Total Coliform Population Research Articles

Impact of orange (Citrus sinensis) seed powder on growth performance, biochemical parameters and caecal bacterial population of broilers reared in hot humid climate

In broiler nutrition, dietary fibre affects the development of the digestive system, nutrient absorption, intestinal flora and growth performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of orange seed powder (OSP) on growth performance, biochemical parameters, and the caecal bacterial population of broiler chickens. Four hundred and eighty-day-old Cobb 500 broiler chicks were divided into four treatment groups of six replicates. The treatment groups comprised a control group (without OSP supplementation) and three groups with varying levels of OSP supplementation (0.25%, 0.5%, and 0.75%) over 42 days. All groups supplemented with orange seed powder significantly decreased serum cholesterol, triglyceride concentrations, E. coli, and total coliform population as well as feed conversion ratio and feed intake and significantly increased average weight gain and lactobacillus population on day 21 (p < 0.05). Carcase yield did not differ across all the treatment groups (p > 0.05). On day 42, the triglyceride level was significantly superior (p < 0.05) with the supplementation of OSP. The lactobacillus population was not affected on day 42; however, E. coli and the total coliform population remained affected (p < 0.05). Orange seed powder at 0.50% supplementation in poultry feed can optimise the caeca bacterial population and enhance the weight gain and feed conversion ratio.

Status and Variations of Ecological Parameters of Domestic Sewage Inflow at Niccopark and Vanivihar Wetlands of Bhubaneswar, India

To assess the status of water quality of municipal wastewater and to quantify the sewage flow in two important locations of Bhubaneswar City, Orissa, viz., Vanivihar and Niccopark wetlands, composite samplings at hourly intervals were carried out for 96 hours in every three months during 2003-05. In general, the inflow of wastewater at both the sites was maximum during 9-11 am, and the variations were in line with the probable water use pattern of the surrounding community and time of travel from different sources. However, the variations in rainy season sampling were largely influenced by the rainfall pattern. At Vanivihar, the nutrient load during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon season were 11.72, 7.55 and 9.58 mg/l as total inorganic nitrogen and 2.05, 3.46 and 2.67 mg/l as phosphate, while the BOD5 level was 132, 103 and 126 mg/l, respectively. The mean population of total coliforms were 7.6, 5.71 and 5.27 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; faecal coliforms 3.59, 2.69 and 2.73 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; faecal streptococci 2.83, 2.78 and 2.29 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; and Salmonella 0.88, 0.76 and 1.6 x 105 CFUs/100 ml during pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon samplings, respectively. The corresponding levels of different parameters at Niccopark were 13.86, 8.68 and 11.1 mg/l; 2.58, 3.72 and 4.19 mg/l; 145, 109 and 134 mg/l; 7.87, 6.94 and 4.23 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; 4.35, 3.8 and 2.85 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; 4.02, 2.6 and 2.4 x 105 CFUs/100 ml; 1.1, 0.83 and 1.01 x 105CFUs/100 ml. Record of high concentration of nutrients, organic load and microbial pathogens in two sampling sites throughout the sampling period indicated that water drained into the downstream is heavily contaminated.

A Study on the Effects of Disinfectant Volume on Total Coliform Population Present in Waterways in Port Kaituma, Guyana

Water is an important asset to life, but, sometimes it can contain dangerous pathogens that can be located with coliform bacteria. Bleach is an effective substance that has been considered by many to reduce pathogen appearances in water. Studies done indicated that an increase in concentration and volume of bleach can reduce some, if not all, traces of coliform. This research used a five-fold serial dilution and incorporated techniques like addition of bleach and Gram staining to obtain its findings. Only 50% of the samples (Village Two) showcased a presence of coliform bacteria. There were signs of Klebsiella pneumoniaee, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Coagulase Positive Staphylococci and Escherichia coli with the first two mentioned being the most occurring. All three volumes of bleach showed 100% effectiveness in removing active coliform traces. It is important to note that reduction of coliform is a topic that should be addressed immediately, because of its dire consequence on the health of the population.

ANALISIS KUALITAS AIR SUMUR GALI BERDASARKAN INDEKS PENCEMARAN SERTA PERSEPSI DAN PERILAKU MASYARAKAT DI DESA SANUR KAUH DENPASAR SELATAN

The goal of the study was to analyze the water quality of dug wells based on Bali Governor Regulation No. 16 of 2016 and Regulation of the Minister of Health of the Republic of Indonesia No.492/Menkes/Per/IV/2010, which analyzes the quality status of dug well water and its distribution based on the Pollution Index (IP) value and community behavior in Sanur Kauh Village, South Denpasar. Purposive sampling at three stations with three repeats was used to determine the sample. Temperature, color, taste, odor, TDS, turbidity, pH, DO, BOD, COD, Nitrate (NO3-N), Phosphate (PO4), Chloride (Cl-), Iron (fe), E. Coli, and total coliforms were among the parameters measured in situ and ex situ (laboratory). Questionnaires and interviews with respondents who used dug well water were used to collect data on perception and behavior of components (households, business actors and/or activities, farmers, and the government), which were analyzed using a Likert scale and binary model. Surfer and GIS were used to map the water from an excavated well. The results of the analysis of the quality of dug well water exceeded the Class I Water quality standard set by Bali Governor Regulation No. 16 of 2016 for BOD, COD, phosphate, nitrate, iron, total coliform, and turbidity parameters, as well as the Indonesian Minister of Health Regulation No.492/Menkes /Per/IV/2010 for BOD, COD, phosphate, nitrate, iron, total coliform, and turbidity parameters Population activities, pollution sources, climate, soil type and topography, height and depth of the well all influence the water quality status of dug wells, which is classified as moderately polluted. The average community's impression of the provision of dug well water, water pollution, and waste management is positive, and the average community conduct is positive.&#x0D; Keywords: Shallow Groundwater, Groundwater Quality, Quality Status, Perception, Behavior

Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, yeast, and mold contamination patterns in peanuts compared to production, storage, use practices, and knowledge of food safety among growers in Senegal

Peanuts and peanut products are significant revenue sources for smallholder farmers in the Senegalese peanut basin. However, microbial contamination during production and storage can greatly affect market access for producers. Peanut products have emerged as possible sources of foodborne illness, encouraging discussions on international standards for peanuts. In this study, we interviewed 198 households throughout the Senegalese peanut basin to assess current production practices, storage methods, and producers’ prior knowledge of microbial contamination using a 162-question survey. A member of each household orally completed the survey with a trained enumerator and the results were compared to microbiological results obtained from peanut samples collected at the time of the interview using linear regression and an analysis of variance model. Samples were collected from stored peanuts at each household; peanuts were shelled and total Enterobacteriaceae, coliform, and yeast and mold populations were enumerated. Of the 198 samples analyzed, 13.0% and 13.6% were greater than the upper detection limits for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms, respectively. A total of 21.2% of samples were above the detection limit for yeast and mold populations. Only 22.7% and 18.7% of producers were aware of pathogenic bacteria or aflatoxins, respectively; there were no significant differences in observed microbial populations between household who took preventative measures against microbial contamination and those who did not. Additionally, four households reported washing their kitchen utensils before using them to eat and 60.1% reported always washing their hands before eating. Enumerators were asked to report peanut storage container type and if the containers were stored off the ground at the time of collection. While the interaction between storage container type and if the container was stored off the ground was significant for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms, it was not significant for yeast and mold. Additionally, when storage container type and if peanuts were stored off the ground were included in the regression model, these methods were predictive of contamination levels for Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms. To our knowledge, this is the first study to analyze the relationship among Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, and yeast and mold contamination and producer knowledge of Senegalese peanuts. These results provide preliminary data to inform future studies to determine pathogen prevalence and impactful preventative measures to minimize microbial contamination of peanuts produced in Senegal.

Potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated from Paipa cheese and its susceptibility profiles to antibiotics and biocides.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the microbiological quality of cheese produced by formal and informal micro-enterprises in Paipa, Colombia, to isolate potentially pathogenic bacteria and to determine their prevalence and resistance to antimicrobials such as antibiotics and biocides. Sixteen micro-enterprises of the seventy existing in the region were sampled during 3years. Viable concentrations of aerobic mesophiles, total and fecal coliforms, Salmonella sp., Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus sp., yeasts, and molds were determined. Seventy-three bacterial isolates were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The susceptibility of the isolates to antibiotics and biocides was determined. The results indicated that between 98 and 100% of the cheese samples (n = 48 samples) of formal and informal micro-enterprises presented populations of total and fecal coliforms and Staphylococcus sp. above the limits established by Colombian regulations and varied according to the micro-enterprise. The results also indicated that 56% of Staphylococcus isolates were S. aureus. L. monocytogenes was positive in 38% of the samples. Salmonella sp. was not detected. The coliforms that prevailed were Escherichia coli (25%), Citrobacter freundii (14%), and Proteus mirabilis (8%). All L. monocytogenes were sensitive to ampicillin but resistant to erythromycin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. S. aureus isolates were susceptible to most antibiotics, except tetracycline and erythromycin (7% resistance). Likewise, 30% of coliforms (n = 36) were multidrug-resistant to antibiotics but susceptible to biocides.

Microbiological Quality of High-Demand Food from Three Major Cities in Ecuador

Bacterial foodborne diseases are among the most important public health issues worldwide, but in Ecuador, reports on the microbiological quality of food are scarce. In this cross-sectional study, 450 samples of high-demand Ecuadorian food, including bolon, encebollado, sauces, ceviche, fruit, fruit juice, fruit salad, cheese, raw chicken, and ground beef, were collected from popular street markets in the cities of Guayaquil, Quito, and Cuenca. Populations of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, and Listeria monocytogenes were examined on composited samples by plate count following the local regulations (Norma Tecnica Ecuatoriana, Instituto Ecuatoriano de Normalización) for each kind of food. The individual and interaction effects of the city and food type on the levels of each bacterial group were assessed by two-way analysis of variance. Selected colonies from each culture were identified using Biolog OmniLog ID and sequencing of the V3 to V4 region on the 16S rRNA gene. Average total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliform, fecal coliform, and E. coli levels were 5.10 ± 0.12, 2.50 ± 0.16, 1.09 ± 0.12, and 0.83 ± 0.12 log CFU/g or mL, respectively, with significant variations among the cities. The prevalence of Salmonella in chicken and sauces and L. monocytogenes in cheese and fruit salad was greater than 20%. Opportunistic pathogens including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus sciuri, and Enterococcus spp. were frequently identified in the samples from all three cities. High prevalence of spoilage microorganisms such as Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and biocontrol bacteria such as Lactococcus lactis was also observed. This is the first report on the microbiological quality of food from Ecuador.

Calidad bacteriológica de la leche en sistemas de ordeño en el municipio Maturín, Monagas, Venezuela

El objetivo de la presente investigación fue determinar la calidad bacteriológica de la leche cruda procedente de dos sistemas de ordeño en fincas bovinas del municipio Maturín, estado Monagas. El ensayo se condujo por seis semanas y se cuantificó las poblaciones de coliformes totales (CT), coliformes fecales (CF) y Escherichia colipresentes en las muestras. El experimento se instaló enundiseño de bloques al azar con arreglo factorial (2x2), dondeel factor (A) correspondió a los tipos de ordeño, manual y mecánico, y el factor (B) a la aplicación u omisión de secado de los pezones de cada animal previo al ordeño. Las variables cuantificadas fueron examinadapor análisis de varianza y sus valores promedios comparados por Tukey a 5% de probabilidad. El factor sistema de ordeño detectó diferencias significativas (p≤0,05) para el recuento de CT, siendo en el sistema manual donde ocurrió el menor conteo con5,76 Log10NMP.mL-1. Para el factor aplicación o no del secado en la rutina de ordeño se constató diferencias altamente significativas(p≤0,001) en la población de CT, en este caso la práctica de secado al pezón presentó el menor recuento con 5,60 Log10NMP.mL-1. Las poblaciones de CF y E. coli, disminuyeron con la aplicación de secado. Los métodos implementados durante la rutina de ordeño influyen directamente en la calidad bacteriológica de la leche cruda

Intestinal microbial ecology, immune response, stress indicators, and gut morphology of male broiler chickens fed low-phosphorus diets supplemented with phytase, butyric acid, or Saccharomyces boulardii

Six dietary treatments were applied in a 42-d study to determine the effect of phytase, butyric acid, and S. boulardii on productive performance, intestinal microflora, immune response, stress indicators, and gut morphology in broiler chickens fed diets with reduced content of nonphytate P (nPP). On d 0, a total of 750 male broiler chickens were randomly allotted to 6 treatments with 5 pens of 25 broiler chickens for each diet: positive control (PC, adequate amounts of nPP), negative control (NC, 0.1% reduction in dietary nPP content), NC + 500 FTU phytase/kg (PHY), NC + 2 g butyric acid/kg (BA), NC + 1 × 108 cfu S. boulardii /kg (SB), and NC + butyric acid + S. boulardii (BA + SB). Considering the entire study period, body weight gain in broiler chickens fed any of the diets were greater (P < 0.05) than in broiler chickens fed the NC diet, where the broiler chickens fed diets PHY and BA + SB had the greatest value. Broiler chickens fed diets PC, PHY, SB, and BA + SB had greater (P < 0.05) relative thymus weight, primary and secondary antibody response against infectious bronchitis virus vaccine, and cutaneous basophil hypersensitivity to phytohaemagglutinin-P, but lower (P < 0.05) mortality rate and blood corticosterone concentration than those fed the NC diet at d 42. Feeding diet BA + SB increased (P < 0.05) cecal Lactobacillus spp. counts (d 35) and jejunal villus high:crypt depth (d 42), but decreased (P < 0.05) cecal Clostridium spp. counts (d 35) compared with those fed the NC diet. On d 35, the PHY, BA, SB, and BA + SB treatments had also the lower (P < 0.05) population of E. coli and Clostridium spp. in the ileum. No diets affected feed intake, relative weights of abdominal fat and liver, the population of total anaerobic bacteria, Bifidobacterium spp., and Coliforms in both ileum and ceca, serum insulin concentration, and duodenal morphology. In conclusion, the combination of butyric acid and S. boulardii may have synergistic effects on improving productive performance, immune response, intestinal microflora, and gut morphology in broiler chickens fed the low-nPP diet.

Evaluation of Pre-harvest Microbiological Safety of Blueberry Production With or Without Manure-Derived Fertilizer.

Blueberry is an important commodity in Washington State, which was one of the leading blueberry producers in the United States. As a ready-to-eat fruit, blueberry has no or limited post-harvest processing, highlighting an imperative need to evaluate its microbial safety during pre-harvest practice. This study accessed the microbiological safety of blueberry produced in a commercial blueberry field applied with or without manure-derived ammonium sulfate (AS) fertilizer in a 2-year study. Indicator microorganisms of total coliforms and generic E. coli, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella, and Listeria monocytogenes were monitored in fertilizer, soil, foliar, and blueberry fruit samples by culture methods for each production season. The population of total coliforms in soils was 3.17–3.82 Log10 CFU/g, which was stable throughout the production season and similar between two cropping seasons. Generic E. coli in soils remained at very low levels throughout the 2018 production season. Total coliforms or generic E. coli was not detected in fertilizer, foliar, and blueberry fruit samples collected in both 2017 and 2018 production seasons. STEC and L. monocytogenes were below the detection limit in fertilizer, soil, foliar, and blueberry fruit samples collected in both production seasons. Salmonella was not detected except for soil samples collected pre- and post-fertilizer application in the 2018 cropping season. Collectively, data indicated, under good agricultural practices, blueberry fruits produced in the field with or without manure-derived AS fertilizers had no microbiological safety concern.

Efficacy of sorbitol-coated heated scallop-shell powder for the antimicrobial treatment of fresh vegetables

Scallop-shell powder, which is mainly composed of CaCO3, exhibits antimicrobial activity through heat treatment due to the generation of CaO. However, although heated scallop-shell powder (HSSP) is effective for disinfecting food, but it also generates CaCO3 scales on the surfaces of the processing equipment due to the reaction of CaO with CO2 in the air. In our previous study, we showed that the addition of sorbitol was able to suppress scale generation in the processing equipment; however, it requires HSSP to be dissolved in sorbitol for a while. Therefore, in this study, we prepared sorbitol-coated HSSP (SC-HSSP) in an attempt to ensure the elution of sorbitol before HSSP. The results revealed that sorbitol coating changed HSSP from a fine powder state (mean volume diameter [MVD] = 7.3 μm) to a granular state (MVD = 137.2 μm), resulted in improved flowability and handling quality, and also reduced the scale buildup and improved the hygroscopicity. The antimicrobial effectiveness of SC-HSSP was almost similar to that of HSSP and NaClO (200 ppm) in reducing total aerobic bacterial population and coliform population on cabbage, lettuce, and cucumber. Therefore, this functional improvement of HSSP along with its antimicrobial efficacy will be help its use as an effective disinfectant for the antimicrobial treatment of fresh produce.

Zinc\xa0phosphate-based nanoparticles as a novel antibacterial agent: in vivo study on rats after dietary exposure

BackgroundDevelopment of new nanomaterials that inhibit or kill bacteria is an important and timely research topic. For example, financial losses due to infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, are a major concern in livestock productions around the world. Antimicrobial nanoparticles (NPs) represent a promising alternative to antibiotics and may lower antibiotic use and consequently spread of antibiotic resistance traits among bacteria, including pathogens.ResultsFour formulations of zinc nanoparticles (ZnA, ZnB, ZnC, and ZnD) based on phosphates with spherical (ZnA, ZnB) or irregular (ZnC, ZnD) morphology were prepared. The highest in vitro inhibitory effect of our NPs was observed against Staphylococcus aureus (inhibitory concentration values, IC50, ranged from 0.5 to 1.6 mmol/L), followed by Escherichia coli (IC50 0.8–1.5 mmol/L). In contrast, methicillin resistant S. aureus (IC50 1.2–4.7 mmol/L) was least affected and this was similar to inhibitory patterns of commercial ZnO-based NPs and ZnO. After the successful in vitro testing, the in vivo study with rats based on dietary supplementation with zinc NPs was conducted. Four groups of rats were treated by 2,000 mg Zn/kg diet of ZnA, ZnB, ZnC, and ZnD, for comparison two groups were supplemented by 2,000 mg Zn/kg diet of ZnO-N and ZnO, and one group (control) was fed only by basal diet. The significantly higher (P < 0.05) Zn level in liver and kidney of all treated groups was found, nevertheless Zn NPs did not greatly influence antioxidant status of rats. However, the total aerobic and coliform bacterial population in rat feces significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in all zinc groups after 30 d of the treatment. Furthermore, when compared to the ZnO group, ZnA and ZnC nanoparticles reduced coliforms significantly more (P < 0.05).ConclusionsOur results demonstrate that phosphate-based zinc nanoparticles have the potential to act as antibiotic agents.

Growth performance and health of nursing lambs supplemented with inulin and Lactobacillus casei.

ObjectiveThis experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of Agave tequilana inulin and Lactobacillus casei (L. casei) on growth performace, hematological variables, serum metabolites, and total coliforms in nursing lambs.MethodsThe experimental design was completely randomized; treatments were T1, control (pre-starter concentrate, PC), T2: T1+2% inulin, and T3: T1+2% inulin+L. casei; treatments were compared with Tukey test (p≤0.05); and 45 new born Kathadin×Dorset lambs (4.8±0.8 kg birth weight) were the experimental units (15 per treatment). The variables were daily weight gain (DWG), dry matter intake and diarrheas incidence (%) during 56 d. Twenty-four hours after birth and at the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected to evaluate hematological variables and serum metabolites. Besides, the populations of total coliforms and lactobacilli were estimated in fecal samples.ResultsAddition of agave inulin and L. casei increased (p≤0.05) DWG 356, 384, and 415 g/d, weaning weight 24.92, 26.18, and 28.07 kg, as well as lactobacilli population 5.79, 6.32, and 6.48 Log10 cfu/g, for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. Lambs fed L. casei had decreased (p≤0.05) populations of total coliforms (T1 = 6.18, T2 = 5.77, and T3 = 5.07 Log10 cfu/g), diarrheas incidence (T1 = 11.67%, T2 = 8.33%, and T3 = 5.0%), and serum cholesterol concentration (11% in T2 and 13% in T3, compared to control).ConclusionThe combination of Agave tequilana inulin and L. casei increases weight gain and improves intestinal health by reducing coliforms and diarrheas incidence in Katahdin× Dorset lambs during the pre-weaning period.

Antilisterial efficacy of Lactobacillus brevis MF179529 from cow: an in vivo evidence

BackgroundListeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic foodborne pathogen that causes human Listeriosis and high mortality particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Pregnant women are more prone to L. monocytogenes infection resulting in abortions.In the present study, antilisterial activity of Lactobacillus brevis (LB) MF179529, a probiotic bacterial strain, was investigated in a murine model.MethodsInitially a pilot study was conducted to determine the dose of L. monocytogenes required to cause symptomatic listeriosis. In the main trial, mice were divided into 4 groups. Group I was kept as negative control, group II was exposed to L. monocytogenes and maintained as positive control. Group III was fed with L. brevis only, while group IV received L. brevis for 3 days prior to L. monocytogenes infection. A volume of 200 μl of L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 and L. brevis MF179529 bacterial suspension corresponding to cell density of 109CFU/ml were given to respective groups by intragastric route. Progress of infection was monitored for 7 days including general health scoring, listeria dispersion in organs, bacterial load in intestine and blood biochemistry were recorded on 3rd, 5th and 7th days post infection (dpi).ResultsClinical listeriosis was induced by 109CFU/ml of L. monocytogenes ATCC 19115 in mice.Animals of group IV displayed minor signs of infection. L. brevis supplementation resulted in significant reduction in dispersion and propagation of L. monocytogenes in liver, spleen and intestine. L. brevis MF179529 consumption led to a significant elevation of number of lactic acid bacteria and reduction of total plate count, anaerobic count and coliform population in intestine. Moreover, total leukocyte and neutrophil counts of treated animals were similar to the negative control while positive control group displayed higher number. Safety evaluation of L. brevis was performed by monitoring general health, hematological and serological parameters of L. brevis fed and negative control group (group III and I). No significant difference in feed intake, body temperature, body weight and blood picture could be detected in L. brevis supplemented and control groups.ConclusionOur results indicate ameliorative role of L. brevis in L. monocytogenes infection and suggest that L. brevis could be used for prophylactic measure.

Effect of irrigation water source and post-harvest washing treatment on the microflora of alfalfa and mung bean sprouts

Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts were grown using municipal water or water generated from an aquaponics system. After seven days of growth, sprouts were harvested, separated into 25-g portions and assigned to one of four different treatment groups. With the exception of the control treatment, all treatments involved washing for 1 min in 500 mL of solution, followed by draining and sampling sprouts for selected microorganisms. Post-harvest washing treatments consisted of the following: 1) no wash control; 2) municipal water wash, pH 6.58; 3) chlorine wash at 200 ppm, pH 9.15; and 4) organic acid wash prepared at a 1% concentration and pH 1.52 from a stock solution that contained ≤35% sulfuric acid, ≤10% citric acid, and ≤5% phosphoric acid by weight. Overall, the numbers of total aerobic microorganisms (TAM), Enterobacteriaceae (EB), total coliforms (TC) and yeast and mold (YM) recovered from alfalfa or mung bean sprouts grown in aquaponics water were higher than the number of TAM, EB, TC and YM from sprouts grown in municipal water. Alfalfa and mung bean sprouts grown in municipal water and washed post-harvest with either municipal water or chlorine had fewer TAM (1.1–1.4 log CFU/g lower) and YM (0.6–1.3 log CFU/g lower) than unwashed alfalfa or mung bean sprouts. When sprouts were grown in aquaponics water and washed post-harvest with municipal water, they had similar numbers of TAM, EB, TC and YM to control sprouts. Washing sprouts with chlorine had little or no effect on levels of TC, and in some cases, sprouts treated with a chlorine wash had higher numbers of TC than control sprouts. This likely occurred because the primary biocidal activity of the 200 ppm chlorine solution was directly related to pH (>pH 9.0) and not hypochlorous acid, which may have created a favorable environment for coliform regrowth. The post-harvest washing treatment that resulted in the greatest reduction in counts of microorganisms on sprouts was the organic acid wash. When compared to the control treatment for alfalfa sprouts, the organic acid wash reduced populations of TAM, EB, TC and YM recovered from alfalfa sprouts by greater than 99.97%. Similarly, the organic acid wash reduced populations of TAM, EB, and YM by greater than 99% on mung bean sprouts when compared to populations recovered from the control treatment. The results of the present study demonstrated that aquaponics water provided adequate nutrients for growth of sprouts and microorganisms. Furthermore, this study showed that sprouts contain a significant number of microorganisms that are difficult to reduce with post-harvest wash treatments, supporting the notion that multiple hurdle technology may be the only solution for lowering final counts on sprouts to levels below 3 log CFU/g.

HYDRAULIC PERFORMANCE OF DRIPPERS APPLYING SANITARY LANDFILL LEACHATE DILUTED IN WATER

ABSTRACT Drip irrigation with diluted sanitary landfill leachate favors the development of grasses on the landfill surface, however, the clogging of emitters of the irrigation systems is the major obstacle for this practice. The objective of this study was to select empirical models of the Christiansen's uniformity coefficient, distribution uniformity coefficient, and statistical uniformity coefficient of drip irrigation sets applying sanitary landfill leachate diluted in water as a function of time of operation, and quality of the effluent. An experiment was conducted in a completely randomized experimental design with three replicates, using a split-split plot arrangement, with operating pressures (70, 140, 210, and 280 kPa) in the plots, types of drippers (G1, 1.65 L h-1; G2, 2.0 L h-1; and G3, 4.0 L h-1) in the subplots, and operating time of the drip irrigation sets (0, 20, 40, 60, 80, 100, 120, 140, and 160 hours) in the sub-subplots. Data regarding hydraulic performance and effluent quality were acquired every 20 hours during 160 hours of operation and subjected to simple and multiple regression analyses. The G3 dripper operating at pressures of 70 and 140 kPa were the combinations that best attenuated biofilm clogging. The linear regression and square root were the models that best represented the reduction in the uniformity of the effluent application as a function of the operating time of the drip irrigation sets. The linear correlations denoted that calcium contents and total coliform population rates were the characteristics of the sanitary landfill leachate that most affected the drip clogging process.

Colimetric index and virulence genes iss and iutA in Escherichia coli isolates in cellulitis of poultry carcasses under sanitary inspection

SUMMARY Current study determines the population of total coliforms and Escherichia coli and identifies iss and iutA virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from cellulitis in poultry carcasses retrieved from a slaughterhouse. One hundred cellulitis lesions were collected between August 2013 and January 2014. The population of total coliforms and Escherichia coli was verified by Petrifilm™ rapid counting method (AOAC 998.8). Escherichia coli samples were analyzed for iss and iutA genes by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. Total coliforms were present in 96.0% (96/100) of the analyzed samples, with a population between 3.4 and 9.5 log CFU/g. Escherichia coli was present in 82.0% (82/100) of cellulitis samples and the population ranged between &lt;1.0 and 9.0 log CFU/g. The iss gene was found in 89.0% of isolates and the iutA gene in 97.6%. High populations of total coliforms and Escherichiacoli in cellulitis samples indicate that hygienic-sanitary failures may have occurred in the production of broilers. When high prevalence of virulence genes under analysis, characteristic of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and possible zoonotic character of the pathotype are taken into account, it is important to highlight the need to adopt Good Manufacturing Practices, Standard Procedures of Operational Hygiene and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points in poultry slaughterhouses to ensure the safety of the final product.

Microbiological quality of spinach irrigated with reclaimed wastewater and roof-harvest water.

The effect of reclaimed wastewater (RCW) and roof-harvest rainwater (RHW) on the microbiological quality of irrigated spinach was investigated. Spinach grown in the controlled environment chamber was irrigated by RCW, RHW or creek water (CW; control water) for 4 weeks, and then six replicate spinach samples from each treatment were collected weekly at 0 h and 24 h postirrigation. Spinach samples were analysed for populations of faecal bacterial indicators and pathogens. Bacterial populations in alternative irrigation water samples were determined by the membrane filtration technique. The RCW samples contained the highest faecal bacterial indicator populations, followed by the CW and RHW throughout the entire study. Irrigation waters containing higher populations of total and faecal coliforms did not necessarily result in higher populations of these bacteria on the irrigated spinach. Higher numbers of E.coli-positive spinach samples were reported from RCW-irrigated spinach, especially with repeated irrigation. Pathogens were not detected from any water or spinach samples. Spinach irrigated with RHW did not significantly affect the populations of faecal indicator bacteria when compared with CW-irrigated spinach. Repeat irrigation with RCW is not recommended due to the increased contamination of E.coli on spinach leaves. RHW may potentially be used as alternative irrigation water without deleteriously affecting the microbiological safety of the spinach.

E-Beam Irradiation for Improving the Microbiological Quality of Smoked Duck Meat with Minimum Effects on Physicochemical Properties During Storage.

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of different doses (0, 1.5, 3, and 4.5 kGy) of e-beam irradiation on the quality parameters (pH, Hunter's parameter, and heme pigment) and stability qualifiers (peroxide value [POV], thiobarbituric acid reactive substances [TBARSs], and total volatile basic nitrogen [TVBN]) of smoked duck meat during 40 d of storage under vacuum packaging at 4 °C. The initial populations of total bacteria (7.81 log CFU/g) and coliforms (5.68 log CFU/g) were reduced by approximately 2 to 5 log cycles with respect to irradiation doses. The results showed that pH, myoglobin, met-myoglobin, L* , a* , and b* showed significant differences with respect to different doses and storage intervals; a* and b* did not vary significantly because of storage. Higher pH was found in samples treated with 4.5 kGy at 40 d, while the minimum was observed in nonirradiated samples at day 0 of storage. Higher POV (2.31 ± 0.03 meq peroxide/kg) and TBARS (5.24 ± 0.03 mg MDA/kg) values were found in 4.5 kGy-treated smoked meat at 40 d and the lowest was reported in 0 kGy-treated meat at initiation of storage (0 d). However, irradiation suppressed TVBN during storage and higher TVBN (7.09 ± 0.32 mg/100 mL) was found in duck meat treated with 0 kGy at 40 d. The electronic nose (e-nose) effectively distinguished flavor profiles during the different storage intervals. The results showed that different sensory attributes did not vary significantly with respect to the dose of irradiation. We conclude that low dose of e-beam irradiation and vacuum packaging is beneficial for safety and shelf life extension without affecting the sensory characteristics of smoked duck meat.

Trisodium phosphate dip, hot water dip, and combination dip with/without brushing on broiler carcass decontamination

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the effects of trisodium phosphate dip (TSP), hot water dip (HWD) and their combination dip with/without brushing on broiler breast skin for bacterial reduction and structural changes. Eviscerated broiler carcasses were obtained from a local slaughter plant and immediately subjected to one of six treatments: 1) two tap water dips at 25 °C (TWD/TWD), 2) TWD/TWD with brushing (TWD/TWD/B), 3) TWD and TSP at 8%/25 °C (TWD/TSP), 4) TWD and HWD at 71 °C (TWD/HWD), 5) TSP and HWD (TSP/HWD), and 6) TSP/HWD with brushing (TSP/HWD/B). Each dip was conducted for 45 s with or without brushing at 5 s on/off during the second dip. Compared to the control (TWD/TWD), TSP/HWD significantly reduced mesophilic aerobic bacteria (MAB), Escherichia coli (E. coli), and total coliforms by 1.1, 0.9 and 1.0 log CFU/g, respectively, and Salmonella prevalence by 53.3% (P < 0.05), whereas TWD/TSP and TWD/HWD showed intermediate reductions (P < 0.05). Upon brushing, TSP/HWD/B reduced populations of MAB, E. coli, and total coliforms, and the prevalence of Salmonella more effectively than control of brushing (TWD/TWD/B) (P < 0.05). When two sampling methods were compared, the method of stomaching released fewer MAB and total coliforms (named loosely-associated cells) than the grinding of the stomached skin (named tightly-associated cells). Compared to controls (TWD/TWD and TWD/TWD/B), both TSP/HWD and TSP/HWD/B generally resulted in darker, less reddish, and more yellowish breast skin. Scanning electron microscope and histological images indicated that both TSP/HWD and TSP/HWD/B had deeper skin penetration than controls or TWD/HWD and TWD/TSP. Overall, TSP/HWD/B showed the most effectiveness in broiler carcass decontamination.