Influence of incorporating dried fruits on dairy drinks characteristics focusing on their antimicrobial effects.

Objective: The study was designed to show the effect of adding different levels of dried fruit extracts for 14 days on sensory and chemical parameters in dairy drinks. The survival of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus cereus in artificially contaminated dairy drinks fortified with these extracts was also studied. Materials and Methods: The freshly watery extracts and nonaqueous extracts of dried fruits were prepared by rotary evaporators and solvents, respectively. The determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration of dried fruit extracts was achieved using the disc diffusion test. The sensory evaluation of samples was done, while the chemical parameters of the examined samples were determined by the calibrated analyzer. In addition, the degree of survival of P. aeruginosa and B. cereus in inoculated milk samples was also estimated. Results: In pasteurized and Rayeb milk samples, the water extract of carob and all alcoholic dried fruit extracts had a significant effect on compositional parameters in comparison to control samples. At day 14 of pasteurized milk storage, the watery (20.0%) and alcoholic (10.0%) extracts of carob significantly improved its sensory parameters. Conclusion: Based on the survival results, all utilized dried fruit extracts had a significant inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa and B. cereus growth in the fortified milk samples at the end of storage. This trial of the survival of these new dairy drinks is the first investigation, particularly in the Middle East. Extracts of utilized dried fruits have prospective functions that enhance dairy drink characteristics.

Investigation of the influence of xanthan on mozzarella cheese characteristics focusing on its antimicrobial effect.

Objective: This study was designed to show the effect of adding different levels of microbial (lab-produced) and commercial xanthan (CX) for 30 days on the sensory, chemical, and microbiological parameters of mozzarella cheese (MC). Materials and Methods: The production of xanthan was done in Garcia-Ochoa's medium. The sensory evaluation of the examined MC was achieved through a tabulated scorecard. The Gerber method was used for the determination of MC fat%. The mean counts of staphylococci [colony forming unit (CFU)/gm], coliforms (most probable number/gm), fungi (CFU/gm), and mesophilic bacteria (CFU/gm) were estimated in different fortified cheeses. Also, mean counts of Escherichia coli O157 and Staphylococcus aureus in artificially contaminated MC were determined. Results: The microbial xanthan (MX) had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on the sensory parameters of the examined samples with its concentration (0.0007%) after 20 days of storage. The MX (0.0005%) and CX (0.0002%) had a significant effect on moisture, fat in dry matter, and protein percentage of MC throughout the storage period. The high meltability degree of MC was observed in samples with both types of xanthan (0.0002%) at the end of storage. Conclusion: Both types of xanthan at all concentrations had a significant reducing effect on E. coli O157 and S. aureus in all samples from 10 to 30 days of storage. Xanthan has accepted attentiveness and offers beneficial and safe characteristics that improve its adaptability in MC. In the Middle East, this survival trial of E. coli O157 and S. aureus in the MC supplemented by xanthan is considered a scarce exploratory investigation.

Evaluation of the cytokines response in buffaloes focused on its milk as a newly emerging indicator tracing for toxocariasis.

This study aimed to evaluate the immune responses and oxidative stress provoked by Toxocara vitulorum infection in buffaloes with special reference to milk parameters as an emerging tool. The use of the milk tool was reported for the first time in tracing T. vitulorum infection in Egyptian buffaloes. Intestine, milk, serum, and liver samples were gathered from flocks in Cairo and Giza districts to evaluate buffalo immune responses provoked by T. vitulorum. The compositional items and somatic cells of milk were monitored. The intestine and milk were evaluated for interleukin IL-1ß, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction protocol and the analysis of malondialdehyde (MDA) as an oxidative stress marker. The mean percentages for the total solids, fats, proteins, lactose, salts, pH, and somatic cell count/ml in positive samples were 11.23 ± 0.37, 5.1 ± 0.17, 4.44 ± 0.14, 3.9 ± 0.14, 0.81 ± 0.02, 6.8 ± 0.22, and 4.23 × 106± 1.41 × 105 cells/ml, respectively. A significant difference (p < 0.05) was observed in the mean values of compositional items except for the total protein %, salts %, and pH. For T. vitulorum-contaminated samples, the milk IL-1ß, IL-6, TNF-α, and MDA (nmol/ml) were 7 ± 0.23, 18 ± 0.6, 17 ± 0.56, and 3.7 ± 0.12, respectively (which were less than the values for intestinal cytokines). There is a statistical difference (p < 0.05) between positive and negative samples in the intestinal, milk cytokines, and MDA. This study is an initial investigation of the utilization of intestine and milk cytokines in the evaluation of buffalo toxocariasis.

Milk tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), interferon (IFN-γ) and oxidative stress markers as new indicators for fascioliasis in dairy water buffaloes.

Sixty Bubaline milk samples with corresponding blood samples were obtained from flocks at random in Cairo and Giza Governorates. The aerobic bacteria & somatic cells were counted and evaluated the physicochemical parameters of milk. Both milk and serum of buffaloes' were evaluated for tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1ß), and interferon (IFN-ɤ) by quantitative real-time PCR protocol, and oxidative stress markers were measured spectrophotometrically. There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the mean values of whole milk physicochemical aspects except the moisture % & pH values were recorded for infested and non-infested animals. For F. gigantica infested animals, the milk TNF-α, IL-1ß, interferon IFN-γ, malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) values were 17.5 ± 0.67, 18.5 ± 0.71, 19.25 ± 0.74, 7.75 ± 0.29, and 1.1 ± 0.04, respectively (lesser than serum values) with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between positive and negative samples for both examined serum and milk samples. There was also a significant (p < 0.05) negative relationship between MSCC & fat% and protein%, while a significant (p < 0.05) positive relationship between MSCC and the investigated milk cytokines in F. gigantica infested animals. This study is considered one of the fewest investigations of milk cytokines and oxidative stress markers in buffaloes fascioliasis diagnosis. Meanwhile, monitoring these genes modification that is active in the milk-producing gland is significant to typify the act technicality of the inherited immunity that helps the progress of schemes to retain the udder health.

Safety and quality aspects of whole and skimmed milk powders.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays, dried milk products are highly traded and consumed all over the world, so we aimed in this study to evaluate to what extent whole and skim milk powders are safe and comply with Egyptian standards. METHODS: Eighty samples of dried milk (50 whole milk powder and 30 skim milk powder) were gathered from several retailers and supermarkets for evaluation of their differing quality and safety parameters. RESULTS: The most frequent off-flavors recovered from whole milk powder samples were cooked ones and, in the case of skim milk powder samples, flat ones. Five samples of whole milk powder were of fair quality and three samples of poor quality, according to the sensory evaluation. The compositional parameters, moisture, %, fat, %, protein, %, and acidity, %, were measured as mean values of 3.90 ±0.15, 26.90 ±0.19, 25.53 ±0.27, and 0.99 ±0.03% in the examined whole milk powder samples and 3.77 ±0.08, 1.11 ±0.05, 34.62 ±0.29, and 1.22 ±0.03% in the examined skimmed milk powder samples, respectively. These results were within the range of component requirements set by the Egyptian Standard (2014; ES: 1780/2014) for dried milk products. Also, the microbiological safety of the milk powder samples was analyzed by assessment of the total viable count, total yeast and mold count, Coliforms count, Enterobacteriaceae, E. coli, C. sakazakii, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes. Staphylococcus aureus was the most prevalent isolate (36.00% and 6.67%) followed by Enterobacteriaceae (20.00% and 3.33%), of whole and skim milk powder, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae isolates included Enterobacter cloacae ssp. Cloacae, and Pantoea spp., which were specified by traditional biochemical tests and Vitek2 system. All Enterobacteriaceae isolated spp. were resistant to cephalothin, neomycin, tobramycin and colistin sulphate, and sensitive to chloramphenicol, gentamycin and nalidixic acid. E. coli, C. sakazakii, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes couldn't be isolated from all the tested samples. By using Inductive Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometer (ICP-MS), we could measure lead and mercury as mean values of 0.243 ±0.069 and 0.261 ±0.052 mg/kg for whole milk powder samples at a percentage of 68.00 and 34.00%, while for the skim milk powder samples they were 0.150 ±0.037, and 0.347 ±0.110 mg/kg at a percentage of 66.67 and 40.00%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Finally, thirty-four whole milk powder and twelve skimmed milk powder samples didn't comply with Egyptian standards, so it is necessary for authorities to put more attention on this and regular monitor it.

Milk As a New Diagnostic Tool for Rapid Detection of Fascioliasis in Dairy Goats Using Excretory/Secretory Antigen.

PURPOSE: Fascioliasis is a serious livestock illness of particular importance for dairy goats; the objectives of this study were to describe effects of F. gigantica on milk composition and to use this information to estimate economic damages linked with Fasciola spp. infections. Furthermore, the study sought to standardize the use of milk instead of serum for early diagnosis of fascioliasis in dairy goats. METHODS: One-hundred samples of goat milk along with corresponding blood samples were obtained at random from flocks in Cairo and Giza Governorates. The ELISA and DOT-ELISA were performed in both serum and milk of dairy goats. RESULTS: Total mesophilic count (mean value) was 2.12 × 106 ± 1.63 × 105 CFU/ml in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) positive samples and 1.46 × 104 ± 8.58 × 102 CFU/ml in ELISA-negative samples. The mean values were significantly different (P < 0.05). The mean values of percentages of fat, SNF, protein, salts, lactose, pH, and MSCC/ml in ELISA-positive samples were 2.3 ± 0.17, 8.21 ± 0.63, 3.08 ± 0.18, 0.90 ± 0.06, 3.64 ± 0.28, 6.93 + 0.53, and 1.18 × 106 ± 9.07 × 104 cells/ml, respectively. A significant difference (P < 0.05) between the mean values of two composition parameters, i.e., percent of fat and MSCC/ml in ELISA-positive and -negative samples, for Fasciola gigantica was observed. The antigen used for the diagnosis of F. gigantica was excretory/secretory (E/S) antigen. The dilutions of (E/S) concentrations after checkerboard titration for indirect ELISA were 20 µg/ml protein and for dot-ELISA, 300 ng/µl. Sera dilution was 1:100 in the two tests, and milk dilution was 1:50 for indirect ELISA, and 1:25 for dot-ELISA. The two tests were performed using known F. gigantica positive and negative goat sera and known rat hyper immunized negative and positive sera against E/S antigen of F. gigantica as well as known sera for paramphistomes without F. gigantica infection. The cutoff values in indirect ELISA were 0.45 for sera and 0.35 for milk. CONCLUSION: The application of different serological technique in goat farms reveals a good test in rapid diagnosis of fascioliasis especially the uses of dot ELISA when using the milk instead of the serum.