Publications by authors named "Sebastiano Virgilio"

The aim of the present study was to evaluate Vibrio parahaemolyticus occurrences in bivalve molluscs harvested from Sardinian coastal environments between 2013 and 2015. The prevalence of pathogenic V. parahaemolyticus isolates is based on the detection of the two major virulence genes thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and thermolabile hemolysin (trh) To assess changes between 2011 and 2018 in the prevalence of V.

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Plastics are non-biodegradable polymers made up of different groups of petrochemical materials. Several biotic and abiotic factors can change the density of plastic fragmenting it and originating microplastics (MPs). MPs have been defined as small pieces of plastic less than 5 mm in size.

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Fish is one of the major food allergens which, in sensitised individuals, can cause life-threatening allergic reactions, even when present in small amounts. To protect consumers' health, the correct labeling of foods is important. The objective of the present study was to validate an in-house real-time PCR method targeting the ribosomal 18S rRNA gene as universal DNA marker for the detection of fish in foods.

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Abstract: The aim of the present study was the determination of Listeria monocytogenes, competitive microbiota, microbial hygiene indicators, and physicochemical parameters in the typical Mediterranean-style fermented sausages Salsiccia Sarda. A batch of Salsiccia Sarda (25 samples) naturally contaminated by L. monocytogenes and vacuum packaged after 24 days of ripening was included in the study.

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The aims of this paper were to collect and analyse preliminary data of phytoplankton in the water, biotoxins, , spp., spp. and microplastic eventually present in farmed mussels, and to acquire information about the production capability from an experimental pilot farm of the Calich Lagoon.

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Several planktonic dinoflagellates can produce lipophilic phycotoxins that represent a significant threat to public health as well as to shellfish and fish farming. Poisoning related to some of these toxins is categorised as diarrhetic shellfish poisoning. We analysed 975 shellfish samples from Tortoli in the central-eastern region of Sardinia (Italy) from January 2016 to March 2020, to investigate the prevalence of different lipophilic marine biotoxins in mollusc bivalves.

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Abstract: In the present study, we investigated the presence, seasonal distribution, and biomolecular characteristics of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus in samples of bivalve mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis, Crassostrea gigas, and Ruditapes decussatus) harvested and marketed in Sardinia (Italy) between 2017 and 2018. A total of 435 samples were submitted for qualitative determination of Vibrio spp., V.

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In Sardinia (Italy), bivalve molluscs production plays an important role in the trade balance. Diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), an intoxication caused by the ingestion of bivalve molluscs that have accumulated high levels of Okadaic acid (OA), may represent a serious risk for the public health and a remarkable economic loss for the producers. Aim of this work was to improve knowledge about the repeatability of OA accumulation phenomena in various seasons trying to understand whether or not there was a trend.

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Paralytic shellfish poisoning is a human intoxication syndrome associated with the consumption of seafood that has been contaminated with paralytic shellfish toxins (PSTs), a group of natural neurotoxic alkaloids produced by marine dinoflagellates, including some Alexandrium species. This study presents findings of PSTs in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) during 2018-2019 in several mollusc production areas of Sardinia (Italy, western Mediterranean). Investigations of the presence and abundance of PST-producing microalgal species in marine water and of the toxins associated with shellfish were carried out concomitantly.

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Calich Lagoon is a Mediterranean coastal lagoon located along the northwestern coast of Sardinia (Italy). The connection to marine and fresh water determines the high productivity of this coastal lagoon. Despite its great potential and the presence of natural beds of bivalve mollusks (), the lagoon has not yet been classified for shellfish production.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess the prevalence of specific bacteria in the Sardinian pig production chain, focusing on the monophasic serovariant of Typhimurium using advanced molecular methods like real-time PCR and multiplex PCR.
  • A total of 166 samples were taken from various locations, including slaughterhouses and meat processing plants, with a breakdown of different types of samples, such as pig tissue and meat preparations.
  • Results showed that 7 out of 166 samples (4.22%) tested positive for the target bacteria, with the identified strains confirming the presence of Typhimurium and its monophasic variant.
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Mediterranean mussels ( Mytilus galloprovincialis) and blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis) are among the most consumed fishery products, but they are frequent vehicles of foodborne infection worldwide. In this study, we investigated the occurrence and seasonality of zoonotic protozoans in mussels farmed or sold at retail outlets in Italy. We collected and tested 1,440 M.

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Introduction: Diarrhoetic shellfish poisoning (DSP), an alimentary intoxication known to lead to intestinal symptoms, and caused by toxins produced by some dinoflagellates (including several ), represents a serious threat to public health. The aim of this paper was to provide information about the occurrence and abundance of potentially toxic harmful algal species causing DSP, and the associated concentration of okadaic acid (OA) toxins. The departing assumption was that in the study area there was an increase in the presence both of species and OA and its derivates that could result in a risk to the health of seafood consumers.

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The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of short purification cycles on the safety of naturally contaminated Mytilus galloprovincialis from harvesting areas of the Gulf of Olbia (Sardinia, Italy). Samples from ten batches of mussels were collected before, during and after purification treatment at two purification centres (A-B). All the samples were analysed for Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp according to Council Regulation (EC) 2285/2015.

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This work reports the first communication relating to the presence of yessotoxins in from coastal mussel farms (Sardinia, western Mediterranean) detected during 2008 and 2013 through a monitoring programme. The paper emphasizes how the changes both in yessotoxin permitted limits and used methods, established by legislation, have influenced the interpretation of the obtained results. Consequently, the samples that resulted negative during 2008 would have been positive until August 2013 and negative from September 2013 up to now, and the samples that were positive in 2013 would have been positive in 2008 and negative nowadays, according to Regulation currently in force.

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Article Synopsis
  • Sardinia is a significant producer of edible bivalve mollusks, but it has faced repeated farm closures due to toxic algal blooms since the early 2000s.
  • A monitoring program from January to May 2015 showed that Diarrheic Shellfish Poisoning (DSP) toxins were found in various bivalve samples, while Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP) toxins were detected only once and within legal limits.
  • The study highlighted a consistent presence of potentially toxic algal species, with an increase in DSP toxicity in mussels, but no clear link was established between toxin levels in shellfish and algal species presence, except for a slight correlation with one algal species.
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Healthy pigs carrying pathogenic to human strains are the main source of entry into slaughterhouse, where cross-contamination of carcasses can happen. The aim of this work was to determine prevalence in slaughtered pigs, investigating the presence of carriers in relation to carcass contamination. A total of 132 pig samples (tonsils, mesenteric lymph nodes, colon content, carcass surface) were collected from 4 Sardinian slaughterhouses.

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With this study, 28 pools of snails of the genus , respectively (n=24) and (n=4) were analysed. They were taken from snail farming and stores. The snails were from Sardinia, other regions of Italy, and from abroad.

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Escherichia coli 026 is known as a verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) organism that causes severe foodborne diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although cattle are the most important reservoir of VTEC, only a few reports on the role of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a reservoir of VTEC and on the presence of these organisms in their milk are available.

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