Uncooked Meat Research Articles

Onions, Salt and Palm Oil Marination Reduced Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon in Cooked Chevon and Beef Meat: A Risk Assessment Study

The roles of foods in human health can be greatly influenced by processing. The process of singeing deposits polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on meat. However, some food additives have shown tendencies to reduce PAHs levels in singed food. This study conducted a risk assessment study on the effect of onions, salt and palm oil marination on Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in cooked chevon and beef meat. The singed meat samples were cooked with specific quantities of additives (onions, salt and palm oil). PAHs levels were analyzed using Gas Chromatography Mass spectrophotometer (GC-MS) and the health risk assessment was conducted as described by USEPA. Our findings revealed that meat samples singed with augmented fire wood accumulated more PAHs than those singed with only firewood; also chevon accumulated more PAHs than beef. PAHs content in all singed meat samples cooked with maximum quantity of additives (15 g) for 30 min had reduction in concentration of about 99%. The estimated daily intake (EDI) showed that PAHs concentration were higher in uncooked meat samples singed with augmented firewood. The least concentration of PAH was seen in cooked chevon singed with only firewood (9.39E-06 mg/kg/day). The hazard quotients (HQs) evaluated showed that cooking the meat samples with additives, notably decreased PAHs concentration (from between 10−1 and 10−3 to between 10−5 and 10−7). The hazard index (HI) observed showed that PAHs concentration in cooked samples were lower than in uncooked samples. The Carcinogenic potency showed that the uncooked singed meat samples could lead to health complications except for the chevon sample singed with only firewood. However, all cooked samples showed lower health hazards with potency index which were all less than one (<1). The findings suggest that chevon accumulated PAHs more than beef. However, the carcinogenic potency of the PAHs in chevon was less than beef after cooking with additives.

Seroprevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Toxoplasma gondii in Patients Diagnosed with Schizophrenia: A Case-Control Cross Sectional Study.

The protozoan parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, has been linked to several psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies and risk factors associated with seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia. This seroepidemiological study assessed 196 participants, divided into two groups. The study group consisted of 98 schizophrenic patients and was matched with 98 healthy blood donors. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding potential risk factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence. Results revealed a higher seroprevalence of T. gondii IgG antibodies in schizophrenic patients (69.39%, 68/98) when compared to healthy controls (51.02%, 50/98) (OR: 2.18; 95% CI: 1.21-3.9; p = 0.01). Patients with schizophrenia who consumed raw or undercooked meat (80.65%, 25/31) (OR: 3.75; 95% CI: 1.25-11.21, p = 0.02) and those with a lower educational level (77.59%, 45/58) (OR: 3.5; 95% CI: 1.59-7.54, p = 0.002) presented increased T. gondii seropositivity rates versus their control counterparts. Our findings indicate a high T. gondii IgG seroprevalence in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia compared to healthy blood donors. Factors associated with T. gondii seroprevalence were consumption of raw or uncooked meat and a lower educational attainment. This study provided the first data regarding the potential risk factors for toxoplasmosis in Romanian patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and may serve as a foundation for future research and the development of preventive strategies.

Detection of Hepatitis E Virus (HEV) in Pork Sold in Saint-Louis, the North of Senegal.

The hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a zoonotic pathogen with various hosts, including pigs, which act as reservoirs. In industrialized countries, sporadic cases caused by genotype 3, contracted by ingesting contaminated uncooked or undercooked meat, have been reported. However, in developing countries, HEV infection is mainly dominated by genotype 2 and often associated with poor hygiene conditions and drinking water supplies. HEV infection and its circulation in domestic fauna in West Africa are poorly documented. This study aimed to assess the presence of HEV in pork sold in Saint-Louis, Senegal. Meat products (250 g samples, n = 74) were purchased in August 2022 from three locations. Then, 2 g/sample was minced to extract total nucleic acids using the Purelink™ Viral DNA/RNA kit. RT-PCR reactions were performed using the One-Taq™ One-Step RT-PCR kit targeting the HEV ORF2 genomic region. The products obtained were visualized on a 1% agarose gel. Of a total of 74 samples, divided into pork meat (n = 65) and pork liver (n = 9), 5.4% (n = 4) tested positive for HEV. In both cases, two samples were positive, representing a rate of 3.1% and 22.2% for meat and pork liver, respectively. All new viral sequences were obtained from a monophyletic group within HEV genotype 3. This study is the first to report the presence of HEV in pork sold in Senegal and the results reveal a potential circulation of HEV in the pig population. The high proportion of contamination in the pork liver samples highlights a major risk associated with their consumption.

Inactivation of Trichinella spp. in naturally infected boar meat after Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) treatments

Larvae of the nematode Trichinella are capable of causing parasitic infections in humans after the consumption of uncooked meat or meat products, leading to severe symptoms and even death. Meat inspection is costly and tends to progressively be derogated in holdings applying controlled housing conditions in certain regions. Our study focuses on the evaluation of the efficacy of Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) in the inactivation of Trichinella spp., including excysted larvae isolated by artificial digestion and encapsulated larvae found in meat from naturally infected wild boars. Microscopic examination of unstained and propidium-iodide-stained larvae suspensions showed that most of the excysted larvae were inactivated 10 min after an intermediate PEF treatment (1 kV/cm, 0.41 kJ/kg). Treating excysted larvae with the mildest PEF treatment (0.5 kV/cm, 0.05 kJ/kg) combined with a 3% NaCl incubation resulted in synergistic inactivation. The application of 3 kV/cm (20 kJ/kg) to wild boar meat resulted in the inactivation of over 90% of encapsulated Trichinella larvae. The viability of Trichinella in meat was inversely correlated to the field strength applied (1–6 kV/cm) for equal energy input (20 kJ/kg). These findings demonstrate that PEF technology can potentially serve as a novel strategy for the inactivation of Trichinella larvae in meat.

Molecular evidence of Toxoplasma gondii from the tissue and blood of naturally infected sheep.

Toxoplasmosis is a cosmopolitan zoonotic infection that has significant effects on public health and causes economic losses in the livestock industry. The current study was designed to detect the Toxoplasma parasite in sheep blood samples and tissue samples of slaughtered sheep at the Sulaimani abattoir using molecular technique. A total of 300 peripheral sheep blood samples were randomly collected from 20 small ruminant flocks at 4 locations in the Sulaymaniyah province, northern Iraq. Also, 150 meat samples from thigh muscle, heart, and diaphragm were collected from slaughtered sheep. All collected blood samples were subjected to polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification to confirm Toxoplasma infection; in addition, meat samples were also analyzed for Toxoplasma by PCR following the digestion process. Of the 300 amplified blood samples, 94 were considered positive for Toxoplasma gondii, with a prevalence rate of 31.3%. The overall prevalence of Toxoplasma among meat samples was 34%. The diaphragm reported a higher infection rate (46%) than the heart (32%), while the femoral muscle reported an infection rate of 24%. Aged animals (older than 24 months) presented a higher infection rate (32.8%) than younger animals (28.9%). Contact with or consumption of uncooked meat from infected sheep increases the chance of parasite transmission to humans.

Salmonella contamination in raw chicken meat in Kabul city: Occurrence and antibiotic resistance patterns

Objective: Food-borne illnesses pose a significant risk to public health on a global scale and are a major contributing factor to illness and death rates worldwide. Salmonella strains found in chicken meat and its related products may be the likely source of a multi-country outbreak. Research is scarce regarding the occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella in chicken meat within Afghanistan; therefore, in the present study, the aim was to identify Salmonella found in uncooked chicken meat in the local markets of Kabul city and ascertain their susceptibility to commonly used antibiotics. Materials and Methods: One hundred raw chicken meats were gathered from four districts of Kabul city from May 2022 until April 2023; the isolates were then identified using culture, biochemical tests, and the analytical profile index; an examination of antimicrobial susceptibility was conducted utilizing the disk diffusion technique. Results: Out of 100 samples, only 8 (8%) tested positive for Salmonella spp. The disk diffusion results from Salmonella-positive samples showed multidrug resistance; maximum resistance was against ampicillin (100%) followed by norfloxacin (75%), nalidixic acid (62.5%), cefoxitin (62.5%), tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin (50%). Conclusion: The global occurrence of foodborne infections and antibiotic resistance has increased and preserved public health concerns around the world. Identifying zoonotic bacteria and their antimicrobial resistance patterns is critical for controlling their transmission and facilitating effective antimicrobial therapy in both humans and animals.

ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PROFILE AND NUTRITIONAL EVALUATION OF RAW AND COOKED MEAT OF CYPRINUS CARPIO

The Cyprinus carpio fish belongs to the family Cyprinidae and nutritionally consists of beneficial amino acids and omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, consuming fish contaminated with pathogenic bacteria causes serious human health issues. The study aimed to identify pathogenic bacteria, antibiogram profile and extended-spectrum-beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria, and nutritional composition of C. carpio fish in Peshawar, Pakistan. Fish samples (30 uncooked and 30 cooked) were collected from Peshawar and analyzed in the laboratory to detect pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria were isolated, and different sorts of staining and biochemical tests including Catalase, Oxidase, Triple sugar iron, Urease, Citrate utilization, Indole etc,. were performed for identification. Antibiotic susceptibility pattern was tested on Muller Hinton agar medium (MHA) against nine antibiotics. Nutritional analysis of raw and cooked meat was performed using the Association of Official Analytical Chemists procedure. The results showed that E. coli has the highest resistance (100%) towards Tetracycline and Penicillin, while K. pneumonia showed the highest antibiotic resistance (100%) against Tetracycline, Oxacillin, Ampicillin, and Penicillin. Sheigilla was observed to the highest resistance against Penicillin and Oxacillin, which was 100%, and Salmonella showed the highest resistivity (100%) towards Tetracycline, Oxacillin, and Penicillin. Similarly, Tetracycline, Oxacillin, and Ampicillin showed the highest antibiotic resistance (100%) toward S. aureus. In 60 samples, 105 bacterial species (E. coli, Salmonella, Sheigella, Klebsiella, and S. aureus) were isolated. All isolated bacteria were ESBL producing except S. aureus. The results showed that crude fat (3.5-10.4%), crude fiber (0.23-0.38%), crude ash (5.6-5.7%), crude protein (69.03-89%), and moisture (4.6-5.8%) were greater in uncooked fish meat as compared to cooked fish meat. The study concludes that the high prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in uncooked meat is observed compared to cooked meat of C. carpio. Uncooked fish meat is more nutritious than cooked fish meat as the amount of protein, fats, fiber, ash, and moisture decreases during cooking.

Antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of an edible coating of Lepidium sativum seed mucilage and Satureja hortensis L. essential oil in Uncooked lamb meat

The current research aimed to fabricate an active edible coating, Lepidium sativum seeds mucilage (LSSM) loaded with Satureja hortensis essential oil (SHEO) (0, 0.5, 1, and 1.5 % (w/w)) for further extension of the shelf life of refrigerated lamb meat during storage for 18 days at (4 °C). The control and the coated lamb meat samples were continually analyzed for microbiological (total count, psychrotrophic count, yeast and mold), chemical (pH, moisture content, PV, and TBA), and sensory characteristics. Consistent with the microbiological analysis, the LSSM incorporated with 1, and 1.5% SHEO caused a significant shelf-life extension of the lamb meat by 15 and 18 days, respectively. These results suggested that (LSSM+1.5%S) sufficiently hindered the overall bacterial growth in the lamb meat sample since the shelf life in this treatment was 12 days more in comparison to the control. Hence, LSSM containing SHEO is very useful as an active packaging in order to preserve the quality and to prolong the lamb meat shelf life at 4 °C.

Investigation of human anthrax outbreak in Koraput district of Odisha, India

BackgroundAnthrax is a zoonotic infection resulting from the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Humans contract cutaneous anthrax by coming into contact, and gastrointestinal (GI) anthrax by consumption of infected animals or animal products. An outbreak investigation was conducted to confirm the occurrence of the anthrax outbreak, comprehend its extent, understand the epidemiological characteristics, identify the outbreak's cause, and propose control measures. MethodsA descriptive epidemiology was carried out for this outbreak investigation. We defined a suspected human cutaneous anthrax case as appearance of skin lesions and symptoms (itching/redness/swelling) and a suspected case of GI anthrax as appearance of diarrhoea/abdominal pain/vomiting in a resident of Koraput district after being associated with slaughtering and/or consumption of carcass during 5th April to 15th May 2023. The etiological hypothesis was formulated using descriptive epidemiological methods. Laboratory confirmation was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS 25. ResultsA total of 47 clinically suspected anthrax cases were identified during the outbreak in five villages of Koraput district in Odisha. The epidemic curve indicated multiple point-source exposures starting from 13th April 2023. About 10 cases were identified by RT-PCR testing as confirmed cases of anthrax. No death was recorded in this outbreak investigation. ConclusionsBased on a thorough examination of epidemiological survey results and laboratory findings, we conclude that the outbreak was of human cutaneous and GI anthrax. Exposures from handling dead animals were associated with cutaneous anthrax, whereas eating uncooked meat of dead sheep was associated with gastrointestinal anthrax.

Hepatitis E Virus in Livestock-Update on Its Epidemiology and Risk of Infection to Humans.

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a public health problem worldwide and an important food pathogen known for its zoonotic potential. Increasing numbers of infection cases with human HEV are caused by the zoonotic transmission of genotypes 3 and 4, mainly by consuming contaminated, undercooked or raw porcine meat. Pigs are the main reservoir of HEV. However, it should be noted that other animal species, such as cattle, sheep, goats, and rabbits, may also be a source of infection for humans. Due to the detection of HEV RNA in the milk and tissues of cattle, the consumption of infected uncooked milk and meat or offal from these species also poses a potential risk of zoonotic HEV infections. Poultry infected by avian HEV may also develop symptomatic disease, although avian HEV is not considered a zoonotic pathogen. HEV infection has a worldwide distribution with different prevalence rates depending on the affected animal species, sampling region, or breeding system.

Unraveling the effects of import bans on domestic poultry production: a case study of Senegal

Senegal banned all imports of uncooked poultry meat in 2006 in response to Avian Influenza outbreaks in many exporting countries. This paper investigates the effects of the import ban on domestic chicken meat production and the performance of Senegal's broiler farms. To do so, we employ various comparative analyses at the farm and macro levels. We use the synthetic control method to estimate the effects on total production, which shows that Senegal’s chicken meat production increased more than it would have without the import ban. This may imply, in line with the infant-industry argument, that the ban has had a positive impact on chicken meat production. In addition, we use a farm-level analysis to evaluate the performance of typical Senegalese broiler farms. The comparison with Ghana shows that Senegalese farms are performing better and have lower costs of production. An opening of the markets should only be implemented gradually, by replacing the ban with tariffs because local industries must have the opportunity to adapt to the competition of the international market step by step.

One health transmission of fluoroquinolone-resistant Escherichia coli and risk factors for their excretion by dogs living in urban and nearby rural settings

Rates of fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli, a key opportunistic human pathogen, are problematic. Taking a One Health approach, we investigated the excretion of fluoroquinolone-resistant (FQ-R) E. coli by 600 dogs (303 from rural and 297 from urban environments) recruited from a 50 × 50 km region where we have also surveyed FQ-R E. coli from cattle and from human urine. FQ-R E. coli were detected in faeces from 7.3% (rural) and 11.8% (urban) of dogs. FQ-R E. coli from rural dogs tended to be of sequence types (STs) commonly excreted by cattle, whilst those from urban dogs tended to carry plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes, common in human E. coli in our study region. Phylogenetic evidence was obtained for sharing FQ-R E. coli - particularly for STs 10, 162 and 744 - between cattle, dogs and humans. Epidemiological analysis showed a strong association between feeding dogs uncooked meat and the excretion of FQ-R E. coli, particularly for STs 10, 162 and 744. This practice, therefore, could serve as a transmission link for FQ-R E. coli from farmed animals entering the home so we suggest that dogs fed uncooked meat should be handled and housed using enhanced hygiene practices.

A South African Perspective on the Microbiological and Chemical Quality of Meat: Plausible Public Health Implications.

Meat comprises proteins, fats, vitamins, and trace elements, essential nutrients for the growth and development of the body. The increased demand for meat necessitates the use of antibiotics in intensive farming to sustain and raise productivity. However, the high water activity, the neutral pH, and the high protein content of meat create a favourable milieu for the growth and the persistence of bacteria. Meat serves as a portal for the spread of foodborne diseases. This occurs because of contamination. This review presents information on animal farming in South Africa, the microbial and chemical contamination of meat, and the consequential effects on public health. In South Africa, the sales of meat can be operated both formally and informally. Meat becomes exposed to contamination with different categories of microbes, originating from varying sources during preparation, processing, packaging, storage, and serving to consumers. Apparently, meat harbours diverse pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic residues alongside the occurrence of drug resistance in zoonotic pathogens, due to the improper use of antibiotics during farming. Different findings obtained across the country showed variations in prevalence of bacteria and multidrug-resistant bacteria studied, which could be explained by the differences in the manufacturer practices, handling processes from producers to consumers, and the success of the hygienic measures employed during production. Furthermore, variation in the socioeconomic and political factors and differences in bacterial strains, geographical area, time, climatic factors, etc. could be responsible for the discrepancy in the level of antibiotic resistance between the provinces. Bacteria identified in meat including Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., etc. are incriminated as pathogenic agents causing serious infections in human and their drug-resistant counterparts can cause prolonged infection plus long hospital stays, increased mortality and morbidity as well as huge socioeconomic burden and even death. Therefore, uncooked meat or improperly cooked meat consumed by the population serves as a risk to human health.

Macroscopic and Microscopic Survey of Sarcocystis spp. Infection in Slaughtered Cattle and Sheep in Tabriz, Iran

Background &amp; Aims: Sarcocystis infection is one of the most common protozoan infections between humans and animals, which is caused by different species of Sarcocystis. The study aimed to investigate Sarcocystis infection in cattle and sheep slaughtered in Tabriz slaughterhouse by microscopic and macroscopic methods. Materials amd Methods: Diaphragmatic muscles of 500 cattle and 800 sheep were randomly selected for macroscopic and microscopic Sarcocystis cysts. A naked eye examination was done for macroscopic sarcocysts, while peptic digestion and Daub smear method were used for the microscopic cysts. Results: The overall prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. infection was 44.0% and 68.25% in cattle and sheep, respectively. The results showed that rate of infection of cattle with Sarcocystis spp. was 10.4%, 90.0%, and 22.3% by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods, respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of infected sheep was determined by macroscopic, peptic digestion, and Daub smear methods as 30.6%, 100.0%, and 44.1%, respectively (P&lt;0.05). Conclusion: It is concluded that digestion is a perfect method for diagnosing sarcocysts in cattle and sheep. As well as, the high prevalence of microscopic Sarcocystis spp. in cattle and sheep of Tabriz, is suggested that meat should be cooked sufficiently, the people to be trained not to feed their dogs and cats with uncooked meat.

Effects of transglutaminase coupled with κ-carrageenan on the rheological behaviours, gel properties and microstructures of meat batters

This study investigated the effects of the combined application of transglutaminase (TG) and κ-carrageenan (KC) on the rheological behaviours, gel properties, and microstructures of meat batters before and after heat treatment. The results indicated that the combined addition of TG and KC could significantly improve the apparent viscosity and viscoelastic behaviour of uncooked meat batter, and lead to a more rigid network structure and faster elastic response than the addition of either TG or KC. Moreover, apart from the formation of a denser and finer gel network, the gel properties of cooked meat batter were effectively improved after the addition of TG and KC. Compared with the samples containing either TG or KC, cooked meat batter containing 0.3% TG and 0.2% KC exhibited the highest hardness, adhesiveness, chewiness, and springiness (P < 0.05), this was verified by the rheological test under the temperature sweep mode. Therefore, compared with the addition of TG or KC alone, the combined addition of TG and KC could synergistically enhance the gel properties and viscoelastic behaviour of meat batter.

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii IgG and IgM antibodies and associated risk factors among pregnant women consulted in three health centers in Dschang, Cameroon

BackgroundToxoplasmosis is a zoonosis caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan responsible for one of the most common congenital infections in the world. This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis in pregnant women consulted in three health centers in the city of Dschang. MethodsThis study was a cross-sectional study that was conducted, with a total of 242 participants. A questionnaire was administered after obtaining the free and informed consent of the participants. Blood sample was collected to assay IgG and IgM antibodies specific to Toxoplasma gondii using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit, and potential risk factors were evaluated with the administration questionnaire using a binary logistic regression model. Statistical significance was measured at P < 0.05. ResultsThe overall seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis was 82.7%,with a seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG of 62.8% (152), that of IgM at 11.6% (28) and that of IgG/IgM at 8.3% (20). The Saint Vincent Paul Hospital had a seroprevalence of 43.8% IgG and 8.7% IgM; followed by the Dschang District Hospital (11.6% IgG and 2.1% IgM). The seroprevalence of toxoplasma IgG (35.5%) and IgM (6.2%) was higher in multiparous pregnant women, and in the group of women who performed their first toxoplasmosis serology in the first trimester of pregnancy, 70 (28.9%), 9 (3.7%) respectively for IgG and IgM. The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the possession of a cat at home or its presence in the neighborhood, the consumption of undercooked or uncooked meat and having a history of blood transfusion were found to be statistically significant risk factors associated with toxoplasmosis seroprevalence among pregnant women. ConclusionThe present study revealed a high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis. Given this high seroprevalence, screening for toxoplasmosis in women of childbearing age should be encouraged.

Effect of different botanically-diverse diets on the fatty acid profile, tocopherol content and oxidative stability of beef.

Beef from pasture-fed animals is viewed as a healthier and more welfare-friendly alternative to concentrate-fed beef. Botanically-diverse pastures consisting of numerous plant species may alter the fatty acid (FA) profile and the tocopherol content of beef, as well as the oxidative stability of the meat. In the present study, steers were assigned to one of three botanically-diverse diets: perennial ryegrass (PRG), perennial ryegrass + white clover (PRG + WC) or multi-species (MS), all with a finishing diet of the respective botanically-diverse silages plus a cereal-based concentrate, consistent with production systems in Ireland. The FA profile, tocopherol content, oxidative stability and colour of meat during storage were measured. Compared to the other diets, the MS diet resulted in higher proportions of linolenic acid (C18:3n-3c), linoleic acid (C18:2n-6c) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), with higher PUFA:saturated fatty acid and n-6:n-3 ratios in the meat. α-Tocopherol concentrations were lowest in the meat of animals from the MS diet. In uncooked meat, lipid oxidation and colour values were affected by storage time across all diets, whereas the MS diet led to higher hue values only on day 14 of storage. When cooked, meat from animals on PRG + WC and MS diets had higher lipid oxidation on days 1 and 2 of storage than meat from animals on the PRG diet. Feeding steers on a botanically-diverse diet consisting of six plant species can improve the n-3 FA and PUFA concentration of beef, affecting the susceptibility of cooked, but not uncooked, beef to oxidation. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Internal endpoint temperature (level of cooking doneness) effects on the fatty acid and mineral profiles of grilled lamb m. longissimus lumborum

This study compared the fatty acid and mineral concentrations of lamb meat that was prepared to different levels of cooking doneness. Ten m. longissimus lumborum were each sectioned into 4 slices that were randomly assigned to be uncooked or grilled to an internal end-point temperature of 60 °C (rare), 71 °C (medium), or 77 °C (well done). It was found that cooking loss increased as the level of cooking doneness increased. The proportion of most major fatty acids were not altered by cooking. However, when adjusted for cooking loss (i.e., mg/135 g serve of lamb as-is equivalent prepared to each level of cooking doneness), the concentration of most major fatty acids, including C16:0, C18:0, C18:1n-9, and many conjugated linoleic acids, were lowered after grilling to any level of cooking doneness and compared to the uncooked samples. The omega-6 to omega-3 ratio was lowest for the uncooked samples and highest for those prepared to a well done level of cooking doneness. Conversely, the concentration of health claimable omega-3 fatty acids in the uncooked meat was retained upon cooking and across all the different internal endpoint temperatures. Calcium, magnesium, phosphorous, potassium, and sodium were reduced with preparation of lamb meat to any level of cooking doneness, compared with uncooked meat. Zinc, iron, and selenium were retained within the cooked samples. These findings show that consumer preference for a level of cooking doneness will have only minor effects on the concentration of minerals and fatty acids in lamb meat.

Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii infection in immuno-compromised women and sheep of Bahir Dar City, Ethiopia

Toxoplasmosis is one of the most significant worldwide zoonotic infections caused by the protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii. It is a major public health and veterinary concern in terms of mortality and morbidity. The objective of this study was to estimate the seroprevalence and assess the potential risk factors of T. gondii infection among pregnant women, HIV/AIDS patients, and sheep in Bahir Dar city, North West Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study design and systematic random sampling techniques were employed. Serum samples were analyzed for anti-T. gondii antibodies using a commercially available Toxo-latex agglutination test kit. Logistic regression analysis was employed to test associations between variables. The seroprevalences of T. gondii infection in the examined pregnant women, HIV/AIDS patients, and sheep were 70.8% (95% confidence interval (CI): 65.1-73.4%), 70% (95% CI: 63.3-76.8%), and 43% (95% CI: 38.5 - 47.4%) respectively. Multivariable logistic analysis showed that T. gondii infection was significantly associated with knowing the zoonotic nature of toxoplasmosis (adjusted Odds ratio [AOR] = 0.197, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.107 - 0.35), eating raw meat (AOR=3.27, 95% CI: 1.89-5.65), and owning a cat (AOR=9.35, 95% CI: 4.00-21.84) in pregnant women and HIV/ AIDS patients. Hence, comprehensive health education about toxoplasmosis, particularly for pregnant women and HIV/AIDS patients, avoiding consumption of uncooked meat, and cat contact for immune-compromised women are of paramount importance.

Abdominal Calcifications in a Patient From the Congo Basin with History of Snake Meat Consumption: Radiographic Evidence of Prior Armillifer Infection.

We report a case of a 60-year-old asymptomatic male with history of consumption of uncooked snake meat while living in the Congo basin and prior imaging showing multiple abdominal calcifications. Patient had multiple subepithelial colonic lesions identified during screening colonoscopy and microscopic examination of the lesions demonstrated a calcified nodule in the submucosa with overlying normal mucosa. However, no parasite was identified within the calcified nodule. Given the history of consumption of uncooked snake meat and the typical radiographic feature of multiple abdominal calcifications, it is very likely that the patient's radiographic abnormalities are due to prior Armillifer armillatus infection, a parasitic infection acquired from consumption of uncooked snake meat. Patient was asymptomatic at the time of evaluation and was not given anti-parasitic treatment.