclosan concentrations and to unravel its mechanisms of action at gene level

Heme oxygenase 1 expression in foundry workers [Espressione dell'eme ossigenasi-1 in un gruppo di lavoratori di un'acciaieria]

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) catalyses the oxidation of heme to biliverdin, and its expression is induced by oxidative stress. This study was aimed at assessing the role of metabolic polymorphisms (CYP1A1, CYP1B1, GSTM1, GSTP1, EPHX) in the modulation of HO-1 gene expression in 37 foundry workers. Blood and urine samples were obtained at the beginning (BS) and at the end (ES) of work shift, in February (T1) and June (T2). Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) was measured as a tracer of PAH exposure. HO-1 gene expression in ES samples normalized to BS values (HO-1 ES/BS) was higher at T2 respect to T1. HO-1 gene induction was related to ES 1-OHP when considering either T2 samples or the combination of the two samplings. HO-1 ES/BS was significantly increased in subjects with at least a mutant allele for GSTP1 as compared to subjects with GSTP1AA genotype (1,23±0,002 vs 0.88±0.002, p<0.05). Only in subjects with at least one variant allele for GSTP1, a positive correlation between HO-1 ET/IT expression and 1-OHP FT levels was observed (r2=0.21, p=0.016). The present study demonstrates a correlation between PAH exposure, as assessed by urinary 1-OHP, and the induction of HO-1 expression. Such a correlation seems to be limited to subjects bearing variant alleles for GSTP1. At the same exposure levels, these subjects showed a greater expression of HO-1 FT as compared to subjects with GSTP1 wild type genotype, possibly due to a higher oxidative stress in the subjects expressing the mutant GSTP1-1 isoform, which could imply a limited scavenging capacity