Microbiological assessment at slaughter of chicken carcasses from commercial, backyard and semi-backyard production systems.

INTRODUCTION: Smaller scale, alternative, chicken production systems are gaining popularity globally. However, this brings public health and market confidence concerns, especially where there are no established standards of production. The aim of this study was to carry out a microbiological analysis of chicken carcasses from the commercial, backyard and semi-backyard production systems, slaughtered in the same slaughterhouse. METHODOLOGY: Samples of 102 chicken carcasses were taken in two steps of the slaughter (A: after bleeding; and B: after chiller tank) and were subjected to aerobic mesophilic, coliforms at 35 °C and coliforms at 45 °C counts, and Salmonella spp. detection. Salmonella spp. isolates were subjected to antimicrobial resistance analysis. RESULTS: At slaughter step A, carcasses from the backyard system had less contamination than carcasses from the commercial system, with a difference of 0.7 log10 CFU/mL. Salmonella was identified in carcasses of all production systems and in both slaughter steps. Nine chicken carcasses were positive for Salmonella and no significant difference was observed in the occurrence of Salmonella amongst the carcasses from different production systems. Two Salmonella isolates, that presented the highest resistance profiles (one isolate was resistant to eight and the other to six out of ten tested antibiotics), were identified on carcasses from the semi-backyard system. CONCLUSIONS: Carcasses from the backyard system had a lower microbial count at the initial step of the slaughter process than the commercial production system. In addition, greater resistance to antimicrobials was observed in Salmonella isolates from semi-backyard system.

Physiological variations of serum biochemical profile in quarter horse mares at peripartum and in their neonatal foals / Variações fisiológicas no perfil bioquímico sérico de éguas quarto de milha no periparto e potros neonatos

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the serum biochemical profile in Quarter Horse mares in their peripartum, and neonates on their birth date, and to compare the values obtained for male and female foals, as well as values obtained for foals and mares on the day of delivery. Forty one adult, pregnant mares and their respective offspring on the day of delivery were analyzed, totaling 82 animals. Two samples of blood were collected from the mares, seven days before and on the day of delivery. From the foals, blood collection was performed on the day of their birth about 12 h after colostrum ingestion. The samples were centrifuged and the serum stored at -20 ºC for analyses. Each sample was used to determine the serum concentrations proteins, metabolites, minerals and enzymes. Physiological changes caused by peripartum led to higher serum total protein, albumin, and globulins on the day of delivery. Serum concentration of triglycerides and calcium /phosphorus ratio were greater seven days before delivery; iron concentration was higher than reference ranges in both moments of evaluation. In foals, albumin serum concentrations, albumin/globulins ratio, and aspartate aminotransferase remained below reference ranges. In foals, there was no influence of sex in the serum biochemical profile. When results obtained for foals on their birth date were compared with those obtained for the mares on the delivery day, cholesterol, triglycerides, phosphorus, iron, alkaline phosphatase, and gamma glutamyltransferase were higher in foals, and total protein, albumin, globulins, urea nitrogen, calcium/phosphorus ratio, and aspartate aminotransferase were higher in mares. Results showed variations in serum biochemistry in peripartum mares and neonates, as well as in the comparison between foals and mares on the day of delivery. Clinically, serum biochemistry values for peripartum mares and neonates should be considered in the analysis of laboratory results of tests carried out in this period.

Os objetivos deste estudo foram avaliar o perfil bioquímico sérico de éguas no periparto e potros no dia do nascimento, e confrontar os valores obtidos para potros machos e fêmeas, e desses com as éguas no dia do parto. Foram utilizadas 41 éguas adultas, gestantes, e suas respectivas crias no dia do nascimento, totalizando 82 animais. Das éguas foram coletadas duas amostras de sangue, sete dias antes do parto e no dia do parto. Dos potros, no dia do nascimento, aproximadamente 12 h após ingestão do colostro. As amostras foram centrifugadas e o soro estocado à ­ 20º C para análises. De cada amostra foram determinadas as concentrações séricas de proteínas, metabólitos, minerais e enzimas. Alterações fisiológicas decorrentes do periparto determinaram um quadro com maiores valores sérico das proteínas totais, albumina e globulinas no dia do parto. A concentração sérica dos triglicérides e a relação cálcio/fósforo foi maior aos sete dias antes do parto e, o ferro com valores superiores aos de referência, nos dois momentos avaliados. Nos potros as concentrações séricas da albumina, relação albumina/globulinas e aspartato aminotransferase permaneceram abaixo dos valores de referência. Não houve influencia do sexo nos valores dos constituintes bioquímicos séricos avaliados. Quando confrontados os resultados obtidos para potros, no dia do nascimento, com os das éguas no dia do parto, observou-se maiores valores do colesterol, triglicérides, fósforo, ferro, fosfatase alcalina e gama glutamiltransferase nos potros, e nas éguas maiores valores para proteínas totais, albumina, globulinas, nitrogênio ureico, relação cálcio/fósforo e aspartato aminotransferase. Os resultados revelaram variações nos valores dos constituintes bioquímicos séricos nas éguas no peripato, nos potros neonatos e dos potros em relação as éguas no dia do parto. Clinicamente, os valores dos constituintes bioquímicos séricos nas éguas no periparto e potros neonatos, devem ser considerados no momento da interpretação de resultados de análises laboratoriais nesses períodos.