Influence of the cleaning system of conveyor belts on microbiological quality of poultry meat / Influência do sistema de autolimpeza das esteiras condutoras de cortes sobre a qualidade microbiológica da carne de frango

This study focused on assessing the microbiology of conveyor belts surfaces, cleaned or not with pressurized water, and verification of the influence of this process on the microbiological quality of poultry meat. A reduction on mesophilic, psychrotrophic and Enterobacteriaceae counts (P<0.05) on dry conveyor belts compared to wet ones was observed. For the chicken leg (consisting of drumstick and thigh) samples, no statistically significant differences were detected on counts of indicators of microorganisms on poultry legs (composed by drumstick and thigh). For poultry meat conducted on wet or dry conveyor belts, 99% and 86%, were positive for Listeria spp, respectively. Only one sample of chicken leg was positive for presence of L. monocytogenes. These results demonstrate that there is no need to use water for cleaning conveyor belts during processing, which allows a reduction on the use of potable water in poultry slaughterhouses without jeopardizing food safety and public health.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade microbiológica das superfícies das esteiras condutoras de cortes de carne de frango, higienizadas ou não com água pressurizada, bem como verificar a influência desse processo na qualidade microbiológica de cortes de frango. Foram observadas menores contagens, com diferença estatisticamente significativa (P<0,05) entre as populações de mesófilos, psicrotróficos e enterobactérias, nas esteiras condutoras de cortes secas em relação às úmidas. Nos cortes de coxa com sobrecoxa, as médias encontradas para populações de microrganismos indicadores não apresentaram diferenças estatisticamente significativas. Nos cortes analisados conduzidos pelas esteiras seca e úmida, 99% e 86% foram positivos para o isolamento de Listeria spp., respectivamente. Apenas uma amostra de corte de coxa com sobrecoxa desossada foi positiva para a presença de L. monocytogenes. Os resultados demonstram a possibilidade do desligamento do sistema de autolimpeza das esteiras condutoras de cortes, obedecendo às questões de segurança dos alimentos e à saúde pública, o que resulta na redução do uso de água potável pelos matadouros-frigoríficos de aves.(AU)

Detection of pathogenic Escherichia coli and microbiological quality of chilled shrimp sold in street markets.

UNLABELLED: Foodborne illnesses caused by Escherichia coli are one of the most important gastrointestinal diseases and therefore represent a public health risk. The presence of E. coli in water or in products such as shrimp indicates faecal contamination. However, indicator micro-organisms can be used to evaluate the microbiological quality of food sold in markets. This study focused on detecting isolates of E. coli containing the genes stx1A, stx2A, eae, LTI, STa, STb, aggR and pCVD432 in chilled shrimp sold in street markets in the municipality of São Paulo, Brazil, and to assess the microbiological quality of this product. Enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic E. coli pathotypes were detected on the surface of two chilled shrimp samples. Salmonella spp. was not isolated. In addition, contamination of surface and muscle of the shrimp samples was found to be correlated. The detection of EPEC and ETEC pathotypes in chilled shrimp sold in street markets in Brazil provides useful epidemiological information for public health authorities to improve food safety and public health. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Shrimps are crustaceans commonly produced and consumed in Brazil. Specimens of Farfantepenaeus brasiliensis and Litopenaeus schmitti sold in street markets were examined by PCR to detect the presence of Escherichia coli pathotypes (enteropathogenic, enterotoxigenic, enterohemorrhagic and enteroinvasive). EPEC and ETEC strains were detected in whole shrimp. These findings provide useful information for public health authorities to improve the food safety and health of the Brazilian population.

Shiga toxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in water and fish from pay-to-fish ponds.

UNLABELLED: Escherichia coli is part of the normal microflora of the intestines of mammals. However, among the enteric pathogens, it is one of the leading causes of intestinal diseases, especially Shiga toxigenic E. coli, which can cause diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and complications like haemolytic uraemic syndrome and thrombotic thrombocytopaenic purpura. Escherichia coli is considered a serious public health problem. Water and fish samples were subjected to biochemical tests to confirm the presence of E. coli and by PCR to verify the presence of pathogenic strains (O157, enteropathogenic and shiga toxigenic) in water and fish (skin, gastrointestinal tract and muscles) from pay-to-fish ponds located in the Córrego Rico watershed in the northeastern region of the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Of the 115 E. coli isolates from fish or water, five (4·34%) contained eae and stx2 genes, one had only the eae gene and two had the stx1 gene. An isolate containing the stx2 gene was also found in the water sample. In addition, eight isolates (6·95%) from the fish gastrointestinal tract contained rfbEO157:H7 (O157 gene), and three (2·61%) contained stx2 and eae genes, demonstrating the potential risk to the environment and public health. The results provide useful basic information for the proper management of these environments and animals in order to prevent faecal pollution, reducing health risks to the Brazilian population. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Pay-to-fish ponds are a common commercial activity in Brazil. Samples of water and Oreochromis niloticus were examined by PCR to detect the presence of pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli (O157, enteropathogenic and shiga toxigenic). Several pathogenic strains were detected in this study, providing useful epidemiological information for the proper management of these environments and animals in order to prevent faecal pollution, reducing health risks to the Brazilian population.