Occurrence of microplastics in store-bought fresh and processed clams in Italy.

Compared to the large amount of data on wild samples, only a few studies reported microplastic occurrence in store-bought bivalves in which the production chain can be the main contamination route. Microplastic occurrence was herein investigated in 100 samples of store-bought clams sold as fresh or processed (vacuum-frozen or in brine) in Italy. A 10 % KOH was used for soft tissue digestion and FT-IR spectroscopy for polymer identification.

Use of Matrix-Assisted and Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Technology in the Identification of Strains Isolated from Retail Sushi and Sashimi.

The genus includes well-known pathogenic species for fishes and humans that are widely distributed in the aquatic environment and foods. Nowadays, one of the main issues related to wild isolates is their identification at the species level, which is challenging using classical microbiological and biomolecular methods. This study aims to test MALDI-TOF MS technology in the identification of strains isolated from n.

Microsporidian heavy infection in a batch of salted and dried cod.

The aim of this work is the description and characterization of a severe microsporidian infection in a batch of salted and dried cod. Particularly, the case involves a batch of approximately 800 kg obtained from (Food and Agriculture Organization Zone 61 - Northwest Pacific Ocean), which, after rehydration and sectioning operations, underwent routine company checks before packaging. In about 20% of the samples, the presence of whitish nodules with a diameter ranging from 1 to 2 mm was observed on the surface of the fillets and in cross-section.

Quantitative Detection of Viable but Nonculturable in Frozen Bivalve Molluscs.

is a foodborne pathogen diffusely distributed in the marine environment and often isolated from raw seafood belonging to different species, mostly shellfish. Ingestion of under- or uncooked seafood contaminated by can cause severe gastrointestinal symptoms in humans. Due to its ability to withstand low temperatures, spp.

Microplastics in vacuum packages of frozen and glazed icefish ( spp.): A freshwater fish intended for human consumption.

It is widely accepted that human is exposed to microplastics through food consumption, however data occurrence in foodstuffs are still little and basically limited to seafood. In this study, the presence of microplastics was investigated in icefish ( spp.) samples sourced from various mass-market retailers in Italy, supplied as frozen, glazed and vacuum-packed product.

Odor Emissions from Raw Meat of Freshly Slaughtered Cattle during Inspection.

Raw meat of Freshly Slaughtered Cattle (FSC) is characterized by a very weak odor defined as slightly sweet, which could interfere in off-odor assessment during post-mortem inspection by an official veterinarian. Despite this, no information is reported in the literature on the volatiles which are emitted by FSC meat. Thus, this research aimed to study the volatile profile of raw cattle meat at different times within 24 h of slaughtering.

Nile Red staining for detecting microplastics in biota: Preliminary evidence.

Nile Red is a lipophilic, metachromatic and solvatochromic dye used as an alternative or complementary method to aid identification of microplastics in routine analysis of biological samples. It was rarely used in biota since organic residues after the digestion step can be co-stained with possible overestimation of microplastics. The limits of using Nile Red in biota were investigated in marine mussels experimentally contaminated with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) microplastics.

Study on microbial communities in domestic kitchen sponges: Evidence of and Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria.

Domestic environment, in particular, kitchen setting is a well-established source of microbial contamination. Kitchen sponges represent an important vehicle of microbial transmission and maintenance of spoilage bacteria and pathogenic strains responsible for food borne diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbial communities of 100 'in-use' kitchen sponges, improving the knowledge on their role in cross-contamination in domestic environment and transmission of ESBLproducing strains.

Quality assessment of (Peter's fish) ovaries regularly commercialized for human consumption.

In the last few years, the consumption of fish eggs has increased rapidly, finding widespread use also in mass catering. This increase has involved also those of the Peter's fish (). Females of this species, by their reproductive characteristics, have highly developed gonads in different periods of the year, making the raw material easy to find.

A New Approach to Predict the Fish Fillet Shelf-Life in Presence of Natural Preservative Agents.

Three data sets concerning the behaviour of spoilage flora of fillets treated with natural preservative substances (NPS) were used to construct a new kind of mathematical predictive model. This model, unlike other ones, allows expressing the antibacterial effect of the NPS separately from the prediction of the growth rate. This approach, based on the introduction of a parameter into the predictive primary model, produced a good fitting of observed data and allowed characterising quantitatively the increase of shelf-life of fillets.

Exposure to Anisakis extracts can induce inflammation on in vitro cultured human colonic cells.

Anisakis spp. is a parasitic nematode whose infective third-stage larvae may be found within the flesh of fish species commonly consumed by humans. Thorough cooking or freezing should render the fish safe for consumption; furthermore, marinating solutions containing biocidal agents might have a significant action against Anisakis larvae.

Activity of Tagetes minuta Linnaeus (Asteraceae) essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae type 1.

Objective: To evaluate in vitro effects of Tagetes minuta L. essential oil (TEO) on L3 Anisakis larvae type 1.

Methods: In order to evaluate the potential use of Tagetes minuta essential oil against L3 Anisakis larvae three different media were tested: 1) a saline solution (SS); 2) an industrial marinating solution (MS); 3) sunflower seeds oil (SO).

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity of Bergamot Essential Oils on Different Strains.

Essential oils are aromatic and volatile substances extracted from plants and characterized by antimicrobial activity. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antibacterial activity (agar disc-diffusion method) of seven different bergamot essential oils (BEOs) on eight strains. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of most efficient BEOs was estimated.

Prevalence and quantification of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in Italian retail poultry meat: Analysis of influencing factors.

Retail poultry meat is a crucial vehicle for consumers' exposure to Campylobacters, but no official controls are currently applied in Italy. The aim of this study was the evaluation of Campylobacter contamination of a wide range of poultry meats marketed in Italy. N.

Activity of R(+) limonene on the maximum growth rate of fish spoilage organisms and related effects on shelf-life prolongation of fresh gilthead sea bream fillets.

R(+)limonene (LMN) is the major aromatic compound in essential oils obtained from oranges, grapefruits, and lemons. The improvement of preservation techniques to reduce the growth and activity of spoilage microorganisms in foods is crucial to increase their shelf life and to reduce the losses due to spoilage. The aim of this work is to evaluate the effect of LMN on the shelf life of fish fillets.

Histology as a Valid Tool To Differentiate Fresh from Frozen-Thawed Marinated Fish.

European Commission Regulation (EU) 1276/2011 requires that fishery products intended for raw consumption be frozen at -20°C for not less than 24 h or at -35°C for at least 15 h in order to kill viable parasites other than trematodes. But because marinating processes are not always effective in destroying nematode larvae, raw marinated fish preparations should be frozen before consumption. This study evaluated the performance of a standardized histological method to distinguish between fresh and frozen-thawed raw marinated fish.

Preliminary Investigation on the Use of Allyi Isothiocyanate to Increase the Shelf-Life of Gilthead Sea Bream ( Fillets.

The aim of this work is to evaluate the activity of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) against fish spoilage bacteria (specific spoilage organisms; SSOs) as well as its possible use in gilthead sea bream () fillets to extend their shelf-life. In this regard, tests are carried out in order to evaluate the inhibitory activity of AITC and its vapours on several strains of SSOs. The AITC effect on the shelf-life of sea bream fillets was made by putting them in plastic trays hermetically closed with the addition AITC.

Hygienic-Sanitary Evaluation of Sushi and Sashimi Sold in Messina and Catania, Italy.

Sushi and sashimi are traditional Japanese food, mostly consisting of raw seafood alone or in combination with rice. Eating sushi and sashimi has become popular in many countries even outside Japan. This food is not free from health risks such as ingestion of pathogenic bacteria or parasite.

Characterisation of Yeasts Isolated from 'Nduja of Spilinga.

The 'Nduja of Spilinga protected geographical indication (PGI) is a spreadable italian salami, obtained by using fat (50%), lean of pork (25%), chili pepper (25%) and NaCl, stuffed into natural pork casing. Its predominant flora is represented by yeasts, reaching at the end of seasoning values of 6 log CFU/g. Considering the need to enhance and protect traditional local products, it seemed interesting to carry out a characterisation of yeasts of the 'Nduja of Spilinga PGI.

First description of the male of Philometra filiformis (Nematoda: Philometridae), a gonad-infecting parasite of the marine fish Pagellus erythrinus (Sparidae) in Mediterranean.

The male of the gonad-infecting nematode Philometra filiformis (Stossich, 1896) (Philometridae) is for the first time described, based on specimens from the ovary of the marine fish Pagellus erythrinus (Linnaeus) from the Tyrrhenian Sea off Sicily, Italy. It is mainly characterized by the testis extending anteriorly nearly to the anterior end of body, the oesophagus without a usual anterior inflation, the absence of a dorsal barb or distinct transverse lamellae on the tip of the gubernaculum, the measurements of the spicules and the gubernaculum, and a fairly long body.

Helminth infestation in birds of prey (Accipitriformes and Falconiformes) in Southern Italy.

Helminth infestation was identified at post mortem examination in 110/116 (95%) raptors belonging to six species in Southern Italy. Pathological changes associated with helminths were observed in 81/110 (74%) of birds. Lesions in the respiratory system were associated with the nematode Serratospiculum tendo only in Falco peregrinus.

Radiation emission dose from patients administered 90Y-labelled radiopharmaceuticals: comparison of experimental measurements versus Monte Carlo simulation.

Aim: To estimate the radiation dose delivered from patients injected with yttrium-90 (Y)-labelled tiuxetan (Zevalin) to parents and the general population, comparing different techniques.

Methods: The radiation dose delivered from a group of eight patients injected with Y-Zevalin to treat recurrent lymphoma was measured. The data obtained with the Monte Carlo simulation test were compared with the experimental measurements obtained with an ionization chamber detector and with a crystal NaI(Tl) detector.

Bacteriology of unshelled frozen blue swimming crab (Portunus pelagicus).

In this study, 45 (10 whole specimens and 35 frozen claws) frozen samples of Portunus pelagicus imported into Sicily (Italy) from the west coast of Africa were examined to assess their bacteriological characteristics and suitability for consumption. Bacteriological examination was performed on two subsamples for each whole crab. The first was the body and claw muscle; the second was a pool of viscera and gills.