Paenibacillus polymyxa A26 Sfp-type PPTase inactivation limits bacterial antagonism against Fusarium graminearum but not of F. culmorum in kernel assay.

Fusarium graminearum and F. culmorum are the causing agents of a destructive disease known as Fusarium head blight (FHB). FHB is a re-emerging disease in small grain cereals which impairs both the grain yield and the quality.

Organic acids for control of Salmonella in different feed materials.

Background: Salmonella control in animal feed is important in order to protect animal and public health. Organic acids is one of the control measures used for treatment of Salmonella contaminated feed or feed ingredients. In the present study, the efficacy of formic acid (FA) and different blends of FA, propionic acid (PA) and sodium formate (SF) was investigated.

Estimation of multi-mycotoxin contamination in South African compound feeds.

A total of 92 commercial compound feeds from South Africa were investigated for various mycotoxins. The data reveal the highest incidence of feed contamination for fumonisins (FB) (range: 104-2999 µg/kg) followed by deoxynivalenol (DON) (range: 124-2352 µg/kg) and zearalenone (ZEA) (range: 30-610 µg/kg). The incidence of ochratoxin A (OTA) and aflatoxins (AF)-contaminated samples were generally low, i.

Uncertainty from sampling in measurements of aflatoxins in animal feedingstuffs: application of the Eurachem/CITAC guidelines.

The duplicate method for estimating uncertainty from measurement including sampling is presented in the Eurachem/CITAC guide. The applicability of this method as a tool for verifying sampling plans for mycotoxins was assessed in three case studies with aflatoxin B(1) in animal feedingstuffs. Aspects considered included strategies for obtaining samples from contaminated lots, assumptions about distributions, approaches for statistical analysis, log(10)-transformation of test data and applicability of uncertainty estimates.

Transmission and control of Salmonella in the pig feed chain: a conceptual model.

Infected breeder pigs and contaminated feed represent potential sources of Salmonella introduction to fattening pig herds and may thereby cause human infections acquired via consumption of contaminated pork. Modelling approaches such as quantitative microbial risk assessment could improve the design of strategies for control and tracing of Salmonella in the feed chain. However, the construction of such models requires a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the feed chain, including production processes, microbial processes and transport logistics.

DNA microarray for tracing Salmonella in the feed chain.

In the present study we investigated if the microarray platforms Premi®Test Salmonella (PTS) and Salmonella array (SA) could be applied for the identification and typing of Salmonella in artificially contaminated animal feed materials. The results were compared to the culture-based MSRV method and serotyping according to Kauffman-White. The SA platform showed a specificity of 100% for the identification of Salmonella compared to 93% with the PTS platform and a sensitivity of 99% or 100%, respectively.

Accuracy and sensitivity of commercial PCR-based methods for detection of Salmonella enterica in feed.

The present study compared the performance of commercial PCR-based Salmonella enterica detection methods (BAX System Q7, the iQ-Check Salmonella II kit, and the TaqMan Salmonella enterica detection kit) with culture-based methods (modified semisolid Rappaport-Vassiliadis [MSRV] and NMKL71) in spiked and naturally contaminated samples of feed mill scrapings (FMS), palm kernel meal (PKM), pelleted feed (PF), rape seed meal (RSM), soybean meal (SM), and wheat grain (WG). When results from the various feeds were compared, the number of Salmonella enterica CFU/25 g required to produce a positive were as follows: PKM > FMS = WG > RSM = SM = PF. These data are similar to those developed in earlier studies with culture-based Salmonella detection methods.

An assessment of soybeans and other vegetable proteins as source of Salmonella contamination in pig production.

Background: The impact of salmonella contaminated feed ingredients on the risk for spreading salmonella to pigs was assessed in response to two incidences when salmonella was spread by feed from two feed mills to 78 swine producing herds.

Methods: The assessment was based on results from the salmonella surveillance of feed ingredients before introduction to feed mills and from HACCP--based surveillance of the feed mills. Results from the mills of the Company (A) that produced the salmonella contaminated feed, were by the Chi.

A comparative study of cultural methods for the detection of Salmonella in feed and feed ingredients.

Background: Animal feed as a source of infection to food producing animals is much debated. In order to increase our present knowledge about possible feed transmission it is important to know that the present isolation methods for Salmonella are reliable also for feed materials. In a comparative study the ability of the standard method used for isolation of Salmonella in feed in the Nordic countries, the NMKL71 method (Nordic Committee on Food Analysis) was compared to the Modified Semisolid Rappaport Vassiliadis method (MSRV) and the international standard method (EN ISO 6579:2002).

Improvement and validation of RAPD in combination with PFGE analysis of Salmonella enterica ssp. enterica serovar Senftenberg strains isolated from feed mills.

In 1995 and 1996 a Swedish feed mill had problems due to a persistent contamination of Salmonella enterica spp. enterica serovar Senftenberg that was difficult to eliminate. Forty-eight strains isolated from the feed mill, together with unrelated strains included to evaluate the discriminatory power and reproducibility, were analysed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).