Genome-Based Characterization of Listeria monocytogenes, Costa Rica.

Genomic data on the foodborne pathogen Listeria monocytogenes from Central America are scarce. We analyzed 92 isolates collected during 2009-2019 from different regions in Costa Rica, compared those to publicly available genomes, and identified unrecognized outbreaks. Our findings suggest mandatory reporting of listeriosis in Costa Rica would improve pathogen surveillance.

Peptaibol Production and Characterization from and Their Action as Biofungicide.

Peptaibols (P), are a class of biologically active peptides isolated from soil, fungi and molds, which have interesting properties as antimicrobial agents. P production was optimized in flasks by adding sucrose as a carbon source, 2-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) as an additive amino acid, and cell debris as an elicitor. P were purified, sequenced and identified by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)coupled to mass spectrometry.

First characterization of the probiotic potential of lactic acid bacteria isolated from Costa Rican pineapple silages.

Background: Agro-industrial waste from tropical environments could be an important source of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) with probiotic potential.

Methods: Twelve LAB isolates were isolated from pineapple silages. The species identification was carried out considering 16S rRNA and S genes.

Modelling the Effect of Salt Concentration on the Fate of Isolated from Costa Rican Fresh Cheeses.

"Turrialba cheese" is a Costa Rican fresh cheese highly appreciated due to its sensory characteristics and artisanal production. As a ready-to-eat dairy product, its formulation could support growth. was isolated from 14.

Microbiological Safety and Presence of Major Mycotoxins in Animal Feed for Laboratory Animals in a Developing Country: The Case of Costa Rica.

Safety and quality of compound feed for experimental animals in Costa Rica is unknown. Some contaminants, such as spp. and mycotoxins, could elicit confounding effects in laboratory animals used for biomedical research.

Presence of Listeria monocytogenes in Ready-to-Eat Meat Products Sold at Retail Stores in Costa Rica and Analysis of Contributing Factors.

Abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is a pathogenic bacterium associated with ready-to-eat (RTE) meat products sold at the retail level. The objective of this research was to determine the prevalence of L. monocytogenes in RTE meat products sold at retail in Costa Rica and to study the factors associated with the levels of contamination; analyzed factors include hygienic practices within stores (cutting techniques and microbial contamination of products) and the behavior of the isolates (persistence against antimicrobials and transfer potential).

Effect of the type of packaging on the shelf life of ground rabbit meat.

Rabbit meat consumption has increased worldwide due to its health benefits in humans but few studies addressed the stability of this food matrix. The effect of two types of packaging (vacuum, VP; and polystyrene tray overwrap with PVC/polyvinyl plastic film, PT) was evaluated on the microbial stability (psychrotrophic; PSY, lactic acid bacteria; LAB, initial coliforms counts) and physicochemical (pH, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total volatile basic Nitrogen (TBV-N), color and drip loss) changes of ground rabbit meat during its storage at 4 ± 1 °C. VP packaging delayed PSY growth, lipid oxidation, protein degradation and undesirable color changes compared to PT samples.

Optimization of the In Vitro Bactericidal Effect of a Mixture of Chlorine and Sodium Gallate against Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter butzleri.

Abstract: Campylobacter spp. and Arcobacter butzleri are foodborne pathogens associated with the consumption of contaminated raw chicken meat. At the industry level, the combination of new and common antimicrobials could be used as a strategy to control the presence of pathogens in chicken carcasses.

Reduction of sodium additives in cooked sausages: effect on physicochemical, sensory and microbiological characteristics.

Several efforts have been made to reduce sodium in meat products due to its demonstrated negative health effects. This study evaluated the effect on physicochemical, sensory and microbiological characteristics of cooked sausages after a simultaneous reduction of salt (2.2% and 1.

Short communication: Effect of different kefir grains on the attributes of kefir produced with milk from Costa Rica.

Kefir is an artisanal product that is gaining scientific attention due to its increase in consumption attributed to its potential health benefits. The effect on the quality attributes of kefir grains of different origin (household and commercial) and preserved with different methods (drying and freezing) was evaluated to standardize a domestic and semi-industrial process. Chemical (protein, lactose.

Pet Food Quality Assurance and Safety and Quality Assurance Survey within the Costa Rican Pet Food Industry.

Costa Rican animal feed production is continually growing, with approximately 1,238,243 metric tons produced in 2018. Production-wise, pet cat and dog food are in fifth place (about 41,635 metric tons per year) amongst animal feeds, and it supplies up to 90% of the national market. Pet food production has increased as a response to the increase in the population of dogs and cats in Costa Rica, where 50.

First isolation report of Arcobacter cryaerophilus from a human diarrhea sample in Costa Rica.

Arcobacter cryaerophilus is an emerging enteropathogen and potential zoonotic agent transmitted by food and water. In Costa Rica, this bacterium has not been associated with cases of human gastroenteritis, even though it has been isolated from farm animals, especially poultry. This paper reports the first isolation of A.

Antimicrobial activity of different sodium and potassium salts of carboxylic acid against some common foodborne pathogens and spoilage-associated bacteria.

Cleaning and disinfection represent the most important activities associated with the elimination of dirt and microorganisms at food processing plants. Improper procedures may lead to cross contamination of food leading to its spoilage or even the transmission of foodborne pathogens. Several strategies have been used in order to achieve a good disinfection of surfaces and products; nevertheless, microbial resistance to common-use-products has developed lately.

Isolation and Identification of Arcobacter Species from Costa Rican Poultry Production and Retail Sources.

Arcobacter is a gram-negative rod recognized as a potential food- and waterborne pathogen; nevertheless, little is known about the effects of this pathogen on human and animal health. Although Arcobacter species are commonly found in nature, poultry is suspected to be the main vehicle for the transmission of this pathogen. The aims of this work were to determine the prevalence of Arcobacter spp.

Thermal Resistance of Clostridium difficile Spores in Peptone Water and Pork Meat.

The thermal resistance of four strains of Clostridium difficile spores (three hypervirulent and one nonhypervirulent) in peptone water (PW) and pork meat was evaluated individually at 70, 75, 80, 85, and 90°C using two recovery methods (taurocholate and lysozyme). PW or meat was inoculated with C. difficile spores and mixed to obtain ca.

Effect of meat ingredients (sodium nitrite and erythorbate) and processing (vacuum storage and packaging atmosphere) on germination and outgrowth of Clostridium perfringens spores in ham during abusive cooling.

The effect of nitrite and erythorbate on Clostridium perfringens spore germination and outgrowth in ham during abusive cooling (15 h) was evaluated. Ham was formulated with ground pork, NaNO2 (0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 ppm) and sodium erythorbate (0 or 547 ppm). Ten grams of meat (stored at 5 °C for 3 or 24 h after preparation) were transferred to a vacuum bag and inoculated with a three-strain C.

[Biofilm formation capacity of Listeria monocytogens strains isolated from soft cheese from Costa Rica].

Listeria monocytogenes is a bacteria associated with the production of severe infectious disease in human being, but also with the formation of biofilms in different surfaces related to the food production environment. Biofilm represents a serious problem in food industry, since it is a constant and important contamination source and also, bacteria present in it have an increased resistance towards physical and chemical agents of common use. The capacity of biofilm formation of L.

Inactivation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. on alfalfa seeds by caprylic acid and monocaprylin.

Alfalfa and other seed sprouts have been implicated in several Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella spp. human illness outbreaks in the U.S.