Salmonella monitoring in pigs in the Veneto Region of Italy: results of three monitoring campaigns from 2002 to 2006

From 2002 to 2006 three monitonng campa1gns have been performed in the Veneto Region of Italy to define the prevalence of Salmonella in p1gs slaughtered in this area. The monitoring scheme applied allowed to assess the prevalence for Salmonella, and was adjusted after each year of application in order to detect defined variations in prevalence, with a reduced number of samples. In the first (2002-2003) monitoring campaign the sample size (384 slaughtered batches) was assessed on the basis of the following criteria: expected prevalence = 50%; accuracy = 5% and confidence 1nterval = 95%. Samples were stratified according to the capacity of each slaughterhouse, and equally distributed in a 12 months period. One animal was sampled for each batch, collecting 25 grams of caecal content

Foodborne pathogens monitoring in pigs in the Veneto region of Italy

At the European level the control of foodborne diseases is defined by the new zoonoses legislation (Directive 2003/99/CE and Regulation (CE) 2160/2003), which points out the necessity to establish surveillance programmes for zoonotic agents in animal populations. From 2002 to 2004 baseline studies have been performed in the Veneto Region of Italy to define the prevalence of Salmonella, Campylobacter, antimicrobial resistance indicators in the most important animal species farmed and slaughtered in this area. The monitoring scheme applied allowed to precisely assess the prevalence for different pathogens and animal species, and was adjusted after the first year of application in order to detect defined variations in prevalence, with a reduced number of samples. In this paper authors will describe methods and results of the monitoring scheme applied in pigs at slaughter

Evaluation of the use of serological and bacteriological investigation for monitoring and controlling Salmonella in Italian pig herds

At the European level the control of foodborne diseases is defined by the new zoonoses legislation (Directive 20031991EC and Regulation (EC) No 2160/2003), which points out the necessity to establish surveillance programmes for zoonotic agents in animal populations. Recently Commission Decision 2006/6681EC concerning a baseline study on the prevalence of Salmonella in slaughter pigs has been published. Many different strategies have been developed and applied by EU Member States in order to Implement momtoring and/or control programmes for Salmonella in pigs; these strategies are mamly based on bacteriological analysis (performed on caecal content, ileo caecal lymph nodes or carcass swabs collected at slaughterhouse) and/or on serological analysis (mainly performed on meat juice obtained from diaphragm muscle)

Antibiotic Resistance in Escherichia coli from Pigs in Organic and Conventional Farming in Four European Countries

Organic pig production differs in many ways from conventional production of pigs, e.g., in antibiotic use, herd structure, feeding regimes, access to outdoor areas and space allowance per pig. This study investigated if these differences result in a lower occurrence of antibiotic resistance in organic slaughter pigs in Denmark, France, Italy and Sweden. Samples were taken from the colon content and/or faeces and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of ten antibiotics were determined in isolates of Escherichia coli. In addition, the proportion of tetracycline (TET) resistant E. coli in colon content and/or faeces from individual pigs was determined. In all four countries the percentage resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, sulphonamides or trimethoprim was significantly lower in E. coli from organic pigs. In France and Italy, the percentage of isolates resistant to chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, nalidixic acid or gentamicin was also significantly lower in the E. coli from organic pigs. Resistance to cefotaxime, was not found in any country. The percentage of E. coli isolates resistant to TET as well as the proportion of TET-resistant E. coli was significantly lower in organic than in conventional pigs, except in Sweden where TET-resistance was equally low in both production types. There were also differences between countries within production type in the percentage resistance to individual antibiotics as well as the proportion of TET-resistant E. coli with lower median proportions in Sweden and Denmark compared to France and Italy. The study shows that in each of the four countries resistance in intestinal E. coli was less common in organic than in conventional pigs, but that there were also large differences in resistance between countries within each production type, indicating that both country- and production-specific factors influence the occurrence of resistance

Identification of control strategies to manage microbiological risks in typical pork products

Starting from 2009 a pilot project has been implemented by a local veterinary service of the Veneto region of Italy (AZ-ULSS 8) in collaboration with IZSVe (Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie) with the aim of identifying control measures based on own-checks and official controls in order to manage microbiological risks related to traditional pork fermented sausages (Italian salami end soppresse) consumption. According to the data obtained a control strategy based on microbiological tests performed by the Competent Authority (CA) and the monitoring of the weight decrease in sausages by the food business operator (FBO) has been implemented for 2010-2011 production season

Identification and manipulation of dynamic active site deficiency-induced competing reactions in electrocatalytic oxidation processes

A detrimental competition between the urea oxidation reaction (UOR) and oxygen evolution reaction is identified. Strategies are proposed to alleviate such competition and boost the performance of the UOR and other organic compound oxidation reactions

The Enter-Vet Italian surveillance network: data on samples of pig origin from 2002 to 2005

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Learning science by doing: a quali-quantitative research

AbstractEducational interventions in school represent a primary way to introduce children to public health issues. In particular, as foodborne diseases are considered a worldwide significant problem, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), an educational program has been implemented to improve children knowledge about microorganisms’ characteristics and food contamination, and their everyday behaviors concerning personal hygiene. Twelve public schools in Padua province were enrolled, for a total of 249 children attending the fifth grade of primary school. Health programs are usually targeted to adults and teenagers; a method that take into account children's peculiar learning and communicative skills was adopted. Aim of the study is to determine whether interventions based on practical activities that dynamically involve children with experiments and scientific observations are more efficient that purely theoretical programs. To assess the different effectiveness of the interventions, a between subjects experimental design has been set up, with random assignment of classes to theoretical (N=120) and practical (N=123) groups. The evaluation of children knowledge was assessed in two ways: 1) the analysis of a questionnaire collected before and after the intervention; 2) the analysis of a creative drawing about the microorganisms collected before and after the intervention that has been related to a semi-structured interview, to comprehend the meanings of the picture. Results show that although both the programs (theoretical and practical) were effective, the practical work stimulated a qualitatively deeper comprehension of the given information, especially in relation to the causal linkage between protective behaviors and control of contagion risk