Development of VISNIR predictive regression models for ultimate pH, meat tenderness (shear force) and intramuscular fat content of Australian lamb.

This study investigated the effectiveness of visible-near-infrared (VISNIR) spectroscopy at classifying Australian lamb for: a) ultimate pH (pH 24), b) meat tenderness (i.e. shear force at day 5 of ageing, SF5) and c) intramuscular fat (IMF) content at 24 h post-slaughter using a custom-made handheld probe coupled with the ASD Labspec Pro instrument.

Response of restraint stress-selected lines of Japanese quail to heat stress and Escherichia coli challenge.

Japanese quail selected for divergent corticosterone response to restraint stress were evaluated for their susceptibility to heat stress and challenge with Escherichia coli. These quail lines are designated as high stress (HS), low stress (LS), and the random-bred control (CS) lines. Heat stress (35°C, 8 h/d) began at 24 d until the end of the study at 39 d.

Recovery of Arcobacter spp. from nonlivestock species.

The genus Arcobacter encompasses campylobacter-like organisms that grow in air at 25 degrees C. Arcobacter has been detected or isolated from clinically healthy livestock as well as aborted fetuses and has been presumptively identified as either Campylobacter or Leptospira, based on its growth in selective semisolid media. Because reports from nonlivestock species are limited, this study examined nine presumptive isolates of Arcobacter spp.

A charcoal- and blood-free enrichment broth for isolation and PCR detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in chicken.

The microaerophilic nature of Campylobacter and its requirement of ∼5% O(2) for growth have complicated its recovery from foods. The addition to the enrichment media of oxygen quenchers such as charcoal or blood could interfere with PCR for its detection. In this study, a two-step simple aerobic method for Campylobacter detection is proposed.

Sub-iliac lymph nodes at slaughter lack ability to predict Salmonella enterica prevalence for swine farms.

The aim of this study was to assess the value of deep systemic sub-iliac lymph nodes collected at slaughter as predictors of Salmonella prevalence in live hogs. An observational study was conducted on 24 farms from September 2006 to February 2009. At least one cohort of market-weight pigs was visited for each farm.

Yeast cell-wall products containing beta-glucan plus ascorbic acid affect neonatal Bos taurus calf leukocytes and growth after a transport stressor.

The objectives were to ascertain whether a yeast cell-wall derivative that was 1.8% beta-glucan in combination with ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate could improve innate immunity and mediate transportation stress in neonatal calves, and to compare the 1.8% beta-glucan yeast cell-wall derivative with a more purified yeast cell-wall derivative (70% beta-glucan).

First multi-locus sequence typing scheme for Arcobacter spp.

Background: Arcobacter spp. are a common contaminant of food and water, and some species, primarily A. butzleri and A.

Clonality and antibiotic susceptibility of Yersinia enterocolitica isolated from U.S. market weight hogs.

Pigs are the only known animal reservoir of Yersinia enterocolitica strains pathogenic to humans. In this study 106 ail-positive pathogenic Y. enterocolitica isolates, previously recovered from 2793 swine fecal samples (3.

Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in market-weight turkeys on-farm and at slaughter.

To monitor the effects of feed withdrawal on the prevalence of Campylobacter, market-weight turkeys from six farms were examined before and after perimarketing events (feed withdrawal, transport, and holding at the slaughterhouse). Prior to transport, birds (n = 30 per farm) were slaughtered on-farm, and viscera (crops, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, colon, ceca, gallbladder, and spleen) were removed on the premises. Within ca.

Prevalence and concentration of Campylobacter in rumen contents and feces in pasture and feedlot-fed cattle.

Campylobacter are important human foodborne pathogens known to colonize the gastrointestinal tract of cattle. The incidence of Campylobacter in cattle may be seasonal and may vary among age groups and type (beef versus dairy). Less is known about other factors that could influence the prevalence, colonization site, and shedding of Campylobacter in cattle.

Prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in market weight hogs in the United States.

Pigs are the major animal reservoir for Yersinia enterocolitica strains, which are potentially pathogenic for humans. The goals of this study were (i) to estimate the individual animal and on-farm prevalences of Y. enterocolitica in hogs based on tonsil samples collected during National Animal Health Monitoring System Swine 2002 study and (ii) to use these data with data previously published for fecal samples to determine on-farm risk factors for Y.

Low prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in cull sows and pork.

The goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in sows slaughtered at a single Midwestern plant on two occasions (trial 1, n = 179 sows; trial 2, n = 160 sows). Fecal samples collected antemortem (trial 1) as well as animal tissues, and carcass swabs collected at the abattoir (trials 1 and 2) were analyzed. Eight isolates of L.

Species-specific identification of Campylobacters by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism and PCR targeting of the gyrase B gene.

PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of a 960-bp fragment of the Campylobacter gyrB gene with either DdeI or XspI restriction enzymes generated unique digestion patterns for 12 different Campylobacter species. In addition, PCR assays using species-specific primer sets targeting gyrB were specific for the respective Campylobacter species. Therefore, PCR-RFLP analysis and species-specific PCR assays based on the gyrB gene provide valuable tools for rapid and unambiguous identification of the majority of Campylobacter species.

Development of a real-time fluorescence resonance energy transfer PCR to detect arcobacter species.

A real-time PCR targeting the gyrase A subunit gene outside the quinolone resistance-determining region has been developed to detect Arcobacter species. The species identification was done by probe hybridization and melting curve analysis, using fluorescence resonance energy transfer technology. Discrimination between Arcobacter species was straightforward, as the corresponding melting points showed significant differences with the characteristic melting temperatures of 63.

Prevalence of Arcobacter species in market-weight commercial turkeys.

The prevalence of Arcobacter in live market weight turkeys was determined for six Midwestern commercial flocks at three intervals. Samples (n = 987) were collected from cloaca, feathers, ceca, crop, drinkers and environmental samples on farms and from carcasses at slaughter. Initially, EMJH-P80 and CVA isolated Arcobacter from 7.

Comparison of DNA extraction methods for analysis of turkey cecal microbiota.

Aim: As a prelude to long-term studies to characterize the microbiota of the turkey ceca, 14 DNA isolation protocols were evaluated for their ability to reproducibly characterize microbial diversity.

Methods And Results: Eight commercially available DNA extraction kits were assessed. DNA quantity and quality were assessed and competitive PCR was used to quantify the 16S bacterial rRNA genes.

Salmonella prevalence in market-age turkeys on-farm and at slaughter.

The objective of this study was to compare the prevalence of Salmonella in market-age turkeys on-farm and at slaughter (i.e., before and after feed withdrawal, catching, loading, transportation, and preslaughter holding).

Rapid aerosol transmission of Salmonella among turkeys in a simulated holding-shed environment.

Once turkeys arrive at Midwest processing plants, they are usually held in large open-sided sheds for 1 to 4 h, waiting to be unloaded. In hot, humid weather, large fans are used to cool the birds. The resultant air currents distribute a significant amount of dust to the turkeys.

Isolation and characterization of Yersinia enterocolitica from swine feces recovered during the National Animal Health Monitoring System Swine 2000 study.

A national study was conducted for the isolation of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in pig feces in the United States as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Swine 2000 study. Fecal samples collected from swine operations from September 2000 to March 2001 from 77 production sites in 15 of the top 17 swine-producing states were tested for the presence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica.

Effect of preslaughter events on the prevalence of Salmonella in market-weight turkeys.

The goal of this study was to determine if preslaughter events, such as transport to and holding at the slaughterhouse, affect Salmonella prevalence in turkeys. Floors of transport crates were swabbed after loading and prior to transport at the farm (time 1, n = 100 swabs per trial) and after transport to and holding at the abattoir (time 2, n = 100 swabs per trial). In addition, environmental samples were taken at each of the six premises (n = 25 per premises) as well as in the holding shed at the abattoir (n = 25 samples per trial).

Identification of host-associated alleles by multilocus sequence typing of Campylobacter coli strains from food animals.

Campylobacter coli is a food-borne pathogen associated increasingly with human gastroenteritis. C. coli has a high prevalence in swine, but is isolated also from cattle and poultry.

Amplified fragment length polymorphism based identification of genetic markers and novel PCR assay for differentiation of Campylobacter fetus subspecies.

Differentiation of Campylobacter fetus into C. fetus subsp. fetus (Cff) and C.

Prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica strains in pigs in the United States.

Yersinia enterocolitica is considered an important food-borne pathogen impacting the pork production and processing industry in the United States. Since this bacterium is a commensal of swine, the primary goal of this study was to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in pigs in the United States using feces as the sample source.

Joint inversion of multi-modal spectroscopic data of wheat flours.

The application of calibration and prediction (CAP) to joint measurements of near-infrared (NIR) and Raman spectra for the same reference data requires the development of joint inversion methodologies for the implementation of the calibration step. Joint inversion has been successfully utilized in geophysical prospecting and in medical diagnosis, where the need to perform CAP is not involved. However, the obvious ways in which joint inversion might be implemented in spectroscopy, where some form of CAP must be performed, do not appear to work.