Bath treatment, an alternative method for the administration of the quinolones flumequine and oxolinic acid to halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus, and in vitro antibacterial activity of the drugs against some Vibrio sp.

Administration of flumequine and oxolinic acid to halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus by bath resulted in significant tissue levels of both the antibacterials. Bath treatment using 150 mg l(-1) of flumequine and 200 mg l(-1) of oxolinic acid for 72 h resulted in flumequine concentrations of 14.2 mu g g(-1) in muscle and 85.4 mu g g(-1) in abdominal organ homogenate and oxolinic acid concentrations of 9.4 mu g g(-1) in muscle and 72.6 mu g g(-1) in abdominal organ homogenate. Excretion of both antibacterials was rapid and characterised by elimination half-lives (t(1/2)) of 10 and 15.6 h respectively for flumequine and oxolinic acid in muscle and 9.8 and 15.0 h respectively in the abdominal organ homogenate. The corresponding elimination times (E(t)) were 6.5 and 8 d respectively for flumequine and oxolinic acid in muscle and 7.5 and 9 d respectively in abdominal organ homogenate when a maximum residue concentration of 0.05 mu g g(-1) was applied for both drugs. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIG) against strains of Vibrio sp. ranged from 0.015 to 1.0 mu g ml(-1) for flumequine and 0.015 to 0.5 mu g ml-l for oxolinic acid. Following bath treatment, tissue levels of flumequine and oxolinic acid greater than MIC for susceptible strains (<0.0625 mu g ml(-1)) were maintained for up to 6.5 and 8 d respectively for flumequine and oxolinic acid in muscle and 7.5 and 9 d respectively in abdominal organ homogenate

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Listeria monocytogenes in salmonid slaughter facilities - Screening program for the Norwegian Food Safety Authority

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterium of special concern in the seafood industry beacuse it possesses several properties adapted for the food production environment and may cause severe disease in humans. The Institute of Marine Research has on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority conducted a screening program for L. monocytogens in salmonid slaughter facilities. In total, 358 samples from 60 slaugher facilities (49 slaughtering plants and 11 slaughtering vessels) were examined. Samples were collected from the production environment (n=108), from the surface of fish entering the facilities (n=47), and from the surface of fish (n=59) and raw material (n=144) at end point at the examined facility. None of the samples from the slaughtering vessels were positive for L. monocytogenes, whereas 22 positive samples were detected in nine different slaugtering plants. In five of these plants, several positive samples were found. Six of the slaughtering plants had positive samples at the end of the production line, where a higher prevalence was found when swabbing the fish skin and gills compared to the examined raw matierial. All the raw material samples contained low numbers of L. monocytogenes below the quatification limit (<10 CFU/g). However, this study found that L. monocytogenes can be present in both fish and the production environment, and that in some cases L. monocytogenes will be present in fish ready for furhter processing in the salmonid value chain.publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries – results from 2018

This report summarises results from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control on seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area from 2018. The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA), in cooperation with the personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). We want to thank NFSA for very good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. An up to date risk assessment for different groups of imported products, made the basis for the sampling plans and the selection of analytical activities. The current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system, the compositional nature of the products and the annual import quantity of relevant products, was evaluated in this risk assessment. A total of 122 samples from the NFSA, collected at the BIPs, were examined by a selection of analytical methods and assays for microorganisms, parasites and undesirable chemical substances. The analytical data are listed in Annex 1 and are summarised below. Microbiological analyses were performed on 104 samples. The results for microbiological indicator organisms for faecal contamination were mostly below detection limit or showed low bacterial counts. The microbiological quality parameters and indicator organisms for faecal contamination generally showed low numbers. However, higher counts were found in one sample of Yellowfin tuna imported from the Maldives and one sample of Pacific cod imported from Thailand. L. monocytogenes was detected in low quantity in one sample of Pacific cod from Thailand and in one sample of Norwegian herring re-imported to Norway from Egypt. No samples had pathogens in the genera Salmonella. Enterobacteriaceae was detected in one sample of feed imported from Chile.Yeast was found in two samples of feed from Chile, and in one sample of dried Yellow Stripe Trevally from Thailand and in Migas from China. Mould was detected in the same dried Yellow Stripe Trevally from Thailand and in Migas from China. Parasitological examination was carried out on 40 fish samples. Nematodes were found in nine of them (22.5%). Since fish were imported frozen, nematodes were dead and not infective. Thirteen seafood samples originating from aquaculture were analysed for residues of prohibited veterinary medicines, unauthorised dyes and antibacterial agents. None of these were detected. The chemical spoilage indicators histamine and total volatile basic nitrogen was examined in nineteen samples and all results were compliant with the maximum levels. Undesirable trace elements were measured in 89 samples. A sample of canned sardine in oil from the Philippines exceeded the maximum Cd level. A sample of small crabs from Thailand, assuming they were intended to be consumed whole, were slightly above the Pb maximum level. A frozen fillet sample of yellowfin tuna imported from Vietnam exceeded the Hg maximum level. Twenty-eight samples were analysed for the persistent organic pollutants dioxins/ furans and PCBs (DLPCBs and NDLPCBs), the PBDE class of compounds, the PAH class of compounds and organochlorine pesticides. One sample of fish oil from Turkey was found non-compliant with its maximum levels for dioxins and for the sum of dioxins and dioxin like PCBs. The levels of PBDEs in twenty-eight samples, and also the fifteen samples analysed for organochlorine pesticides, were within a range commonly observed in seafood. For the PAH class of compounds, one sample was analysed, and found compliant with its maximum levels.publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022

This report summarises results from the ongoing monitoring programme for veterinary border control on seafood products imported to Norway from countries outside the EU and the European Economic Area in 2022. Eight samples of products imported in 2021 but analysed in 2022 are also included. Samples were collected by personnel at the Norwegian Border Inspection Posts (BIP). The Institute of Marine Research (IMR) carried out the analytical work on behalf of the Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NFSA). We want to thank NFSA for good cooperation during the conduct of this monitoring programme. A risk assessment for different groups of imported products formed the basis for the selection of analytical activities, where current trend of hazards, as reported in The Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) notification system and the compositional nature of the products and origin formed an up-to-date basis for the risk assessment.Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries - Results from 2022publishedVersio

Temperature Dependent Depuration of Norovirus GII and Tulane Virus from Oysters (Crassostrea gigas)

Raw oysters are considered a culinary delicacy but are frequently the culprit in food-borne norovirus (NoV) infections. As commercial depuration procedures are currently unable to efficiently eliminate NoV from oysters, an optimisation of the process should be considered. This study addresses the ability of elevated water temperatures to enhance the elimination of NoV and Tulane virus (TuV) from Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas). Both viruses were experimentally bioaccumulated in oysters, which were thereafter depurated at 12 °C and 17 °C for 4 weeks. Infectious TuV and viral RNA were monitored weekly for 28 days by TCID50 and (PMAxx-) RT-qPCR, respectively. TuV RNA was more persistent than NoV and decreased by  1.0 log10 at this time. For RT-qPCR there was no detectable benefit of elevated water temperatures or PMAxx for either virus (p > 0.05). TuV TCID50 decreased steadily, and reductions were significantly different between the two temperatures (p  3.0 log10 were observed at 17 °C, while at 12 °C reductions did not exceed 1.9 log10. The length of depuration also had an influence on virus numbers. TuV reductions increased from  4.0 log10 after 4 weeks. This implies that an extension of the depuration period to more than seven days, possibly in combination with elevated water temperatures, may be beneficial for the inactivation and removal of viral pathogens.publishedVersio

Sewage-based surveillance shows presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant against last resort antibiotics in the population in Bergen, Norway

The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae present in the population in Bergen city, Norway using city-scale sewage-based surveillance, as well as the potential spread of K. pneumoniae into the marine environment through treated sewage. From a total of 30 sewage samples collected from five different sewage treatment plants (STPs), 563 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained on Simmons Citrate Agar with myo-Inositol (SCAI) plates, and 44 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates on SCAI plates with cefotaxime. Colistin resistance was observed in 35 isolates, while cefotaxime resistance and tigecycline resistance was observed in only five isolates each, out of 563 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates. All 44 isolates obtained on cefotaxime-containing plates were multidrug-resistant, with 25% (n = 11) showing resistance against tigecycline. Clinically important acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), like blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, qnrS1, aac(3)-IIe, tet(A), and sul1, were detected in several sequenced Klebsiella spp. isolates (n = 53). All sequenced colistin-resistant isolates (n = 13) had a mutation in the mgrB gene with nucleotide substitution at position C88T creating a premature stop codon. All sequenced tigecycline-resistant isolates (n = 4) harbored a Tet(A) variant with 22 amino acid (aa) substitutions compared to the reference protein. The sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 44) belonged to 22 different sequence types (STs) with ST730 (29.5%) as most prevalent, followed by pathogenic ST307 (11.4%). Virulence factors, including aerobactin (iutA), enterobactin (entABCDEFS and fepABCDG), salmochelin (iro), and yersiniabactin (ybt) were detected in several sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates, suggesting pathogenicity potential. Heavy metal resistance genes were common in sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 44) with silver (silABCEFPRS) and copper (pcoABDRS) resistance genes present in 79.5% of the isolates. Sewage-based surveillance can be a useful tool for understanding antibiotic resistance in pathogens present within a population and to provide up-to date information on the current resistance situation. Our study presents a framework for population-based surveillance of resistance in K. pneumoniae.publishedVersio

Sewage-based surveillance shows presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant against last resort antibiotics in the population in Bergen, Norway

The aim of this study was to understand the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae present in the population in Bergen city, Norway using city-scale sewage-based surveillance, as well as the potential spread of K. pneumoniae into the marine environment through treated sewage. From a total of 30 sewage samples collected from five different sewage treatment plants (STPs), 563 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates were obtained on Simmons Citrate Agar with myo-Inositol (SCAI) plates, and 44 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates on SCAI plates with cefotaxime. Colistin resistance was observed in 35 isolates, while cefotaxime resistance and tigecycline resistance was observed in only five isolates each, out of 563 presumptive K. pneumoniae isolates. All 44 isolates obtained on cefotaxime-containing plates were multidrug-resistant, with 25% (n = 11) showing resistance against tigecycline. Clinically important acquired antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), like blaCTX-M-14, blaCTX-M-15, qnrS1, aac(3)-IIe, tet(A), and sul1, were detected in several sequenced Klebsiella spp. isolates (n = 53). All sequenced colistin-resistant isolates (n = 13) had a mutation in the mgrB gene with nucleotide substitution at position C88T creating a premature stop codon. All sequenced tigecycline-resistant isolates (n = 4) harbored a Tet(A) variant with 22 amino acid (aa) substitutions compared to the reference protein. The sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 44) belonged to 22 different sequence types (STs) with ST730 (29.5%) as most prevalent, followed by pathogenic ST307 (11.4%). Virulence factors, including aerobactin (iutA), enterobactin (entABCDEFS and fepABCDG), salmochelin (iro), and yersiniabactin (ybt) were detected in several sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates, suggesting pathogenicity potential. Heavy metal resistance genes were common in sequenced K. pneumoniae isolates (n = 44) with silver (silABCEFPRS) and copper (pcoABDRS) resistance genes present in 79.5% of the isolates. Sewage-based surveillance can be a useful tool for understanding antibiotic resistance in pathogens present within a population and to provide up-to date information on the current resistance situation. Our study presents a framework for population-based surveillance of resistance in K. pneumoniae.publishedVersio

Microbiological food safety of seaweeds

The use of seaweeds in the human diet has a long history in Asia and has now been increasing also in the western world. Concurrent with this trend, there is a corresponding increase in cultivation and harvesting for commercial production. Edible seaweed is a heterogenous product category including species within the green, red, and brown macroalgae. Moreover, the species are utilized on their own or in combinatorial food products, eaten fresh or processed by a variety of technologies. The present review summarizes available literature with respect to microbiological food safety and quality of seaweed food products, including processing and other factors controlling these parameters, and emerging trends to improve on the safety, utilization, quality, and storability of seaweeds. The over- or misuse of antimicrobials and the concurrent development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is a current worldwide health concern. The role of seaweeds in the development of AMR and the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes is an underexplored field of research and is discussed in that context. Legislation and guidelines relevant to edible seaweed are also discussed.publishedVersio

Monitoring programme for veterinary control on seafood products imported to Norway from third countries – Results from 2019: In accordance with Commission Regulation (EC) No 136/2004, Annex II, Part 1

publishedVersio