Farmed salmon rest raw materials as a source of peptones for industrial fermentation media

Twelve marine peptones prepared from rest raw materials (RRM) from farmed salmon have been evaluated as nutrient sources in growth media for industrial microorganisms. The peptones were prepared from head and backbones, or from head, backbones and viscera, using different proteases and one or two-step hydrolysis. Growth was determined as optical density using a high-throughput robotic system, allowing for testing of a large number of peptones and microorganisms. For two Lactobacillus-strains tested, the peptones were the only nitrogen source, while for four aerobic bacteria and yeasts, the peptones were assessed as a source of growth factors, with inorganic nitrogen in excess in the media. The peptones containing viscera resulted in higher cell yields than those without, and high growth rates were maintained to higher cell densities. The viscera-containing peptones were better than meat-based peptones, and equally good as yeast extract. The differences between the performance of peptones with and without viscera could be explained by the mineral content and the degree of hydrolysis. Since peptones based on farmed salmon RRM can be provided in large quantities with a stable quality, they should be further explored as a nutrient source for the fermentation industry.publishedVersio

Positive anti-citrullinated protein antibody status and small joint arthritis are consistent predictors of chronic disease in patients with very early arthritis: results from the NOR-VEAC cohort

Introduction The current 1987 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have proven less useful in early arthritis. The objective of this study was to identify and compare predictors of three relevant outcomes of chronic arthritis in a cohort of very early arthritis patients. Methods The Norwegian Very Early Arthritis Cohort (NOR-VEAC) includes adult patients with at least one swollen joint of ≤16 weeks' duration. Patients are followed for 2 years with comprehensive clinical and laboratory examinations. Logistic regression analyses were performed to determine independent predictors of three outcomes: persistent synovitis, prescription of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and established clinical RA diagnosis within one year. Results Of 384 patients eligible for one year follow-up (56.3% females, mean (SD) age 45.8 (14.7) years, median (IQR) duration of arthritis 31 (10-62) days), 14.4% were anti-CCP2 positive, and 11.2% were IgM RF positive. 98 patients (25.5%) had persistent synovitis, 106 (27.6%) had received DMARD treatment during follow-up, while 68 (17.7%) were diagnosed with RA. Consistent independent predictors across all three outcomes were positive anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) status (odds ratio (OR) 3.2, 5.6 and 19.3), respectively, and small joint arthritis (proximal interphalangeal joint (PIP), metacarpo-phalangeal joint (MCP), and/or metatarso-phalangeal joint (MTP) joint swelling) (OR 1.9, 3.5, and 3.5, respectively). Conclusions Positive ACPA status and small joint arthritis were consistent predictors of three relevant outcomes of chronic arthritis in very early arthritis patients. This consistency supports DMARD prescription as a valid surrogate endpoint for chronic arthritis. Importantly, this surrogate is used in ongoing efforts to develop new diagnostic criteria for early RA

The likelihood of persistent arthritis increases with the level of anti-citrullinated peptide antibody and immunoglobulin M rheumatoid factor: a longitudinal study of 376 patients with very early undifferentiated arthritis

Introduction We wanted to assess the importance of the levels of anti-citrullinated peptide antibody (anti-CCP) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) rheumatoid factor (RF) in predicting development of persistent arthritis from undifferentiated arthritis (UA), and to investigate whether there is an added predictive value for persistent arthritis in testing for both anti-CCP and IgM RF. Methods Patients with UA (exclusion of definite non-rheumatoid arthritis (RA) diagnoses) included in the Norwegian very early arthritis clinic were assessed for development of persistent arthritic disease. The effect of antibody level on the likelihood of persistent arthritis was investigated, and the sensitivity and specificity for persistent arthritis for anti-CCP and IgM RF, separately and combined, was determined. Results A total of 376 UA patients were included (median arthritis duration 32 days). 59 (15.7%) patients were IgM RF positive, and 62 (16.5%) anti-CCP positive. One hundred, seventy-four (46.3%) had persistent disease after one year. Overlap of anti-CCP and IgM RF positivity was 58%. Sensitivity/specificity for persistent arthritis was 28/95% for IgM RF alone, 30/95% for anti-CCP alone, and 37/92% for positivity of both anti-CCP and IgM RF. The likelihood for persistent disease increased with increasing levels of both anti-CCP and IgM RF. Conclusions The likelihood of developing persistent arthritis in UA patients increases with the level of anti-CCP and IgM RF. Testing both anti-CCP and IgM RF has added predictive value in UA patients. This study suggests that antibody level should be taken into account when making risk assessments in patients with UA

Technical feed quality influences health, digestion patterns, body mineralization and bone development in farming of the stomachless cleaner fish ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta)

Farmed ballan wrasse (Labrus bergylta) is an efficient cleaner fish used for non-medicinal delicing of Atlantic salmon in sea cages replacing to an increasing degree wild wrasse due to considerations for biodiversity and risk of overfishing local wrasse populations. Farming of ballan wrasse has been hampered by low growth rates, high prevalence of skeletal deformities and other welfare related pathologies. In this study we investigated how diets identical in composition but differing in their technical characteristics, by being prepared using different feed production technologies, affect fish performance, mineralization, bone development and gut health of the ballan wrasse larvae and juveniles. The different production technologies include the commonly used ‘high temperature’ extrusion, cold extrusion, and agglomeration, resulting in feed pellets with distinctive physicochemical properties. The results revealed that prolonged feeding periods with extruded pellets during ballan wrasse larvae weaning result in low body mineralization and the development of severe skeletal deformities. In juvenile ballan wrasse, the extruded pellet treatment resulted in higher mortality rates, fish with larger livers, indication for increased serum TAG and cholesterol in a similar manner, and increased activity of the digestive enzymes LAP and maltase, most probably as a compensatory mechanism to the assumed reduced availability of protein and carbohydrates of extruded pellets for this fish species. Smaller dietary effects were identified in terms of intestinal morphology and gene transcription rates.publishedVersio

The state of health of Norwegian forests. Results from the national forest damage monitoring 2018

Source at http://hdl.handle.net/11250/2616613Skogens helsetilstand påvirkes i stor grad av klima og værforhold, enten direkte ved tørke, frost og vind, eller indirekte ved at klimaet påvirker omfanget av soppsykdommer og insektangrep. Klimaendringene og den forventede økningen i klimarelaterte skogskader gir store utfordringer for forvaltningen av framtidas skogressurser. Det samme gjør invaderende skadegjørere, både allerede etablerte arter og nye som kan komme til Norge i nær framtid. I denne rapporten presenteres resultater fra skogskadeovervåkingen i Norge i 2018 og trender over tid for følgende temaer: (i) Landsrepresentativ skogovervåking; (ii) Skogøkologiske analyser og målinger av luftkjemi på de intensive overvåkingsflatene; (iii) Overvåking av bjørkemålere i Troms og Finnmark; (iv) Granbarkbilleovervåking – utvikling av barkbillepopulasjonene i 2018; (v) Ny barkbille på vei – vil den like klimaet?; (vi) Phytophthora i importert jord på prydplanter og faren det utgjør for skog; (vii) Overvåking av askeskuddsyke; (viii) Skog- og utmarksbranner i 2018; (ix) Andre spesielle skogskader i 2018...….Forest health is to a large extent affected by climate and weather conditions, either directly by e.g. drought, frost and wind, or indirectly when climatic conditions influence the occurrence and abundance of pests and diseases. Climate change and the expected increase in abiotic damage are a challenge to the management of future forest resources. The same is true for invasive damage agents, both species which are already established and species which can possibly migrate to Norway in the future. This report presents results from the Norwegian forest damage monitoring in 2018 and trends over time for: (i) Forest monitoring on the large-scale Level I plots; (ii) Ecological analyses and measurements of air quality on the intensive Level II plots; (iii) Monitoring of birch moths in northern Norway; (iv) Spruce bark beetle monitoring – status of the bark beetle population in 2018; (v) New bark beetle at Norway’s doorstep – will it like the climate?; (vi) Phytophthora in soil from imported ornamental plants and the danger that poses to forests; (vii) Monitoring of ash dieback; (viii) Forest fires in 2018; (ix) Other special incidents of forest damage in 2018..

Standard Norwegian fishmeal- and fishoil process.Heat treatment requirements

The present report is a consolidated version of former Nofima Report K-371, incorporating new kinetic data on thermal inactivation of IPNV (Nygaard and Myrmel, 2010). Report K-371 has been withdrawn. The project was initiated by the Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL) after a request from the Norwegian Food Safety Authority to define a standard Norwegian fish meal process and criteria to kill infectious agents present in wild fish and aquaculture fish. The report summarizes inactivation data for Enterobacteriaceae/Salmonella and bacterial/viral pathogens of fish. Inactivation effects resulting from various temperature-time (T/T) combinations were estimated from available D-and z-values. Wild fish should be processed according to the “fishmeal method” as outlined in Regulation (EC) 1774/2002. The minimum conditions proposed for heat treatment of wild fish are 70 °C/20 minutes which provides 100 LOG10 reductions of Enterobacteriaceae/Salmonella. The minimum conditions proposed for heat treatment of aquaculture fish are 76 °C/20 minutes or other T/T combinations resulting in 3 LOG10 reductions of IPNV. The report describes heat treatment at two alternative stages of the manufacturing process; in cooker and in indirect steam drier. For production of fishmeal, fulfilment of minimum conditions for heat treatment may be documented either in the cooker or in the steam driers. For fishoil production, inactivation has to rely on heat treatment in the cooker. The report proposes conditions to be fulfilled in order to allow processing of category 3 materials from wild fish and aquaculture fish in the same processing unit.Standard Norwegian fishmeal- and fishoil process.Heat treatment requirementspublishedVersio

Inactivation of IPN-virus in fish by-products by inorganic acid and base

The aim of the project was to find a simple, inexpensive and safe method for the treatment of category 2 fish by-products without heat treatment. IPNV was chosen as indicator organism because it was considered to be the hardiest among fish-pathogenic microorganisms. Salmonella and Clostridium perfringens were included in the study to provide a basis for assessing whether the method could also be applicable to category 3 by-products intended for feed production. IPNV was inactivated (> 4 Log10 reductions) at pH below 1,5 or above 11,5. Depending on the composition of the by-products, this corresponds to dosage of 1,0-1,8 % HCl or 0,9-2,0 % KOH. Salmonella was inactivated at pH between 3,0 and 4,0 or above 11,0. This corresponds to less than 1,0 % HCl, or, depending on the composition of the by-products, 0,7-1,7 % KOH. Salmonella is therefore securely inactivated at conditions required to control IPNV. HCl treatment for 5 hours at pH 1,0 gave 1 Log10 reduction of viable C.perfringens spores. No inactivation was observed at high pH values, up to 12,0. The pH conditions required to control IPNV does not affect the viability of C.perfringens spores. The present study shows that the required inactivation of IPNV in fish by-products can be achieved by treatment with both inorganic acid and base. The effect of these treatments on processability and as product properties in relation to intended utilizations should be further examined.Inactivation of IPN-virus in fish by-products by inorganic acid and basepublishedVersio

Inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in fish by-products. Sub-project IPN-virus

The aim of the present study was to determine the inactivation effect on IPNV resulting from heat treatment of fish by-products at different temperatures. Furthermore, the inactivation effect of a new alternative processing method intended for category 2 fish material was examined. The method involves size reduction, organic acid treatment and heat treatment (85 ºC for 25 minutes). Decimal reduction times (D-values) and temperature coefficients (z-values) were determined after heat treatment of IPNV in artificial media resembling fish silage with regard to its content of water soluble protein and salt. The inactivation curves obtained in this study were bi-phasic. A rapid initial loss of infectivity (approximately 0,7 Log10 reduction) was followed by a much slower exponential decrease. D-values for thermal inactivation at 60, 70, 80 and 90 ºC ranged from 290 to 0,5 minutes. The temperature increase (z-value) needed to obtain a ten-fold reduction of D-values was approximately 9,8 ºC. Surprisingly, the experiments showed that IPNV infectivity was better maintained at pH 4 (formic acid) than at pH 7. However, the heat resistance of IPNV was little influenced by pH. Based on the D- and z-values obtained during heat exposure of IPNV in artificial media, IPNV inactivation during the heating phase of the new processing method (85 ºC, 25 minutes) was calculated to 27 Log10 reductions. Even if IPNV is virtually unaffected by exposure to formic acid (pH 4), the heating phase alone will be fully sufficient to ensure adequate inactivation of IPNV during the complete process. In inactivation studies using fish suspension as a matrix, no infective IPNV could be recovered from the suspension at any step. The results indicate that the fish suspension reduces the IPNV infectivity. Extended studies on other batches of fish suspensions should be performed before a general conclusion on the effect of fish suspensions can be made.Inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms in fish by-products. Sub-project IPN-viruspublishedVersio

Inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes spores in fish by-products by a new processing method

The aim of the study was to determine the hygienization effect of a new processing method intended for category 2 material of fish origin. The method includes storage (≥ 24 hours) and heat treatment (≥ 85 ºC/≥ 25 minutes) of grinded fish material with added formic acid to pH ≤ 4,0. C.sporogenes (ATCC 19404) spores replaced C.perfringens spores in D-value determinations and in examinations of hygienization effect during all phases of the new processing method. In order to minimize interference from the indigenous flora on the analysis of added spores, the fish minces were pre-treated with gamma irradiation (10 kGy). Average D-value for heat treatment of C.sporogenes spores at 85 ºC in fine fish mince adjusted to pH 7 was 580 minutes. Acidification of fish mince with formic acid to pH 4,0 had no inactivation effect per se, but heat treatment at 85 ºC in the presence of the same acid dosage resulted in a markedly reduced D-value; 8,9 minutes. The inactivation effect encountered during the complete new processing method was at least 3 Log10 reductions in fine as well as in coarse fish mince. This is regarded as satisfactory, considering the low incidence of C.perfringens spores in fish silages.Inactivation of Clostridium sporogenes spores in fish by-products by a new processing methodpublishedVersio

Rapport 19/2013, norsk sammendrag

-The Norwegian Seafood Federation (FHL) has applied for approval of a new alternative method for processing of category 2 animal by-products (ABP) of fish origin. The processing method is characterized by fish raw material that is grinded before mixing with formic acid at pH ≤4 and stored for ≥24 hours before heat treatment of the silage with a particle size ≤10 mm at a temperature ≥85 °C for ≥25 minutes. The method was assessed by EFSA (BIOHAZ-panel) who concluded that the risk related to pathogens present in fish ABP’s from aquaculture would be adequately reduced by the proposed process if the requirements of the HACCP-plan could be achieved in a full scale plant. The production trials verified the feasibility of the HACCP-plan under real processing conditions in a full scale plant. Another purpose of the production trials was to demonstrate that relevant pathogens are inactivated by the proposed process. For each of 20 batches produced, 5 samples of silage and 5 of end product were analyzed for Salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae. All results were negative, confirming earlier lab scale experiments showing that the formic acid treatment alone inactivate those bacteria. One composite sample of silage and one of end product for each batch were analyzed for C.perfringens. All results were negative, confirming a low prevalence of C.perfringens in fish silages, as also demonstrated in earlier surveys. Anaerobic sulfite-reducing bacteria were analyzed in the same composite samples. The concentration in silage ranged from 1.100 to 130.000 per gram, while heat treatment provided on average more than 3 log reductions. This reduction rate is comparable to that found in earlier lab scale inactivation experiments with C.perfringens and C.sporogenes spores. All batches of end product met the microbiological requirements used to assess inactivation effect of new processing methods according to method 7 in Regulation (EC) 1774/2002. Based on this, it is concluded that the risk related to pathogens present in fish ABP from aquaculture would be adequately reduced by the proposed process.Fiskeri og Havbruksnæringens Landsforening (FHL) har søkt om godkjenning av en ny alternativ metode for prosessering av kategori 2 bi-produkter fra fisk. Metoden består av oppmaling og maursyrebehandling av fisken ved pH ≤4 i ≥24 timer før varmebehandling av fiskeensilasje med partikkelstørrelse ≤10 mm ved ≥85 ⁰C i ≥25 minutter. Metoden ble vurdert av EFSA (BIOHAZ-panel) som konkluderte at risiko knyttet til patogener i biprodukter fra akvakultur ville bli tilstrekkelig redusert hvis kravene i HACCP-planen lot seg gjennomføre i fullskala. Rapporten beskriver en serie produksjonsforsøk som viste at HACCP-planen var gjennomførbar under realistiske forhold i et fullskala fabrikkanlegg og at relevante patogener ble inaktivert gjennom prosessen