Prevalence,Isolation Techniques, Antibiotic Pattern and Plasmid Profile of Salmonella in Broiler Chicken During Production, Processing and Retail Outlets

Five hundred and forty nine (549) of carcasses and intestinals content and 73 samples of chicken litter and feed were examined for Salmonella. Two hundred and thirty (237) Salmonella isolates belonging to 15 different serotypes were isolated. The predominant serotypes were: S. enteritidis (35.2%), S. muenchen (20%), S. kentucky (14.3%), S. blockley (10.4%) and S. chincol (5.2%). S. enteritidis were detected throughout the broiler production chain. The detection rate of Salmonella in poultry carcasses under different conditions were as follows: 83% (126/232), direct enrichment of pelleted (DEP) rinse fluid In Rapaport Vasiliadis broth (RV) incubated at 42°C; 28% (43/232) ,for both DEP enriched in RV and Manitol Selanite Cystine Broth (MSCB) incubated at 37°C; and 9% (14/232), streaking the pellet directly onto the plating media. In a parallel analysis, the conventional method detected Salmonella in 43.5% (115/264) of carcasses, litter and feed samples compared to 18.2% (48/264) detected by rapid method TECRA UNIQUE Salmonella test kit. Two hundrad and thirty seven (237) isolates of Salmonella belonging to 15 different serovars were susceptible to gentamicin, advosin and enrofloxacin except for one isolate of S. agona, which was resistant to enrofloxacin. S. kentucky isolates displayed 11 discrete antibiotic resistant patterns, followed by S. blockley (7), s. agona (4) and S. muenchen (3). Plasmids were detected in 80% of the isolates with molecular weights ranging from <1 to 50 MDa. The frequency of plasmids in different serovars are as follows: S. blockely (96%), S. chnicol (92%), s. muenchen (90%); S. kentuckey (88%) and S. enteritidis (75%). Different variations in plasmid profile pattern were exhibited by S. muenchen (24 patterns), S. kentucky (11 patterns), S. blockley (14 patterns), S. enteritidis (7 patterns), S. chincol (4 patterns) and S. newport (5 patterns)

Detection of genetically modified soy in processed foods sold commercially in Malaysia by PCR-based method.

Regulations for the use and labeling of genetically modified organism (GMO) products and derived ingredients are being implemented worldwide, that demands reliable and accurate methods to detect GMO in raw materials and food products. In this study, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was established for monitoring products derived from GMO that are sold in the markets in Malaysia, which specifically amplify the 35S promoter, nos (nopaline synthase-terminator), EPSPS (5-enolpyruvylshikimate-3- phosphate synthase) and RRS (CTP/CP4EPSPS). Using this method, we investigated the incidence of genetically modified soy(GM-soy) and specifically the presence of roundup ready soy (RRS). All the soybean samples were evidenced by presence of the lectin gene. Out of 85 samples examined, the 18 positive GM samples were raw bean (9), tofu (8) and tempe (1) (a traditional Malayfood). The results demonstrate for the first time the presence of GM-soy in Malaysian food products, reinforcing the need for the development of accurate quantitative methods for routine analyses

Prevalence of Salmonella in broilers at retail outlets, processing plants and farms in Malaysia

A study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella among broilers retailed at wet-markets and processing plants. Litter and feed samples obtained from both broiler and breeder farms were also examined for Salmonella. A total of 158 out of 445 (35.5%) and 52 out of 104 (50.0%) broiler carcasses obtained from wet-markets and processing plants were contaminated with Salmonella, respectively. Salmonella was isolated from 14 out of 98 (14.3%) samples of intestinal content. Litter samples from broiler and breeder farms were positive for Salmonella, 8/40 (20%) and 2/10 (20%), respectively. Salmonella isolates (230) belonging to 15 different serovars were isolated. Predominant serovars were S. enteritidis, S. muenchen, S. kentucky and S. blockley

Food consumption patterns: findings from the Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey(MANS)

This study reports the food consumption patterns of adults aged 18 to 59 years in the Malaysian Adults Nutrition Survey (MANS) carried out between October 2002 and December 2003. A total of 6,742 subjects comprising 3,274 men and 3,468 women representing the northern, central , southern and east coast of Peninsular Malaysia as well as Sabah and Sarawak were interviewed. A semiquantitative food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) which consisted of 126 food items was used to evaluate the food consumption pattern (habitual food intake) of the respondents during the previous one-year period. The results demonstrate that nasi putih (cooked rice) was consumed by 97% of the population twice daily (average 2½ plates per day). Other food items consumed daily were marine fish, (one medium fish per day), green leafy vegetables (one cup per day) and sweetened condensed milk (three teaspoons per day. The mean frequencies for daily intake of rice, leafy vegetables, marine fish, local kuih, anchovy (ikan bilis) and biscuits were significantly higher among the rural compared to the urban adults. In contrast, more urban dwellers consumed chicken and eggs more frequently than their rural counterparts. More men than women consumed chicken and eggs more frequently. Malaysian adults showed a satisfactory habit of drinking plain water, with 99% drinking at least six glasses of plain water daily. Other beverages such as tea (47%), coffee (28%), chocolate-based drinks (23%) and cordial syrup (11%) were also consumed on daily basis, however, in a smaller proportion of the population. There were differences in the prevalence of daily consumption of foods when comparing urban and rural population, and also between men and women. The prevalence of daily consumption of marine fish among rural and urban adults was 51% and 34% respectively. For sweetened condensed milk, men and women consumed 43% and 28% respectively; however, more women drank full cream milk than men. Between the age groups, 21% of adults below 20 years old consumed chicken at least once a day, while this pattern of intake was not shown in the older age groups. Our findings show that adults, aged 50 to 59 years old, had the highest prevalence of daily consumption of full cream milk with 24% while those aged 18 to 19 years old had the lowest prevalence of daily consumption at 15%. The food consumption pattern of Malaysian adults appears to be satisfactory. However, some changes in food habits are recommended especially in substituting the less wholesome sweetened condensed milk with the more nutritious full cream or skimmed milk