Salmonella spp. u hrani za kućne ljubimce i rizik koji predstavlja za zdravlje ljudi

Commercial feed intended for dogs and cats is an almost unrecognised source of human infection with various serovars of Salmonella enterica. However, people may catch the infection both via direct contact with contaminated pet feed and by contact with pets, which usually shed Salmonella without signs of infection. A relatively new trend of feeding dogs and cats with raw feed is considered to be a special risk owing to the fact that it usually contains foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Campylobacter spp. Nonetheless, the epidemiological data do not support this idea. In the current review relevant data on the significance of pet feed in the outbreak of human salmonellosis are discussed and the recommendations for the prevention of the infection originating from these sources are suggested.Komercijalna hrana za pse i mačke je skoro nepoznat izvor infekcije ljudi bakterijama iz roda Salmonella. Ljudi se mogu inficirati direktnim kontaktom sa kontaminiranom hranom za kućne ljubimce ili kontaktom sa kućnim ljubimcima koji uobičajeno izlučuju salmonele bez kliničkih znakova infekcije. Iako se novi trend ishrane pasa i mačaka sirovom hranom sa tog aspekta razmatra kao poseban rizik (jer ova hrana uobičajeno sadrži hranom prenosive patogene kao što su Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli i Campylobacter spp.), epidemiološki podaci ne podržavaju ovakav stav. U ovom radu sumiramo relevatne podatke o značaju hrane za kućne ljubimce u pojavi salmoneloza ljudi, kao i preporuke za prevenciju pojave infekcija izazvanih salmonelama iz ovog izvora

Mikrobiološka kontaminacija prostirke tokom tova brojlera

The results of the research into the microbiological contamination of litter used by broiler chickens are presented. Litter samples were taken prior to the introduction of chicks (day 0) and in 7-day intervals until the end of the fattening period. The total numbers of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, yeasts, moulds and Clostridium perfringens spores, and the presence of bacteria of the Salmonella genus were determined. The total microbial count in newly laid litter was 7 log10 CFU/g, which increased to 9 log10 CFU/g by the 4th week. However, at the end of the 5th week, it was at the same level as in newly laid litter. C. perfringens spores, presumably originating from chicks' faeces, were first detected on day 7. In the next 7 days their number increased, reaching 3-4 log10 CFU/g, and remained at approximately same levels until the end of the research. The initial mould contamination was 5-6 log10 CFU/g. However, from day 21 moulds were not isolated, but only yeasts of the Saccharomyces genus. It is supposed that these were deposited with chicks' faeces, due to their presence in complete broiler feed. No bacteria of the Salmonella genus were ever isolated from the litter. In conclusion, the total numbers of microorganisms in deep litter reach their peak in approximately a month, which is followed by their decrease. Deep litter is a favourable environment for probiotic yeast cultures. Added to feed intended for broilers, they can positively influence the microbial composition of litter, providing healthier environment to fattening broilers.U radu su prikazani rezultati ispitivanja mikrobiološke kontaminacije prostirke korišćene u tovu pilića. Prostirka je uzorkovana pre naseljavanja objekata i u nedeljnim intervalima tokom 35 dana tova pilića. Uzorci su ispitani na ukupan broj aerobnih mezofilnih mikroorganizama, kvasaca, plesni i spora Clostridium perfringens, kao i prisustvo bakterija roda Salmonella. Ukupan broj mikroorganizama u svežoj prostirci iznosio je 7 log10 CFU/g, a do 4 nedelje tova pilića povećao se do 9 log10 CFU/g. Međutim, na kraju pete nedelje tova, ukupan broj mikroorganizama u prostirci bio je na nivou vrednosti ustanovljenih u svežoj prostirci. Spore C. perfringens su ustanovljene tek sedmog dana od naseljavanja objekta, što ukazuje da u prostirku dospevaju fecesom pilića. Za 14 dana broj spora C. perfringens se povećao do 3-4 log10 CFU/g i na približno istim vrednostima zadržao do kraja ispitivanja. Sveža prostirka bila je kontaminirana plesnima u nivou od 5-6 log10 CFU/g, ali od 21. dana iz uzoraka prostirke nisu izolovane plesni, već samo kvasci roda Saccharomyces. Pretpostavka je da su kvasci u prostirku dospeli fecesom pilića, jer se koriste kao probiotske kulture u smešama za njihov tov. Bakterije roda Salmonella nisu izolovane iz prostirke. Rezultati ispitivanja pokazuju da ukupan broj mikroorganizama u prostirci dostiže svoj pik za oko mesec dana, nakon čega se smanjuje. Prostirka je pogodna sredina za život probiotskih kultura kvasaca i njihovo dodavanje u smeše za tov brojlera može imati povoljan uticaj na sastav mikroorganizama u prostirci, a time i obezbeđenje zdravije životne sredine u podnom sistemu uzgoja brojlera

The influence of vitamin C and early-age thermal conditioning on the quality of meat and specific production characteristics of broilers during heat stress

Heat stress (HS) is one of the greatest problems in contemporary chicken production and it entails significant economic losses. The purpose of this paper is to examine the influence of early-age thermal conditioning (ETC), vitamin C (Vit C) supplementation, and their combination on the production characteristics and specific quality parameters of the meat of broilers which were exposed to chronic HS in the last two weeks of breeding. Four hundred broilers (Cobb 500) of both sexes were divided into 4 experimental groups. Group C was given Vit C (2 g/L) dissolved in water from day 22 until the end of production. Group T was exposed to ETC for a period of 24 h at the temperature of 38 +/- 1 degrees C and 40%-60% relative humidity on the fifth day of breeding. Group TC was the combination of the groups T and C, while group K was the control group. The results indicate that ETC, independently or in combination with Vit C, improves the production characteristics in terms of feed conversion reduction (P < 0.05). The examined treatments increase the volume (P < 0.05) of certain parts of the body (carcass, legs and thighs, and back) with regards to total body weight, especially in group TC. Regarding meat quality determined according to pH value and meat color criteria (CIEL*), the best results were also observed in group TC, followed by groups T and C. These results justify the use of Vit C and ETC in summer conditions, when heat stress is expected; however, the best results can be achieved by combining these two methods, thus producing a synergistic effect

Factors affecting elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from traditional smoked common carp meat

Smoking techniques have been progressively improved and different procedures have been developed in different regions for treating fish. In these times, the technology is mainly used for enrichment of fish with specific taste and odour, to extend the shelf-life of these perishable products and appearance required widely on the market. A lot of chemical contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed during the combustion of fuel in the smoking process. PAHs are a group of compounds that have been the subject of great concern in the recent years due to their toxic, mutagenic and/or carcinogenic potentials to humans. These fact can have a significant impact on the acceptance of these products by consumers. In this review article, the objective is to describe factors affecting elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from traditional smoked common carp meat

A decision support system for electrode shaping in multi-pad FES foot drop correction

Background: Functional electrical stimulation (FES) can be applied as an assistive and therapeutic aid in the rehabilitation of foot drop. Transcutaneous multi-pad electrodes can increase the selectivity of stimulation; however, shaping the stimulation electrode becomes increasingly complex with an increasing number of possible stimulation sites. We described and tested a novel decision support system (DSS) to facilitate the process of multi-pad stimulation electrode shaping. The DSS is part of a system for drop foot treatment that comprises a customdesigned multi-pad electrode, an electrical stimulator, and an inertial measurement unit. Methods: The system was tested in ten stroke survivors (3-96 months post stroke) with foot drop over 20 daily sessions. The DSS output suggested stimulation pads and parameters based on muscle twitch responses to short stimulus trains. The DSS ranked combinations of pads and current amplitudes based on a novel measurement of the quality of the induced movement and classified them based on the movement direction (dorsiflexion, plantar flexion, eversion and inversion) of the paretic foot. The efficacy of the DSS in providing satisfactory pad-current amplitude choices for shaping the stimulation electrode was evaluated by trained clinicians. The range of paretic foot motion was used as a quality indicator for the chosen patterns. Results: The results suggest that the DSS output was highly effective in creating optimized FES patterns. The position and number of pads included showed pronounced inter-patient and inter-session variability; however, zones for inducing dorsiflexion and plantar flexion within the multi-pad electrode were clearly separated. The range of motion achieved with FES was significantly greater than the corresponding active range of motion (p < 0.05) during the first three weeks of therapy. Conclusions: The proposed DSS in combination with a custom multi-pad electrode design covering the branches of peroneal and tibial nerves proved to be an effective tool for producing both the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion of a paretic foot. The results support the use of multi-pad electrode technology in combination with automatic electrode shaping algorithms for the rehabilitation of foot drop.The research has been supported in part by grants of the Basque Government (PI2013-10), the ERA-NET EU/MINECO project (INDIGO-DBT2-051) and by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia (Project no. 175016)

Diagnosis and surgical treatment of intestinal malrotation in a patient with Cornelia de Lange syndrome

Prikazujemo žensko dojenče s fenotipskim karakteristikama sindroma Cornelia de Lange kod kojeg je dokazana i uspješno kirurški liječena pridružena malrotacija crijeva. Svrha je rada upozoriti na činjenicu da malrotacija crijeva, iako ne pripada skupini učestalih simptoma sindroma Cornelia de Lange, ne smije biti izostavljena u diferencijalnoj dijagnostici gastrointestinalnih tegoba u navedenih bolesnika.We report on a female infant with phenotypic characteristics of Cornelia de Lange syndrome and associated, successfully surgically treated, intestinal malrotation. The purpose of this report is to point out that intestinal malrotation, as a rare element of Cornelia de Lange syndrome, should not be left out on the diff erential diagnosis of gastrointestinal symptoms in these patients

Microbiological parameters and sensory characteristics of sliced meat products packaged in modified atmosphere throughout the shelf life

Demand for food, such as ready to eat food which is easy to consume with as long as possible shelf life, has continuously increased due to the modernization and growth of the human population. Sliced meat products that were normally packed and placed on the market in vacuum packaging, were packed in MAP with the aim of extending the shelf life. The research objective of this study was to determine the microbiological parameters and sensory characteristics of 6 sliced meat products packaged in modified atmosphere (smoked pork loin with added water, Budim sausage, Kamendin pancetta, Smoked pork neck with added water, Kulen, Ham for pizza with added water) during the expected shelf life. This study included sensory analysis and microbiological parameters (Listeria monocytogenes, Enterobacteriaceae and total aerobic mesophilic microorganisms). All samples of sliced meat products packaged in modified atmosphere had satisfactory microbiological and sensory characteristics during the expected shelf life which ranged from 30 to 90 days

Using essential oils to reduce Yersinia enterocolitica in minced meat and in biofilms

Yersiniosis, one of the leading foodborne infections in the European Union, is caused by Yersinia enterocolitica. In this study, the antibacterial and antibiofilm effects of cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Nees), clove (Syzygium aromaticum L.), oregano (Origanum vulgare L.), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.), thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.), and winter savory (Satureja montana L.) essential oils were investigated against Y. enterocolitica strains belonging to the bioserotype 4/O:3. Cinnamon essential oil showed the highest antibacterial activity, with an MIC value 0.09 µL/mL, followed by oregano and thyme essential oils, with MIC values from 0.09 to 0.18 µL/mL, and from 0.18 to 0.23 µL/mL, respectively. Thyme essential oil at 0.23 µL/g (MIC) and at 0.46 µL/g (2MIC) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the number of Y. enterocolitica by 0.38 log CFU/g and 0.64 log CFU/g, respectively, in minced pork meat during storage at 4 ◦C for 4 days. The Y. enterocolitica strains formed biofilms at 15 ◦C and 37 ◦C in tryptic soy broth and Luria–Bertani broth, while no biofilms were obtained at 5 ◦C, and in meat broth nutrient media. Applying the minimum bactericidal concentrations of cinnamon, clove, oregano, rosemary, thyme, and winter savory essential oils on preformed biofilms led to significant reductions being observed in the range from 45.34% to 78.89%. A scanning electron microscopy assay showed the devastating impact of oregano and thyme essential oils on the morphology of Y. enterocolitica bacterial cells. In conclusion, the results of this study show that essential oils possess high anti-Yersinia and antibiofilm effects

How do newly-described diatom species affect biomonitoring? – An example of Gomphonema paratergestinum vs. G. tergestinum

Over the past decade a great number of new diatom taxa was described, as well as re-definitions and delimitations of taxa from different species complexes have been performed. The reasons for the constant increase in the number of described diatom taxa are numerous: unexplored habitats, improved light microscope resolution and digital cameras with accompanying softwares, scanning electron microscopy, molecular studies. For most of the newly-described species only morphological characteristics are known. What about their ecological preferences? OMNIDIA is a widely used software for evaluation of ecological status of water bodies based on diatoms. The database from the first version of the software up to today has grown from 2035 to more than 23.000 diatom taxa. However, for the most newly-described taxa there are no indicator values. In our study we evaluated the ecological status at six sites in lakes Ohrid and Prespa, respectively, based on different biological quality elements (diatoms, macrozoobenthos and macrophytes) as well as water chemistry. In two out of six sites in lake Ohrid, and five out of six sites in lake Prespa, Gomphonema paratergestinum was a dominant or subdominant species (33.5-69.66 % in Ohrid Lake and 9.95-65.34 % in Prespa Lake). In the OMNIDIA software, there currently are no indicator values for G. paratergestinum. However, the very similar species G. tergestinum has well known indictor values. G. paratergestinum resembles G. tergestinum with respect to some morphological characteristics (e.g. valve outline), but can be differentiated by the stria density. Both species were present in lakes Ohrid and Prespa, however, with dominance of G. paratergestinum. Based on the diatoms recorded at a site, OMNIDIA calculates diatom index values. How could G. paratergestinum with abundances up to 69.66 % influence diatom indices? If we “experiment” and substitute G. paratergestinum with G. tergestinum, the obtained diatom index values indicated a completely different ecological quality class. Every newly-described species is important since it increases our knowledge about diversity, biogeography and distribution of diatoms. However, there still is a gap between taxonomy and biomonitoring. How can we overcome this problem? According to the Botanical Nomenclature Code for algae, fungi, and plants no note or suggestion regarding ecology or ecological preferences of a species is required for description. Maybe, a possible solution could be that in the description of the species ecological data, such as pH, conductivity, total phosphorus, concentrations of different anions etc. should be included. Scientists today join forces to review material and species collected by Kützing, Ehrenberg, Grunow, Van Heurck, Cleve etc... In the same way ecological data of newly-described species could be assembled and their indicator values calculated

Effects of Selected Essential Oils on Listeria monocytogenes in Biofilms and in a Model Food System

The composition of 18 essential oils was determined using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, and their antilisterial activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, followed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory and minimum bactericidal concentrations. The most active essential oils were oregano, thyme, cinnamon, winter savory, and clove, with MIC values ranging from 0.09 to 1.78 µL/mL. We investigated the biofilm-forming potential of Listeria monocytogenes on polystyrene at 5 °C, 15 °C, and 37 °C in three different media. The formation of biofilm was found to be dependent on the temperature and the availability of nutrients. After treatment with selected essential oils, the reduction in biofilm biomass was in the range of 32.61% and 78.62%. Micromorphological changes in the L. monocytogenes treated by oregano and thyme essential oils were observed in the form of impaired cell integrity and cell lyses by using scanning electron microscope. Oregano and thyme essential oils (MIC and 2MIC) significantly (p < 0.05) reduced the population of L. monocytogenes in minced pork meat during storage at 4 °C. In conclusion, the obtained results indicated the good activity of some selected essential oils on L. monocytogenes, with bacteriostatic, bactericidal, and antibiofilm effects at very low concentrations