Post-mortem Inspection Research Articles

Discovery of Antigens and Cellular Mechanisms in the Protozoan Parasite Sarcocystis aucheniae Using Immunoproteomics

Sarcocystis aucheniae is a coccidian parasite that produces macroscopic sarcocysts in South American camelid (SAC) muscles and causes a disease known as SAC sarcocystosis. This parasitosis hampers the commercialization of llama and alpaca meat, a vital economic activity in the Andean regions. No control or prevention methods are available, and diagnosis is based on postmortem visual inspection of carcasses. The aim of this study was to identify S. aucheniae B-cell epitopes suitable for the development of diagnostic methods for SAC sarcocystosis. To this end, sarcocyst immunoreactive protein bands were analyzed via mass spectrometry, and proteins in each band were identified in silico by searching in the parasite transcriptome. Five highly antigenic, hydrophilic B-cell epitopes, predicted not to cross-react with antibodies against other coccidia, were selected for future development of peptide-based serological tests. In addition, conserved domains present in the identified proteins allowed us to unravel metabolic pathways and mechanisms active in the parasitic stages present in sarcocysts, including aerobic respiration, antioxidant activity, signal transduction, protein synthesis and processing, and host–pathogen interactions. This study provides novel information on the biology of S. aucheniae, as well as new protein sequences that can be used for the development of diagnostic tests and chemotherapeutic approaches for SAC sarcocystosis.

Diagnostic and Prognostic Value of Clinical Scoring and Lung Ultrasonography to Assess Pulmonary Lesions in Veal Calves.

This study on veal calf respiratory disease assessed the association between an on-farm clinical scoring system and lung ultrasonography with the postmortem inspection of the lungs. The comparisons allowed the calculation of predictive values of the diagnostic methods. In total, 600 calves on an Austrian veal calf farm were examined at the beginning and the end of the fattening period. Overall, the area under the curve (AUC) for ultrasonographic scores was 0.90 (rsp = 0.78) with a sensitivity (Se) of 0.86. The specificity (Sp) was 0.78, and the positive predictive value (PPV) was 0.74. The AUC for the physical examination was 0.76 (rsp = 0.55) with a Se of 0.64, an Sp of 0.81, and a PPV of 0.69. For the combination of ultrasonography and physical examination, an AUC curve of 0.85 (rsp = 0.69) was calculated. A Se of 0.65 and a Sp of 0.88 with a PPV of 0.73 was calculated. This study concluded that both physical and ultrasonographic examination scoring are reliable examination methods for the detection of lung diseases in veal calves.

Evaluation of the value of using bovine kidneys as an additional matrix in a bacteriological examination of carcass fitness for human consumption

In Denmark, the spleen and the muscle act as matrices in a bacteriological examination that may be used as support for judgement of carcass fitness for human consumption when a systemic infection is suspected. We investigated whether use of the kidney as an additional matrix would provide relevant information when kidney petechiae are detected at post-mortem inspection. A total of 66 bovine kidneys, divided into four groups (petechiae±and endocarditis +/−), were subjected to bacteriological examination. The bacteria detected were identified with MALDI-TOF-MS analysis. The results were interpreted in accordance with the official guidelines of Denmark. Kidneys that produced bacteria colonies on culture were found in all four groups. The most detected bacteria were staphylococci and micrococci. Several kinds of potentially pathogenic bacteria were detected – most of them only rarely known as causing foodborne disease in humans. The agreement between results of using kidney and the results of the official protocol was low (40%). In conclusion, the kidney is not a suitable matrix due to a non-negligible proportion of kidneys that harboured bacteria in all four bovine groups. Kidney petechiae alone do not render the carcass as unfit for human consumption, whereas carcasses with endocarditis additional to kidney petechiae should be sent to bacteriological examination.

Bovine cysticercosis epidemiology and the economic impact of the triceps brachii incision in a South African export abattoir.

Taenia saginata is a zoonotic tapeworm of humans with bovines as its intermediate host (bovine cysticercosis). Traditional meat inspection is the main measure to identify the larval stage in carcasses and prevent human infection, but has a notoriously low sensitivity, especially in low prevalence settings. The legislation in multiple African countries mandates an incision in both triceps brachii muscles to detect the parasite as part of the normal post-mortem inspection, but this has an economic cost and is not universally mandated in other countries. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of bovine cysticercosis at an export abattoir in South Africa and determine the validity and cost of the triceps incision. Risk factors were investigated, and the effect of additional heart incisions on the current inspection. Four incisions were made into the heart in addition to the normal post-mortem inspection in 3353 carcasses. The proportion of positive animals with and without the cardiac and triceps incisions were compared using McNemar's chi-square tests, while risk factors were assessed using binary logistic regression. The economic impact of the triceps incision was estimated using a stochastic economic cost model. Thirty-three positive carcasses were identified for an apparent prevalence of 0.98 % (95 %CI, 0.69-1.36 %), while the true prevalence was estimated at 6.6 % (95 %CI, 4.3-8.8 %). All cysts were confirmed as T. saginata on histopathology with 70 % (95 %CI, 53-83 %) located in the heart. The additional cardiac incisions resulted in the detection of significantly more cases compared to the normal inspection method prevalence of 0.72 % (95 %CI, 0.47-1.05 %; P<0.001). The apparent prevalence of T. saginata when omitting the triceps incision was not significantly lower compared to the prevalence when included in the inspection(P=0.480). External feedlots (OR= 4.17, 95 %CI: 2.04-8.54, P<0.001) and older animals (OR=3.90, 95 %CI: 1.17-13.03, P=0.027) were associated with a positive detection. The current median annual financial cost to the food business operator from the triceps incision was estimated at $30387 (95 %CI: $0-$130696), with the proportion of deboned meat exported identified as the most important factor affecting cost (Spearman's rho=0.853). The identification of risk factors could aid in the development of a more effective risk-based inspection system. The current inspection should be modified to increase exposure of the heart and remove the triceps incisions. The latter should especially be considered given the minimal contribution to cysticercosis detection, the unsupported requirement for its inclusion specifically in Africa, and its economic impact, especially as beef exports increase.

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.

Cystic echinococcosis in humans and ruminants in Portugal: a one health approach

Abstract Background Cystic echinococcosis or hydatid disease is an important parasitic zoonosis for public health, although neglected. Despite being a mandatory notification disease both in humans and animals, data in Portugal are almost absent. A collaborative One Health retrospective nationwide study was conducted, bringing together the expertise of public health doctors, veterinarians and epidemiologists. Methods Human hospitalizations caused by cystic echinococcosis and slaughterhouse records of echinococcosis from bovine, ovine and caprine species were obtained. Poisson loglinear regression model was used. Occurrence maps were generated combining animal and human cases. Results From 2008 to 2022, 298 cases of echinococcosis were identified in post-mortem inspection in Portuguese slaughterhouses (bovines n = 125, ovines=288 cases, caprines n = 14). Between 2008 and 2018, cystic echinococcosis caused 582 hospitalizations in Portuguese public hospital, with an average length of 11 (± 15.66) days, resulting in 13 deaths (2.23%). Alentejo was the region with the highest hospitalizations. For every infected animal, a 7% increase in the incidence rate of human hospitalization was found (p = 0.002, Exp(B)=1.070, 95% CI: 1.025 - 1.117). Residing in the Alentejo increased the incidence rate of human hospitalizations by 5.3 times when compared to other regions (p = 0.000, Exp(B)=5.290, 95% CI: 3.835 - 7.296). For every 100,000 person-years, there was a total of 0.528 hospitalizations and the risk of death from echinococcosis was 8 times higher for those living in the Alentejo (p &amp;lt; 0.001, Exp(B)=8.259, 95% CI: 2.427 - 28.106). Conclusions Living in the Alentejo region has shown to be a high-risk factor for echinococcosis. This work gives an accurate recognition of the situation in Portugal, allowing the development of effective health control and education programs to face an important but neglected zoonotic disease under a One Health approach. Key messages • Considering that echinococcosis is still one of the 20 neglected tropical diseases of global health importance, is critical to map and monitor its prevalence and trends. • This study highlights the impact of this neglected zoonosis in humans and livestock, allowing the identification of the most problematic areas for echinococcosis in Portugal.

Food chain information for broilers: Results of a Europe-wide survey on status quo, usability and suggestions for improvement

A modern risk-based meat safety assurance system (RB-MSAS) for poultry includes information systems to better adapt to risks for food safety. Food Chain Information (FCI) according to Regulation (EC) No 853/2004 includes data on animal health, laboratory test results and further information that is relevant for consumer protection. FCI has to be transferred from the farm to the abattoir where the data analysis leads to adaptations of the slaughter process and/or meat inspection. As the EU regulation describes the required FCI imprecisely and without recommendations for meaningful reactions to specific information, implementation differs between European countries and even between abattoirs within one country. To assess the status quo of transfer, use and the usefulness of FCI in Europe, we conducted a survey on FCI for broilers among European stakeholders. The answers of 32 respondents, working in 14 different European countries as official veterinarians/meat inspection officers, food business operators/quality assurance managers, or in other positions in broiler meat hygiene, were included in the analysis. Overall, 75% (24/32) of the respondents stated they find FCI helpful for decision-making. All respondents (56%, 18/32) with electronic access to FCI find the transmission procedure practical. Most respondents get information about previous ante-mortem (81%, 26/32) and post-mortem (91%, 29/32) inspection results for flocks from the same holding of provenance. Likewise, most respondents receive data on mortality rate (88%, 28/32) and veterinary medications with a withdrawal period that have been administered during the fattening period (84%, 27/32). Overall, 53% of the respondents indicated that the entire fattening period would be the optimal relevant period for recording the administration of veterinary medications with a withdrawal period. In addition to this information, the respondents desired to have more data about further treatment (28%, 9/32) and data from the private veterinarian responsible for the farm (25%, 8/32). Knowledge of these data especially led to various measures being initiated at the abattoir, according to the respondents. In contrast, some specific production data were reported as also an important part of FCI, even though these data have little impact on the measures to protect human health that are taken in the slaughter process or at post-mortem inspection. All respondents transferred information about findings in the abattoir back to the farmers: these data were ante-mortem (72%, 23/32) and post-mortem (100%, 32/32) inspection results as well as further information (28%, 6/32). Our study shows that FCI for broilers is already widely successfully established as part of the RB-MSAS in Europe. Important information, like the ante- and post-mortem inspection results, is mostly available. Recommendations for improvement and for data to be included based on our study and literature are, inter alia: electronic data transfer; on-farm mortality; diseases occurring on-farm, especially those shortly before slaughter; all data on treatment with veterinary medications; EFSA's harmonised epidemiological indicators and; specific production data. Further studies are needed to gain a deeper understanding of correlations between ante-mortem data for the flock and findings at post-mortem inspection. Specific measures to be taken as a result of incoming information need to be stipulated in order that FCI is used more efficiently as a risk assessment tool in RB-MSAS.

El enigma de la enfermedad de Enrique IV, rey de Castilla: ¿padeció síndrome de McCune-Albright/displasia fibrosa?

BackgroundHenry IV King of Castile, last king of the Trastámara dynasty, was the brother of Isabella the Catholic. He is known as “the impotent”. Based on previous descriptions by historians and biographers, Gregorio Marañón in 1922 described him as “eunuchoid dysplastic with acromegalic reaction and clear schizoid features”. MethodsIn 1946, a post-mortem inspection was carried out on the mummified corpse found in the Monastery of Guadalupe. A written document and some photographs were recorded. We have collected the signs and symptoms described and applied the international classification of diseases recommended by the World Health Organisation, ICD11-2023. We have relied on the coins issued in the money of Henry IV, on which we have identified enlargement of the thyroid gland. ResultsWith the data available at this time, we suggest that Henry IV most probably suffered from: facial and polyostotic bone dysplasia, kyphosis, limb limping, multiple endocrine disorders, acromegaly with macrognatia, nodular thyroid disease, malodorous diaphoresis, erectile dysfunction, hypospadias, abnormal sexual development, “feminoid pelvis”, abdominal colic, oligodontia and dental displacement. It is possible that he also suffered from: precocious puberty, renal lithiasis with debilitating phosphaturia, carpal tunnel, thrombopenia and growth hormone-producing pituitary hyperplasia or adenoma. ConclusionWe suggest that Henry IV may have suffered from McCune–Albrigth syndrome associated with fibrous dysplasia, a rare disease due to gain-of-function mutations in the GNAS gene.

A Case Report of Coenurus Cerebralis in a Goat at Dembecha District of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

The Animal Health Institute received a report of an outbreak from Amhara Regional State, West Gojam zone, Dembecha district, with an unknown etiological agent on caprine death in February 2023. With the objective to conduct investigations and ascertain the reason for the caprine death, a team of experts was deputed to the affected area. Goat exhibiting seizures, lateral recumbency, and appetite loss during a clinical examination, symptoms of a central nervous system disorder including paddling, convulsions, and unconsciousness were noted. Based on clinical sign and presence of definitive hosts at the area the case has been defined for coenurosis cerebralis. For further confirmatory diagnosis postmortem inspection for the brain was undertaken. Cysts were found during necropsy in the left hemisphere’s occipital lobe. The cysts were filled with a clear fluid, and the inner layer of the cysts had several clusters of scolice growing out of it. Larval form of Taenia multiceps, known as Coenurus cerebralis, is found in the small intestines of dogs and other carnivores in the wild. Worldwide, coenurosis is endemic, and it is particularly prevalent in Ethiopia’s highlands, where there are many sheep. Commonly occurs in the life cycle of dogs and small ruminants. The larvae of this parasite are found in the brain and spinal cord of intermediate hosts, while the adult stage of the parasite lives in the small intestine of dogs, foxes, coyotes, and jackals. The intermediate hosts become infected when the dog eats the brain containing the Coenurus cyst, which then develops into Taenia multiceps and begins to pass proglottids containing eggs on pasture. If a person accidentally consumes a parasite egg, they become infected with coenurosis. The primary method of controlling coenurosis is the regular administration of canine anthelmintics and the proper disposal of sheep and goat brain.

Incidence of endemic fascioliasis in animals and estimation of the financial loss due to seizure of livers in Andahuaylas, Peru

This study aimed to determine the frequency of fascioliasis in animals slaughtered in slaughterhouses in the province of Andahuaylas and the financial loss due to the seizure of livers. The research was quantitative at a basic level, analytical design, observational type, and cross-sectional. It was carried out between October and December 2016 in the slaughterhouses of the districts of Andahuaylas, San Jerónimo, and Talavera. At the same time, a retrospective study corresponding to the years 2011-2016 was conducted. Fascioliasis was diagnosed through post-mortem sanitary inspection of the viscera. The statistical examination was carried out with the software Epidat 4.2, using Pearson's Chi-square test to verify differences between proportions; and, the t-test to estimate equality of means, assuming a confidence level of 95% and confidence intervals of α = 0,05. Most of the infected animals came from Pampachiri (p &lt; 0,01); the most affected species was bovine (51,9%; 95% CI = 49,9 – 53,9). In the 2011-2016 period, the frequency of fascioliasis was 46% (95% CI = 45,8 – 46,2) with a total financial loss for the seizure of livers of USD 238.551.1. The spring season registered the lowest frequency of fascioliasis and the lowest financial loss (p &lt; 0,01). The most significant losses occurred in 2014, in March and August, in the Talavera slaughterhouse (p &lt; 0,01). The study concludes that Andahuaylas is mesoendemic for fascioliasis but hyperendemic in cattle.

Comparison between two scoring methods to assess tail damage of docked pig carcasses during postmortem inspection in Ireland.

Tail inspection in the abattoir is a tool to help determine the welfare status of pigs. However, methodologies vary widely. Moreover, meat inspection is moving from palpation and incision towards visual-only (VIS) examination. This study investigated whether a VIS examination was sufficient to detect tail damage compared to handling (HAND), which ensures examination of all aspects of the tail. The severity of tail skin damage (0 [undamaged] - 4 [partial/full loss of tail]) and presence/absence of bruises was scored using both methods after scalding/dehairing of 5498 pig carcasses. There was a good relationship between methods when evaluating tail skin damage (sensitivity, 82.48%; specificity, 99.98%; accuracy, 98.98%; correlation ρ = 0.84). The results were similar for the presence of bruises (sensitivity, 74.98%; specificity, 99.09%; accuracy, 89.94%; correlation ρ = 0.79). However, the percentage of tails classified as undamaged was higher using VIS (69.9%) than HAND (63.55%) examination. Conversely, VIS detected fewer mild lesions (score 1 - 13.64%; score 2 - 11.73%) than HAND (score 1 - 15.21%; score 2 - 15.53%). A higher percentage of bruises was detected using HAND than VIS (37.96% vs. 29.03%). Visual evaluation is a valid alternative to handling evaluation of carcass tail damage and bruising.

On the damage and performance degradation of multifunctional sandwich structure embedded with lithium-ion batteries under impact loading

The integration of energy storage and load bearing in composite structures provides an alternative ideal solution for the next generation of delivery equipment due to its potential in improving energy storage efficiency and space utilization significantly. However, the susceptibility to impact during services makes it necessary to understand the damage and performance degradation of this multifunctional composite structure and its interaction behavior under impact loads to ensure structural integrity and safety behavior. This study realized the embedded design of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) into the composite structure and investigated the mechanical-electrochemical coupling behavior of composites-LIB integrated multifunctional sandwich composite structure under low-velocity impact loads. Experimental results showed that the embedded batteries experienced micro short circuits during the impact-loading process and kept good energy-storage capacity after the transient impact. Furthermore, charge-discharge cycling tests results indicated that the abrupt capacity loss increased with impact energy, and degradation rate rapidly deteriorated under high impact energy. Post-mortem inspection revealed that the damage and densification of active materials and separator contributed to the abrupt capacity loss and performance degradation. This work provides valuable insights for the performance evaluation and structural design of multifunctional energy storage composite structures.

Studies on Vibrio campbellii as a newly emerging pathogen affecting cultured seabream (Sparus aurata) in Egypt

Aquaculture has become a crucial solution for addressing food scarcity worldwide, including Egypt. However, the intensification of aquaculture practices has led to water quality degradation and the emergence of new fish diseases, such as vibriosis. This study aimed to investigate the molecular typing, prevalence, pathogenicity, and environmental risk factors associated with Vibrio campbellii (V. campbellii) in cultured seabream. A total of 160 gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (40 fish/season), along with 48 water samples (n = 12/season) were collected randomly and seasonally from private fish farms in the Suez Canal area over the course of a year for laboratory examinations. Clinical and postmortem inspections revealed characteristic signs and lesions similar to those observed in well-known vibrios infections. Bacteriological tests revealed the presence of V. campbellii strains in various internal organs. The isolated bacteria were identified morphologically, biochemically, and molecularly by targeting the 16S rRNA conserved gene. Histopathological examination was performed, providing insights into pathogen-induced tissue damage and septicemic disease progression. The prevalence of V. campbellii showed variable patterns across seasons, with higher proportions of cases in the summer. To examine the diagnostic performance of several water quality measures, the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed. The results showed various levels of predictive performance for the outcome variable V. campbellii, with ammonia serving as a significant predictor for the variable of interest. The challenge results indicated a 100% survival rate in the controls, whereas the challenged group exhibited a mortality number of 6.00 ± 0.58, resulting in a survival rate of 70.00 ± 2.89%. The current study emphasizes how crucial it is to take into account seasonal parameters to comprehend the prevalence and seriousness of vibriosis in mariculture. The findings add to a better understanding of the impact of water quality on fish disease emergence and can benefit the creation of appropriate management measures to ensure aquaculture populations’ health and well-being.

A Novel Designed Sandwich ELISA for the Detection of Echinococcus granulosus Antigen in Camels for Diagnosis of Cystic Echinococcosis.

Echinococcus spp. are important cosmopolitan zoonotic parasitic tapeworms that cause a disease called hydatidosis or cystic echinococcosis (CE), which has remarkable economic losses. The objective of our study was to develop a specific IgG polyclonal antigen-based ELISA (Sandwich ELISA; capture ELISA) method for the detection of circulating Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) antigens in camels infected with hydatid cysts before slaughtering and its application in serodiagnosis of CE in animals to assess the positive rate of hydatidosis in camels slaughtered in Giza governorate abattoirs in Egypt. In this study, molecular identification of Echinococcus sp. isolate was performed based on the NADH dehydrogenase subunit 1 (NAD1) gene, revealing the isolate (GenBank: OQ443068.1), which is identical to the G6 E. granulosus sensu lato genotype. The positive rate of hydatid cysts was determined in slaughtered camels' organs (n = 587). The results revealed that hydatid cysts were found in 46.5% (273/587) of the examined camels. Pulmonary echinococcosis was significantly more prevalent in the slaughtered camels (60%, 164/273) than hepatic echinococcosis (39.9%, 109/273), (p = 0.001, Chi Square = 11.081). Cyst fertility rates were higher in hepatic (90.8%, 99/109) than in pulmonary cysts (83.5%, 137/164) and the most viable protoscoleces were recorded from fertile the hepatic cysts (67.85 ± 12.78). In this study, hydatid cyst germinal layer antigen (GlAg) was isolated and used for the immunization of rabbits to raise IgG polyclonal antibodies (anti-Echinococcus GlAb IgG). These IgG polyclonal antibodies were purified by affinity chromatography using a protein A column, then labeled with horseradish peroxidase. Electrophoretic analysis of IgG polyclonal antibodies and crude GlAg was performed in 10% polyacrylamide gels. The SDS-PAGE revealed four bands at molecular weights of 77 kDa, 65 kDa, 55 kDa, and 25 kDa. The Sandwich ELISA was performed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity and cross-reactivity of the prepared IgG polyclonal antibodies. The circulating hydatid antigen was found in 270 out of the 273 samples with hydatidosis, with a sensitivity of 98.9% (270/273), a specificity of 94.9% (296/312) and a diagnostic efficacy of 96.8%. Regarding the cross reactivity, anti-Echinococcus GlAb IgG showed a low cross-reactivity with Fasciola gigantica infected camel sera (3/8), and Myiasis (Cephalopina titillator larvae; 3/20). No cross-reactivity was recorded with uninfected camel sera (negative sera for E. granulosus), and no cross-reactivity was found with antigens of Eimeria spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium sp., and Hyalomma dromedarii (ticks' infestation). Then, Sandwich ELISA was conducted again to detect E. granulosus antigen in all the collected camel sera, which resulted in a 48.7% (286/587) positive rate of CE compared to 46.5% (273/587) using a postmortem inspection (PM diagnosis) (p = 0.5, Chi Square = 0.302). In conclusion, the Sandwich ELISA technique introduced in this study appears to be a sufficiently sensitive diagnostic assay for the detection of camels' echinococcosis using anti-Echinococcus GlAb IgG. In addition, it might offer a significant medical and veterinary importance in helping the early detection of hydatidosis, as well as its early treatment.

Technique for studying in high resolution poromechanical deformation of a rocklike medium.

Pressurized fluid injection into underground rocks occurs in applications like carbon sequestration, hydraulic fracturing, and wastewater disposal and may lead to human-induced earthquakes and surface uplift. The fluid injection raises the pore pressure within the porous rocks, while deforming them, yet this coupling is rarely captured by experiments. Moreover, experimental studies of rocks are usually limited to postmortem inspection and cannot capture the complete deformation process in time and space. In this Letter we will present a unique experimental system that can capture the spatial distribution of poromechanical effects in real time by using an artificial rocklike transparent medium mimicking the deformation of sandstone. We will demonstrate the system abilities through a fluid injection experiment, showing the nonuniform poroelastic expansion of the medium and the corresponding poroelastic model that captures completely the results without any fitting parameters. Moreover, our results demonstrate and validate the underlying assumptions of the poroelastic theory for fluid injection in rocklike materials, which are relevant for understanding human-induced earthquakes and injection induced surface uplift.

Condemnation of Porcine Carcasses: A Two-Year Long Survey in an Italian High-Throughput Slaughterhouse.

Ante-mortem and post-mortem inspection at slaughter are performed by Official Veterinarians and it is essential to identify alterations/lesions, which can make organs/carcasses unsuitable for human consumption. Obviously, carcass condemnation must be regarded as a highly undesirable event for the entire swine industry chain, as it represents the total failure of a long period of challenging work. Therefore, it seems valuable to estimate the prevalence and causes of carcasses condemnation, in order to preserve consumers' health and pig farming profitability. Bearing that in mind, the present study aimed at providing a reliable picture of the condemnation of porcine carcasses in Italy, with a special emphasis being placed upon pathological findings. Data were collected in a high-throughput abattoir located in northern Italy, where a total of 2,062,278 pigs were slaughtered during the period of study (2021-2022). Overall, 1362 pigs were considered unfit for slaughtering after ante-mortem inspection, mostly because of death during transportation or in resting pens, after their arrival at the abattoir. Moreover, 2007 carcasses were condemned after post-mortem inspection. The most common causes of condemnation were severe and diffuse peritonitis, disseminated abscesses, jaundice, and erysipelas. In our opinion, the present survey may provide useful and updated information about the condemnation of pig carcasses in Italy. At the same time, it highlights the need to collect data in a more systematic and standardized way, thus making possible their comparison over time and among different geographic areas.

Agonic Aspiration of Blood: Not Useful as an Animal-Based Indicator of Electrical Stunning Ineffectiveness in Pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus).

Agonic aspiration of blood (AAB) may result from an inadequate exsanguination with accidental trachea severing, that can be favoured by ineffective stunning of pigs (Sus scrofa domesticus). This study aimed to evaluate AAB as an animal-based indicator of electrical stunning ineffectiveness, which could be used by official veterinarians during the post-mortem inspection of pigs. Information on 3584 finishing pigs was collected at a Portuguese abattoir that performs head-to-body electrical stunning with horizontal bleeding. Of them, 15.5% of the pigs presented signs of ineffective stunning. AAB lung lesions were found in 27.8% of lungs. Despite what was predicted, a strong correlation was found between well stunned animals and the presence of blood lesions in lungs (p = 0.006). Statistical significances were found between pigs' lateral recumbency at the conveyor and the presence of blood affecting one lung. Under the conditions of this study, the authors cannot point to AAB lung lesions as an animal-based indicator of electrical stunning ineffectiveness. Further studies should be conducted to establish a better understanding of the causes of aspiration of blood, in particular how horizontal bleeding may affect the occurrence of similar lesions.

Damages of TZM as plasma facing material under transient heat load

Titanium-Zirconium-Molybdenum (TZM) is applied as the first wall material of EAST due to its excellent performance. To investigate the service behavior of TZM under transient heat fluxes, the postmortem inspection of in-situ damaged TZM tiles by plasma disruption heat load in EAST was analyzed. Meanwhile, the EMS-60 electron gun has been also used to test the transient heat load behaviors of TZM. There are some similar characteristics between the in-situ melting TZM and the ex-situ melting TZM tiles, but there are also some obvious differences. Specifically, in some melting zone, the surface morphology of partial in-situ TZM melting region is like that of ex-situ TZM melting areas, and their convex surface is relatively smooth, while the concave surface is relatively rough, and the solidification layer undergoes recrystallization. In other melting areas, there are many small pits on the surface of the TZM tile that was melted in-situ, but there are no obvious pits on the surface of the ex-situ TZM sample, and part of the surface of the TZM tile that was melted in-situ is like a big pit, and the melted TZM droplets in this melting area tend to splash towards the periphery. The capillary waves around the castle structure in the ex-situ test samples are the result of wetting effect of liquid metal and capillary force, and the holes in the resolidified layer is caused by the overheating boiling of TZM liquid. On the other hand, the number and propagation direction of cracks in the in-situ TZM tile are more complex than those in the ex-situ TZM sample. Firstly, the number of cracks on the in-situ TZM tile is large and dense, while the number of cracks on the surface of the ex-situ melting sample is small and scattered. The crack width of the in-situ tile is greater than that of the ex-situ tile. Secondly, the crack extension direction on the in-situ melted TZM is diverse, while the extension direction of the surface crack on the ex-situ TZM sample is relatively simple, and there is only one kind of crack on the tile surface. Such results provide reference for understanding the thermal behavior of TZM under transient heat flux in fusion devices.

Use of risk assessment and predictive microbiology in regulatory science related to the scientific opinions of the EFSA BIOHAZ Panel

EFSA's Panel on Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ Panel) deals with questions on biological hazards relating to food safety and food-borne diseases. This covers food-borne zoonoses, transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, antimicrobial resistance, food microbiology, food hygiene, animal-by products, and associated waste management issues. The scientific assessments are diverse and frequently the development of new methodological approaches is required to deal with a mandate. Among the many risk factors, product characteristics (pH, water activity etc.), time and temperature of processing and storage along the food supply chain are highly relevant for assessing the biological risks. Therefore, predictive microbiology becomes an essential element of the assessments. Uncertainty analysis is incorporated in all BIOHAZ scientific assessments, to meet the general requirement for transparency. Assessments should clearly and unambiguously state what sources of uncertainty have been identified and their impact on the conclusions of the assessment. Four recent BIOHAZ Scientific Opinions are presented to illustrate the use of predictive modelling and quantitative microbial risk assessment principles in regulatory science. The Scientific Opinion on the guidance on date marking and related food information, gives a general overview on the use of predictive microbiology for shelf-life assessment. The Scientific Opinion on the efficacy and safety of high-pressure processing of food provides an example of inactivation modelling and compliance with performance criteria. The Scientific Opinion on the use of the so-called ‘superchilling’ technique for the transport of fresh fishery products illustrates the combination of heat transfer and microbial growth modelling. Finally, the Scientific Opinion on the delayed post-mortem inspection in ungulates, shows how variability and uncertainty, were quantitatively embedded in assessing the probability of Salmonella detection on carcasses, via stochastic modelling and expert knowledge elicitation.

Can transillumination improve the detection of deep pectoral myopathy in turkey carcases when compared with postmortem inspection alone?

You work as an official veterinarian in a small turkey abattoir. The plant inspection assistants would like to begin using a light source to transilluminate turkey carcases to improve the detection of deep pectoral myopathy (also known as Oregon disease). This methodology would be used in conjunction with the legally required postmortem inspection. The plant inspection assistants would like to adopt this approach because it is mentioned in the relevant rejection cards provided within the Manual for Official Controls published by the UK Food Standards Agency. They ask for your opinion as you will ultimately be responsible for the postmortem inspections. You wonder whether there is any evidence that the addition of a light source would result in more accurate disease screening than postmortem examination alone. In [turkeys at risk of deep pectoral myopathy], does [shining a light through the carcass followed by postmortem inspection compared with postmortem inspection alone] result in [more accurate disease screening]? The search strategy can be viewed at https://bestbetsforvets.org/bet/588, and is also available as a supplement to this article on Vet Record's website at https://bvajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/20427670/2023/192/12 Search last performed: 14 May 2023 None of the articles returned by the literature search directly answered the question posed in this evidence evaluation. This highlights the need for research directly comparing these diagnostic methods to determine whether additional exposure to light improves disease screening accuracy. In the absence of peer-reviewed evidence, other information sources, such as government reports, could be used when deciding which diagnostic screening approach would be the most effective. However, there needs to be an appreciation of the costs and benefits associated with integrating any new processes during the meat inspection process. As the prevalence of deep pectoral myopathy in turkeys is reportedly low and using transillumination may be more time consuming than postmortem examination alone, this approach may potentially be more suited to low- to medium-throughput abattoirs. The ‘Evaluating The Evidence’ section of Vet Record aims to answer specific clinical questions using a systematic approach to identify and succinctly summarise the relevant evidence from the scientific literature. The shortcomings of this evidence are also taken into account, thereby enabling vets to incorporate the best available evidence from the literature when making clinical decisions. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have an article you would like us to consider for publication in this section. Please note: The publisher is not responsible for the content or functionality of any supporting information supplied by the authors. Any queries (other than missing content) should be directed to the corresponding author for the article.