The assessment of the microbial contamination of chilled poultry meat from the commercial network

Consumption of poultry meat in recent years in Romania has increased quite a lot, and consumer buying criteria is mainly state of freshness thanks to a high level of knowledge regarding nutrition. Consumer food safety, mainly in terms of microbiological safety is an important component that will ultimately lead to prevention of health problems. Sometimes the consumer can not come in direct contact with food to see the state of freshness, a situation encountered and poultry, must therefore be guided by the shelf. Any incorrect handling of poultry meat along the cold chain can impact on considerable quality. The rapid decrease in temperature at cooling stage cold chain compliance and prevents accelerated growth of microorganisms. Freshness health assessment was done poorly correlating measurement of ammonia added with determining the microbial load or total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and total psychrophilic germs. Carcasses were evaluated 2 days after the first chilling, 4 days before the expiry of 1 day, 6 -7 days respectively. Microbial load consignments examined at two days included average values of 1.64 log / g for N.T.G.M.A. and an average value of 25 mg NH3%. In groups examined 4 days N.T.G.M.A. values was 3.05 log / g and an average value of 29 mg NH3%.For loads from 6 -7 days refrigerated average values N.T.G.M.A. They were 5, 96 log / g and the mean values of ammonia easily hydrolyzable to 32mg%. Determinations on poultrymeat reveal failure refrigeration temperature recommended by the manufacturer or there were interruptions to the cold chain for various periods of time which goes by the last day of expiry of validity it to lose its characteristic freshness

Impact of staphylococcus aureus and methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on uterine disease in dairy cattle after parturition

The aim of this study was to identify vaginal flora in Black and White Romanian cows diagnosed with puerperal endometritis. The cows studied came from two dairy farms, were in the first 4 weeks post-partum and had various puerperal diseases with variable pathological evolution. The dinamics of isolation of different bacterial species from lochia or vaginal discharges was made in four periods of the puerperium. Bacteriological examination was performed in accordance with routine laboratory techniques, including typical colony morphology on usuale culture media, chromogenic agar, Gram stain, type of hemolysis, characteristic growth on Baird-Parker (BP) agar and biochemical tests. In the course of puerperium, approximately 22,2% of microorganisms detected in the 18 cases were represented by the Staphylococcus aureus, what means that may be a significant pathogen of puerperal infection. Isolation in 11,1% of cases of methicillin-resistant stains of Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is important in terms of direct impact on human and animal health

Formulation and evaluation of antibacterial phytotherapeutic gels containing metal ions and essential oils

The purpose of this study was to develop topical phytotherapeutic gels containing essential oils alone or in combination with copper ions and to assess their antibacterial activity in vitro. Following the formulation of the gels, the organoleptic properties, physicochemical properties, and in vitro antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were evaluated. Copper sulfate demonstrated strong synergistic antibacterial activity when combined with the selected essential oil blend. This preliminary study assessed and confirmed the synergistic antimicrobial properties of sulfate copper and essential oils in phytotherapeutic formulations with topical applications

Promoting sustenability in family-sized dairy farms from North-East of Romania - use of thermography for monitoring udder health and improvement of milk quality (preliminary study)

Romania is a country with a lot of potential for high-quality food production. However, despite rising demand for milk and dairy production, the production has been declining in recent years and Romanian milk farmers face growing competition from other farms on a national and international basis in terms of production and milk quality. The aim of the present study was to assess the potential use of a phone-connected infrared camera, as a potential non-invasive tool for the monitoring of udder health and control of bovine subclinical mastitis in family-size farms. The somatic cell count (SCC) (r=0.79) was positively correlated with the udder skin surface temperature (USST), a difference of 1.4 °C being observed between healthy and mastitis affected quarters. Infrared thermal imaging using phone-connected camera could be used as a potential noninvasive, quick cow-side diagnostic method for monitoring udder health and improvement of milk quality in family-sized farms

Poly(vinyl alcohol)/Plant Extracts Films: Preparation, Surface Characterization and Antibacterial Studies against Gram Positive and Gram Negative Bacteria

In this study, we aim to obtain biomaterials with antibacterial properties by combining poly(vinyl alcohol) with the extracts obtained from various selected plants from Romania. Natural herbal extracts of freshly picked flowers of the lavender plant (Lavandula angustifolia) and leaves of the peppermint plant (Mentha piperita), hemp plant (Cannabis sativa L.), verbena plant (Verbena officinalis) and sage plant (Salvia officinalis folium) were selected after an intensive analyzing of diverse medicinal plants often used as antibacterial and healing agents from the country flora. The plant extracts were characterized by different methods such as totals of phenols and flavonoids content and UV-is spectroscopy. The highest amounts of the total phenolic and flavonoid contents, respectively, were recorded for Salvia officinalis. Moreover, the obtained films of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) loaded with plant extracts were studied concerning the surface properties and their antibacterial or cytotoxicity activity. The Attenuated Total Reflection Fourier Transform Infrared analysis described the successfully incorporation of each plant extract in the poly(vinyl alcohol) matrix, while the profilometry demonstrated the enhanced surface properties. The results showed that the plant extracts conferred significant antibacterial effects to films toward Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli and are not toxic against fibroblastic cells from the rabbit

Alternative methods of therapy in articular disorders in dogs and cats

Alternative medicine has no clear definition, consistent and universally accepted, but most often is defined as all products, practices and healthcare systems that are not part of conventional medical system. Complementary medicine or medicine called unconventional, alternative medicine can help treat various diseases where conventional medicine does not offer solutions. Joint diseases, particularly chronic ones, requires a long therapy with anti- inflammatory drugs, often resulting in the occurrence of secondary reactions, which require cessation of therapy, leaving the patient with pain and physical discomfort. For the most efficient and rapid recovery of locomotor or joint functions, it is recommended to apply alternative methods. In most cases of joint diseases, alternative medicine is not used alone, but together with allopathic medicine, conventional treatments to increase the efficiency and represents the combination of the most effective practices and methods of traditional medicine with conventional medicine

Observations on the effectiveness of post-operative administration of nutrients and fluids in dogs and cats

It is estimated that thousands of surgeries are taking place in dogs and cats every year. Today, major trauma associated with operations is minimal due to modern techniques, but nevertheless, the patient's body requires a recovery period, and nutrition is one of the important elements that can speed up the process of healing in many ways, by providing the necessary protein and energy to the body. Pain relief as well as balancing the body after surgery, especially in serious situations, is important for the patient's well-being and comfort, as they contribute to its faster and more effective recovery. The postoperative period in animals requires special attention to the pursuit of the operated patient and the immediate treatment of possible imbalances and complications that may occur. Pain, hypothermia, shock, vomiting, nerve phenomena (excessive vocalizations) are the main phenomena that unspeakable patients manifest in the postoperative period. The mechanisms for the production and maintenance of nocyceps are multiple, tolerance for pain is an individual parameter in relation to the age, gender, terrain and mental state of the patient. Because around postoperative care there is a multitude of opinions and controversies from the owners, sometimes even veterinarians, it was necessary that through this study we make known the benefits of specialized care and the need for permanent monitoring of the patient within the first 72 hours after surgery, by administering drug therapy to reduce pain, relieve the patient, as well as to support large functions

PREVALENCE, ECONOMIC IMPACT AND THERAPEUTIC EFFICACY IN ACUTE INFECTIOUS PODODERMATITIS IN SHEEP

This study assessed seasonal incidence, economic losses, the efficacy of therapeutic protocols, the recovery time of affected animals and specific prophylactic measures applied to sheep with acute infectious pododermatitis. The studies were conducted over a period of 12 months in 3 different sheep farms from private units in the same area. The results of the study showed an increased incidence of the disease in all 3 farms, with an average of 26.94% of the sheep flock. The incidence of the disease was increased in the months of April-May-June-July and September-October (30%), when there were heavy rains. The high morbidity led to economic losses through the decrease in milk production by approximately 30% and the decrease in the weight of the sheep by 10.58% (4.2 kg) of their normal weight. The therapeutic protocol applied locally as well as parenterally, combined with a foot bath with 10% zinc sulphate solution, were effective in treating acute infectious pododermatitis of sheep. The average recovery time (days) was approximately the same in the three groups of sheep (5.25 ± 0.68 days for cases with moderate diseases and 10.2 ± 0.22 for cases with severe diseases)

Chitosan Membranes Containing Plant Extracts: Preparation, Characterization and Antimicrobial Properties

The main strategy of this study was to combine the traditional perspective of using medicinal extracts with polymeric scaffolds manufactured by an engineering approach to fabricate a potential dressing product with antimicrobial properties. Thus, chitosan-based membranes containing S. officinalis and H. perforatum extracts were developed and their suitability as novel dressing materials was investigated. The morphology of the chitosan-based films was assessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the chemical structure characterization was performed via Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The addition of the plant extracts increased the sorption capacity of the studied fluids, mainly at the membrane with S. officinalis extract. The membranes with 4% chitosan embedded with both plant extracts maintained their integrity after being immersed for 14 days in incubation media, especially in PBS. The antibacterial activities were determined by the modified Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method for Gram-positive (S. aureus ATCC 25923, MRSA ATCC 43300) and Gram-negative (E. coli ATCC 25922, P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853) microorganisms. The antibacterial property was enhanced by incorporating the plant extracts into chitosan films. The outcome of the study reveals that the obtained chitosan-based membranes are promising candidates to be used as a wound dressing due to their good physico-chemical and antimicrobial properties

Necrotic enteritis in meat chicken raised at the ground in permanent bedding

Poultry necrotic enteritis is an acute clostridial infection characterized by severe necroses of intestinal mucosa. The disease begins suddenly, with a sharp increase in death rate and dehydration. Clostridium perfringens, a sporulated, anaerobic, Gram-positive bacterium is commonly found in the environment and in the gastrointestinal tract as part of the normal intestinal flora. Frequent presence in the digestive tract of healthy birds is associated with necrotic enteritis in broilers. The research was conducted on 323 samples (120 live chickens, 89 corpses, 104 feed samples and 10 water samples) collected from a farm with 32 253 hybrid Ross 308 broilers (21 days), raised at the ground on permanent bedding, where there was a significant increase in mortality above the permissible limit. The necropsy performed on 980 chicken corps revealed a different prevalence of intestinal tract lesions: bleeding wall (28.37%), mucosal necrosis (23.22%), gas content (18.57%), mucosal inflammation (15.73%) and red orange mucus in the intestines (14.10%). Bacteriological examination identified Clostridium perfringens in 11.66% of live broilers, 10.11% of chicken corps, 61.53% of feed samples and 3.09% of water samples. Increased percentage this species isolation suggests that feed taken from the hall was an important source of infection for broilers reared on the ground