Qualitative improvement of rabbit burgers using Zingiber officinale Roscoe powder

The object of this study was to evaluate the effect of Zingiber officinale powder on physical-chemical traits, microbiological growth and sensory properties of rabbit burger. Raw burgers (only meat and meat added with 1 and 2% w/w ginger powder) were stored at 4°C for 1, 4 and 7 d and then cooked. Ginger modified the colour of both raw and cooked burgers, leading to more yellow hue and reducing lightness. Aspect of burgers were affected by ginger powder addition, leading to a noticeable difference between the samples. During storage time, the highest modifications were recorded for control samples, followed by burgers with added ginger. Sensory evaluation highlighted that ginger enhanced the juiciness of the burgers; moreover, burgers with ginger powder presented a significant delay in microbial growth. Ginger powder might be considered as a potential ingredient in rabbit meat products to increase their quality and extend their shelf-life.

Raw milk for sale in Pisa province: biosecurity of dairy farms and hygienic evaluation of milk

Selling raw milk by automatic dispenser on the farm is a good way to increase income. The aim of the present research is to evaluate both the biosecurity of dairy farms in the Pisa province and the hygienic quality of raw milk. Two farms, chosen because of previously analyzed results carried out on animals and milk, were monitored for 9 months according to the regional law DGR 381/2007. The results obtained showed that these farms presented good cattle health status. The raw milk tested was of a satisfactory hygienic quality, with great variability among milk samples in certain parameters, such as somatic cell count. This study confirmed the importance of consistent, ongoing control of safety conditions on dairy farms.

Epididymitis by Brucella ovis: experimental infection in virgin ram lambs

Ten sexually immature rams were experimentally infected with Brucella ovis, to verify the antibody kinetics and its localization in urinary and genital tracts. All animals became positive to the complement fixation test from the 2nd post infection (p.i.) week and reached the maximum titre (1:256) on the 4th p.i. week. Bacteriemia was demonstrated on 3rd, 4th and 5th p.i. weeks. Two animals, respectively slaughtered 11 and 13 weeks after the infection, showed macroscopic and microscopic genital lesions and the etiologic agent was cultured from their urine and genital organs.

Leptospira interrogans in the genital tract of sheep. Research on ewes and rams experimentally infected with serovar hardjo (hardjobovis)

To verify if Leptospira hardjo can colonize the male and female genital organs of sheep, 9 animals (6 non pregnant ewes and 3 mature rams) were infected with a strain of L. hardjobovis recently recovered from the kidneys of a seropositive ewe. Postinfection controls (bacteriologic, serologic, immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy) failed to disclose the presence of leptospires in the uterus and oviducts, testicles, epididymis, prostate and bulbourethral glands of animals used for the experiment and slaughtered from 37 to 242 postinfection days. All animals showed a renal localization of L. hardjobovis lasting for the entire period of the study (over 8 months). These results emphasize the important role of sheep as maintenance hosts of the serovar.

Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo in the kidneys and genital tracts of naturally infected sheep

A bacteriological study was carried out to identify possible renal and/or genital carriers of Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo. L. hardjo was found at slaughter in the kidneys of three seropositive ewes, but not in uterus or salpinges of these animals.

Experimental infection of dogs with Borrelia burgdorferi

Four beagle dogs were inoculated subcutaneously with the BITs1 Italian strain of Borrelia burgdorferi. Only one dog became infected and B burgdorferi was isolated from its blood and urine three and four weeks after infection. B burgdorferi antibodies were detected by immunofluorescence from four to 11 weeks after infection. An uninoculated dog kept in the same run as the infected dog, developed a positive serological response, but none of the five dogs showed clinical signs.