Survey of Campylobacter in foods implicated in foodborne diseases in Southern Brazil

Campylobacter is not routinely tested in foodborne disease investigations in Brazil. Here, we studied the occurrence of Campylobacter among other food-related bacteria commonly found in foodborne disease outbreaks reported in Rio Grande do Sul State, Southern Brazil. Seventy-two food samples were analyzed by using culture-based detection methods during the 18-month investigation of 36 foodborne disease outbreaks. The sampled foods from the foodborne disease outbreaks were all negative for Campylobacter. However, at least one of other routinely investigated foodborne-related bacteria was detected in 29.17% (21/72) of the samples. Taken together, these results suggest the need to monitor Campylobacter in foodborne diseases to detect sporadic cases caused by Campylobacter that might go unnoticed in Rio Grande do Sul

Chemical composition and antifungal activity of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii against dermatophytes

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: In this study, we evaluated the chemical composition of a commercial sample of essential oil from Eucalyptus smithii R.T. Baker and its antifungal activity against Microsporum canis ATCC 32903, Microsporum gypseum ATCC 14683, Trichophyton mentagrophytes ATCC 9533, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11480, T. mentagrophytes ATCC 11481, and Trichophyton rubrum CCT 5507. METHODS: Morphological changes in these fungi after treatment with the oil were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The antifungal activity of the oil was determined on the basis of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) values. RESULTS: The compound 1,8-cineole was found to be the predominant component (72.2%) of the essential oil. The MIC values of the oil ranged from 62.5μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1, and the MFC values of the oil ranged from 125μg·mL−1 to >1,000μg·mL−1. SEM analysis showed physical damage and morphological alterations in the fungi exposed to this oil. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated the potential of Eucalyptus smithii essential oil as a natural therapeutic agent for the treatment of dermatophytosis

Applied Research Note: Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from Brazilian broiler farms

SUMMARY: We studied the on-farm variety of thermotolerant Campylobacter strains isolated from field samples received over a 12-mo period from four broiler-producing companies in southern Brazil. In total, 515 of 807 (63.8%) of analyzed samples were found to be Campylobacter-positive. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were detected; the first one being more frequently isolated (98.2%). The highest antimicrobial resistance levels in a subset of 80 C. jejuni strains were found against enrofloxacin (89.5%) and ciprofloxacin (83.3%). Most of the 28 DNA macrorestriction profiles identified in C. jejuni were unique to each sampled broiler company. Genetically related C. jejuni populations were detected on different broiler farms integrated to the same company on different sampling occasions. Undistinguished strains were found in the indoor environment and in broilers on the same farm. The finding of recurrent strains on integrated farms suggests that particular factors or management practices may play a role in the dispersion or carry-over of C. jejuni in the studied broiler companies

Sobrevivência de Campylobacter jejuni em carne de frango a temperaturas de refrigeração e cozimento

The objective of this work was to evaluate the reduction of Campylobacter jejuni in chicken meat at 6 and 70°C, after the inoculation of a Brazilian strain. The kinetics of C. jejuni survival showed a 0.26 log (CFU g-1) decrease for each day of exposure at 6°C, and a 1.35 log (CFU g-1) decrease for each 1 log increase at 70°C. Although reduced levels of C. jejuni were found after regular intervals at both temperatures, its incomplete inactivation underlines the need of good hygiene practices for consumers to avoid campylobacteriosis.O objetivo deste trabalho foi determinar a redução de Campylobacter jejuni em carne de frango a 6 e 70°C, após inoculação de uma cepa brasileira. A cinética de sobrevivência de C. jejuni mostrou redução de 0,26 log (UFC g-1) a cada dia de exposição a 6°C e redução de 1,35 log (UFC g-1) para cada aumento de 1 log a 70°C. Embora níveis reduzidos de C. jejuni sejam encontrados após intervalos regulares de exposição a ambas as temperaturas, a inativação incompleta ressalta a necessidade de boas práticas de higiene para os consumidores evitarem a campilobacteriose

Participative Process Introduction: Three Case Studies From the indiGo Project

In software engineering, the quality of development and business processes and their models is of utmost importance for (a) the quality of the software products developed and (b) the operational success of the organization. Nevertheless, many organizations neglect these processes and leave the knowledge about them in the heads of their experts. In this paper, we present the indiGo method and platform for eParticipative Process Learning. Furthermore, we present the results of a three case studies for the evaluation of these methods. The results indicate that processes introduced and modeled with process user participation result in process models with higher acceptance and better perceived quality

Participative Process Introduction: A Case Study in the indigo Project

In software engineering, the quality of development and business processes and their models is of utmost importance for (a) the quality of the software products developed and (b) the operational success of the organization. Nevertheless, many organizations neglect these processes and leave the knowledge about them in the heads of their experts. In this paper, we present the indiGo method and platform for eParticipative Process Learning. Furthermore, we present first results of a long-term case study for the evaluation of these methods. The results indicate that processes introduced and modeled with process user participation result in process models with higher acceptance and better perceived quality