Effects of low to moderate levels of deoxynivalenol on feed and water intake, weight gain, and slaughtering traits of broiler chickens

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of low to moderate oral exposure to the Fusarium toxin deoxynivalenol (DON; derived from culture material) on performance, water intake, and carcass parameters of broilers during early and late developmental phases. A total of 160 Ross 308 broilers were randomly allocated to four different feeding groups (n = 40/group) including 0 (control), 2.5, 5, and 10 mg DON/kg wheat-soybean meal-based feed. Three consecutive replicates of the experiment were performed. Half of the broilers were slaughtered in week 3 of the trial whereas the other half were slaughtered in week 5. Dry matter intake (DMI) and water intake (WI) were recorded on a daily basis and the body weight (BW) and BW gain (BWG) were determined weekly. The following carcass traits were recorded and calculated in absolute and relative data: dressed carcass weight, breast muscle weight, leg weight, and liver weight. Data showed that BW (P < 0.001), BWG (P = 0.005), and DMI (P < 0.001) were reduced by DON-feeding during the entire feeding period. The ratio of DMI to body weight gain (DMI/BWG) was not affected by the treatment. However, the ratio of water to DMI (WI/DMI) increased in DON-treated birds (P = 0.021). Contrast analysis showed that DON tendentially reduced slaughter weight (P = 0.082) and decreased leg yield (P = 0.037) in DON-fed chickens in week 5 of the experiment. Liver organ weight decreased in the 3-week-old DON-fed broilers compared to that in the control-fed birds (P = 0.037). In conclusion, the study suggests that DMI and BW were negatively affected under the experimental conditions at DON levels lower than the current guidance value in the European Union of 5 mg/kg feed. The study also indicates that broilers fed on low to moderate level DON-contaminated diets showed increased WI/DMI ratio which might have negative influence on wet litter syndrome.

Invasive pneumococcal disease in Greenland

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the incidence and outcome of pneumococcal infections in Greenland with special reference to serotypes.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study of invasive pneumococcal infections in Greenland in the period 1996-2002.

METHODS

Cases were defined as patients with positive cultures of Streptococcus pneumoniae from blood and/or CSF received at the microbiological laboratory of Dronning Ingrids Hospital in Nuuk. Cultures were sent to Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen for serotyping. Medical charts were reviewed.

RESULTS

Fifty-one cases were identified. Incidence among Inuit was 54 and among non-Inuit 17 per 100,000 per year. Twenty-one patients were in the age group 35-49 years and 20 in the age group 50-64 years. Twenty patients had meningitis (incidence 6 per 100,000). Seventeen patients died (33%). Most common serotypes were 1 (6 cases) and 12F (8 cases). Mortality rate was significantly higher among patients with 12F than among others (p<0.01). No patients wit serotype 1 died.

CONCLUSION

Like in Canada and Alaska, the incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease, especially meningitis, is high among the Inuit in Greenland. Young and middle-aged adults were most frequently affected. Serotype seems to be an important determinant of the outcome of invasive pneumococcal disease.

Biogenic Amines and Polyamines and Total Aerobic Count During Storage of Vacuum-Packaged Porcine Kidney, Liver and Spleen

Biogenic amines and polyamines (cadaverine, histamine, 2-phenylethylamine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, tryptamine and tyramine) were analysed in vacuum-packaged porcine livers, kidneys and spleens stored at 3°C and 7°C (for up to 6 days) or 0°C (for up to 21 days). Total aerobic count, pH and sensory assessment were done in parallel. While histamine, 2-phenylethylamine and tryptamine concentrations were nearly constant, spermidine and spermine showed a moderately declining trend, irrespective of the storage temperature. Cadaverine, putrescine and tyramine concentrations increased with storage time and temperature. Maximum concentrations at day 21 at 0°C were: 122mg/kg for cadaverine, 207.35mg/kg for putrescine and 63.19mg/kg for tyramine. The correlation of concentrations of the latter three amines and the total aerobic count was ranging from r 0.54 to 0.89. A significant rise in amine concentrations was observed only when the total aerobic count exceeded 6 log10 cfu/g. Concentrations of cadaverine, putrescine and tyramine may be useful to confirm spoilage of vacuum-packaged inner organs. The fraction of the potential food-borne pathogen Aeromonas in high-pH organs (spleen, kidney) during storage was significantly higher than in liver, with low pH. It was observed that the spermine: spermidine ratio of spleen (3:2; weight base) was significantly different from that of liver and kidney (4:1).

Alaria alata mesocercariae in wild boar (Sus scrofa, Linnaeus, 1758) in south regions of the Czech Republic

From March 2012 to February 2013, 221 wild boar carcasses obtained from regular hunts in the Czech Republic were tested for Alaria alata mesocercariae using the Alaria-migration-technique. Most samples originated from South Moravia (173), and all 15 positive samples were found in this region, in particular in Tvrdonice (3/10) and Lanžhot (12/28), close to the site of the first description of this parasitic stage in wild boars in the territory of former ČSSR. These hunting grounds are located between the rivers March and Thaya, and rich in floodplains. Among the 38 carcasses tested in this area, higher carcass weights were associated with higher frequency of positive carcasses (P<0.05). Overall frequency of positive carcasses was 15/221 (6.8%). In positive samples (adipose and glandular tissue and muscle), the median number of mesocercariae was 14.3 per 100 g (range 3-69).

Effectiveness of a polyamide film releasing lactic acid on the growth of E. coli O157:H7, Enterobacteriaceae and Total Aerobic Count on vacuum-packed beef

The suitability of a polyamide 6 monolayer film containing lactic acid for use as an antimicrobial package for fresh beef cuts was studied. The release of lactic acid in an aqueous environment was immediate (within 1h) and was from approx. 55 μg lactic acid/cm(2) film at 0-8°C to approx. 67 μg lactic acid/cm(2) film at 12-20°C. Beef was contaminated with an Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolate with known minimum inhibitory concentration against lactic acid (0.09% v/v), then wrapped with the lactic-acid polyamide film and vacuum packaged. During storage at 12°C, the numbers of E. coli were 1 log unit lower than that of a control (untreated polyamide film) and decreased by an additional 1 log during storage for 14 days.

Quality traits of wild boar mould-ripened salami manufactured with different selections of meat and fat tissue, and with and without bacterial starter cultures

Quality traits of wild boar mould-ripened salami were assessed in eight batches produced from two different assortments of meat (hind leg vs. shoulder), fat tissue (backfat from domestic pigs vs. fat tissue from wild boar), and with and without addition of a commercial bacterial starter culture. Chemical composition of finished products (day 35) were in compliance with national food codex. Batches produced with a bacterial starter culture were generally preferred by taste panels, had significantly lower concentrations of TBARS (<1.5 mgmalondialdehyde/kg) and peroxide values (POVs) and lower concentrations of cadaverine (<50 mg/kg), histamine (<10 mg/kg) and putrescine (<60 mg/kg). TBARS and POVs were inversely related to sensory preference scores (r(2)=0.84 and 0.88). Batches produced from shoulder muscles contained significantly higher concentrations of cadaverine, histamine and putrescine. TBARS were highest in batches manufactured with fat tissue from wild boars. These findings should be considered when guides to good practice for the manufacture of game meat products are developed.

Carcass and meat quality traits of wild boar (Sus scrofas. L.) with 2n=36 karyotype compared to those of phenotypically similar crossbreeds (2n=37 and 2n=38) raised under same farming conditions. 1. Carcass quantity and meat dressing

The aim of this study was to compare wild boar (chromosomal number 2n=36) to phenotypically similar animals of 2n=37 and 2n=38 chromosomes (crossbreeds) with respect to live weight, carcass yield, meat yield, fat and weight of inner organs. All animals were born and raised on the same farm and slaughtered at 39 weeks. The final live weight of wild boar 2n=36 was significantly lower (47.2kg) as compared to crossbreeds (80.0kg). Animals 2n=36 had more carcass yields (65.5%) than 2n=37 karyotype (64.9%) and 2n=38 (64.4%). Wild boar had the highest yields for the cuts with bones and boneless cuts compared to crossbreeds. Therefore, variations in karyotype are accompanied by differences in some carcass quantitative traits, i.e., 2n=36 grow and fatten slower than crossbreeds 2n=37 and 2n=38.

Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae in various foods with a new automated most-probable-number method compared with petrifilm and international organization for standardization procedures

An automated most-probable-number (MPN) system (TEMPO, bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France) for enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae (EB) was compared with methods involving violet red bile glucose agar (VRBG) (International Organization for Standardization [ISO] method 21528-2) (ISO-VRBG) and Petrifilm (PF-EB). The MPN partitioning (three different volumes with 16 replicates of each) is done automatically in a disposable card. Bacterial growth is indicated by acid production from sugars, lowering the pH of the medium, and quenching the fluorescence of 4-methylumbelliferone. After incubation, the number of nonfluorescent wells is read in a separate device, and the MPN is calculated automatically. A total of 411 naturally contaminated foods were tested, and 190 were in the detection range for all methods. For these results, the mean (+/- standard deviation) counts were 2.540 +/- 1.026, 2.547 +/- 0.995, and 2.456 +/- 1.014 log CFU/g for the ISO-VRBG, PF-EB, and automated MPN methods, respectively. Mean differences were -0.084 +/- 0.460 log units for the automated MPN results compared with the ISO-VRBG and 0.007 +/- 0.450 for the PF-EB results compared with the ISO-VRBG results. The automated MPN method tends to yield lower numbers and the PF-EB method tends to yield higher numbers than does the ISO-VRBG method (difference not significant; Kruskal-Wallis test, P = 0.102). Thus, the average difference was highest between the automated MPN method and the PF-EB method (-0.091 +/- 0.512 log units). Differences between the automated MPN and ISO-VRBG results of > 1 log unit were detected in 3.4% of all samples. For 3.9% of the samples, one comparison yielded differences of < 1 log CFU/g and the other yielded > 1 but < 2 log CFU/g, which means that the differences are possibly > 1 log CFU/g. For the ISO-VRBG method, confirmation of isolates was necessary to avoid a bias due to the presence of oxidase-positive glucose-fermenting colonies. The automated MPN system yielded results comparable to those of the confirmed Enterobacteriaceae ISO-VRBG method but required only 24 h of analysis time.

Salmonella diagnosis in pig production: methodological problems in monitoring the prevalence in pigs and pork

Salmonellosis is an important foodborne infection in industrialized and developing countries. Especially for human Salmonellosis caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, pigs and pork are the major sources of infection. Mitigation and control strategies that result from surveillance programs attempt to reduce or even eradicate Salmonella in pork to lower consumers' risks. The methodology for Salmonella screening in pigs is generally based on antibody detection at slaughter with meat juice as the sample matrix. The instructions to most commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits for the detection of Salmonella antibodies state that their product is suitable for antibody detection in meat juice and sera. In the present study, we show that it is essential to recalculate the percent optical density (OD%) data obtained from meat juice by the ELISA (IDEXX HerdCheck swine Salmonella) by the following regression equation: OD%sera = -70.5587 + 128.1490/ {1 + exp[(-18.8969 - OD%meatjuice)/27.6032]}(1.1771), r = 0.87, to compare results with those obtained from sera. By this regression equation, we were able to compare the Salmonella antibody levels (classified as <10, 10 to <20, 20 to <40, and > or =40 OD%) for sows, growers, and slaughter pigs. We identified significantly higher numbers of growers with lower OD% levels than for sows and slaughter pigs. Without a recalculation of the meat juice results, the higher fraction of samples with low OD% values led to an underestimation of the actual seroprevalence.

Enumeration of total aerobic bacteria and Escherichia coli in minced meat and on carcass surface samples with an automated most-probable-number method compared with colony count protocols

An automated most-probable-number (MPN) system for the enumeration of total bacterial flora and Escherichia coli was compared with plate count agar and tryptone-bile-glucuronide (TBX) and ColiID (in-house method) agar methodology. The MPN partitioning of sample aliquots was done automatically on a disposable card containing 48 wells of 3 different volumes, i.e., 16 replicates per volume. Bacterial growth was detected by the formation of fluorescent 4-methylumbilliferone. After incubation, the number of fluorescent wells was read with a separate device, and the MPN was calculated automatically. A total of 180 naturally contaminated samples were tested (pig and cattle carcass surfaces, n = 63; frozen minced meat, n = 62; and refrigerated minced meat, n = 55). Plate count agar results and MPN were highly correlated (r = 0.99), with log MPN = -0.25 + 1.05 x log CFU (plate count agar) (n = 163; range, 2.2 to 7.5 log CFU/g or cm2). Only a few discrepancies were recorded. In two samples (1.1%), the differences were > or = 1.0 log; in three samples (1.7%), the differences were > or = 0.5 log. For E. coli, regression analysis was done for all three methods for 80 minced meat samples, which were above the limit of detection (1.0 log CFU/g): log MPN = 0.18 + 0.98 x log CFU (TBX), r = 0.96, and log MPN = -0.02 + 0.99 x log CFU (ColiID), r = 0.99 (range, 1.0 to 4.2 log CFU/g). Four discrepant results were recorded, with differences of > 0.5 but < 1.0 log unit. These results suggest that the automated MPN method described is a suitable and labor-saving alternative to colony count techniques for total bacterial flora and E. coli determination in minced meat or on carcass surfaces.

Modified-atmosphere storage under subatmospheric pressure and beef quality: I. Microbiological effects1

The microflora was studied in beef stored in stainless steel containers kept under reduced pressure (20 to 30 kPa) in a modified atmosphere (70% N2 + 30% CO2 or pure CO2) at 3 to 4 degrees C and 0 to 1 degrees C at a headspace:meat volume ratio of 2:1. Samples were obtained at weekly intervals, 1 to 3 times. Total colony counts (TCC) for Pseudomonas spp. and Brochothrix thermosphacta were generally 1 to 2 log10 cfu greater than in the control group of vacuum-packaged beef cuts stored at the same temperatures. In containers with the 70% N2 + 30% CO2 atmosphere at 20 to 30 kPa and 3 to 4 degrees C, substantial growth of Pseudomonas sp. was observed (median of 6 log10 cfu/cm2 at d 21 of storage compared with 3 log10 cfu/cm2 for vacuum-packaged beef). Pseudomonas counts were lower when the container system was held at 0 to 1 degrees C, especially when combined with the pure CO2 atmosphere. As expected for CO2-enriched atmospheres, B. thermosphacta was the dominant spoilage bacterium, in the same log10 order as the TCC. Lowering the storage temperature and changing the atmosphere to pure CO2 resulted in a reduction of 1 log10 for TCC (median values after 2 wk of storage). Although pathogenic bacteria such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes were not detected in any sample, further studies are necessary to evaluate potential growth risks. The results demonstrate that CO2-enriched and O2-depleted atmospheres under low pressure have a limited effect on reducing bacterial growth, probably because the antibacterial activity of CO2 is proportional to the effective concentration of this gas in the headspace. At pressures of 20 to 30 kPa, a headspace with pure CO2 would still contain only approximately 20 to 30% CO2.

Influence of azithromycin and other macrolides on the intracellular killing of Staphylococcus aureus by human polymorphonuclear leucocytes of healthy donors and a patient with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome

A mixture of human blood phagocytes from healthy donors and opsonized staphylococci was incubated in vitro for 30 min. After that time all the bacteria were phagocytosed. The test tubes were further incubated for 2, 4 and 24 h with or without addition of a macrolide (erythromycin, azithromycin, clarithromycin, roxithromycin) and the effect of these drugs on the survival of intracellular staphylococci (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923) was measured. The minimal effective concentration of the antibiotic which killed 80-90% of the bacteria after a 4-hour incubation was 0.1 mg/l for erythromycin, azithromycin and clarithromycin and 1.2 mg/l for roxithromycin. The percentage of surviving bacteria after 2 and 4 h incubation was not significantly different between these macrolides at the minimal effective concentration. Increasing the concentration of each antibiotic above the minimal effective concentration did not alter the killing rate of intracellular staphylococci. The bacterial activity of polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNL) from a patient with Chédiak-Higashi syndrome was less in comparison to PMNL from healthy donors, but was improved in vitro by the addition of erythromycin or azithromycin.

Comparison of mood states of college able-bodied and wheelchair basketball players

The mood states of 26 college wheelchair basketball players were examined in relation to 11 varsity college basketball players and normative data from 340 college men. Multivariate analysis indicated that the wheelchair basketball players had significantly better mental health profiles than the two comparison groups.

Comparison of wheelchair athletes and nonathletes on selected mood states

The Profile of Mood States was administered to two groups of male university students in wheelchairs. Both the 26 wheelchair athletes and the 28 wheelchair nonathletes exhibited the iceberg profile associated with positive mental health. Multivariate analysis indicated that wheelchair athletes had a significantly lower score on Depression than the wheelchair nonathletes but all scores were in the normal range.

Bridging bronchus and posterior left pulmonary artery: a unique association

A 6-month-old female with a lifelong history of respiratory distress became increasingly difficult to manage and required right upper and middle pulmonary lobectomies for worsening emphysema and mediastinal shift. The postoperative course was stormy and confusing and the patient died despite emergency tracheostomy. The autopsy disclosed an anomalous bronchus to the right lower lobe, originating from the left mainstem bronchus. In addition, the left main pulmonary artery was positioned posterior to the left mainstem bronchus. Two other cases of bridging bronchus have been reported, but the association with posterior left pulmonary artery has not been described.

Bronchial carcinoid tumours. A clinicopathologic study of 82 cases

A clinical and "blind" histologic review of 82 cases of bronchial carcinoid tumour is presented. The malignant potential of the tumours was only partly predictable from their histologic appearance. Histologically 65 of the tumours were typical benign carcinoids. Regional metastases were found at operation in two of these patients. Fatal carcinoid syndrome with regional and distant metastases appeared in two patients about 1 and 3 years postoperatively. One of the patients with regional metastases at operation is clinically free from carcinoid 12 years later. Malignancy was histologically suspected in 17 cases, in ten of which regional metastases were found at operation. Three of these ten patients are alive 6 to 16 years postoperatively, but two without regional metastases at operation died of local recurrence and distant metastases after 3 to 4 years. Carcinoid syndrome was not seen in these 17 patients. There was one peroperative death. Altogether ten patients (12%) died of recurrence. Among the cases judged at the "blind" histologic review to be suspectedly malignant, the corresponding figure was 50%. For typical carcinoids, conservative resection, including lymph-node metastases, is the treatment of choice. Wedge or sleeve resection with or without pulmonary resection were employed in ten cases. Suspectedly malignant carcinoid tumours may require more extensive surgery.