Brandenburg in the pork chain in Italy: Genetic comparison with the human isolates.

Brandenburg ranked 16 among the serovars responsible for human infections in EU in 2015 and it was found to be associated with swine. In Emilia- Romagna and Lombardy regions of northern Italy, Brandenburg was isolated from mesenteric lymph nodes, fecal matter, carcasses and conveyor belts at pig slaughterhouses in 2014 and 2015. In the same area, Brandenburg was detected in pork salami in 2015.

Salmonella Detection and Counting on Pig Carcasses and Cutting Lines in Italian Slaughterhouses.

During 2014-2015, 300 pig carcasses before chilling and 85 food contact surfaces (FCSs) at cutting lines were tested for Salmonella in three slaughterhouses (namely A, B, and C) of northern Italy. In slaughterhouses A and B, four carcass sites of 100 cm each (from both the exterior and interior side) were swabbed with a single sponge. In abattoir C, four 100 cm sites of the exterior and the interior sides were swabbed with two independent sponges.

Associations between animal welfare indicators and Campylobacter spp. in broiler chickens under commercial settings: A case study.

Few studies have previously investigated how poor animal welfare might be associated with infection of zoonotic pathogens in humans. This paper assesses the predictive value of the presence of Campylobacter spp. in broiler chicken flocks when animal-based measures related to footpad dermatitis, hock burns, body lesions and arthritis are identified under commercial conditions (high density).

Assessment of Salmonella survival in dry-cured Italian salami.

The inactivation of Salmonella during curing of Italian traditional pork salami was investigated. A total of 150 batches of ground raw meat (GRM) used for salami manufacturing by four producers were tested for Salmonella by real-time PCR followed by ISO 6579 cultural confirmation and MPN enumeration. Salami produced with Salmonella positive GRMs were re-tested at the end of their curing period.

Toxoplasma gondii in the Cornigliese sheep breed in Italy: Meat juice serology, in vitro isolation and genotyping.

Toxoplasma gondii is considered one of the most important food-borne parasitic zoonoses globally and sheep are important intermediate hosts of the parasite. Meat and milk from infected sheep are considered an important source of infection for humans. Here, the authors evaluated T.

and Pre-treatment Protocols for Polymerase Chain Reaction Analysis of Milk Samples: A Field Trial in Sheep from Southern Italy.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Ingestion of raw milk has been suggested as a risk for transmission to humans. Here the authors evaluated pre-treatment protocols for DNA extraction on tachyzoite-spiked sheep milk with the aim of identifying the method that resulted in the most rapid and reliable polymerase chain reaction (PCR) positivity. This protocol was then used to analyse milk samples from sheep of three different farms in Southern Italy, including real time PCR for DNA quantification and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism for genotyping.

Low Prevalence of in Cull Dairy Cattle at Slaughter in Northern Italy.

In order to evaluate carrier status of cull dairy cattle at slaughter, 125 animals were randomly selected during the period February-May 2016. Dairy cows were reared in 89 farms located in two regions of Northern Italy (Lombardy and Emilia-Romagna regions), where bovine milk is primarily used for cheese and cheese production. Samples were collected by swabbing a 400-cm area of the brisket hide and by rectoanal mucosal swabs.

Meat Juice Serology for Infection in Chickens.

is an important foodborne zoonosis. Free-range chickens are at particularly high risk of infection and are also excellent indicators of soil contamination by oocysts. In the present study, hearts of 77 free-range chickens were collected at slaughter.

Detection, seroprevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in pig tonsils in Northern Italy.

Yersiniosis is the third most common reported zoonoses in Europe, with Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis responsible for 98.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157, O26 and O111 in cattle faeces and hides in Italy.

Introduction: Ruminants are regarded as the natural reservoir for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), especially of serogroup O157.

Materials And Methods: During 2011 and 2012, 320 samples (160 faecal samples from the rectum and 160 hide samples from the brisket area) were collected from 160 cattle at slaughter in Northern Italy during warm months (May to October). Cattle were reared in different farms and their age at slaughter ranged between nine months and 15 years, most of them being culled cattle (median age: six years; average age: 4.

Detection of Toxoplasma gondii in free-range, organic pigs in Italy using serological and molecular methods.

Twenty-one free ranging pigs from three organically managed farms in northern Italy were examined for Toxoplasma gondii infection status by meat juice serology. DNA was extracted from all 21 animals and analysed for T. gondii by multilocus nested PCR-RFLP.

Immuno-histochemical study of ovine cystic echinococcosis (Echinococcus granulosus) shows predominant T cell infiltration in established cysts.

Ovine hydatidosis (OH; Echinococcus granulosus) is endemic in several European countries surrounding the Mediterranean basin. There have been a limited number of studies aimed at evaluating the local immune response to established tissue cysts in the ovine host. In the present study, immunohistochemical analysis of lymphocyte populations surrounding established cysts showed a predominance of CD3+ T cells compared to CD79+ B cells.

Prevalence in Finishing Pigs at Slaughter Plants in Northern Italy.

Finishing pigs carrying are believed to be the main source of carcass contamination at the beginning of slaughtering. The aim of this study was to assess the carrier status of finishing pigs at herd level by sampling pooled faeces on farm and mesenteric lymph nodes at slaughter in the North East of Italy. Environmental faecal samples belonging to 30 batches of pigs were collected on farm.

Prevalence, characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella enterica and Yersinia enterocolitica in pigs at slaughter in Italy.

In 2005-2008, 1152 samples (451 faecal samples, 451 carcass swabs and 250 tonsils) were collected from 451 finishing pigs slaughtered in three abattoirs of northern Italy. In two abattoirs, 34 scalding water samples were collected. The aim of this study was to investigate the faecal and palatine tonsil carriage rate of Salmonella enterica and Yersinia enterocolitica in pigs at slaughter and the degree of carcass contamination by these bacteria.

Comparison of an isothermal amplification and bioluminescence detection of DNA method and ISO 6579:2002 for the detection of Salmonella enterica serovars in retail meat samples.

The aim of the study was the comparative evaluation of an isothermal amplification and bioluminescence detection of DNA (IMBD) method and method ISO 6579:2002 for detection of Salmonella in retail meat products of unknown contamination status. A total of 200 meat samples were tested: 116 minced meat and meat preparations to be eaten cooked (52 chicken, 48 pork, and 16 beef samples) and 84 fresh meat samples (68 poultry and 16 pork). With one or both methods, 21 samples (10.

Phenotypic and genotypic features of antibiotic resistance in Salmonella enterica isolated from chicken meat and chicken and quail carcasses.

One hundred and twenty-three Salmonella enterica isolated in Italy from chicken meat and carcasses and from quail carcasses were analyzed to determine their levels of antibiotic resistance using antibiograms (phenotypic method) and PCR amplification of antimicrobial resistance-associated genes (genotypic method). The isolates were screened for the ability to grow in the presence of antibiotics (ampicillin, gentamicin, sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline) and for the presence of the following genes: pse-1, ant (3")-Ia, qacEΔI and sul-1, tetA, tetB and tetG. The most frequently isolated serotypes in the sample set were S.

Painful polyneuropathy associated with restless legs syndrome. Clinical features and sensory profile.

Background: The association of restless legs syndrome (RLS) with polyneuropathy, and its prevalence, have been evaluated differently throughout various studies. As subtypes of polyneuropathy characterized by neuropathic pain seem to be preferentially associated with RLS, we intended to investigate the prevalence and the features of RLS occurring with painful neuropathy, and to define whether there is a specific sensory phenotype.

Methods: We prospectively investigated 58 consecutive patients with distal symmetric polyneuropathy and neuropathic pain or dysesthesia, using a bedside protocol for sensory assessment.

Detection, semiquantitative enumeration, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Yersinia enterocolitica in pork and chicken meats in Italy.

Yersinia enterocolitica is recognized as an etiological agent of gastroenteritis, lymphadenitis, and chronic sequelae. During 2006 and 2007, 205 samples (125 pork and 80 chicken meats) were collected in Italy and tested for detection and most-probable-number (MPN) enumeration of Y. enterocolitica organisms.

Improvement of biomolecular methods for the identification and typing of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from raw meat.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the sensitivity of two m-PCR methods for the quantitative determination of E. coli O157:H7 in foodstuffs. Genomic serotyping was carried out on bacterial cultures, and the necessary time was optimized to increase the resolution of the method.

Non-length dependent small fiber neuropathy. a prospective case series.

We report the features of non-length dependent small fiber neuropathy (SFN) and compare them to those with distal length-dependent SFN. In a series of 224 consecutive neuropathy patients, we evaluated 44 patients with SFN diagnosed in the presence of both symptoms and signs. Eleven were classified as non-length dependent SFN.

Restless legs syndrome and painful neuropathy-retrospective study. A role for nociceptive deafferentation?

Objectives: Restless legs syndrome (RLS) occurs in polyneuropathy with small fiber involvement, possibly as a peculiar form of neuropathic pain; however, the relationship between pain and RLS has been poorly investigated in polyneuropathy.

Design, Setting, And Patients: We evaluated retrospectively the occurrence of RLS in 102 consecutive patients with polyneuropathy manifesting with neuropathic pain or dysesthesia, referred to the Neuromuscular Center, using the National Institutes of Health criteria for RLS. The patients were classified in subgroups characterized respectively by allodynia (hyperphenomena), with reported unpleasant sensations evoked by tactile stimuli, and hypoalgesia (hypophenomena), with absent pain sensation to pinprick, according to putative mechanisms of pain.