Clinically relevant multidrug resistant Salmonella enterica in swine and meat handlers at the abattoir

The presence of multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella serotypes in slaughtered swine, carcasses, meat and meat handlers is scarcely evaluated. Recently we demonstrated that diverse Salmonella serotypes are frequently present in swine, pork meat and carcasses, and meat handlers at Portuguese abattoirs. Here we have characterized their antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes, helping elucidate the flow of MDR Salmonella in the food chain. Testing 60 Salmonella isolates from different serotypes, the highest frequencies of resistance were observed for tetracycline (T) [70% (n = 42/60), tet(A)/tet(B)/tet(G)], streptomycin (S) [63% (n = 38/60), aadA2/strA/strB], sulfamethoxazole (Sul) [62% (n = 37/60), sul1/sul2/sul3] and ampicillin (A) [57% (n = 34/60), bla_PSE-1/bla_TEM]. Thirty-seven percent (n = 22/60) carried class 1 integrons and multidrug resistance was frequently observed (63% n = 38/60), including those serotypes common to human infections [S. Typhimurium 78% n = 25/32; S. 4,[5],12:i:- 67% n = 2/3; S. Rissen 75% (n = 3/4); S. London 67% n = 2/3; S. Derby 55%; n = 6/11)]. The emergent S. 4,[5],12:i:- isolates were mostly characterized by ASSuT phenotype [bla_TEM/strA-strB/sul2/tet(B)], typical of the European clone, while for the first time the ST phenotype [strA-strB-tet(A)-tet(B)] was also observed. Moreover, we report a first finding of a MDR phenotype in S. London [ANSSuT; bla_TEM-strA-strB-sul2-tet(A)]. Our findings suggest that the abattoir environment and the slaughter operations seem not only to harbor MDR serotypes that originated in the pig reservoir, but also propagate them through cross-contamination processes, involving meat handlers. The present study suggests a probable relationship between swine and human salmonellosis throughout the food chain, which is of interest for epidemiological, animal health and public health purposes.     

Changes in Phenolic Compound and Antioxidant Activity of Germinated Broccoli,Wheat, and Lentils during Simulated Gastrointestinal Digestion

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - The consumption of sprouts has increased as the germination process causes changes in the chemical composition of the seeds, improving their nutritional value. The...     

Compliance with Gluten‐Free Labelling Regulation in the Brazilian Food Industry

Gluten is an important protein complex for baking products found in wheat, rye, barley, and some oat varieties. However, some people need to avoid these grains and their products because they result in gluten‐related disorders. The only treatment for these individuals is to engage in a gluten‐free diet. The objective of this work was to verify if the gluten content of several commercial food products sold in Brazil complied with their labeling. The Méndez ELISA R5 sandwich method was used to analyze 437 samples, and of these, 70% were labeled as gluten‐free, 26% as containing gluten, and 4% not labeled in relation to gluten. The results indicated that 89% of the products labeled as gluten‐free were correctly labeled and 11% were not, which represented a risk for celiac people.     

A critical consideration of the metamorphosis zone when identifying daily rings in otoliths of European eel, Anguilla anguilla (L.)

Otoliths of glass eels and larvae collected from the Rio Minho (Portugal/Spain) as well as from the Iberian continental slope from the Bay of Biscay were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy. Preliminary data are presented on the total radius of the otolith and the width of the zone exhibiting a diffuse structure which, in the literature, is suggested to be the zone of metamorphosis. It was found that the radius increased from the development stage I through stage II to the glass eel stage (Vb). The width of the diffuse zone also exhibited an increase. Calculations of the dimensions of the diffuse zone of specimens older than stage I revealed that the area of metamorphosis amounts to about 28–60% of the total diffuse zone. From these results it is evident that part of the diffuse zone must have formed during a larval phase of retarded growth, during which no formation of daily growth rings takes place. Only the outer portion of the diffuse zone can be accounted for by the metamorphosis. For these reasons, an exact age determination by counting daily rings seems impossible. A determination of the oceanic life of the eel recruits is difficult for other reasons too: all earlier and recent studies have indicated that Anguilla leptocephali and their metamorphosis stages do not occur on the continental shelf, which could add an additionally high amount of time needed until arrival at the coasts.     

Serologic diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in experimentally infected pregnant goats and transplacentally infected kids

Eight pregnant goats were inoculated orally with 10 to 1,000 oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii at 83 to 102 days of gestation. Serum samples from the goats and from the kids born to them were analyzed, using the Sabin-Feldman dye test (DT), a commercially available modified agglutination test (MAT), and a latex agglutination test. Six of the does were observed for greater than 1 year; during this time, they delivered twice. All does developed DT and MAT antibody titers of greater than or equal to 1:2,048 within 29 days after inoculation, and the high titers persisted through the 2nd pregnancy; therefore, serologic results alone should not be relied on for the diagnosis of T gondii-induced abortion in does. On the other hand, all transplacentally infected kids had DT or MAT antibody titers of 1:2,048 before ingesting colostrum, indicating the usefulness of serologic evaluation of the fetus or stillborn kid in the diagnosis of abortion. Antibody was not found in the sera of noninfected kids born to Toxoplasma-infected does. The passively acquired colostral antibody declined by 5 months. Therefore, specific antibody found in adult goats is probably actively acquired. The commercially available MAT was simple, sensitive, and reliable for the diagnosis of caprine toxoplasmosis. The latex agglutination test needs further improvement, as titers rarely exceeded 1:256.     

Correlation between clinical signs of depth of anaesthesia and cerebral state index responses in dogs during induction of anaesthesia with propofol

The cerebral state index (CSI) is used for monitoring EEG and depth of anaesthesia. The objective of this study was to analyse the correlation between ocular reflexes, CSI and estimated propofol plasma concentrations (PropCP) in dogs during induction of anaesthesia with propofol.Fourteen dogs were premedicated with acepromazine 0.05 mg kg⁻¹ IM. Anaesthesia was induced with a 200 ml h⁻¹ propofol 1% constant infusion rate until loss of corneal reflex using RugLoop II software with Beths’ pharmacokinetic model to estimate PropCp.Palpebral reflex (PR) and the corneal reflex (CR) were tested every 30 s and classified as present (+) or absent (−), and eyeball position was registered as rotated ventromedialy (ERV) or centred (EC).Heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and CSI values were analyzed from baseline before the beginning of propofol infusion (T0) until loss of CR; CSI and PropCp, CSI and anaesthetic planes, and PropCp and anaesthetic planes were compared using correlation analysis.PropCp reached 7.65 ± 2.1 μg ml⁻¹ at the end of the study. CSI values at T0 were 89.2 ± 3.8. Based on the observation of ocular reflexes and eyeball position, it was possible to define five anaesthetic planes: A (superficial) to E (deep), being A (PR+/CR+/EC), B (PR+/ERV/CR+), C (PR−/ERV/CR+), D (PR−/EC/CR+) and E (PR−/EC/CR−). There was a significant correlation between PropCp and the anaesthetic planes (R = 0,861; P < 0.01). No significant correlation was observed between CSI and the anaesthetic planes or between CSI and PropCp. MAP decreased significantly from T0 until loss of corneal reflex (from 98 ± 14 mmHg to 82 ± 12 mmHg); HR did not change significantly (from 101 ± 30 bpm to 113 ± 16 bpm).The CSI monitoring was not consistent with the clinical observations observed in the different stages of depth anaesthesia. This could limit the use of CSI for monitoring depth of anaesthesia with propofol.     

Effects of Plasma Urea Nitrogen Levels on the Bovine Oocyte Ability to Develop After In vitro Fertilization

The overall aim of the present study was to evaluate in vitro development ability of oocytes recovered from 56 Holstein Frisian heifers with low [group 1 (G1): <13 mg /dl], moderate [group 2 (G2): 13–16 mg /dl] and high [group 3 (G3): >16 mg /dl] plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) concentrations, to determine whether PUN concentrations affect the competence of oocytes to progress to blastocysts after in vitro fertilization. In vitro oocyte and embryo development was assessed by blastocyst rates, embryo total cell numbers and apoptosis. Blood samples for the determination of PUN were collected 24 h prior to collection of the ovaries at the slaughter. A total of 112 ovaries were collected at a local abattoir and oocytes (n = 697) were aspirated, in vitro matured and fertilized. On day 8, blastocysts were assigned to the terminal dUTP nick end labelling assay. Cleavage rates were significantly higher (p < 0.001) for groups 1 and 2 than for group 3 (i.e. 72.5% and 72.2% vs 61.7%, respectively). The proportion of fertilized oocytes that developed into blastocysts was higher (p < 0.05) for group 1 than for group 3 (34.0% vs 23.0%, respectively). Day 8 blastocysts showed higher total cell counts (p < 0.05) for group 1 than for group 3 (123.7 vs 76.3), and a higher (p < 0.05) total apoptotic cell rate was found in group 3 (25.9 and 19.0 vs 43.2 for G1, G2 and G3, respectively). In conclusion, the ability of oocytes from heifers with increased levels of PUN to develop to the blastocyst stage was significantly reduced when standard routines for in vitro maturation, fertilization and culture were followed. These detrimental effects can be mediated in part through direct effect of urea and/or by the metabolic products on the process of follicle-enclosed oocyte nuclear and cytoplasmic development.     

Phytotoxicity and genotoxicity of soils from an abandoned uranium mine area

The great number of abandoned uranium mines within the Portuguese territory led to the production of specific legislation establishing the rehabilitation of these areas and the definition of those requiring prior intervention. Cunha Baixa uranium mine (Mangualde, Central Portugal) was one of these areas and a site-specific risk assessment is being carried out for this mine, following European frameworks. In this study the Ames test with soil elutriates, and emergence and growth assays with Lactuca sativa L. and Zea mays L. were performed to assess soil retention and habitat functions. Levels of metals bioaccumulated in plant tissues, grown above soil surface, during the assays, were determined as well. No genotoxic effects were recorded for soil eluates (1:10 and 1:2, m/v) except for site F within the mine area, which is under the effluence of runoffs from the effluent treatment pond. Nevertheless, most of all were highly toxic to Salmonella typhimurium (especially for TA98) strains, used in the assay. The results gathered suggested that during the natural process of soil percolation by rainwater, the leachates yielded are contributing with toxic but no genotoxic metals to underground water resources. Phytotoxicity assays demonstrated that soil habitat function was compromised in almost all the sampling sites selected within the mine area. These results have clearly demonstrated how evaluations based on extractable metal concentrations may underestimate the risks of contaminated soils. Lettuce was the most sensitive species probably due to the great ability of this species in accumulating high concentrations of metals in their aboveground tissues. The highest bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) values were recorded for this species namely for Co (16.5), Cu (28.5), Ba (7.3), Sr (7.2) and Ni (6.1). Copper (9.0) and nickel (3.6) were the main elements bioaccumulated by maize. The dilution of mine soils with a local reference soil has proved to mitigate its toxicity in almost all the sites analysed.     

Acibenzolar-S-methyl doses and application methods to Pratylenchus brachyurus control in maize

Pratylenchus brachyurus is one of the main limiting factors of agricultural yield in annual crops, particularly due its difficult management. Methods to reduce populations are constantly sought, and the use of resistance inducers deserves attention. Thus, the study aimed to assess the effect of acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) application in different doses to P. brachyurus control in maize. Initially, 1000 specimens of P. brachyurus were inoculated in maize for the multiplication. After 60 days, the aerial part (AP) was discarded and maize was sown under the treatments: seed treatment (ST), application in the AP and ST?+?AP, in the doses of 0.125, 0.25, 0.5 and 1.0?g i.a./L. Vegetative and nematological parameters were assessed 60 days later. ASM did not affect plant growth, but reduced nematode population in all the treatments. The treatment methods did not differ and reduced the number of nematodes/g root by 64.25 to 80.14% compared to the control. The doses of 0.6, 0.51 and 0.65?g i.a./L promoted the most reductions in the number of nematodes/g root when applied in ST, AP and ST?+?AP, respectively. Thus, we recommend the use of ASM applied on shoot in a dose of 0.50?g i.a./L.