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.