Assessment of some toxic elements (Co, Cr, Mn, Se, and As) in muscle, offal, hair, and blood of camels (Camelus dromedaries) and their risk assessment.

Background: Camel meat tainted with heavy metals or trace elements may pose a health risk to consumers. Heavy metal contamination poses a severe danger due to both their toxicity and bioaccumulation in the food chain. Aim: To estimate the residual levels of heavy metals (Co, Cr, Mn, Se, and As) in muscle, liver, kidney, hair, and serum of three camel breeds (Magaheem, Maghateer, and Wadha) collected from Al-Omran abattoir, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. Methods: A total of 225 tissue samples (muscles, liver, kidney, serum, and hair) were taken and analyzed using an Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Health risk assessment was assessed using the guidelines set by the US Environmental Protection Agency. Results: Camel breed significantly (p < 0.05) influences Co, Cr, Mn, and Se accumulation and distribution in organs and muscle; however, arsenic accumulation was not significantly affected (p < 0.05) by camel breeds. The highest values of Co, Cr, Se, and Mn in all examined samples were detected in the liver samples of Maghateer and Magaheem breeds. Furthermore, significant strong positive correlation between serum and liver cobalt, chromium, manganese, and arsenic. The estimated daily intake owing to camel meat consumption was less than the tolerated daily intake. Conclusion: Heavy metals were distributed among different breeds of camel. Trace elements (Pb and Cd) in meat and offal were below the international maximum permissible limit. The correlation between samples reflects the role of hair as a good tool for the identification of heavy metal pollution.

Prevalence and antibiogram of shigatoxinproducing E. coli in camel meat and offal.

Background: Camels are important animals in Egypt and other Arab countries on the basis of their economic value and ethnic culture. Escherichia coli is implicated in several gastrointestinal infections and outbreaks worldwide, especially in developing countries. It causes infections that might lead to death. Numerous biological activities, such as antioxidative, antibacterial, anti-diabetic, anti-mutagenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and diuretic, are associated with coriander and coriander essential oils. Aim: This work targeted investigation of the prevalence, antibiogram, and occurrence of virulence genes of E. coli in camel meat liver and kidney. Besides, the anti-E. coli activity of coriander oil was further examined. Methods: Camel meat, liver, and kidneys were collected from local markets in Egypt. Isolation and identification of E. coli were performed. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the obtained E. coli isolates was screened using the disk diffusion assay. To detect the presence of virulence-associated genes (stx1, stx2, eaeA, and hylA gens), polymerase chain reaction was used. An experimental trial was done to investigate the anti-E. coli activity of coriander oil. Results: The obtained results revealed isolation of the following E. coli pathotypes: O17:H18, O128:H2, O119:H6, O103:H4, O145:H-, and O121:H7. The recovered E. coli isolates practiced multidrug resistance profiling with higher resistance toward Erythromycin, Nalidixic Acid, Clindamycin, and Ampicillin. However, the isolates were sensitive to Meropenem and cefoxitin. The recovered isolates had expressed different virulence attributes. Coriander oil of 2% could significantly reduce E. coli O128 count in camel meat by 65%. Conclusion: Therefore, strict hygienic measures are highly recommended during the processing of camel meat. The use of coriander oil during camel meat processing is highly recommended to reduce E. coli count.

Risk assessment of some toxic metals in canned fish products retailed in Mansoura, Egypt.

Background: Canned fish products are widely consumed in Egypt, particularly for protein-rich meals that are quick to prepare and low in calories. Canned fish products are contaminated with toxic metals from the fish itself or from canning materials during processing. Aim: To determine the residual levels of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), aluminum (Al), and Tin (Sn) in some canned fish products obtained from retail shops in Mansoura, Egypt. Furthermore, noncarcinogenic health risks evaluation for the Egyptian population due to hazardous metal oral intake. Methods: One hundred canned fish products (20 each of herring, mackerel, salmon, sardine, and tuna) were collected from May to September 2023, and canned fish products were obtained from Mansoura city markets in Egypt. Samples were digested in a solution composed of 60% nitric acid and 40% perchloric acid, and then an atomic absorption spectrophotometer was used for the detection of selected toxic metals. Results: It was found that the residual level of hazardous metals exceeded the acceptability level established in the European Union for Pb, Cd, and Hg by 20%, 10%, and 10%, 15%, 5%, and 20%, 35%, 30%, and 45%, 25%, 25%, and 40%, in examined herring, mackerel, sardine, and tuna, respectively. In contrast, all salmon samples were accepted for Pb and Hg, and only 5% were not accepted due to a higher Cd level than the maximum permissible limit. The average estimated daily intake of (EDI) is below the tolerable daily intakes (TDIs) for all metals. Comparatively, the EDI of Hg was 0.265 µg/kg body weight (B.W) exceeded TDIs 0.228 µg/kg B.W. The hazard index for canned tuna and sardines is more than one. Conclusion: Canned fish products are contaminated with a variety of toxic metals, especially sardine and tuna. Therefore, it is advised to decrease the consumption rate of such fish products.

Depraved appetite in dromedary camels: Clinical, ultrasonographic, and postmortem findings.

Background: Camels are subjected to a wide variety of nutritional deficiencies as they are largely dependent upon grazing desert plants. As a consequence, the syndrome of pica or depraved appetite is occasionally seen in dromedary camels. The condition is manifested as chewing or eating abnormal things such as wood, dirt, bones, stones, clothes, plastics, mud, sand, or other inanimate objects. Aim: This study was designed to investigate the clinical, ultrasonographic, and postmortem findings in dromedary camels with pica or depraved appetite. Methods: Twenty-five camels of 5 days to 15 years were examined. Owner complaints included depraved appetite, loss of body condition, regurgitation of stomach content, and partial or complete absence of feces. Symptoms described were present for a period varying between 3 days, up to 12 months. The stomach compartments and small and large intestines were scanned using ultrasonography from the right and left sides of the abdomen. Necropsy was carried out on six female and three male camels where the thoracic and abdominal organs were examined with special attention to the digestive system. Results: The affected animals had a history of gradual loss of body conditions, eating foreign objects, decreased or total absence of feces, and regurgitation of stomach content. Using ultrasound, the foreign body was imaged occluding completely or partially the intestines. Foreign bodies within the rumen could not be visualized with ultrasound. In cases where the rumen is impacted by sand, small pin-points revealing acoustic enhancement were imaged. Foreign bodies were removed from the rumen at exploratory rumenotomy (n = 11), laparotomy (n = 3), or at necropsy (n = 8) in the form of plastics, cloths, sand, mud, wool balls, robes, glasses, or even metallic objects which may be blunt or sharp. Sixteen (64%) of the camels were recovered while the remaining 9 (36%) did not survive. Conclusion: The syndrome of pica or depraved appetite is an important condition in dromedary resulting in the ingestion of objects other than normal feed. Substantial economic losses are expected as a result of this syndrome. Ultrasonography of the digestive system may help the clinician in some cases to localize of occluding foreign bodies in the intestines, while in the transabdominal scanning of the stomach is valuable only in cases of sand impaction.

Heavy metal contents in salted fish retailed in Egypt: Dietary intakes and health risk assessment.

Background: In Egypt, salted fish is considered a typically processed fish, including salted sardine, salted mullet (feseikh), keeled mullet (sahlia), and herrings. High-quality protein, polyunsaturated fatty acids, vital amino acids, and trace minerals such as magnesium and calcium are all abundant in fish. However, eating salted fish can expose people to toxins found in the environment, such as heavy metals. Aim: In Zagazig, Egypt, four types of locally produced salted fish-salted sardine, feseikh, sahlia, and herrings-were tested for heavy metals, specifically lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Second, the assessed heavy metals linked to the Egyptian population's consumption of salted fish were used to calculate estimated daily intakes (EDIs) and potential health hazards, such as hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI). Methods: Samples of salted herrings, feseikh, sahlia, and sardines were gathered from the markets in Zagazig. Samples of salted fish were subjected to acid digestion and then heavy metal extraction. Atomic absorption spectrometers (AAS) were used to measure heavy metals. HI, HQ, and EDI were computed computationally. Results: With the exception of mercury, which was not found in the salted herrings, the recorded results showed that all of the tested metals were present in the samples that were evaluated. The herrings contained residual Pb and Cd contents that were highest, followed by sardine, feseikh, and sahlia, in that order. After sardine, herrings, and sahlia, feseikh has the greatest concentration. Sardine, feseikh, and sahlia had the highest quantities of mercury, in that order. A number of samples were found to be above the maximum allowable levels. There were no apparent hazards associated with consuming such conventional fish products, according to the computed HQ and HI values for the heavy metals under investigation based on the daily intakes. Conclusion: Samples of salted fish sold in Zagazig, Egypt, had high quantities of the hazardous elements Pb, Cd, As, and Hg. Due to the bioaccumulation and biomagnification characteristics of these studied metals, such data should be taken carefully even though the computed health hazards revealed no potential problems.

Impact of Dietary Egg Yolk IgY Powder on Behavior, Meat Quality, Physiology, and Intestinal Escherichia coli Colonization of Broiler Chicks.

The current study investigated the impact of different concentrations of purified egg yolk immunoglobulin Y (IgY) supplemental food on the growth performance, behaviors, cecal contents of Escherichia coli, and the meat quality of broiler chicks. Four dietary groups were given to 180 female Ross broiler chicks at random (n = 45 for each). The control group was fed a standard diet only, whereas the other three experimental groups were fed the same basic diet supplemented with 1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 µg/ml IgY for a duration of 42 days. Significant greater behavioral activities, including, feeding, drinking, and dust bathing (p < 0.05), in the birds fed 4,000 µg/ml of IgY compared to the control group were observed. Greater weight gains of the crop, proventriculus, gizzard, and intestine (p < 0.05) were observed for broiler chicks fed 4,000 µg/ml of IgY when compared to the control group. After 3 weeks of feeding, the groups fed 3,000 and 4,000 µg/ml IgY had significant lower E. coli counts in the muscle and cecal contents (p < 0.05) when compared to the control group. Moreover, dietary supplementation with 4,000 µg/ml IgY in the third week and 3,000 µg/ml IgY in the sixth week resulted in greater weight gain (p < 0.01) when compared to the control group. Also, at week 3, chicks fed 4,000 µg/ml of IgY had a lower feed conversion ratio (FCR) when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). At week 6, chicks fed 3,000 µg/ml of IgY had lower FCR than the control (p < 0.05). The circulating heterophile/lymphocyte ratio was simply altered in birds fed variable IgY concentrations (1,500, 3,000, and 4,000 µg/ml), with no significant differences compared to the control group due to the individual resistance of each bird to physiological stress. The addition of 4,000 µg/ml IgY to the diet enhanced the nutritive value of meat, including protein, fat, and ash content (p < 0.05). Our study concluded that dietary supplementation of 3,000 and/or 4,000 µg/ml IgY improved the growth rates, behavioral activities, intestinal health indices, and meat quality of broiler chicks.

Genotyping and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens and Clostridioides difficile in Camel Minced Meat.

The present study aimed to determine the occurrence, genotypes, and antimicrobial resistance of Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) and Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) in camel minced meat samples collected from small butcher shops and supermarkets in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia. A total of 100 camel minced meat samples were randomly collected from small butcher's shops (n = 50) and supermarkets (n = 50) in Al-Ahsa Governorate, Saudi Arabia. C. perfringens and C. difficile were isolated and identified using the VITEK-2 compact system and 16S rRNA gene amplification. Genotypes, toxin genes, and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates were determined. Moreover, ELISA was used to detect C. perfringens and C. difficile toxins. C. perfringens and C. difficile were isolated from 14% and 4% of the tested minced meat samples, respectively. Out of the 14 C. perfringens isolates, type A (64.3%), type B (7.1%), type C (21.5%), and type D (7.1%) were detected. However, out of the four C. difficile isolates, three (75%) were type A+B+ and one (25%) was type A-B+. None of the C. perfringens or C. difficile toxins were identified using ELISA. C. perfringens and C. difficile isolates exhibited a high rate of resistance to tetracycline (56% and 75%, respectively). However, all isolates were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanate. Multidrug resistance was observed in three (21.4%) C. perfringens and one (25%) C. difficile isolates. In conclusion, camel minced meat was contaminated with C. perfringens and C. difficile, which present a potential risk of food poisoning. The majority of the isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and some isolates were multidrug-resistant. Therefore, food safety standards and frequent inspections of abattoirs, small butcher shops, and supermarkets should be enforced.

Three species of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infect camels on the Arabian Peninsula.

We report on the genetic identity of 36 Echinococcus cysts that were collected during a recent slaughterhouse survey of 810 locally bred camels (dromedaries) in the Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Analysis of a partial nad1 gene sequence showed that the majority (n = 29) belonged to E. granulosus sensu stricto, four to E. canadensis G6/7, and three to E. ortleppi. Eight of the 29 E. granulosus s.s. cysts contained protoscoleces; all other cysts were calcified and non-viable. This is the first report of the presence E. ortleppi from the Arabian Peninsula, a parasite that is typically transmitted via cattle. The results indicate widespread infection of camels with CE in eastern Saudi Arabia and an active role of camels in the lifecycles of at least E. granulosus s.s.. Complete cox1 haplotype analysis of 21 E. granulosus s.s. isolates shows that the majority of variants circulating in eastern Saudi Arabia is distinct from but closely related to haplotypes from neighboring countries in the Middle East, which indicates the presence of this parasite in KSA for a longer period of time. All isolates of E. granulosus s.s. in this study belonged to the G1 cluster, although the G3 genotype has previously also been reported from the Middle East.

Inactivation of Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat smoked turkey meat by combination with packaging atmosphere, oregano essential oil and cold temperature.

The effects of packaging atmosphere, storage temperature and oregano essential oil (EO) on growth of Listeria monocytogenes on ready-to-eat smoked turkey were studied. Smoked turkey slices were inoculated with a strain of Listeria monocytogenes Scott A (5.95, 5.28 and 5.26 log CFU/g) then vacuum packaged (VP), modified atmosphere packaging (MAP: 40% CO2 and 60% N2) and MAP with oregano essential oil (MAPEO), respectively. The treated slices were then stored at 0, 5, 10 and 15 °C for 179.88 days and the L. monocytogenes Scott A's growth and microbial shelf life were monitored. The combination of MAP or MAPEO and storage temperature did not allow growth of L. monocytogenes higher than log 1 CFU/g during all storage periods. While in VP temperature combinations, the multiplication of bacteria were ≥ 1 log CFU/g. In VP, MAP and MAPEO smoked turkey, the growth of L. monocytogenes increased regardless of storage temperature. In MAPEO samples the inoculum in the product was suppressed by ca. 5 log CFU/g at 0, 10 and 15 °C at 180, 117 and 81 days of storage, respectively. The inhibition of L. monocytogenes in ready-to-eat smoked turkey by the combinations of MAP and MAPEO was enhanced by storage at 0 or 5 °C. The MAPEO system can be used effectively to control growth of pathogen in processed food when maintaining fixed temperature measures is difficult.

The effect of rosemary extract and lactic acid on the quality of refrigerated broiler fillets.

The current study investigated the effect of rosemary extract (0.2% RE) and lactic acid (1% LA) on some freshness, bacterial parameters and formation of biogenic amines during refrigeration of broiler fillets. Ninety broiler fillet samples were divided into three groups (each 30). The control group was dipped in sterile distilled water, while the RE and LA groups were dipped in rosemary extract 0.2% (w/v) and lactic acid 1% (w/v), respectively. Sensory evaluation, pH, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), total psychrotrophic and Enterobacteriaceae counts were performed at zero time and at 3 days interval until the group were rejected from sensory analysis. Organoleptic scores were unacceptable after the 9th, 12th and 15th day of refrigeration in control, RE and LA groups, respectively. TVB-N was the lowest in LA group (3rd day; 4.36 ± 0.12, 6th day; 5.62 ± 0.7 and 9th day; 10.13 ± 0.98) when compared with the RE and control groups. Moreover, TBARS was the highest in the control group (3rd day; 0.22 ± 0.06, 6th day; 0.39 ± 0.07 and 9th day; 0.78 ± 0.09) when compared with the RE and LA groups. LA group showed the lowest number of psychrotrophic bacteria during refrigeration period when compared with the other groups. Enterbacteriaceae was detected at zero, 3rd and 6th day in control, RE and LA groups, respectively. This study concluded that dipping in LA 1% or RE 0.2% reduce the psychrotrophic and Enterobacteriaceae bacteria of broiler fillet and increased the acceptability of refrigerated fillet, decreased the biogenic amines formation and rancidity. Therefore, broiler fillets dipped in RE 0.2% or LA 1% can be used up to 12 or 15 days when refrigerated at 4 °C.