Analysis of the academic production in food safety surveillance, 1993-2007

O objetivo do estudo foi analisar os temas relacionados à área de vigilância sanitária de alimentos abordados em pesquisas científicas de cursos de pós-graduação, com potencial de aplicação no serviço. O total de 337 teses e dissertações apresentadas à Universidade de São Paulo entre os anos de 1993 e 2007 foi analisado. Os resultados mostraram que as pesquisas desenvolvidas nas universidades têm potencial para aplicação em vigilância sanitária, sobretudo no sentido de orientar os profissionais da área em práticas atualizadasThe study aimed to analyze the themes related to the area of food safety surveillance that were approached in scientific research studies from postgraduate programs, with potential in-service application. A total of 337 theses and dissertations submitted to Universidade de São Paulo between 1993 and 2007 was analyzed. The results showed that research developed in universities can be applied to health surveillance, mainly regarding orientation to workers in this area in terms of updated practice

Characterization of antibiotic resistance in Listeria spp. isolated from slaughterhouse environments, pork and human infections

Introduction: Listeria species are susceptible to most antibiotics. However, over the last decade, increasing reports of multidrug-resistant Listeria spp. from various sources have prompted public health concerns. The objective of this study was to characterize the antibiotic susceptibility of Listeria spp. and the genetic mechanisms that confer resistance. Methodology: Forty-six Listeria spp. isolates were studied, and their minimal inhibitory concentrations of antibiotics were determined by microdilution using Sensititre standard susceptibility MIC plates. The isolates were screened for the presence of gyrA, parC, lde, lsa(A), lnu(A), and mprF by PCR, and the amplified genes were sequenced. Results: All isolates were susceptible to penicillin, ampicillin, tetracycline, erythromycin, and carbapenems. Resistance to clindamycin, daptomycin, and oxacillin was found among L. monocytogenes and L. innocua, and all species possessed at least intermediate resistance to fluoroquinolones. GyrA, parC, and mprF were detected in all isolates; however, mutations were found only in gyrA sequences. A high daptomycin MIC, as reported previously, was observed, suggesting an intrinsic resistance of Listeria spp. to daptomycin. Conclusions: These results are consistent with reports of emerging resistance in Listeria spp. and emphasize the need for further genotypic characterization of antibiotic resistance in this genusFAPESP, 2010/19005-4CAPE

Isolation of potentially pathogenic vibrios in bivalve molluscs

Neste estudo, 26 amostras de ostras (Crassostrea gigas) comercializadas na cidade de São Paulo e em alguns pontos do litoral de São Paulo, e 36 amostras de mexilhões (Perna perna) colhidas mensalmente em 3 pontos do litoral de Ubatuba - SP, foram submetidas à pesquisa de vibrios potencialmente patogênicos. As amostras desses moluscos eram submetidas a enriquecimento em água peptonada alcalina sem cloreto de sódio e com 1 por cento de cloreto de sódio, e GSTB. O isolamento foi realizado em ágar TCBS. Colônias sacarose positivas e negativas, sugestivas de espécies de Vibrio foram identificadas presuntivamente em meio de ágar ferro de Kligler, sendo confirmadas através de provas bioqufmicas complementares. Uma parte das amostras de vibrios potencialmente patogênicos isoladas foi submetida ao teste de Dean e teste de alça ligada em íleo de coelhos. Os vibrios potencialmente patogênicos encontrados em amostras de ostras foram V. alginolyticus (81 por cento ), V.parahaemolyticus (77 por cento ), V. cholerae não 0:1 (31 por cento ), V. fluvialis (27 por cento ), V. furnissii (19 por cento ), V. mimicus (12 por cento ) e V. vulnificus (12 por cento ) e em amostras de mexilhões foram V. alginolyticus(97 por cento ), V. parahaemolyticus(75 por cento ), V. fluvialis (47 por cento ), V. vulnificus (11 por cento ), V. cholerae não 0:1 (6 por cento ), V. furnissii (6 por cento ) e V. mimicus (6 por cento ). Observou-se acúmulo de fluido em alça ligada de íleo de coelho entre 0,25 e 0,49 ml/cm em 6,9 por cento das amostras, entre 0,5 e 0,99 ml/cm em 15,6 por cento e maior ou igual a 1 ml/cm em 15,1 por cento , e/ou intestino de camundongos lactentes (Teste de Dean) em 26,6 por cento das amostras testadas, confirmando o elevado potencial desses microrganismos em causar gastrenterite. Verificou-se ausência de variação sazonal e também, de correlação entre os vibrios potencialmente patogênicos isolados e os indicadores de contaminação fecal, confirmando que a presença desses microrganismos ocorre de forma autóctone e que, as condições climáticas foram favoráveis à sobrevivência dessas espécies em todas as épocas do ano. Considerando-se os resultados obtidos no presente estudo e o fato de que ostras e mexilhões são habitualmente ingeridos crus ou insuficientemente cozidos, pode-se concluir que sua ingestão constitui-se em um determinado grau de risco para a saúde do consumidor.In this work, 26 oysters samples (Crassostrea gigas), found in the market of São Paulo city and some coastal areas of São Paulo State, and 36 mussels samples (Perna perna), that were collected monthly in 3 coastal areas of Ubatuba city - SP., were analyzed for the potential patogenic vibrios occurrence. Samples were enriched in alcalin peptone water with (1 per cent ) and without sodium cloride and GSTB. Isolation was performed on TCBS agar. suspect sacharosis positive and negative colonies, resembling vibrio species, were presumptively identified on Kligler iron agar, and confirmed by complementary biochemical tests. Some of this potential patogenic vibrios were submitted to suckling mouse assay and rabbit ileal loop assay. Potential patogenic vibrios isolated from oyster samples were: V. alginolyticus (81 per cent ), V. parahaemolyticus (77 per cent ), V. cholerae non 0:1 (31 per cent ), V. fluvialis (27 per cent ) I V. furnissii (19 per cent ), V. mimicus (12 per cent ) and V. vulnificus (12 per cent ) and from mussels samples were: V. a.1ginolyticus (97 per cent ), V. parabaemolyticus (75 per cent ), V. fluvialis (47 per cent ), V. vulnificus (11 per cent ), V. cholerae non 0:1 (6 per cent ), V. furnissii (6 per cent ) and V. mimicus (6 per cent ). It was found 6,9 per cent of samples between 0,25 and 0,49 ml/cm of fluid accumulation in ileal loop assay, 15,6 per cent between 0,5 and 0,99 ml/cm and 15,1 per cent was equal or higher than 1 ml/cm. Among the samples assayed for suckling mouse 26,6 per cent were positive. These results confirm the high potential of these microrganisms to induce gastroenteritis. Seasonal variation as well as correlation between the potential patogenic vibrios isolated and the fecal contamination indicators were not found, confirming that the presence of such microrganisms occurs autochthonously and that the climate conditions were favourable to these species survival during the whole year. with the results of this work and considering that oyster and mussels are usually ingested raw or insufficiently cooked, the conclusion is that the ingestion of such mollusks presents a certain degree of risk for the consumer\'s health

Isolation of potentially pathogenic vibrios in bivalve molluscs

Neste estudo, 26 amostras de ostras (Crassostrea gigas) comercializadas na cidade de São Paulo e em alguns pontos do litoral de São Paulo, e 36 amostras de mexilhões (Perna perna) colhidas mensalmente em 3 pontos do litoral de Ubatuba - SP, foram submetidas à pesquisa de vibrios potencialmente patogênicos. As amostras desses moluscos eram submetidas a enriquecimento em água peptonada alcalina sem cloreto de sódio e com 1 por cento de cloreto de sódio, e GSTB. O isolamento foi realizado em ágar TCBS. Colônias sacarose positivas e negativas, sugestivas de espécies de Vibrio foram identificadas presuntivamente em meio de ágar ferro de Kligler, sendo confirmadas através de provas bioqufmicas complementares. Uma parte das amostras de vibrios potencialmente patogênicos isoladas foi submetida ao teste de Dean e teste de alça ligada em íleo de coelhos. Os vibrios potencialmente patogênicos encontrados em amostras de ostras foram V. alginolyticus (81 por cento ), V.parahaemolyticus (77 por cento ), V. cholerae não 0:1 (31 por cento ), V. fluvialis (27 por cento ), V. furnissii (19 por cento ), V. mimicus (12 por cento ) e V. vulnificus (12 por cento ) e em amostras de mexilhões foram V. alginolyticus(97 por cento ), V. parahaemolyticus(75 por cento ), V. fluvialis (47 por cento ), V. vulnificus (11 por cento ), V. cholerae não 0:1 (6 por cento ), V. furnissii (6 por cento ) e V. mimicus (6 por cento ). Observou-se acúmulo de fluido em alça ligada de íleo de coelho entre 0,25 e 0,49 ml/cm em 6,9 por cento das amostras, entre 0,5 e 0,99 ml/cm em 15,6 por cento e maior ou igual a 1 ml/cm em 15,1 por cento , e/ou intestino de camundongos lactentes (Teste de Dean) em 26,6 por cento das amostras testadas, confirmando o elevado potencial desses microrganismos em causar gastrenterite. Verificou-se ausência de variação sazonal e também, de correlação entre os vibrios potencialmente patogênicos isolados e os indicadores de contaminação fecal, confirmando que a presença desses microrganismos ocorre de forma autóctone e que, as condições climáticas foram favoráveis à sobrevivência dessas espécies em todas as épocas do ano. Considerando-se os resultados obtidos no presente estudo e o fato de que ostras e mexilhões são habitualmente ingeridos crus ou insuficientemente cozidos, pode-se concluir que sua ingestão constitui-se em um determinado grau de risco para a saúde do consumidor.In this work, 26 oysters samples (Crassostrea gigas), found in the market of São Paulo city and some coastal areas of São Paulo State, and 36 mussels samples (Perna perna), that were collected monthly in 3 coastal areas of Ubatuba city - SP., were analyzed for the potential patogenic vibrios occurrence. Samples were enriched in alcalin peptone water with (1 per cent ) and without sodium cloride and GSTB. Isolation was performed on TCBS agar. suspect sacharosis positive and negative colonies, resembling vibrio species, were presumptively identified on Kligler iron agar, and confirmed by complementary biochemical tests. Some of this potential patogenic vibrios were submitted to suckling mouse assay and rabbit ileal loop assay. Potential patogenic vibrios isolated from oyster samples were: V. alginolyticus (81 per cent ), V. parahaemolyticus (77 per cent ), V. cholerae non 0:1 (31 per cent ), V. fluvialis (27 per cent ) I V. furnissii (19 per cent ), V. mimicus (12 per cent ) and V. vulnificus (12 per cent ) and from mussels samples were: V. a.1ginolyticus (97 per cent ), V. parabaemolyticus (75 per cent ), V. fluvialis (47 per cent ), V. vulnificus (11 per cent ), V. cholerae non 0:1 (6 per cent ), V. furnissii (6 per cent ) and V. mimicus (6 per cent ). It was found 6,9 per cent of samples between 0,25 and 0,49 ml/cm of fluid accumulation in ileal loop assay, 15,6 per cent between 0,5 and 0,99 ml/cm and 15,1 per cent was equal or higher than 1 ml/cm. Among the samples assayed for suckling mouse 26,6 per cent were positive. These results confirm the high potential of these microrganisms to induce gastroenteritis. Seasonal variation as well as correlation between the potential patogenic vibrios isolated and the fecal contamination indicators were not found, confirming that the presence of such microrganisms occurs autochthonously and that the climate conditions were favourable to these species survival during the whole year. with the results of this work and considering that oyster and mussels are usually ingested raw or insufficiently cooked, the conclusion is that the ingestion of such mollusks presents a certain degree of risk for the consumer\'s health

OCCURRENCE OF PATHOGENIC MICROORGANISMS IN FISH SOLD IN SAO PAULO, BRAZIL

This study investigated the presence of potentially human pathogenic strains of Vibrio spp., Aeromonas spp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus in fish commercialized in street markets of Sao Paulo city, Brazil. Twenty fish of different species were analyzed for foodborne pathogens using conventional methods. High levels of fecal contamination were detected in 25% of samples. S. aureus was isolated from 10% of samples. All were negative for Salmonella. Vibrio species, including Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139, were observed in 85% of samples although Vibrio parahaemolyticus was not found in this study. Aeromonas spp., including A. hydrophila, was isolated from 50% of fish samples. The occurrence of these pathogens suggests that the fish commercialized in Sao Paulo may represent a health risk to the consumers.CECOVISA/USP - Centro Colaborador em Vigilancia Sanitaria/FSP[CA 06/99-44-ANVS/MS

Identification of Staphylococcus aureus Carrying the mecA Gene in Ready-to-Eat Food Products Sold in Brazil

Since Staphylococcus aureus can cause several types of diseases, the development of antibiotic resistance poses an even greater threat to public health. S. aureus is known to possess the adaptive capability to promptly respond to antibiotics, making it resistant and increasingly difficult to treat; methicillin-resistant strains of S. aureus are a major concern with regard to this species. Previous studies reported the identification of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in food, demonstrating that this can represent a source of S. aureus which may carry the mecA gene. Fifty-seven S. aureus isolates, previously obtained from different types of food, were screened by polymerase chain reaction with specific primers for the mecA gene, which mediates methicillin resistance. Five (9%) isolates showed the presence of mecA gene, demonstrating that food may contain microorganisms possessing resistance genes. This study emphasizes the need to include food as a possible source of S. aureus carrying mecA gene and the need to monitor these products. Moreover, this is the first report of the presence of mecA genes in S. aureus isolated from ready-to-eat food in Brazil and Latin America

Detection of assemblages A and B of Giardia duodenalis in water and sewage from Sao Paulo state, Brazil

Giardia duodenalis is a protozoan that parasitizes humans and other mammals and causes giardiasis. Although its isolates have been divided into seven assemblages, named A to G, only A and B have been detected in human faeces. Assemblage A isolates are commonly divided into two genotypes, AI and AII. Even though information about the presence of this protozoan in water and sewage is available in Brazil, it is important to verify the distribution of different assemblages that might be present, which can only be done by genotyping techniques. A total of 24 raw and treated sewage, surface and spring water samples were collected, concentrated and purified. DNA was extracted, and a nested PCR was used to amplify an 890 bp fragment of the gdh gene of G. duodenalis, which codes for glutamate dehydrogenase. Positive samples were cloned and sequenced. Ten out of 24 (41.6%) samples were confirmed to be positive for G. duodenalis by sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis grouped most sequences with G. duodenalis genotype AII from GenBank. Only two raw sewage samples presented sequences assigned to assemblage B. In one of these samples genotype AII was also detected. As these assemblages/genotypes are commonly associated to human giardiasis, the contact with these matrices represents risk for public health.FINEP, Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos[0934/07]CNPq, Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico[134810/2007-4