Probable Number Of Coliforms Research Articles

SQUAB AND QUAIL MEATS: MICROBIAL STATUS AND PREVALENCE OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT SHIGA TOXIN-PRODUCING E. coli

The consumption of exotic meats, such as squab and quail meats, is common in many parts of the world. However, little is known about the safety of these foods. This study aimed to evaluate the microbial characteristics of squab and quail meats, with a particular interest in the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Meat samples were examined for total bacterial counts, total mold counts, most probable number of coliforms, total E. coli counts, and the prevalence of STEC. The presence of virulence genes (stx1, stx2, and eae) in STEC isolates was also investigated. Results from microbial analyses revealed poor hygienic status of squab and quail meats. E. coli was isolated from 16% and 10% of squab and quail meats, respectively. Six E. coli serotypes were recovered, including O26, O78, O111, O114, O119, and O127, and STEC genes were detected in all these isolates. Squab liver had the highest E. coli prevalence rates, followed by gizzard, heart, spleen, and breast muscles. The prevalence of E. coli in quail meat samples was similar across all tissues. STEC serotypes showed notable multidrug resistance profiles. We then used ascorbic and rosmarinic acids to increase the safety of breast muscle. Treatment of breast muscles with these acids significantly improved their microbial safety. These findings highlight the potential role of squab and quail meats as a vehicle for STEC transmission to humans, and the beneficial effect of treatment with ascorbic and rosmarinic acids on enhancing the safety of exotic meats. Key words: food safety; shiga toxin; E. coli; squab; quails; meat

Pathogens and microorganisms in the mangrove oyster Crassostrea gasar cultivated in an estuarine environment in Northeast Brazil.

Estuaries are important ecosystems due to the ecological services they provide, acting as nurseries for many species of fish and invertebrates, and are also used as environments for the extraction and cultivation of mollusks. Oysters are animals that filter water to obtain oxygen and nutrients. In this process, they can bioaccumulate microorganisms and chemical substances in their tissues. The growth of mollusk culture in Northeastern Brazil requires the health identification of cultivated oysters through the quantification of the potentially harmful microbiota accumulated in the animals. Therefore, the present work aims to quantify and identify bacteria and possible pathogens found in the tissues of cultivated oysters and their culture waters. The Most Probable Number of Coliforms (MPN) in oysters and water were considered suitable according to the Brazilian current legislation, Vibrio sp. obtained low colonization and Salmonella sp. was not observed. The prevalence of microorganisms potentially pathogenic to oysters was 33.7%, highlighting metazoans and Nematopsis sp., however, the intensity of the infestation of these organisms was moderate. The low contamination of oysters demonstrates that this culture environment is promising for this activity. However, continuous environmental and sanitary monitoring is fundamental to guarantee the safety of the culture waters and the sustainability of aquaculture activities.

Analysis of microbiological contaminants in mussel Perna perna (Linnaeus, 1758), before and after depuration, from mariculture of the lowland coast, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Mussels can be used in the assessment of contamination of marine environments because of their filtering particles. Since they are used as a food source, this study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of the (experimental) depuration process for the microbiological quality of mussels obtained from two regions of the Baixadas Litorâneas in Rio de Janeiro. Samples of cultivation water and mussels were collected seasonally from March 2019 to February 2020, in a total of 240 animals from both regions to perform the Most Probable Number of coliforms at 35 °C, at 45 °C (E. coli), Enterococcus spp., research Salmonella spp., count of heterotrophic aerobic mesophilic and psychrotrophic bacteria in control samples and debugged. A low count of E. coli was observed for the cultivation water, but in mussels the counts were high in the winter period in Armação de Búzios, exceeding the limits established in accordance with the current legislation. However, the depuration technique adopted after collection provided a reduction in bacteriological counts, proving to be an effective process. Therefore, if there is a bacterial reduction with the adoption of the depuration process, there is a need for mitigation measures adopted by mariculturers and city halls regarding the safety of marine waters and molluscs.

Qualidade microbiológica da água de poços artesianos localizados na Cidade de Acari, Rio Grande do Norte

Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar, mediante caracterização microbiológica, a qualidade da água de dois poços artesianos localizados na cidade de Acari-RN. As amostras de água foram coletadas em dois poços artesianos localizado na zona rural da cidade de Acari-RN e encaminhadas para serem submetidas à análises realizadas em triplicatas no Laboratório de Microbiologia de Alimentos, da Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Campus Pombal, Paraíba. Os parâmetros analisados foram: coliformes totais, coliformes termotolerantes, Escherichia coli, determinados seguindo as metodologias da CETESB (Companhia Ambiental do Estado de São Paulo). A determinação do número mais provável de coliformes nas amostras foram obtidas por meio da aplicação da técnica de tubos múltiplos seriados, sendo também realizada a análise de diferenciação de coliformes termotolerantes. Como resultados, as amostras analisadas apresentaram uma variação de 320 a 360 NMP.org/100 mL na contagem de coliformes fecais, resultado semelhante foi obtido para coliformes termotolerantes refrente aos dois poços artesianos, sendo que o maior valor foi observado no poço artesiano 2 com 240 NMP.org/100 mL, a Escherichia coli apresentou valores variando de <1,4 a <1,9 NMP.org/100 mL, sendo assim, as águas analisadas são consideradas impróprias para o consumo de acordo com Portaria de N° 5/2017 do Ministério da Saúde por configurar risco à saúde da população.

Microbial quality and formation of biogenic amines in the meat and edible offal of Camelus dromedaries with a protection trial using gingerol and nisin.

This study aimed firstly at the investigation of the microbial status of the camel meat and edible offal including liver, kidneys, lungs, rumen, and duodenum distributed at local markets of Egypt. Total plate count, total psychrophilic counts, total Enterobacteriaceae count, the most probable number of coliforms, and total mold counts were monitored at the collected samples. The produced biogenic amines (BA) in the camel meat and offal were further estimated. An experimental trial to investigate the antimicrobial potentials of either nisin, gingerol, or an equal mixture of both using camel muscle as a food matrix was conducted. The achieved results declared a high microbial load in the camel meat and the offal. Duodenum and rumen had the highest microbial counts followed by lungs, kidneys, liver, and muscle, respectively. Similarly, duodenum and rumen had the highest levels of BA, including tyramine, spermine, putrescine, cadaverine, and histamine. Both of nisin and ginger showed significant antimicrobial properties in a concentration‐dependent manner. Thus, efficient hygienic measures during the handling of camel meat are highly recommended. In addition, using nisin, gingerol, or a mixture of both is an efficient strategy for improving the microbiological quality of the camel meat.

EVALUATION OF PERCEPTION AND PREFERENCE OF SENSORY ATTRIBUTES FOUND IN FULL-FAT AND LOW-FAT PRATO CHEESE

Prato cheese is the second most commercialized cheese in Brazil and its full-fat variety has very high fat content. The aim of this study was to evaluate the degree of perception and preference of untrained consumers to full-fat and low-fat Prato cheese. For such, eight Prato cheese sample (four full-fat and four low-fat version) weighing 500g each, were submitted to microbiological, physical and sensorial evaluations. The microbiological evaluation consisted of determining the Most Probable Number of coliforms at 35 and 45°C as well as the presence of Salmonella sp. In the physical analyses, we found the values of pH, shear force and performed a color analysis. The sensory analysis was performed from the Preference Test. Both cheese varieties had coliform counts at 35 and 45°C within the thresholds established by current legislation; and there was absence of Salmonella sp. In addition, the physical characteristics were within the expected for the type of cheese evaluated. As for the sensory evaluation, full-fat Prato cheese was preferred for the appearance (52%) and aroma (55%) attributes, however the low-fat variety was better scored for the taste (57%), texture (57%) and overall acceptance (55%). The tasters were able to differentiate the samples, and the low-fat Prato cheese was more widely accepted.

Human Adenovirus, Mesophilic Bacteria and Fungi in Puppies’ Food Marketed in Bulk in Southern Brazil

Background: The Brazilian domestic canine population are the second largest in the world and their feeding means 0.4% of the Brazilian gross domestic product. For maintaining the quality of the food, the companies use worldwide standards for technical prevention and control of contaminants and biological conservation. The packaging is part of this process, since it provides a barrier between food and environment. However, in Brazil, packagings are often opened in retail stores for bulk marketing. The objectives of this work were to develop a methodology to detect viruses in foods and to analyze the bacterial and fungal contamination in puppies’ food sold in bulk in Ivoti and Estância Velha, cities in Southern Brazil. Materials & Methods & Results: Twenty samples collected between September and October 2016 were analyzed for most probable number of coliforms, Salmonella sp., mesophilic aerobic bacteria and yeast/mold following the regulation of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply guidelines. They were also tested for Human Mastadenovirus C (HAdV), Canine Mastadenovirus A (CAdV), and Carnivore Protoparvovirus 1 (CPV) genomes. Viral analysis were performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection. During the collection of the samples hygienic-sanitary conditions, storage of feeds, animals’ access, dog grooming, and veterinary care were considered to evaluate the conditions of each store. A pilot study was carried out using one food sample marketed in bulk and one sample from the original package (closed package) and testing them for bacterial and fungal contamination for standardizing viral detection. Ten grams of food from the original package were mixed with 90 mL of Eagles’ Minimal Essential Medium (E-MEM) in 100 mL sterile bottles. These bottles were kept in room temperature and shaken for 60 min. Subsequently, aliquots were obtained by sequentially diluting the sample (10-2 to 10-4). All final specimens contained 10 mL and each diluted sample was spiked with HAdV-C prototype viral strain (AdV5). A standard solution of HAdV-C was diluted from 3.6x106TCID50mL, (50% tissue culture infective dose) to 3.6x103 TCID50mL, and DNA extraction was performed. Nested-PCR targeting AdV DNApol was performed to detect adenoviruses from different hosts. AdV-positive samples were submitted to nucleotide sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Specific PCRs were also carried out for CAdV and CPV. Mesophilic aerobic bacteria were detected in all samples and Aspergillus sp. was found in five samples, among which one sample was co-infected with Penicillium sp. One sample was positive for AdV, which was identified as HAdV by sequencing; while coliforms and Salmonella sp. were not detected.Discussion: The presence of fungi with mycotoxigenic potential, such as Aspergillus sp. and Penicillium sp. represents a threat for canines, due to toxins that may persist for a long period even after the fungus is not viable. Moreover, dogs seem to be more susceptible to the effects of the toxins, which is probably because of low glutathione s-transferase activity. Some species of Penicillium sp. genus may produce ocrathoxin A, which nephrotoxic and immunosuppressive effects in dogs are widely reported. Mesophilic bacteria were detected in all samples (at 104 CFU/g) and considered harmless. The detection of human viruses points to the presence of anthropic contamination; on the other hand, ingestion of contaminated feed, even if it is by a heterologous species, turns the dogs into carriers of the virus. In addition, manipulation of those feeds by children who share the same space with dogs can result in gastroenteritis episodes.

Microbial contamination on dangke fresh white cheese from traditional home industry in Enrekang Regency

Dangke is local cheese from Enrekang regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. Dangke was made from buffalo or/cow milk as a raw material and processed with help of milk clotting protease enzyme from papaya leaves and fruit. The mixture is beaten and then the milk protein clots, the clot is kept in mold of a coconut shell. Dangke has been well known by South Sulawesi community but information is very limited regarding to its characteristics with standardized quality. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in food potentially cause health problem to consumers. This study was aimed to chemical quality and microbiology evaluation a product of dangke in Enrekang regency, South Sulawesi. The experiment was conducted in a one simple t-test on chemical characteristics, while microbiological characteristics were identified using exploratory descriptive. Ash content on this study 1.83%, it was lowest significant different than previous study. Microbiology evaluation was tested, the result showed that nothing a Staphylococcus aureus, nothing a Bacillus cereus, negative result for a Salmonella. Most probable number Eschericia coli and Coliform is >1100 MPN/100g respectively. Dangke white cheese have microbial contamination on most probable number coliform and E. coli, it could be potentially causes health problem for consumers if it was eaten raw.

Effect of Good Hygiene Sanitation and Personal Hygiene Depot Management of Refill Drinking Water on the Quality of Drinking Water Reviewed from Most-Probable-Number Coliform in Kediri

Drinking water is a basic human need and must meet health requirements. Drinking water depots are a means of filling drinking water which is in the process of processing raw water using treatment and sterilization system. Drinking water depots as providers of drinking water must also meet the requirements of sanitation hygiene and personal hygiene management must also be maintained so that the water produced meets health requirements. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of sanitation hygiene and personal hygiene management of refill drinking water depots on the quality of drinking water in terms of the Most Probable Number Coliform in Kediri. The research design used was analytic observational with cross sectional approach. The population of all refill drinking water depots in Kediri is 57, with the sampling technique that is Simple Random Sampling, where a portion of refill drinking water depots in Kediri are 50. Data is collected by check list, questionnaire and laboratory examination. The results showed that most of the hygiene sanitation of the drinking water depot had fulfilled the requirements of 77%, the drinking water personal hygiene depot was good as much as 85% and those who met the drinking water requirements were 70%. The results of the hygiene feasibility analysis showed the value of Sig 0.000<0.05 (R=0.935) means that there was an effect of hygiene sanitation quality with water quality in terms of the Most Probable Number Coliform. While the personal hygiene value of Sig 0.001 <0.05 (R = 0.528) indicates that there is a personal hygiene influence with water quality in terms of the Most Probable Number Coliform. The results of Logistic Regression test showed that there were effects of sanitation hygiene and personal hygiene management of refill drinking water depots with water quality in terms of the Most Probable Number Coliform with a significance value = 0.000 <a 0.05. This shows that the hygiene and the better personal hygiene at refill drinking water depots is increasingly fulfilling water quality requirements in terms of the Most Probable Number Coliform

English

This study determined the bacteriological quality of water from the Opa River and assessed the impact of human behaviour on the quality of water along the river course. Twenty five water samples were collected over a period of five weeks at five selected points based on population clusters along the river. A hundred questionnaire items were administered to randomly selected residents to elicit information about the water body and predominant communal behaviours. Water samples were analyzed by standard microbial techniques and isolates were identified. The isolates obtained were tested for their resistance to antibiotics via standard methods. Descriptive statistical techniques were used to obtain the minimum and maximum values of Total Heterotrophic Bacterial (THB) count and Total Coliform Bacterial (TCB) count. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) test was used to compare the means. Heterotrophic bacteria load at the five sampling points ranged between 2 x 106 and 13 x106 cfu/ml while the most probable number of coliforms in 100 ml of samples was between 34 and 1600. The organisms isolated from the samples included those of the Genera Citrobacter Enterobacter Escherichia, Proteus, Klebsiella, Salmonella, Serratia, Yersinia, Shigella, Pseudomonas and Vibrio. Escherichia coli had the highest percentage frequency of occurrence (23.73%) and was isolated at all sampling points. In all areas, communal behaviour towards the river was generally poor. Some respondents reported symptoms associated with water borne illnesses which included vomiting (28.5%), passing out of watery stool (57.2%) and headache and dizziness (14.3%). The Opa River was found to be mostly contaminated by multiple antibiotic resistant organisms. Opa River could be a source of potential pathogens associated with water borne diseases and could consequently; serve as a pathway for human contamination, most especially of dwellers located along its banks that depend on Opa River water. Key words: Pathogens, waterborne disease, contamination, communal behaviours, antibiotic resistance.

PREVALENCE OF MULTIDRUG-RESISTANT Staphylococcus aureus AND Salmonella Enteritidis IN MEAT PRODUCTS RETAILED IN ZAGAZIG CITY, EGYPT

This study aimed to monitor the hygienic status of fresh minced meat, smoked sausage and fresh beef burger (50 samples, each) retailed in Zagazig city, Egypt. Aerobic plate count, total Staphylococcus aureus count and most probable number of coliforms have been conducted. The prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility as well as detection of the drug resistance associated virulence genes of S. aureus (mecA, blaZ, and aac (6') aph (2'')) and Salmonella species (blaTEM, tetA(A), and floR) in the examined meat products have been carried out. The highest mean (log10 cfu/g) of aerobic plate counts (5.44±0.11) and most probable number (4.15±0.10-log10 MPN/g) were recorded in minced meat. However, the highest mean of S. aureus counts (3.47±0.12-log10 cfu/g) was recorded in beef burger. Aerobic plate counts, most probable number and S. aureus counts exceeded the recommendations of Egypt Organization for Standardization by (20, 4 and 16%), (14, 12 and 20%) and (50, 10 and 20%) in minced meat, sausage and beef burger, respectively. Salmonella Enteritidis was detected in 4 (8%) beef burger. However, S. aureus was isolated from minced meat and beef burger (5 samples, each, 10%) and 4 sausage samples (8%). mecA, blaZ and aac(6’)aph(2”) were detected in all S. aureus isolates. blaTEM, tetA(A) and florR were detected in the all S. Enteritidis isolates. In conclusion, the achieved results revealed inadequate hygienic measures adopted during preparation of such meat products. Therefore, strict hygienic practices should be followed before serving such products to consumers.

Microbiological assessment and the potential antimicrobial activities of nisin and\or garlic extract in commercial fish

Fish is considered as a major source of animal-derived protein. However, fish is a perishable food that rapidly decomposed and its initial microbial load determines the extent of spoilage. The objectives of this study were firstly to screen the microbial status of three commonly consumed fish species in Egypt, namely, tilapia, mullet and catfish via estimation of total plate counts, total psychrophilic counts, most probable number of coliforms and total mould counts. Secondly, an experimental trial to investigate the antimicrobial potentials of either nisin, garlic extract or an equal mixture of them using tilapia fish as a food matrix. The results achieved in this study declared that, the insufficient hygienic measure adopted during handling, marketing and storage of fish, in terms of the high microbial load. Catfish had the highest bio- indicator parameters followed by tilapia and mullet. Both of nisin and garlic extracts showed significant antimicrobial properties in a concentration- dependent manner. In particular, the synergistic effects of the co-treatment of both nisin and garlic extract were documented. Thus, efficient hygienic handling, rapid cooling of fish can reduce the initial microbial load of fish. In addition, we highly recommend soaking of fish in nisin, garlic extract or both as an efficient strategy in reducing the microbial load of raw fish. Furthermore, efficient cooking of fish can prevent the intake of food-borne pathogens.

TINGKAT KEAMANAN MINUMAN INFUSED WATER DENGAN DIVERSIFIKASI PENYIMPANAN YANG BERBEDA

Background: Water is one of the components required in human life. Three requirements of clean water in physics, chemical and bacteriological must have a raw quality requirements according to Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI). Infused Water beverages is water that has been given an extra piece of fruits that give the sensation of flavour and have much benefits for health. Infused Water became known and consumed by most people of Indonesia because the manufacturing process is very easy, using local fruits and have much benefits because it contains vitamins and minerals. The purpose of research is to determine the level of security of Infused Water beverages with different storage diversification and then matched with Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI) 7388:2009. As for the benefits of this research is to be able to add a list of healthy and nutrition beverages. Types of research: Experiment with a completely randomized design (RAL), data analysis to determine the effect of different storage towards security of Infused Water beverages then tested with normality of data using Shapiro Wilk. After the data have normal distribution then using Anova test. Research result: Sample code (AP, BP, CP, AD, BD, CD) of Angka Lempeng Total (ALT) examination qualified in Standar Nasional Indonesia (SNI) No. 01-3553-2006. There after do the estimators test, a confirmation test and Angka Paling Mungkin (APM) test that has been qualified in SNI 7388:2009. Conclusion: Examination result of Angka Lempeng Total (ALT) and Most Probable Number Coliform all samples comply the requirements of SNI, accordingly Infused Water has been decent for consumption.

QUALIDADE MICROBIOLÓGICA DE QUEIJO MINAS FRESCAL COMERCIALIZADO NA ZONA DA MATA MINEIRA

Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a qualidade microbiológica do queijo Minasfrescal comercializado na Zona da Mata Mineira. As amostras foram coletadas em seis municípios: Juiz de Fora (33), Cataguases (7), Itamarati de Minas (4), Belmiro Braga (2), Bicas (2) e Rio Pomba (2), totalizando 50 marcas, sendo 43 de produção industrial e sete informais. As análises de pH, atividade de água (Aw), coliformes a35 ºC e a 45 ºC, Escherichia coli, estafilococos coagulase positiva, Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes e Salmonella sp. foram realizadas entre outubro de 2015 e janeiro de 2016. Os valores de pH variaram entre 4,98 a 7,14 e a Aw entre 0,989 a 0,904. Todas as amostras, independente da origem, apresentaram coliformesa 35 ºC, com valores variando de 1,5 x 101 a 1,1 x 106 NMP/g. Dentre as amostras, 20 (40%) apresentaram Número Mais Provável acima do limite máximo estabelecido pela legislação para coliformes a 45 ºC, sendo a média de 1,2 x 105 NMP/g. A presença de E. coli foi confirmada em 16 amostras (32%). As contagens de estafilococos coagulase positiva também foram acima do limite aceito em 16 (32%) amostras e10 (20%) continham S. aureus. Não foi constatada presença de L. monocytogenes, entretanto, Salmonella sp. foi confirmada em 20 amostras (40%). Constatou-se que, apenas 11 amostras (22%), estavam em conformidade com a legislação brasileira. Portanto, o queijo Minas frescal comercializado na região apresentou baixa qualidade microbiológica, sugerindo deficiências no processamento, transporte, armazenamento e/ou comercialização e perigo à saúde humana

Bacteriological pollution indicators in Ogun River flowing through Abeokuta Metropolis

Water resources are significant part of integrated community development policy and good health. Hence, the need to reduce the impact of natural and anthropogenic pollution causes so as to enhance water quality. The bacteriological quality of the Ogun River was investigated to determine the sanitary conditions of the water body between March and August, 2014. Total heterotrophic bacteria counts (THBC), total coliform counts (TCC) and total Escherichia coli counts (TEC) using standard plate count and Most Probable Number (MPN) techniques were determined. The isolates were identified using 16SrRNA gene. Total heterotrophic bacteria counts varied between 1.13 × 106 and 4.1 × 107 CFU/ml, TCC ranged between 2.5 × 105 and 2.33× 107 CFU/ml and TEC was between 5 × 104 and 1.3 × 106 CFU/ml. Most Probable Number of coliforms in all samples varied between 120 and 1600 MPN/100 ml. Isolated microorganisms include Escherichia coli strain SUS9EC, Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain SSI7, Escherichia coli strain BW25113, Escherichia coli strain C-X1B, and Klebsiella oxytoca strain KU-5. One-wayanalysis of variance showed significant difference within the samples at (P<0.05).The results revealed high bacteria counts which is higher than the recommended value of 1.2 × 102 for THBC, a zero E. coli count and not more than 10 coliforms per 100 ml by World Health Organization standards for drinking water.Keywords: Water, bacteria, Escherichia coli, pollution

Calidad sanitaria de las aguas de la playa de Puntarenas

During a period of 25 weeks, water samples were collected weekly from the bathing beach of the City of Puntaren as at 10 well-defined points. Most probable numbers of coliforms were obtained employing standard techniques. A trend was observed, both in isolated instances as well as in the averages, toward greater numbers of coliforms at sampling points N° 9 and 10. This we attribute to a deflection of the contam inated stream, originating at the brackish water basin, by the ebb tide current in such a manner that the contaminated flow of water impinges on the beach at such points; this, may also be due to resuspension of sludge by the more pronounced wave action observed in this area. The confirmed test is shown to be satisfactory for the determination of the most probable number of coliforms under the conditions of this survey. In view of our results and applying the standards established by the City of New York, we classified the waters of the bathing beach of Puntaren as as approved, but subject to reclassification in light of continuing observation.

Condições higiênico-sanitárias da bebida guaraná da Amazônia comercializada por vendedores ambulantes na cidade de São Luís, MA

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias da bebida guaraná da Amazônia comercializada por vendedores ambulantes na cidade de São Luís, Maranhão. Trinta amostras, provenientes de 10 pontos de venda, foram submetidas às seguintes análises microbiológicas: pesquisa de Salmonella spp., quantificação do número mais provável de coliformes a 35°C e a 45°C, enumeração de bactérias aeróbias mesófilas, fungos e estafilococoscoagulase positivos. Em cada ponto de venda avaliado foi aplicado um questionário tipo check-list para verificar as condições higiênicas do local e de preparo do guaraná da Amazônia. Verificaram-se nas amostras os micro-organismos pesquisados, com exceção de Salmonella spp. Foram encontradas contagens elevadas de coliformes a 35ºC (n= 24; 80%) e a 45ºC (n=18; 60%), indicando condições higiênico-sanitárias insatisfatórias das amostras analisadas. Também foram verificadas várias inadequações nos pontos de venda, indicando deficiências higiênicas no preparo da bebida guaraná da Amazônia. Os resultados reforçam a importância de investimentos em programas de qualidade, conscientização e treinamento para os vendedores ambulantes da bebida guaraná da Amazônia na cidade de São Luís, Maranhão.

River Opa - A potential agent for the dissemination of multiple-antibiotic resistant bacteria

In the process of determining the bacteriological quality of water from the Opa River, samples were taken from the river at five different points on five separate occasions. These samples were analysed by the most probable number method and by filtration, and the bacterial isolates obtained were identified by standard methods. The isolates obtained were tested for their resistance to thirteen antibiotics using the disc agar diffusion method, and four of the isolates were further tested for their ability to transfer their antibiotic resistances by conjugation. The microbial load at the different sampling points ranged between 0.01 × 102 and more than 300 × 102 while the most probable number of coliforms in 100 ml of samples were in excess of 1,800 cfu. The organisms most frequently isolated from the samples included those of the Genera Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Klebsiella, Flavobacteria, Proteus and Streptobacillus. The Opa River was found to be contaminated along its length by multiply antibiotic resistant organisms, some of which had the ability to transfer their resistance to another organism. Antibiotics to which the isolates were resistant included tetracycline (100%), ampicillin (98.9%), cephalothin (95.5%), doxycycline (92.4%), chloramphenicol (25.8%), tobromycin (24.2%) and spectionomycin (21.1%). Approximately, 30% of the isolates were resistant to norfloxacin while 6.1% were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The transferable resistances included those to tetracycline, cephalothin, trimethoprim and erythromycin. The Opa River is a source of antibiotic resistant organisms, and the presence of such organisms in this body of water which is used for many purposes within the area suggests a means whereby these organisms and the antibiotic resistances which they carry can spread through the populations that come in contact with the river. Key words: Antibiotic resistance, contamination, Opa River, South-Western Nigeria.

Simple freezing and thawing protocol for long-term storage of harvested fresh Undaria pinnatifida

The development of a simple and effective long-term storage protocol for harvested fresh Undaria pinnatifida is required to increase the market for U. pinnatifida products. We investigated the quality of U. pinnatifida after the application of various freezing and thawing methods to establish an optimum storage protocol. Four freezing temperatures (−40, −30, −20, and −10 °C), four freezing conditions (in air without seawater and with 50, 75, and 100 % seawater), and four thawing times (6, 12, 18, and 24 h) were employed. Changes in color value, tensile strength, total bacterial count, and most probable number of coliforms were measured. The best method for preserving the overall quality of U. pinnatifida is freezing at −30 °C with 50 % seawater and thawing in running tap water for 6 h. During retail display, changes in color, odor, tensile strength, and bacterial count of U. pinnatifida that had been freeze-thawed under optimum conditions were also measured, and a sensory evaluation was performed. There was no significant difference compared with the control within two days at 10 °C. In conclusion, we developed a simple and effective long-term storage protocol that led to no significant loss of quality of fresh U. pinnatifida.

Microbial quality of well water from rural and urban households in Karnataka, India: A cross-sectional study

The objective of this study was to evaluate the microbial quality of the well water used as a drinking source in urban and rural households. A total of 80 household well water samples were analyzed by the multiple fermentation tube method to determine the presumptive coliform count/most probable number of coliforms, and the isolates were identified using standard procedures, followed by susceptibility testing. Fecal indicator organisms, including Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. were isolated from 22 (27.5%) samples, and the majority (92.5%) of the water sources were contaminated with coliforms. A total of 170 bacterial isolates were obtained, including coliforms (70%), Enterococcus spp. (1.8%) and saprophytes (28.2%). A significant number of isolates were multi-drug resistant, which is a cause of concern. A comparison of the microbial quality of the water between urban and rural households revealed no significant differences. It might be prudent to monitor the bacteriological quality of well water at the source in addition to resistance profiles of the isolates.