Exploring the Function of Quorum Sensing Regulated Biofilms in Biological Wastewater Treatment: A Review.

Quorum sensing (QS), a type of bacterial cell-cell communication, produces autoinducers which help in biofilm formation in response to cell population density. In this review, biofilm formation, the role of QS in biofilm formation and development with reference to biological wastewater treatment are discussed. Autoinducers, for example, acyl-homoserine lactones (AHLs), auto-inducing oligo-peptides (AIPs) and autoinducer 2, present in both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria, with their mechanism, are also explained. Over the years, wastewater treatment (WWT) by QS-regulated biofilms and their optimization for WWT have gained much attention. This article gives a comprehensive review of QS regulation methods, QS enrichment methods and QS inhibition methods in biological waste treatment systems. Typical QS enrichment methods comprise adding QS molecules, adding QS accelerants and cultivating QS bacteria, while typical QS inhibition methods consist of additions of quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria, QS-degrading enzymes, QS-degrading oxidants, and QS inhibitors. Potential applications of QS regulated biofilms for WWT have also been summarized. At last, the knowledge gaps present in current researches are analyzed, and future study requirements are proposed.

Ensuring safety and improving keeping quality of meatballs by addition of sesame oil and sesamol as natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agents.

The antioxidant and antimicrobial effect of sesame oil (10, 30, and 50 g/kg) and sesamol (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/kg) in meatballs during cold storage for 18 days at 3 ± 1 °C was investigated. Sesame oil and sesamol did not alter the sensory attributes of meatballs. Addition of either sesame oil or sesamol significantly delayed lipid oxidation when compared with control. Sesamol exhibited more potent antioxidant activities more than sesame oil. During storage, the aerobic plate counts (APCs) and Enterobacteriaceae counts (EBCs) were markedly (P < 0.01) decreased in meatballs treated with sesame oil or sesamol in comparison with untreated control samples. Control meatballs showed signs of quality deterioration at day 7 of storage, while treated meatballs exhibited longer shelf lifes ranged from 9-18 days according to sesame oil or sesamol concentrations. Both sesame oil and sesamol induced marked (P < 0.01) decline in the counts of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes that artificially inoculated to meatballs. Sesamol was more effective than sesame oil in the reduction of APCs, EBCs as well as foodborne pathogens. The results suggest that both sesame oil and sesamol are potentially useful natural additives to fresh meat products for improving its microbial quality and extending its shelf life during cold storage.

Molecular detection of hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) in domestic cats (Felis catus) in Romania.

BACKGROUND: The hemotropic mycoplasmas (hemoplasmas) of the genus Mycoplasma are recognized as important bacteria that parasitize red blood cells, causing hemolytic anemia in many mammalian species, including cats. No information is available concerning the presence of feline hemoplasma infections in cats in Romania. Thus, the objective of the present study was to provide data on the occurrence and molecular characterization of hemotropic mycoplasmas in client-owned cats in Romania. METHODS: Blood samples from 51 unhealthy cats, originating from Timisoara Municipality, Romania, were screened for the presence of hemoplasmas using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) targeting the 16S rRNA gene and sequencing assays. PCR-positive samples were subsequently analyzed by phylogenetic and population genetic analysis. RESULTS: Molecular analysis revealed 11 (21.6%) positive samples, consisting of 8 (72.7%) Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 3 (27.3%) Mycoplasma haemofelis confirmed positives. Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis was not detected, and no co-infections were registered. No significant associations (p > 0.05) were found between the hemoplasma infection status and age, gender, breed, presence of ectoparasites, feline leukemia virus/feline immunodeficiency virus positivity of cats, or the sampling season. However, outdoor access was positively associated (p = 0.049) with infection and could be considered a risk factor (OR = 4.1) in acquiring feline hemotropic mycoplasmas. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that our sequences clustered with those selected from the GenBank database in two distinct clades. The registered population genetic indices were strongly supportive of the great variance in sequences between the recorded Mycoplasma species. CONCLUSIONS: The findings support the occurrence of feline hemoplasma infections in previously uninvestigated territories of Europe, providing useful information for small animal practitioners. To our knowledge, the present survey is the first reported molecular evidence of feline hemoplasma infections in Romania.

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profile of Salmonella spp. in Raw and Ready-To-Eat Foods and Campylobacter spp. in Retail Raw Chicken Meat in Transylvania, Romania.

The survey was undertaken to investigate the presence and antimicrobial susceptibility profile of Salmonella spp. in raw and ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, and Campylobacter spp. in the retail raw chicken meat collected in two counties of Transylvania, Romania. A total of 13.1% (51/388) of the examined food samples were found to be Salmonella positive, with a distribution of 14.7% (48/326) in the raw food (i.e., pork, chicken carcass, and shell egg) and 4.8% (3/62) in the RTE samples (i.e., sausages, but not ham and salami), respectively. These differences were statistically significant (p = 0.034). The isolates were serotyped as Salmonella Infantis (n = 19), Salmonella Typhimurium (n = 11) Salmonella Rissen (n = 8), Salmonella Derby (n = 3), Salmonella Enteritidis (n = 3), Salmonella Bredeney (n = 2), Salmonella Brandenburg (n = 1), Salmonella Gloucester (n = 1), Salmonella Goldcoast (n = 1), Salmonella Kottbus (n = 1), and Salmonella Ruzizi (n = 1). Campylobacter strains were present in 29.4% (10/34) of the investigated chicken samples, and the identified species were Campylobacter coli (70%) and C. jejuni (30%). From the 14 tested antimicrobials, the Salmonella isolates were resistant against azithromycin (88.2%), tetracycline (54.9%), sulfamethoxazole (54.9%), ciprofloxacin (45.1%), nalidixic acid (43.1%), ampicillin (35.3%), chloramphenicol (33.3%), tigecycline (25.5%), cefotaxime (13.7%), colistin (13.7%), trimethoprim (7.8%), and gentamicin (2%), resulting in the expression of 21 multidrug-resistant (MDR) profiles. Of 10 Campylobacter isolates, 80% were resistant to ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid, 40% to tetracycline, and 10% to streptomycin and erythromycin, respectively. Our findings indicate that Romanian isolates of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp., contaminating animal-origin foods, can exhibit MDR patterns, representing a public health risk.

Review of Cryptosporidium and Giardia in the eastern part of Europe, 2016.

IntroductionThis paper reviews the current knowledge and understanding of Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. in humans, animals and the environment in 10 countries in the eastern part of Europe: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia. Methods: Published scientific papers and conference proceedings from the international and local literature, official national health service reports, national databases and doctoral theses in local languages were reviewed to provide an extensive overview on the epidemiology, diagnostics and research on these pathogens, as well as analyse knowledge gaps and areas for further research. Results:Cryptosporidium spp. and Giardia spp. were found to be common in eastern Europe, but the results from different countries are difficult to compare because of variations in reporting practices and detection methodologies used. Conclusion: Upgrading and making the diagnosis/detection procedures more uniform is recommended throughout the region. Public health authorities should actively work towards increasing reporting and standardising reporting practices as these prerequisites for the reported data to be valid and therefore necessary for appropriate control plans.

Molecular characterisation of Cryptosporidium (Apicomplexa) in children and cattle in Romania.

To investigate the transmission of species of Cryptosporidium Tyzzer, 1907 in Timis County, Romania, 48 isolates of Cryptosporidium coccidia from 11 children, 29 calves and eight pigs were characterised by molecular analysis of two loci (SSU rRNA and 60-kDa glycoprotein gene). Overall, 22 isolates were amplified and sequence analyses revealed that all isolates were Cryptosporidium parvum Tyzzer, 1912. Two subtype families were identified, IIa and IId. Subtype IIdA22G1 (n = 4) was the single C. parvum subtype found in children. Subtypes found in calves included IIdA27G1 (n = 8), a novel subtype, IIdA25G1 (n = 5), IIdA22G1 (n = 2), IIdA21G1a (n = 1), and IIaA16G1R1 (n = 1). Subtype IIdA26G1 was found in a pig. These results were significantly different from previous Romanian reports, as the five subtypes of family IId identified in this study were never identified previously in this country. Thus, cattle may be a source of Cryptosporidium infections for humans and the transmission dynamics of C. parvum in Romania is more complex than previously believed.

First study in the frequency of isolation and phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles of pig and cattle origin Campylobacter strains in Romania.

Campylobacter spp. is recognized as one of the most common pathogens involved in the development of gastrointestinal infections in humans. The current study aimed to enhance the knowledge on the occurrence and molecular characterization of Campylobacter spp. in pigs and cattle origin caecum samples (n = 56) collected in one year, from nine Romanian slaughterhouses, and to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the isolated strains. All Campylobacter spp. strains (n = 41) isolated from swine and cattle caecum samples were analyzed in terms of antimicrobial resistance, in accordance with the EURL protocol and with the Commission Implementing Decision No. 2020/1729. The prevalence rate for C. coli. in pig caecum samples was 92.3% (36/39), and the prevalence of C. jejuni, in cattle origin samples was 29.4% (5/17). C. coli strains isolated from pigs proved resistant to tetracycline 75% (27/36), ciprofloxacin 69.4% (25/36), erythromycin 8.3% (3/36), ertapenem 2.8% (1/36) and gentamicin 2.8% (1/36), but no resistance was observed towards chloramphenicol. C. jejuni strains originating from cattle expressed resistance to ciprofloxacin 60.0% (3/5) and tetracycline 20.0% (1/5), but they were susceptible to chloramphenicol, erythromycin, ertapenem and gentamicin. In the present study, 19.5% (7/36) C. coli strains isolated from pigs were identified as multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. The obtained results demonstrated that pigs especially, but cattle to, can be considered important natural reservoirs for zoonotic multidrug-resistant Campylobacter strains, having a stimulating effect for further studies aiming at the molecular screening of the genotypic antimicrobial resistance processing of a higher number of samples.

Evaluation of Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Bacteria Isolated from Biofilm in Meat Processing Units.

The aim of this study was to assess the hygiene of pork, beef, and poultry carcasses and to determine the phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility of the bacteria embedded in the biofilm formed on the carcasses kept in cooling chambers for at least three days. The level of hygiene was assessed by determining the total aerobic colony count (TACC) and the Enterobacteriaceae level in different sampling points of the carcasses, along with the detection of E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. embedded in the biofilm. Furthermore, the E. coli and Pseudomonas spp. isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance profiles. A total of 130 samples collected from pork, beef, and poultry from processing units were analyzed to determine the total aerobic colony count as well as to measure the level of Enterobacteriaceae found on the carcasses. The antimicrobial susceptibility of 44 Escherichia coli and eight Pseudomonas spp. strains isolated from the carcasses were assessed using the Vitek 2 system using two different cards. Overall, the regulatory limits for the TACC were exceeded in 7.6% of the samples, and 65% of the samples exceeded the regulatory limits for Enterobacteriaceae levels. The antimicrobial susceptibility tests of the E. coli isolates analyzed with the AST-GN27 card revealed the highest resistance to be that towards ampicillin (76.1%), followed by cefazolin (71.4%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (61.9%), nitrofurantoin (52.3%), cefoxitin (47.6%), tetracycline (38.1%), piperacillin, norfloxacin (19%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (11.9%), cefotaxime (9.5%), ceftazidime, cefazolin, amikacin, gentamicin, and ciprofloxacin (4.7%). However, all of the isolates were sensitive to piperacillin-tazobactam and imipenem. Thirty-two (61.5%; 95% CI 47.9-73.5) out of fifty-two isolates exhibited multidrug resistance, resulting in the expression of 10 resistance profiles. The findings of this study highlight serious hygienic and sanitary deficiencies within the meat processing units and demonstrate that the resulting meat can harbor Multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas spp., both of which pose a serious public health risk. However, further research with a larger number of samples is required to reach thorough results.

CRISPR-Cas9 System: A Prospective Pathway toward Combatting Antibiotic Resistance.

Antibiotic resistance is rising to dangerously high levels throughout the world. To cope with this problem, scientists are working on CRISPR-based research so that antibiotic-resistant bacteria can be killed and attacked almost as quickly as antibiotic-sensitive bacteria. Nuclease activity is found in Cas9, which can be programmed with a specific target sequence. This mechanism will only attack pathogens in the microbiota while preserving commensal bacteria. This article portrays the delivery methods used in the CRISPR-Cas system, which are both viral and non-viral, along with its implications and challenges, such as microbial dysbiosis, off-target effects, and failure to counteract intracellular infections. CRISPR-based systems have a lot of applications, such as correcting mutations, developing diagnostics for infectious diseases, improving crops productions, improving breeding techniques, etc. In the future, CRISPR-based systems will revolutionize the world by curing diseases, improving agriculture, and repairing genetic disorders. Though all the drawbacks of the technology, CRISPR carries great potential; thus, the modification and consideration of some aspects could result in a mind-blowing technique to attain all the applications listed and present a game-changing potential.

Surveys on Pet-Reptile-Associated Multi-Drug-Resistant Salmonella spp. in the Timișoara Metropolitan Region-Western Romania.

The number of reptiles owned as pets has risen worldwide. Additionally, urban expansion has resulted in more significant human encroachment and interactions with the habitats of captive reptiles. Between May and October 2022, 48 reptiles from pet shops and 69 from households were sampled in the Timișoara metropolitan area (western Romania). Three different sample types were collected from each reptile: oral cavity, skin, and cloacal swabs. Salmonella identification was based on ISO 6579-1:2017 (Annex D), a molecular testing method (invA gene target), and strains were serotyped in accordance with the Kauffman-White-Le-Minor technique; the antibiotic susceptibility was assessed according to Decision 2013/652. This study showed that 43.28% of the pet reptiles examined from households and pet shops carried Salmonella spp. All of the strains isolated presented resistance to at least one antibiotic, and 79.32% (23/29) were multi-drug-resistant strains, with the most frequently observed resistances being to gentamicin, nitrofurantion, tobramycin, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. The findings of the study undertaken by our team reveal that reptile multi-drug-resistant Salmonella is present. Considering this aspect, the most effective way of preventing multi-drug-resistant Salmonella infections requires stringent hygiene control in reptile pet shops as well as ensuring proper animal handling once the animals leave the pet shop and are introduced into households.

Effect of Peganum harmala Total Alkaloid Extract on Sexual Behavior and Sperm Parameters in Male Mice.

The study was designed to evaluate the effects of the total alkaloid extract of Algerian Peganum harmala seeds on sexual behavior and male reproductive function. After two weeks of acclimatization, the male mice were randomly divided into four groups (seven mice in each group). For 35 days, the extract was administered orally at dose levels of 6.25, 12.5, and 25 mg/kg body weight per day to the respective groups of male mice (n = 7) and normal saline daily to the control group. On day 28, sexual behavior parameters were recorded. At the end of the trial, reproductive organ weights, sperm quality, seminal fructose, and testosterone hormone levels were evaluated. The three treated groups were compared with the control using statistical variance analysis (one-way ANOVA, p < 0.05), followed by Tukey's test. The results of the groups treated with 12.5 and 6.25 mg/kg of P. harmala alkaloid revealed the MF and IF parameters to be the lowest compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, the male mice treated with 25 mg/kg recorded the highest values. A low significant value of ML was observed in the group treated with 25 mg/kg of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala compared to the control group (p < 0.01), while a rise was observed in the concentration group treated with 6.25 mg/kg. Regarding IL, the male mice treated with different concentrations of the total alkaloid extract of P. harmala recorded a higher time than the control group. Moreover, an increase in the gonadosomatic index was noticed in all groups compared to the control group. However, there was a significant (p < 0.01) decrease in the sperm counts of the groups treated with 12.5 mg/kg and 6.25 mg/kg. However, there was no significant difference in the motility, membrane integrity, and total antioxidant capacity of sperm cells compared to the control. The extract treatment also brought about a non-significant increase in fructose content of the seminal vesicle and serum testosterone level. The findings of this study demonstrate that the extract acts in a dose-dependent manner, and it has varying effects on the reproductive parameters of male mice.

Cefotaxime-, Ciprofloxacin-, and Extensively Drug-Resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 in Camel Meat.

The present study aimed to explore for the first time the occurrence and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 isolates in camel meat in Egypt. Among the 110 camel meat samples examined using standardized microbiological techniques, 10 (9.1%) and 32 (29.1%) were positive for E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O55:H7, respectively. In total, 24 isolates were verified as E. coli O157:H7, while 102 isolates were confirmed serologically as E. coli O55:H7. Multiplex PCR revealed the existence of eaeA, stx1, stx2, and EHEC-hlyA among E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 isolates (n = 126) at various percentages. According to their resistance against 14 antibiotics, 16.7% and 83.3% of O157:H7 isolates and 8.6% and 76.5% of O55:H7 isolates were classified into extensively drug-resistant and multi-drug-resistant, respectively, whereas 29.4% and 22.2% of E. coli isolates were resistant to cefotaxime and ciprofloxacin, respectively. The study results emphasize that camel meat may be a vehicle for multi- and extensively drug-resistant E. coli O157:H7 and O55:H7 strains, indicating a potential threat to public health. Further studies based on the molecular evidence of the antimicrobial resistance genes and enrolling a larger number of samples are recommended for a better understanding of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon of camel-meat-originating pathogenic E. coli strains.

Antimicrobial Effect of Moringa oleifera Leaves Extract on Foodborne Pathogens in Ground Beef.

Consumers nowadays are becoming more aware of the importance of using only meat products containing safe and natural additives. Hence, using natural food additives for extending the shelf life of meat along with delaying microbial growth has become an urgent issue. Given the increasingly popular view of Moringa oleifera leaves as a traditional remedy and also the scarcity of published data concerning its antimicrobial effect against foodborne pathogens in meat and meat products, we designed the present study to investigate the antimicrobial effect of Moringa oleifera leaves aqueous extract (0.5%, 1%, and 2%) on ground beef during refrigerated storage at 4 °C for 18 days. MLE revealed potent antimicrobial properties against spoilage bacteria, such as aerobic plate count and Enterobacteriaceae count. MLE 2% showed a significant (p < 0.01) reduction in the counts of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, and Staphylococcus aureus artificially inoculated to ground beef by 6.54, 5.35, and 5.40 log10 CFU/g, respectively, compared to control, by the 18th day of storage. Moringa leaves extract (MLE) had no adverse effect on the overall acceptability and other sensory attributes; moreover, it induced a slight improvement in the tenderness and juiciness of treated ground beef, compared to the control. Therefore, MLE can be used as a healthy, natural, and safe preservative to increase meat products' safety, quality, and shelf stability during cold storage. A promising approach for using natural food additives rather than chemical preservatives could begin new frontiers in the food industry, as they are more safe and do not constitute health risks to consumers.

Epidemiology of Cryptosporidium Infection in Romania: A Review.

Since 1983, when the first report of a human Cryptosporidium spp. infection was published in Romania, and until now, many studies on cryptosporidiosis have been published in our country, but most of them are in the Romanian language and in national journals less accessible to international scientific databases. Although the infection was first recognized as a problem in children or immunocompromised people or more of a problem in low-income or underdeveloped global countries, we have shown in this review that it can also occur in people with normal immunological function and that the epidemiology of our country can provide a theoretical basis for the formulation of a Cryptosporidium spp. prevention strategy. In addition, 9.1% of healthy children and 73% of immunocompromised children were observed to have Cryptosporidium spp. infections. Higher rates have also been reported in immunocompromised adults (1.8-50%). Analyzing the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in animals, we found values of 28.52% in cattle, 18% in buffalo calves, between 27.8 and 60.4% in pigs, 52.7% in dogs, and 29.4% in cats. Furthermore, in Romania, the burden of cryptosporidiosis, including acute infections and long-term sequelae, is currently unknown.

Improvement of Microbial Quality, Physicochemical Properties, Fatty Acids Profile, and Shelf Life of Basa (Pangasius bocourti) Fillets during Chilling Storage Using Pepsin, Rosemary Oil, and Citric Acid.

Meat discoloration, lipid oxidation, and undesirable texture are inevitable phenomena in basa fish fillets during storage, which in turn limits their exportation as well as decreases consumer acceptability. In addition, increasing consumers' requirements for high-quality, minimally processed, and ready-to-cook fish fillets with an extended shelf-life is a great challenge, particularly with lifestyle changes. Accordingly, this study aimed to improve the quality, lipid stability, fatty acid profile, and lipid nutritional quality indices (LNQI) of basa fish fillets during chilling storage at 4 °C for 15 days using pepsin enzyme (E, 0.1%), rosemary oil (R, 0.5%), citric acid (CA, 0.5%), and their combination (0.1% E + 0.5% R; 0.1% E + 0.5% CA; and 0.1% E + 0.5% R + 0.5% CA). Our results revealed that all treated samples exhibited a significant increase in protein content, a significant decrease in fat content, and a marked reduction in pH, total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN), thiobarbituric acid (TBA), free fatty acids, and shear force (SF) values in comparison to control ones. Moreover, significant improvements in sensory scores, color stability, fatty acid profile, LNQI, and microbial quality of all treated samples were observed. Such findings were more pronounced in samples treated with a mixture of pepsin, rosemary, and citric acid (TVBN: 2.04 vs. 6.52 mg%; TBA: 0.40 vs. 2.68 mg malonaldehyde/Kg; and SF: 8.58 vs. 19.51 Kgf). Based on the obtained results, there was an extension for the shelf life of all treated basa fish fillet samples, especially in samples treated with a mixture of pepsin, rosemary, and citric acids when compared with the control samples (˃15 days versus 10 days). Additionally, eucalyptol, camphor, isoborneol, and α-pinene are the main components of rosemary, with great antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. In conclusion, the mixture of pepsin, rosemary, and citric acid can be applied easily in the seafood industry and at the household level to provide ready-to-cook fish fillets of high quality with great health benefits.

Causes of Post-Mortem Carcass and Organ Condemnations and Economic Loss Assessment in a Cattle Slaughterhouse.

The study was undertaken to investigate the main causes of carcass and organ condemnations, as well as to estimate the financial losses suffered by a cattle slaughterhouse. In this regard, an active abattoir survey, based on standard post-mortem inspection procedures for meat, was conducted on 151,741 cattle, from January 2021 to December 2022. Overall, 13.27% (n = 20,125) of the carcasses expressed lesions or pathological conditions and, out of them, 1.15% (n = 1738) were totally confiscated, while another 12.12% (n = 18,387) were partially admitted for human consumption. In the case of organs, the general inspection data reveal that 12.28% (n = 18,630), 7.56% (n = 11,477), 1.89% (n = 2862), and 0.27% (n = 412) of the examined liver, lung, heart, and kidney specimens presented one or more types of abnormalities. In addition, regarding the types of specific pathological findings, dystrophies/anomalies (69.8%), circulatory disorders (40.6%), fecal contamination (60.9%), and suspected bacterial/viral infections showed a dominant occurrence in the liver, lung, heart, and kidneys, respectively. Consequently, the total direct financial losses resulting from edible part condemnation over the two years was estimated at EUR 4,021,717.3, which represents 1.17% of the total achievable net revenue without carcass and organ condemnation. Of this, EUR 3,661,400.4 (1.07%) and EUR 360,316.9 (8.73%) was related to carcass and organ condemnation, respectively. The study results demonstrate that the post-mortem inspection of meat at the slaughterhouse level plays a crucial role in identifying pathological lesions, in addition to some other issues, such as fecal contamination or non-compliant laboratory results, relevant to both public health and economic factors.

Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) Application to Dry-Cured Pastrami in Egyptian Pastrami Factories.

The current study established a HACCP tactic for all hazards related to Egyptian dry-cured pastrami production. All types of hazards that could occur at each production step were depicted. The fabrication steps of pastrami were originally based on the processes and conclusions presented in two previous publications by members of the research team; thus, the current scientific paper is considered a completion of the two previous publications. All operations executed and products manufactured outside the pastrami factory were excluded. The HACCP system was only applied to dry-cured pastrami production stages from receiving frozen raw meat and non-meat ingredients until packaging and storing the final product. Four CCPs were detected and taken into account. The permissible critical limits of additives and non-meat ingredients were considered. Suitable corrective actions were arranged. Regular HACCP plan review, proper recording of detected CCPs and critical limits were necessary for validation processes. Following up with the supply chain by obtaining the certified suppliers, together with the importance of the verification procedures of the elaborated HACCP plan, were essential in order to ensure the production of safe food without defects.

Estimated Prevalence of Tuberculosis in Ruminants from Slaughterhouses in Constantine Province (Northeastern Algeria): A 10-Year Retrospective Survey (2011-2020).

Tuberculosis (TB) is considered one of the most widespread and devastating zoonotic diseases in low-income countries, with a cosmopolitan distribution. The aim of this 10-year retrospective survey (from 2011 to 2020) was to determine the frequency of bovine, ovine, and goat tuberculosis in different local slaughterhouses across Constantine Province, Algeria. The control of livestock carcasses was systematically performed by veterinarian inspectors, after each stage of the slaughter process. The routine abattoir inspection included the detection of visible abnormalities on different organs and lymph nodes. The overall prevalence of tuberculosis recorded in slaughtered animals was 0.83%, with the following distribution among species: 2.73% in cattle, 0.001% in sheep, and 0.0% in goats. During the study period, there was a strong correlation (R = 0.82) (p < 0.01) between tuberculosis occurrence and the number of slaughtered cattle. Fluctuations in monthly TB prevalence ranged from 2% to 24.8% between 2018 and 2020, although there were no statistically significant correlations between infection and the age or gender of the animals, except for the year 2020 when a significantly higher (p = 0.017) percentage of TB cases were recorded in female cattle compared to male cattle. The average monthly weight of the confiscated livers and lungs ranged significantly (p ≤ 0.05) from 150 kg to 350 kg. The study results provide baseline data regarding livestock tuberculosis monitoring in the area of Constantine, Algeria, indicating that the disease incidence is not highly alarming, yet remains a serious public and animal health issue in the screened region.

Evaluation of Thermal Changes of the Sole Surface in Horses with Palmar Foot Pain: A Pilot Study.

BACKGROUND: Horses with palmar foot pain do not show a typical increase in temperature in the palmar aspect of the hoof and heel due to low blood flow. The objectives of the current study were to determine the changes and differences in the thermographic pattern of the sole surface in horses with unilateral palmar foot pain and non-lame horses before and after training. We hypothesized that the thermal pattern and the local temperature of the frog area and toe area would be similar, with an increased local temperature after training in both lame and non-lame horses. A pilot study was conducted to investigate the accuracy of thermography used to detect changes in local temperature and to compare the thermal patterns observed on the sole surface after training. METHODS: The study group included eight horses with unilateral forelimb palmar foot pain (n = 8) and healthy contralateral limbs (n = 8). Four additional non-lame horses served as controls. The horses were selected for the study based on the following criteria: forelimb with unilateral chronic progressive lameness and positive reactions when performing the hoof test and frog wedge test, degenerative findings of the navicular bone, and improvement in lameness after perineural analgesia of the medial and lateral palmar digital nerve. The local temperatures of the frog and toe areas were measured before and after training in the affected and contralateral limbs in the study group and both forelimbs in the control group using an FLIR E50 thermal camera. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was applied to check the sensitivity and specificity of the results for the studied groups. RESULTS: The thermal patterns of the hoof presented differences between the three groups of horse limbs. After training, the temperature of the sole surface increased, and its area increased in the limbs affected with palmar foot pain compared with the non-lame limbs in the study group and the limbs in the control group. The temperature of the frog area did not increase after training in the limbs affected with palmar foot pain compared with the same area in the other groups. The ROC curve analysis demonstrated the medical applicability of this tool and showed that thermography is a reliable diagnostic test to correctly discriminate between non-lame horses and those with palmar foot pain. CONCLUSIONS: We recommend thermographic scanning of the toe and frog area to detect changes in the local temperature of the sole surface after training to discriminate the horses with palmar foot pain from non-lame ones. Further investigation is required to clarify whether the observed thermographic imaging features of the sole surface are characteristic for horses with palmar foot pain.

Antimicrobial Activity of Sempervivum tectorum L. Extract on Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated from Otitis Externa of Dogs.

The present study investigated the antimicrobial activity, total phenolic content, and proanthocyanidin concentration of ethanolic extracts from fresh leaves of Sempervivum tectorum L. The extracts were phytochemically analyzed and evaluated for antimicrobial activity. The broth microdilution method was used to assess antimicrobial activity against pathogenic bacteria isolated from ear swabs taken from dogs with otitis externa. Many compounds were present in the ethanolic aqueous extracts, which exhibited a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. They showed strong antibacterial activity against standard clinical Gram-positive strains such as S. aureus and Gram-negative strains such as P. aeruginosa. In our study, the obtained quantity of total phenolic compounds in the ethanol:water extract of leaves was 126.17 mg GAE/g. The proanthocyanidin concentration in the tested Sempervivum tectorum L. extracts was 15.39 mg PAC/g material. The high contents of total phenolics and proanthocyanidin indicated that these compounds contribute to antimicrobial activity. The antimicrobial activity of the tested S. tectorum L. extracts ranged from 1.47 to 63.75 µg/mL, starting with 1.47 µg/mL and 1.75 µg/mL against S. aureus ATCC 25923 and P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 strains, respectively. Likewise, S. tectorum L. ethanol extract demonstrated a bacteriostatic effect against S. aureus clinical isolate with a median MIC of 23.25 µg/mL and MBC of 37.23 µg/mL; and bactericidal against S. aureus ATCC 25923 with the median MIC of 20.33 µg/mL and MBC of 37.29 µg/mL. In the Gram-negative P. aeruginosa clinical and standard strains, the expressed MIC and MBC values were 24.234 and 20.53 µg/mL for MIC, and 37.30 and 37.02 µg/mL for MBC, respectively.