Identification of Contamination Sources and Assessment of Risk Factors Associated with the Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on Small-scale Cow-calf Operations in Oklahoma and Louisiana.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a human pathogen that exists as part of the commensal microflora of cattle and is shed in animal feces. Little is known about the effect of management practices on its occurrence and transmission on small-scale cow-calf operations. Identification of risk factors associated with farm practices could help implement effective measures to control E.

Effectiveness of Bacteriophages against Biofilm-Forming Shiga-Toxigenic In Vitro and on Food-Contact Surfaces.

(1) Background: Formation of biofilms on food-contact surfaces by Shiga-toxigenic (STEC) can pose a significant challenge to the food industry, making conventional control methods insufficient. Targeted use of bacteriophages to disrupt these biofilms could reduce this problem. Previously isolated and characterized bacteriophages ( = 52) were evaluated against STEC biofilms in vitro and on food-contact surfaces.

Effectiveness of Bacteriophages Against Biofilm-Forming Shiga-Toxigenic on Leafy Greens and Cucumbers.

Shiga-toxigenic (STEC) have caused several produce-associated outbreaks, making it challenging to control these pathogens. Bacteriophages could serve as effective biocontrol. Spinach, lettuce, and cucumbers, inoculated with STEC (O157, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145), were treated with lytic bacteriophages and stored at 4°C for 3 days.

Characterization of Bacteriophages Targeting Non-O157 Shiga Toxigenic Escherichia coli.

Non-O157 Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important group of foodborne pathogens, implicated in several outbreaks and recalls in the past 2 decades. It is therefore crucial to devise effective control strategies against these pathogens. Bacteriophages present an attractive alternative to conventional pathogen control methods in the food industry.

Improving the lean muscle color of dark-cutting beef by aging, antioxidant-enhancement, and modified atmospheric packaging.

The objective was to evaluate the effects of wet-aging, rosemary-enhancement, and modified atmospheric packaging on the color of dark-cutting beef during simulated retail display. No-roll dark-cutting strip loins ( = 12; pH > 6.0) were selected from a commercial packing plant within 3 d postharvest.

Isolation and Physiomorphological Characterization of O157:H7-Infecting Bacteriophages Recovered from Beef Cattle Operations.

Bacteriophages, recovered from beef cattle environment and specifically targeting O157:H7, were examined for their physiological and morphological characteristics. Degree of bacterial lysis and host range of isolated bacteriophages was determined against 55 isolates of O157:H7. Morphology of phages was examined under transmission electron microscope.

Apple, carrot, and hibiscus edible films containing the plant antimicrobials carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde inactivate Salmonella Newport on organic leafy greens in sealed plastic bags.

The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde incorporated into apple, carrot, and hibiscus-based edible films against Salmonella Newport in bagged organic leafy greens. The leafy greens tested included organic Romaine and Iceberg lettuce, and mature and baby spinach. Each leafy green sample was washed, dip inoculated with S.

Prevalence and concentration of Salmonella and Campylobacter in the processing environment of small-scale pastured broiler farms.

A growing niche in the locally grown food movement is the small-scale production of broiler chickens using the pasture-raised poultry production model. Limited research exists that focuses on Salmonella and Campylobacter contamination in the environment associated with on-farm processing of pasture-raised broilers. The objective of this study was to establish data relative to Salmonella and Campylobacter prevalence and concentration in soil and mortality compost resulting from prior processing waste disposal in the small-scale, on-farm broiler processing environment.

The antimicrobial effects of cinnamon leaf oil against multi-drug resistant Salmonella Newport on organic leafy greens.

There is generally no kill-step when preparing salad vegetables, so there is a greater risk for foodborne illness from contaminated vegetables. Some essential oils have antimicrobial activities and could provide a natural way to reduce pathogens on fresh produce. The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of cinnamon oil wash against Salmonella enterica serotype Newport on organic leafy greens.

Antimicrobial activity of oregano oil against antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enterica on organic leafy greens at varying exposure times and storage temperatures.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of oregano oil on four organic leafy greens (Iceberg and Romaine lettuces and mature and baby spinaches) inoculated with Salmonella Newport as a function of treatment exposure times as well as storage temperatures. Leaf samples were washed, dip inoculated with S. Newport (6-log CFU/ml) and dried.

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes on ham and bologna using pectin-based apple, carrot, and hibiscus edible films containing carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde.

Unlabelled: Edible films can be used as wrapping material on food products to reduce surface contamination. The incorporation of antimicrobials into edible films could serve as an additional barrier against pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms that contaminate food surfaces. The objective of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial effects of carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde, incorporated into apple, carrot, and hibiscus-based edible films against Listeria monocytogenes on contaminated ham and bologna.

Antimicrobial activity of apple, hibiscus, olive, and hydrogen peroxide formulations against Salmonella enterica on organic leafy greens.

Salmonella enterica is one of the most common bacterial pathogens implicated in foodborne outbreaks involving fresh produce in the last decade. In an effort to discover natural antimicrobials for use on fresh produce, the objective of the present study was to evaluate the effectiveness of different antimicrobial plant extract-concentrate formulations on four types of organic leafy greens inoculated with S. enterica serovar Newport.

Assessing the cross contamination and transfer rates of Salmonella enterica from chicken to lettuce under different food-handling scenarios.

Cross contamination of foodborne pathogens from raw meats to ready-to-eat foods has caused a number of foodborne outbreaks. The cross contamination and transfer rates of Salmonella enterica from chicken to lettuce under various food-handling scenarios were determined. The following scenarios were tested: in scenario 1, cutting board and knife used to cut chicken (10(6) CFU/g) were also used for cutting lettuce, without washing; in scenario 2, cutting board and knife were washed with water separately after cutting chicken, and subsequently used for cutting lettuce; and in scenario 3, cutting board and knife were thoroughly washed with soap and hot water after cutting chicken, and before cutting lettuce.

Escherichia coli O157 prevalence and enumeration of aerobic bacteria, Enterobacteriaceae, and Escherichia coli O157 at various steps in commercial beef processing plants.

The effectiveness of current antimicrobial interventions used in reducing the prevalence or load of Escherichia coli O157 and indicator organisms on cattle hides and carcasses at two commercial beef processing plants was evaluated. Sponge sampling of beef cattle was performed at five locations from the initial entry of the animals to the slaughter floor to the exit of carcasses from the "hotbox" cooler. For each sample, E.

Protocol for evaluating the efficacy of cetylpyridinium chloride as a beef hide intervention.

The objective of this study was to establish the necessary protocols and assess the efficacy of cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) as an antimicrobial intervention on beef cattle hides. Experiments using CPC were conducted to determine (i) the methods of neutralization needed to obtain valid efficacy measurements, (ii) the effect of concentration and dwell time after treatment, (iii) the effect of CPC on hide and carcass microbial populations when cattle were treated at a feedlot and then transported to a processing facility for harvest, and (iv) the effectiveness of spray pressure and two-spray combinations of CPC and water to reduce hide microbial populations. Residual CPC in hide sponge samples prevented bacterial growth.

Isolation, selection, and characterization of lactic acid bacteria for a competitive exclusion product to reduce shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle.

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were selected on the basis of characteristics indicating that they would be good candidates for a competitive exclusion product (CEP) that would inhibit Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the intestinal tract of live cattle. Fecal samples from cattle that were culture negative for E. coli O157:H7 were collected.

The effect of dietary wheat middlings and enzyme supplementation II: apparent nutrient digestibility, digestive tract size, gut viscosity, and gut morphology in two strains of leghorn hens.

An experiment was conducted with two strains of Leghorn hens, DeKalb Delta (D) and Hisex White (H), to investigate the effect of a commercial poultry enzyme preparation (EZ; xylanase plus protease) on the digestibility of protein, fat, Ca, and P and to determine any changes in the relative size of the digestive tract, gut morphology, and gut viscosity (GV) of birds fed wheat middlings (WM) over an 18-wk period. Three hundred birds (150 birds per strain) were randomly assigned to six diets: Diet 1, control (corn-soybean); Diets 2 and 3, 8% and 16% WM, respectively; Diet 4, 8% WM and 0.1% enzyme (EZ); and Diets 5 and 6, 16% WM and 0.

The effect of dietary wheat middlings and enzyme supplementation. 1. Late egg production efficiency, egg yields, and egg composition in two strains of Leghorn hens.

A study was conducted to test the effects of wheat middlings (WM) with and without enzyme (xylanase and protease) supplementation on late egg production (EP), egg yields, and egg composition in two strains of Leghorn hens (DeKalb Delta and Hisex White). Six diets were randomly assigned to 300 birds (150 birds per strain) from 42 to 60 wk of age. Diet 1 was a corn-soybean meal control, Diets 2 and 3 had 8 and 16% WM, respectively, Diet 4 had 8% WM with 0.

Strain and age effects on egg composition from hens fed diets rich in n-3 fatty acids.

A trial was conducted to study the effects of strain, age, and diet on egg production, egg composition, and yolk fatty acid incorporation. Three strains (six pens of eight hens per strain), [DeKalb Delta (D); Babcock B 300 (B); and Hy-Line W-36 (H)], were subjected to a 10% flax diet + oats from 30 to 50 wk of age. At 50 wk, hens were divided into two groups and one half were kept on flax + oats diets (three pens) or assigned to a second diet of flax - oats (three pens) to 60 wk of age.