Longitudinal study of an Australian pig farm infected with monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium-like PT193 (1,4,[5],12:i:- PT193) using MLVA

An Australian weaner-to-finish pig herd with a history of entrenched Salmonella infection (\u3e10 months in duration) was sampled on 5 occasions over a 15 month period commencing in 2011. On each occasion, either 12 or 18 individual pen faecal samples were collected from pigs between 6 weeks and 22 weeks of age (n=71). From the Salmonella positive samples (n=42), a total of 346 isolates were further processed (up to 10 colony picks per sample). All of the 123 isolates typed were identified as monophasic S. Typhimuriumlike PT193 (mSTm193). Results of antibiotic sensitivity testing found 336 of 346 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphathiozole and tetracycline (ASSuT). In addition, all 346 isolates were examined by MLVA and 13 different closely-related MLVA profiles were identified. Only 2 MLVA profiles persisted throughout the 15 month study. This study is the first report of monophasic S. Typhimurium-like PT193, its persistence and associated clinical disease in an Australian pig herd

Evaluation of the relative sensitivity of carcase swabbing against belly strip excision for TVC, E. coli and Salmonella isolation

The standard US method of swabbmg p1g carcases (3x 100cm2) for determination of E. coli and Salmonella contamination was compared with a belly strip excision method (approx. 120cm2). Swabbing for Salmonella and E. coli detection was found to have a relative sensitivity equal to 1/ 7 and 1/ 2 respecl1vely, of the belly strip technique. Furthermore, swab sampling isolated 2 Salmonella serovars compared with 9 serovars by the belly strip technique. For studies on the effectiveness of carcass decontamination interventions or undertaking abattoir flow-through studies it is recommended that belly strip excision sampling be employed. This study also compared the use of a semisolid culture medium (MSRV) for Salmonella isolation developed for faecal samples with standard media. MSRV gave a result 24 hours faster but was not as sensitive as the standard medium (RV). Therefore, MSRV medium is not recommended for the isolation of Salmonella from carcases for regulatory purposes

National baseline surveys to characterise processing hygiene and microbial hazards of Australian culled sow meat, retail pork sausages and retail pork mince

Pork products were sampled at retail to determine the impact of further processing on hazard levels to which consumers may be exposed, compared to carcases. Surveys of 116 fresh pork sausages and 148 fresh pork mince samples were purchased from supermarkets (n=87, n=105) and butcher shops (n=29, n=43), respectively. For sausages, concentrations of TVC averaged 4.6 log10 cfu/g

Decontamination of pork carcases with hot water or acidified sodium chlorite- a comparison in two Australian abattoirs

A decontamination trial on the effectiveness of hot water and acidified sodium chlorite (SANOVA™) treatment on TVC, E. coli and Salmonella spp. was undertaken on a total of 852 pork carcases prior to primary chilling in two pork abattoirs in Australia using belly-strip excision sampling. Test pigs were selected from herds with a known high level of on-fam1 Salmonella infection. For control carcases at Abattoirs A and B, mean log10 Total Viable Count was 4.06 and 3.00 cfu/gram compared with 1.81 and 2. 09 cfu/gram, for hot water and 2. 76 and 2.53 cfu/gram for SAN OVA ™ treated carcases, respectively

Unilateral versus bilateral thyroarytenoid Botulinum toxin injections in adductor spasmodic dysphonia: a prospective study

OBJECTIVES: In this preliminary prospective study, we compared unilateral and bilateral thyroarytenoid muscle injections of Botulinum toxin (Dysport) in 31 patients with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, who had undergone more than 5 consecutive Dysport injections (either unilateral or bilateral) and had completed 5 concomitant self-rated efficacy and complication scores questionnaires related to the previous injections. We also developed a Neurophysiological Scoring (NPS) system which has utility in the treatment administration. METHOD AND MATERIALS: Data were gathered prospectively on voice improvement (self-rated 6 point scale), length of response and duration of complications (breathiness, cough, dysphagia and total voice loss). Injections were performed under electromyography (EMG) guidance. NPS scale was used to describe the EMG response. Dose and unilateral/bilateral injections were determined by clinical judgment based on previous response. Time intervals between injections were patient driven. RESULTS: Low dose unilateral Dysport injection was associated with no significant difference in the patient's outcome in terms of duration of action, voice score (VS) and complication rate when compared to bilateral injections. Unilateral injections were not associated with any post treatment total voice loss unlike the bilateral injections. CONCLUSION: Unilateral low dose Dysport injections are recommended in the treatment of adductor spasmodic dysphonia

Evaluation of the relative sensitivity of carcase swabbing against belly strip excision for TVC, E. coli and Salmonella isolation

The standard US method of swabbmg p1g carcases (3x 100cm2) for determination of E. coli and Salmonella contamination was compared with a belly strip excision method (approx. 120cm2). Swabbing for Salmonella and E. coli detection was found to have a relative sensitivity equal to 1/ 7 and 1/ 2 respecl1vely, of the belly strip technique. Furthermore, swab sampling isolated 2 Salmonella serovars compared with 9 serovars by the belly strip technique. For studies on the effectiveness of carcass decontamination interventions or undertaking abattoir "flow-through" studies it is recommended that belly strip excision sampling be employed. This study also compared the use of a semisolid culture medium (MSRV) for Salmonella isolation developed for faecal samples with standard media. MSRV gave a result 24 hours faster but was not as sensitive as the standard medium (RV). Therefore, MSRV medium is not recommended for the isolation of Salmonella from carcases for regulatory purposes.</p

Longitudinal study of an Australian pig farm infected with monophasic Salmonella Typhimurium-like PT193 (1,4,[5],12:i:- PT193) using MLVA

An Australian weaner-to-finish pig herd with a history of entrenched Salmonella infection (>10 months in duration) was sampled on 5 occasions over a 15 month period commencing in 2011. On each occasion, either 12 or 18 individual pen faecal samples were collected from pigs between 6 weeks and 22 weeks of age (n=71). From the Salmonella positive samples (n=42), a total of 346 isolates were further processed (up to 10 colony picks per sample). All of the 123 isolates typed were identified as monophasic S. Typhimuriumlike PT193 (mSTm193). Results of antibiotic sensitivity testing found 336 of 346 isolates were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphathiozole and tetracycline (ASSuT). In addition, all 346 isolates were examined by MLVA and 13 different closely-related MLVA profiles were identified. Only 2 MLVA profiles persisted throughout the 15 month study. This study is the first report of monophasic S. Typhimurium-like PT193, its persistence and associated clinical disease in an Australian pig herd.</p

A survey of Australian oysters for the presence of human noroviruses

Abstract not availableFelicity Brake, Tom Ross, Geoffrey Holds, Andreas Kiermeier, Catherine McLeo

Thermal inactivation of Salmonella spp. in pork burger patties

Abstract not availableP.M. Gurman, T. Ross, G.L. Holds, R.G. Jarrett, A. Kiermeie

Thermal inactivation of Salmonella spp. in pork burger patties

Predictive models, to estimate the reduction in Escherichia coli O157:H7 concentration in beef burgers, have been developed to inform risk management decisions; no analogous model exists for Salmonella spp. in pork burgers. In this study, "Extra Lean" and "Regular" fat pork minces were inoculated with Salmonella spp. (Salmonella 4,[5],12,i:-, Salmonella Senftenberg and Salmonella Typhimurium) and formed into pork burger patties. Patties were cooked on an electric skillet (to imitate home cooking) to one of seven internal temperatures (46, 49, 52, 55, 58, 61, 64 °C) and Salmonella enumerated. A generalised linear logistic regression model was used to develop a predictive model for the Salmonella concentration based on the internal endpoint temperature. It was estimated that in pork mince with a fat content of 6.1%, Salmonella survival will be decreased by - 0.2407 log10 CFU/g for a 1 °C increase in internal endpoint temperature, with a 5-log10 reduction in Salmonella concentration estimated to occur when the geometric centre temperature reaches 63 °C. The fat content influenced the rate of Salmonella inactivation (P = 0.043), with Salmonella survival increasing as fat content increased, though this effect became negligible as the temperature approached 62 °C. Fat content increased the time required for patties to achieve a specified internal temperature (P = 0.0106 and 0.0309 for linear and quadratic terms respectively), indicating that reduced fat pork mince may reduce the risk of salmonellosis from consumption of pork burgers. Salmonella serovar did not significantly affect the model intercepts (P = 0.86) or slopes (P = 0.10) of the fitted logistic curve. This predictive model can be applied to estimate the reduction in Salmonella in pork burgers after cooking to a specific endpoint temperature and hence to assess food safety risk