Estimación del riesgo microbiológico asociado al consumo de ostión crudo contaminado con Vibrio cholerae y Vibrio parahaemolyticus

The aim of the study was to assess the potential riskof exposure to V. cholerae and V. parahaemolyticus associated to raw American oyster (Crassostrea virginica) consumption collected from the Mandinga Lagoon System (MLS), in restaurants, oyster bars, and street vendors. Risk was estimated as number of cases/100,000 servings with FDA model. The risk of oyster consumption from MLS contaminated with V.cholerae noO1/noO139 chxA+ and unrefrigerated 10-h was low (99 × 10-5 cases) in summer; V. parahaemolyticus tdh+ y tdh+/trh+ estimated risk was high in spring (2,200 × 10-5 y 4,000 × 10-5 cases, respectively) and the pandemic strain orf8+ risk was medium in winter (110 × 10-5 cases). Oyster cocktailconsumption unrefrigerated for 10 h and contaminated with V. cholerae noO1/noO139 chxA+, represented a low mean risk (0.87 × 10-5 and 0.44 × 10-5 cases) for oyster cocktails from restaurants and oyster bars, respectively, a high mean risk forstreet vendor cocktails stored at ambient temperature 24 h (2,500 × 10-5 cases), and a low mean risk for V. parahaemolyticus tdh+ in restaurants (0.21 × 10-5 cases) and oyster bar (1.1 × 10-5 cases) cocktails. Risk assessment results indicated that pathogenic percentage, type of establishment, and unrefrigerated storage time were variables that most increased the probability of illness, and spring the season with the highest risk for consumers.El objetivo del estudio fue predecir el riesgo potencial de exposición a V. cholerae y V. parahaemolyticus asociado al consumo de ostión americano (Crassostrea virginica) crudo colectado del Sistema Lagunar Mandinga (SLM), en restaurantes, coctelerías y puestos ambulantes. El riesgo se estimó como casos esperados/100,000 porciones con el modelo de la FDA. En ostiones del SLM el riesgo estimado por consumir ostiones contaminados con V. cholerae noO1/noO139 chxA+ sin refrigerar 10 h en verano fue bajo (99×10-5 casos); V. parahaemolyticus tdh+ y tdh+/trh+ representaron un riesgo estimado alto en primavera (2,200×10-5 y 4,000×10-5 casos, respectivamente) y la cepa pandémica orf8+ un riesgo medio (110×10-5 casos) en invierno. El consumo de ostión crudo sin refrigerar 10 h contaminado con V. cholerae noO1/noO139 chxA+ representó un riesgo promedio bajo (0.87×10-5 y 0.44×10-5 casos) para restaurantes y coctelerías, respectivamente, alto para cocteles expendidos en puestos ambulantes a temperatura ambiente 24 h (2,500×10-5 casos) y bajo a V. parahaemolyticus tdh+ en restaurantes (0.21×10-5 casos) y coctelerías (1.1×10-5 casos). El porcentaje patogénico, el sitio de venta y el tiempo sin refrigerar fueron las variables que incrementaron el riesgo de enfermar, siendo primavera la estación con el mayor riesgo para el consumidor

Improved Microbial Safety of Direct Ozone-Depurated Shellstock Eastern Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) by Superchilled Storage

The effect of superchilled storage at -1°C on the microbial safety of oyster depurated with 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/L ozone was studied for 14 days. Fecal coliforms (4,100–16,000 MPN/100 g), Escherichia coli (1,500–3,650 MPN/100 g), Vibrio cholerae non-O1/non-O139 (13.0–102.0 MPN/g), and Salmonella spp. (2.270–3.035 × 103 CFU/g) were initially present in raw oysters. After 6 h depuration, fecal coliform counts decreased (P < 0.05) to 300, 20 and 20 MPN/100 g for 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/L treatments, while a 0.3 log decrease in control oysters was observed. Initial E. coli counts decreased (P < 0.05) in oysters to 50, 20, and 20 MPN/100 g for 0.2, 0.4, and 0.6 mg/L treatments, respectively. A 1 log reduction in V. cholerae non-O1/non-139 levels were observed in 0.4 and 0.6 mg/L-treatments after 2 and 4 h depuration. Salmonella spp. was not detected in oyster samples after 6 h depuration in 0.4 and 0.6 mg/L-ozone treatments. Considering the bacterial loads after depuration, at the end of superchilled storage the 0.4 mg/L-ozonated oysters attained lower (P < 0.05) fecal coliform levels (280 MPN/100 g) and E. coli counts in 0.4 and 0.6 mg/L-ozonated oysters (20 and 95 MPN/100 g, respectively). A 2-log decrease in V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 levels on day 5 in 0.4 and 0.6 mg/L-ozonated oysters (< 0.3 MPN/g) was attained. V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 counts in control oysters decreased 1 log on day 9 of superchilled storage. Salmonella spp. was not detected in ozonated and superchilled stored oysters. Levels of fecal coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella spp., and V. cholerae non-O1/non-O139 in non-ozone depurated oyster samples were higher than in control, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/L ozonated oyster samples during superchilled storage. The cumulative mortality rates after 14 days of storage for superchilled oysters (22.2%) was higher (P < 0.05) than 0.6 mg/L O3 (7.2%) and 0.4 mg/L O3 (5.8%) treatments, and control oysters (5.6%). pH values in control oysters decreased significantly (P < 0.05) throughout the storage period but not in oysters of both ozone treatments, indicating no detrimental effects on oyster survival. The results of this study suggest that superchilled storage enables ozonated shellstock oysters (0.4 mg/L-6 h) stored for 9 days to be safe human consumption

Cabbage and fermented vegetables : From death rate heterogeneity in countries to candidates for mitigation strategies of severe COVID-19

Large differences in COVID-19 death rates exist between countries and between regions of the same country. Some very low death rate countries such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, or the Balkans have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods. Although biases exist when examining ecological studies, fermented vegetables or cabbage have been associated with low death rates in European countries. SARS-CoV-2 binds to its receptor, the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). As a result of SARS-CoV-2 binding, ACE2 downregulation enhances the angiotensin II receptor type 1 (AT(1)R) axis associated with oxidative stress. This leads to insulin resistance as well as lung and endothelial damage, two severe outcomes of COVID-19. The nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is the most potent antioxidant in humans and can block in particular the AT(1)R axis. Cabbage contains precursors of sulforaphane, the most active natural activator of Nrf2. Fermented vegetables contain many lactobacilli, which are also potent Nrf2 activators. Three examples are: kimchi in Korea, westernized foods, and the slum paradox. It is proposed that fermented cabbage is a proof-of-concept of dietary manipulations that may enhance Nrf2-associated antioxidant effects, helpful in mitigating COVID-19 severity.Peer reviewe

Nrf2-interacting nutrients and COVID-19 : time for research to develop adaptation strategies

There are large between- and within-country variations in COVID-19 death rates. Some very low death rate settings such as Eastern Asia, Central Europe, the Balkans and Africa have a common feature of eating large quantities of fermented foods whose intake is associated with the activation of the Nrf2 (Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2) anti-oxidant transcription factor. There are many Nrf2-interacting nutrients (berberine, curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, quercetin, resveratrol, sulforaphane) that all act similarly to reduce insulin resistance, endothelial damage, lung injury and cytokine storm. They also act on the same mechanisms (mTOR: Mammalian target of rapamycin, PPAR gamma:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, NF kappa B: Nuclear factor kappa B, ERK: Extracellular signal-regulated kinases and eIF2 alpha:Elongation initiation factor 2 alpha). They may as a result be important in mitigating the severity of COVID-19, acting through the endoplasmic reticulum stress or ACE-Angiotensin-II-AT(1)R axis (AT(1)R) pathway. Many Nrf2-interacting nutrients are also interacting with TRPA1 and/or TRPV1. Interestingly, geographical areas with very low COVID-19 mortality are those with the lowest prevalence of obesity (Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia). It is tempting to propose that Nrf2-interacting foods and nutrients can re-balance insulin resistance and have a significant effect on COVID-19 severity. It is therefore possible that the intake of these foods may restore an optimal natural balance for the Nrf2 pathway and may be of interest in the mitigation of COVID-19 severity

Effect of pasteurization on the concentration of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) in bovine milk

El Diclorodifeniltricloroetano (DDT) y Hexaclorociclohexano (HCH) son disruptores endócrinos cuya presencia en la leche representa un riesgo para la salud. Existe evidencia de que la pasteurización disminuye o incrementa la concentración de plaguicidas organoclorados en productos lácteos. La presente investigación evaluó el efecto de la pasteurización a 63 °C 30 min-1 y 73 °C 15 seg-1 en las concentraciones de DDT, HCH y sus metabolitos en leche bovina, para estimar la exposición dietaria por consumo humano de leche pasteurizada. Se realizó un diseño experimental de bloques al azar con dos tratamientosen 100 muestras de leche recolectadas en Soledad de Doblado y Jamapa, Veracruz, México. Los plaguicidas se cuantificaron por cromatografíade gases con detector de microcaptura de electrones. Los datos se analizaron mediante Análisis de Varianza unifactorial (P<0.05) y las medias se compararon con Tukey (P< 0.05). La exposición dietaria a plaguicidas se evaluó por laIngesta Diaria Estimada (IDE) y Dosis Diaria Promedio (DDP) en tres grupos de población. La pasteurización a 73 ºC disminuyó 30.94, 44.51, 3.18, 81.23 y 42.82 % las concentraciones de p,p'-DDE,p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT y DDT total, respectivamente, así como las concentraciones de β-HCH, γ-HCH y HCH total (85.68, 18.88 y 99.31 %, respectivamente). La IDE para niños, adultos y ancianos de DDT total fue menor por consumo de leche pasteurizada a 73 ºC y de γ-HCH a 63 ºC. La DDP de DDT total disminuyó con la pasteurización a 73 °C. La exposición dietaria de DDT y HCH fue mayor en niños.Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) are endocrine disruptors whose presence in milk entails a health risk. There is evidence that pasteurization decreases or increases the concentration of organochlorine pesticides in dairy products. The present research evaluated the effect of pasteurization at 63 °C 30 min-1 and 73 °C 15 sec-1 on the concentrations of DDT, HCH and their metabolites in bovine milk, in order to estimate the dietary exposure from human consumption of pasteurized milk. A completely randomized experimental design with two treatments was performed on 100 milk samples collected in Soledad de Doblado and Jamapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Pesticides were quantified by gas chromatography with an electron microcapture detector. Data were analyzed by single-factor analysis of variance (P<0.05), and means were compared with Tukey’s test (P<0.05). The dietary exposure to pesticides was assessed based on the estimated daily intake (EDI) and average daily dose (ADD) in three population groups. Pasteurization at 73 ºC reduced the concentrations of p,p'-DDE, p,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDT and total DDT by 30.94, 44.51, 3.18, 81.23, and 42.82 %, respectively, as well as the concentrations of β-HCH, γ-HCH and total HCH (by 85.68, 18.88, and 99.31 %, respectively). The EDI of total DDT by children, adults,  and elderly people was lowest for consumption of milk  pasteurized at 73 °C, and that of γ-HCH, for milk pasteurized at 63 °C. The DDP of total DDT decreased with pasteurization at 73 °C. The dietary exposure to DDT and HCH was higher in children

Crecimiento y sobrevivencia de Vibrio parahaemolyticus en ostión americano (Crassostrea virginica) almacenada en refrigeración

Objetivo. Cuantificar las densidades de Vibrio parahaemolyticus en ostión americano (Crassostrea virginica) almacenado en refrigeración. Material y métodos. Se almacenaron 320 ostiones a 7 °C durante nueve días y se determinaron las densidades totales y patogénicas mediante la técnica NMP-PCR. Resultados. Se observaron densidades de V. parahaemolyticus tlh+ en los días 0, 3 y 6 de almacenamiento con 1.134, 2.764 y 0.785 log10NMP/g, respectivamente, y en los días 0 y 3 la densidad patogénica trh+ con 0.477 y 0.519 log10NMP/g, respectivamente; las densidades patogénicas tdh+ (0.519 log10NMP/g), tdh+/trh+ (0.519 log10NMP/g) y tdh+/orf8+ (-0.444 log10NMP/g) se detectaron al tercer día de almacenamiento. Conclusión. Los resultados sugieren que el crecimiento de V. parahaemolyticus y la ocurrencia de genes patogénicos a 7 °C involucran cambios en la expresión génica como una respuesta al estrés por frío. Esto contribuye a la sobrevivencia y virulencia de V. parahaemolyticus, lo cual representa un riesgo a la salud pública