Efficiency of Different Disinfectants on Bacillus cereus Sensu Stricto Biofilms on Stainless-Steel Surfaces in Contact With Milk.

The species of the Bacillus cereus group have the ability to adhere to and form biofilms on solid surfaces, including stainless steel, a material widely used in food industries. Biofilms allow for recontamination during food processing, and the "clean-in-place" (CIP) system is largely used by industries to control them. This study thus proposes to evaluate the efficacy of peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite against biofilms induced on stainless-steel surfaces. The SAMN07414939 isolate (BioProject PRJNA390851), a recognized biofilm producer, was selected for biofilm induction on AISI 304 stainless steel. Biofilm induction was performed and classified into three categories: TCP (Tindalized, Contaminated, and Pasteurized milk), TCS (Tindalized milk Contaminated with Spores), and TCV (Tindalized milk Contaminated with Vegetative cells). Subsequently, the coupons were sanitized simulating a CIP procedure, on a pilot scale, using alkaline and acid solutions followed by disinfectants (peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite). Microorganism adhesion on the surfaces reached 6.3 × 105 to 3.1 × 107 CFU/cm-2. Results did not show significant differences (p > 0.05) for surface adhesion between the three tested categories (TCP, TCS, and TCV) or (p > 0.05) between the two disinfectants (peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite). Microbial populations adhered to the stainless-steel coupons are equally reduced after treatment with peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite, with no differences in the control of B. cereus s.s. biofilms on AISI 304 stainless-steel surfaces.

Comparative genomic survey of Bacillus cereus sensu stricto isolates from the dairy production chain in Brazil.

The genomes of 262 Bacillus cereus isolates were analyzed including 69 isolates sampled from equipment, raw milk and dairy products from Brazil. The population structure of isolates showed strains belonging to known phylogenetic groups II, III, IV, V and VI. Almost all the isolates obtained from dairy products belonged to group III. Investigation of specific alleles revealed high numbers of isolates carrying toxin-associated genes including cytK (53.62%), hblA (59.42%), hblC (44.93%), hblD (53.62%), nheA (84.06%), nheB (89.86%) and nheC (84.06%) with isolates belonging to groups IV and V having significant higher prevalence of hblACD and group IV of CytK genes. Strains from dairy products had significantly lower prevalence of CytK and hblACD genes compared to isolates from equipment and raw milk/bulk tanks. Genes related to sucrose metabolism were detected at higher frequency in isolates obtained from raw milk compared to strains from equipment and utensils. The population genomic analysis demonstrated the diversity of strains and variability of putative function among B. cereus group isolates in Brazilian dairy production, with large numbers of strains potentially able to cause foodborne illness. This detailed information will contribute to targeted interventions to reduce milk contamination and spoilage associated with B. cereus in Brazil.

Bacillus cereus group: genetic aspects related to food safety and dairy processing / Grupo do Bacillus cereus: aspectos genéticos relacionados à segurança alimentar e ao processamento de derivados lácteos

Bacillus cereus group includes not pathogenic and high pathogenic species. They are considered as a risk to public health due to foodborne diseases and as an important cause of economic losses to industries due to production of spoilage enzymes. Some researches have been performed in order to assess the possible factors that contribute to put public health into risk because of consumption of food contaminated with viable cells or toxins which have complex mechanisms of production. The control of these bacteria in food is difficult because they are resistant to several processes used in industries. Thus, in this way, this review focused on highlighting the risk due to toxins production by bacteria from B. cereus group in food and the consequences for food safety and dairy industries.(AU)

Diversas espécies fazem parte do grupo de Bacillus cereus, desde algumas apatogênicas até outras com alta patogenicidade. Consistem em risco à saúde pública decorrentes de toxinfecções alimentares, além de causarem importantes perdas econômicas para as indústrias em virtude da produção de enzimas deteriorantes. O controle da contaminação em alimentos por esses micro-organismos é difícil, visto que são resistentes a vários tratamentos utilizados pelas indústrias. Assim, diante do exposto, esta revisão objetivou fornecer informações em relação aos aspectos genéticos desse grupo de bactérias e seus mecanismos de produção de toxinas, além de ressaltar a importância e as novas estratégias de controle para as companhias alimentícias e de laticínios.(AU)

Ocorrência de Bacillus cereus em leite em pó integral comercializado no estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Occurrence of Bacillus cereus in whole milk powder commercialized in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

Objetivou-se verificar se as populações de Bacillus cereus presentes em leite em pó integral apresentam-se de acordo com a legislação vigente e também verificar diferença entre a presença desse microrganismo de acordo com o tipo de embalagem (lata e papel laminado). Para isso, foram adquiridas 40 amostras de leite em pó integral comercializadas no município de Ribeirão Preto, Estado de São Paulo. Cerca de 20% das amostras analisadas continham populações de B. cereus. Entretanto, todas estavam dentro dos limites aceitos pela legislação. Não foi verificada diferença significativa quando analisadas as populações presentes entre as diferentes apresentações do produto. Conclui-se que todas as amostras avaliadas estavam de acordo com a legislação vigente e, portanto, não há problemas na comercialização de leite em pó integral na região avaliada.

Spatial distribution, prevalence and epidemiological risk factors of cysticercosis in cattle from state of São Paulo, Brazil, slaughtered for human consumption.

This present research focused on establishing the prevalence, geospatial distribution and epidemiological risk factors for bovine cysticercosis in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, in cattle slaughtered for human comsumption. Data about the inspection of 104,180 bovine carcasses from 215 farms and from 70 municipalities were gathered between January and December of 2012. A cluster analysis was performed in order to correlate some variables: prevalence of bovine cysticercosis, total coffee harvesting area (hectares), orange producing areas (hectares) and Human Development Index. Afterwards, distribution maps were created in order to help the results interpretation. An average prevalence of 2.9% was established in the state of São Paulo during the studied period. The Administrative regions of São José do Rio Preto and Campinas had higher risk for cysticercosis (OR >1 and 95% CI >1). The cluster analysis showed a grouping (G1 cluster) of the variables: prevalence of bovine cysticercosis, total area of sugar cane harvested, total area of orange harvested and total area of coffee harvested. This agrroupment allows us to infer that cyticercosis cases in this region are correlated with those variables distribution. Such aspects indicate that the presence of temporary rural workers and other socioeconomic and cultural features in each region can contribute to bovine cysticercosis dissemination in some areas.

Microbial quality of industrial and retail market grated parmesan cheese in the State of São Paulo, Brazil / Comparação da qualidade microbiológica de queijos tipo parmesão ralados industrialmente e no comércio varejista no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

ABSTRACT: With the objective to evaluate the hygienic and sanitary conditions of grated parmesan cheese acquired from the retail business, total 120 cheese samples were acquired: 60 of which were obtained from four different brands of cheese that were grated in factories, and the other 60 samples were obtained from another four brands of cheese that are normally acquired by retailers (supermarkets) in blocks and grated at the moment of sale. The population of heterotrophic mesophilic microorganisms ranged from 1.2×10³ to 1.1×107 colony-forming units (CFU)·g-1. All samples analyzed contained Staphylococcus spp. with populations varying from 1.2×10³ to 8.7×106CFU·g-1, from which 60.0% were classified as coagulase-positive Staphylococcus and 52.5% of the samples possessed populations above the permissible limit set by legislation. Staphylococcus aureus was detected in 57.5% of the samples. Population of molds and yeasts varied from <10 to 1.8×106CFU·g-1. Salmonella spp. was not isolated in this research. A difference was observed between the parmesan cheese grated in factories and that grated in supermarkets, where the former presented better microbiological quality than the latter. Thus, procedures must be proposed to minimize the presence of pathogenic agents reported in grated parmesan cheeses evaluated in the present study because of the public health risk associated with food bacterial contamination.

RESUMO: Com o objetivo de avaliar as condições higiênicas e sanitárias de queijos tipo parmesão ralados, vendidos no comércio varejista, foram realizadas análises microbiológicas em 120 amostras, sendo 60 destas de quatro marcas comerciais, as quais foram raladas industrialmente e outras 60 de quatro marcas, cujos queijos foram adquiridos pelos comércios varejistas em grandes peças e ralados no ato da venda. As populações de microrganismos heterotróficos mesófilos variaram de 1,2×10³ a 1,1×107UFC.g-1. Todas as amostras analisadas apresentaram Staphylococcus spp., com populações que variaram de 1,2×10³ a 8,7×106UFC.g-1, sendo que 60,0% dessas apresentaram Staphylococcus coagulase positivo e 52,5% delas com populações acima do limite estabelecido pela legislação. A presença de Staphylococcus aureus foi identificada em 57,5% das amostras. As populações de bolores e leveduras apresentaram variação de <10 a 1,8×106UFC.g-1 . Salmonella spp. não foi isolada no presente trabalho. Houve diferença entre os queijos ralados industrialmente e os queijos ralados nos supermercados, sendo que o primeiro grupo apresentou resultados de qualidade microbiológicas melhores do que o segundo grupo. Assim, medidas visando minimizar as populações de agentes contaminantes e deteriorantes encontradas nos queijos parmesão analisados no presente trabalho devem ser realizadas, visto que estas podem representar um risco à saúde pública.

Avaliação das perdas de líquido por degelo de frangos congelados (Drip Test) em abatedouros / Drip losses evaluation in frozen chickens (Drip Test) at abattoirs

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a quantidade de água resultante do descongelamento de carcaças de aves oriundas de quatro abatedouros de aves no Estado de São Paulo, sob Serviço de Inspeção Estadual, através do método Drip Test, durante os anos de 2011 e 2012. Foram utilizadas 45 amostras, sendo que cada uma dessas era composta por seis carcaças de frango congeladas, determinando um total de 270 carcaças de aves utilizadas. Durante a realização do estudo, apenas 4,44% (2/45) das amostras apresentaram valores acima do limite aceitável determinado pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento (MAPA), sendo que essas pertenciam a abatedouros distintos, porém não foi observada diferença significativa entre todos os estabelecimentos avaliados. Pode-se concluir que 4,44% das amostras do monitoramento apresentaram-se fora do padrão legal, oriundas de falhas tecnológicas e que resultam na insatisfação dos consumidores. É necessário um monitoramento de rotina, com colheita de amostras prontas para a comercialização sem prévio aviso, como prática a salvaguardar os interesses dos consumidores e à coibição de fraudes intencionais, principalmente naqueles estabelecimentos que evidenciem valores frequentemente elevados.

This study aimed to evaluate the amount of water resulting from poultry carcasses from four slaughterhouses at the São Paulo State, Brazil, through “Drip Test” method, during the years 2011 and 2012. It was used 45 samples, which were consisted of 6 chickenfrozen carcasses, totalizing 270 chickens. During the study, 4.44% (2/45) of the samples had values above the acceptable limit by Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA), and were from two different establishments, but was not observed significant difference among all the establishments. It was concluded that some samples were not in concordance with legal standards, arising from technological failures that contributes to cause consumer dissatisfaction. Is necessary a routine monitoring system, utilizing samples ready for commercialization without previously notice, to safeguard the consumer’s interests and avoid intentional fraud, especially in those establishments that commonly presents high values.