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).

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.

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.

Detection of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups 0157 and 026 in the cecal content and lymphatic tissue of cattle at slaughter in Italy.

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) has emerged as a foodborne pathogen that can cause severe and potentially fatal illnesses, such as hemorrhagic colitis or the hemolytic uremic syndrome. In this study, 182 cattle at slaughter (119 dairy cows and 63 feedlot cattle) were randomly selected and tested for the presence of VTEC serogroups O26, O103, O111, O145, and O157 in their cecal content and lymphatic tissue (tonsils or mesenteric lymph nodes). A total of 364 samples were evaluated with an immunomagnetic separation technique followed by slide agglutination.