Search

BackgroundMeat is a good source of protein in the human diet, and more than three-quarters of the world’s population consumes it. It is the most perishable food item since it has enough nutrients to enable microbial growth. In underdeveloped nations, animals are routinely slaughtered and sold in unsanitary conditions, compromising the bacteriological quality and safety of the meat received from the animals. To protect customers’ health from numerous foodborne diseases this study aimed to determine the microbial quality and predictors of meat along the meat value chain in Northeast, Ethiopia.ObjectiveTo determine the bacteriological quality of meat and its predictors obtained from the Dessie City Administration’s municipal slaughterhouse and butcher shops.Materials and methodsA laboratory-based cross-sectional study design was used. In total 177 meat and 354 swab samples were collected. In addition, 177 meat handlers were randomly selected for knowledge, attitude, and practice assessment. All the samples were analyzed for the presence and counts of total viable count, total coliform count, fecal coliform count, and S. aureus. Multiple linear regression and student T-tests were used to analyze the data. Statistical significance was defined at a p-value of less than 0.05.ResultsThe total viable count of meat samples collected from slaughterhouse and butcher shops were 5.17 ± 0.13 and 6.5 ± 0.87 log CFU/g, respectively. The overall mean total viable count of the meat samples was 5.8 ± 0.1 log CFU/g. Meat samples collected from butcher shops were more highly contaminated than those collected from slaughterhouse. Hand hygiene of meat handlers, the microbial quality of water, and the educational status of meat handlers are all significant predictors of the microbial quality of raw meat along the meat value chain.Conclusion and recommendationThe meat microbial quality is poor and deteriorates along the meat value chain. The hands of meat handlers, the microbial quality of water used to wash the hands of meat handlers, and the educational status of meat handlers significantly affect the microbial quality of raw meat along the meat value chain. Hence, measures should be taken to improve the personal hygiene status of meat handlers and the quality of water used to wash hands and meat contact surfaces.

The popular method of micro-respirometry (μR) for measuring total viable (aerobic) count (TVC) utilises luminescence-based O2 sensors that are difficult to fabricate and therefore expensive. A simple method is described for making inexpensive, ink-based potential substitutes that utilise the same O2-sensitive dyes. The sensitivity of such inks is readily increased by using dyes with a long lifetime in the absence of O2, τo, and/or an ink resin/polymer with a high O2 permeability, Pm(O2). Response modelling of the μR-based TVC system and subsequent testing using a range of O2 sensors of different sensitivity show that there is little to be gained by making the O2 sensor either very sensitive or insensitive, and that the best O2 sensors are dyes such as Pt(II) tetraphenyltetrabenzoporphyrin (PtBP), with τo = ca. 40–50 μs. Further work shows that a simple-to-make PtBP ink can be used as a direct replacement for the expensive O2 sensor used in commercial instruments for measuring TVC based on μR. In addition, the PtBP can be replaced by an even less expensive O2-sensitive dye, Pt(II) meso-tetra(pentafluorophenyl)porphyrin (PtTFPP). The potential use of inexpensive O2-sensitive inks as an alternative to any expensive commercial counterpart based on the same O2-sensitive dye is discussed briefly.

Background: Dental unit waterline (DUWL) safety is vital for dental practitioners. Unfortunately, the standard heterotrophic plate count (HPC) methods commonly used to identify bacterial contamination dramatically underestimate planktonic bacteria counts. Flow cytometry (FCM) directly counts bacterial cells using laser-activated fluorescence, providing more reliable and timely results. Methods: Approximately 1,700 DUWL samples were measured by both HPC and FCM methods. HPC samples were plated on R2A agar within 8 hours of receipt, incubated at 25 °C for 7 days, and reported as colony-forming units (CFU)/mL. FCM samples were treated with SYBR Green I fluorescent stain, analyzed and reported as high nucleic acid (HNA) and low nucleic acid (LNA) cell counts. An empirical algorithm was developed using HNA and LNA cell counts compared with the recommended action limit for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s greater than 500 CFU/mL pass or fail. Results: An FCM threshold limit that included both HNA 250 or greater and LNA 750 or greater cell counts was derived by pairing FCM data with R2A samples dichotomized as passing (≤ 500 CFU/mL) or failing (> 500 CFU/mL) to establish corresponding pass or fail criteria that would minimize false pass and false fail compared with R2A results. 1,388 (81.6%) of samples passed the R2A limit of 500 CFU/mL or fewer, whereas 1,427 (83.9%) FCM samples passed the proposed HNA 250 or fewer and LNA 750 or fewer criteria. Conclusions: The data show that FCM analysis and the proposed threshold criteria can be used as a powerful adjunctive tool for monitoring DUWL contamination, which includes greater accuracy and the ability to analyze samples immediately on receipt.

An affordable and sustainable tertiary treatment is imperative to solve the secondary contamination issues related to wastewater reuse. To decontaminate and disinfect the actual secondary treated wastewater, various types of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have been studied. The optimization of the oxidant and catalyst is carried out to identify the best-performing system. Under selected experimental conditions, UV/peroxymonosulfate (PMS), O3/PMS, UV/MnO2, O3/MnO2, UV/O3/H2O2, O3/MnO2/H2O2, UV/MnO2/H2O2, and UV/O3/MnO2 has been identified as an efficient treatment option for simultaneous decontamination (>90% COD removal) and disinfection (100% inactivation of the total viable count of bacteria). The techno-economic assessment revealed that UV/MnO2 (23.5 $ kg−1 of COD) UV/O3/MnO2 (37.4 $ kg−1 of COD), UV/H2O2/MnO2 (36.4 $ kg−1 of COD), and O3/MnO2/H2O2 (32.5 $ kg−1 of COD) are comparatively low-cost treatment processes. Overall, UV/MnO2, UV/H2O2/MnO2, and O3/MnO2/H2O2 are the three best treatments. Nevertheless, further investigation on by-product and catalyst toxicity/recovery is needed. The results showed that AOPs are a technologically feasible treatment for simultaneously removing persistent organic pollutants and pathogens from secondary treated wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS Simultaneous removal of pathogens and organic contaminants is essential to recycling wastewater.; Advanced oxidation processes are cost-effective tertiary treatment.; Photocatalysis offered complete removal of pathogens and ∼90% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) within a short reaction time.; Inactivation of bacteria is better in the peroxymonosulfate system.; Photocatalytic ozonation was a cost-effective treatment for COD removal.;

The total viable count (TVC) of bacteria is an important index to evaluate the freshness and safety of dishes. To improve the accuracy and robustness of spectroscopic detection of total viable bacteria count in a complex system, a new method based on a near-infrared (NIR) hyperspectral hybrid model and Support Vector Machine (SVM) algorithms was developed to directly determine the total viable count in intact beef dish samples in this study. Diffuse reflectance data of intact and crushed samples were tested by NIR hyperspectral and processed using Multiplicative Scattering Correction (MSC) and Competitive Adaptive Reweighted Sampling (CARS). Kennard–Stone (KS) and Samples Set Partitioning Based on Joint X-Y Distance (SPXY) algorithms were used to select the optimal number of standard samples transferred by the model combined with root mean square error. The crushed samples were transferred into the complete samples prediction model through the Direct Standardization (DS) algorithm. The spectral hybrid model of crushed samples and full samples was established. The results showed that the Determination Coefficient of Calibration (RP2) value of the total samples prediction set increased from 0.5088 to 0.8068, and the value of the Root Mean Square Error of Prediction (RMSEP) decreased from 0.2454 to 0.1691 log10 CFU/g. After establishing the hybrid model, the RMSEP value decreased by 9.23% more than before, and the values of Relative Percent Deviation (RPD) and Reaction Error Relation (RER) increased by 12.12% and 10.09, respectively. The results of this study showed that TVC instewed beef samples can be non-destructively determined based on the DS model transfer method combined with the hybrid model strategy. This study provided a reference for solving the problem of poor accuracy and reliability of prediction models in heterogeneous samples.

There is a huge potential for recycling animal manure in agricultural farms, but fecal microorganisms from land-applied animal manure can join shallow groundwater through leaching especially in alluvial formations. Thus, this study investigated the leaching rate of total viable count (TVC) below a 1.1-m soil depth in a field lysimeter planted with rice–maize–rice rotation, where the rotation received different treatments, i.e., chemical fertilizer, dry manure, fresh manure, alternate wetting and drying (AWD) irrigation, and traditional irrigation. Leachate samples of six major irrigation/rainfall events were collected and analyzed for TVC concentration. In the Aman rice season, manure application had a significantly higher TVC leaching (5.5 × 106 colony forming units (CFU) per milliliter) than the no-manure treatment (8.2 × 104 CFU/mL). In the maize season, manure application increased more than one log-scale of TVC leaching concentration. A higher concentration of TVC leaching (3 × 105 CFU/mL) was observed even after 93 d of fresh manure application. The fresh manure had a higher TVC load, and it possibly helped microorganisms survive longer by providing a more manure-like environment in the soil. In the Boro rice season, manure application increased the TVC leaching up to 3–4 log-scale compared with the control treatment. The AWD irrigation increased TVC leaching compared with the continuous irrigation because the desiccation fractures developed in the AWD irrigation helped TVC bypass the organic-rich topsoil. The Boro rice fields had higher TVC leaching than the maize fields with higher manure doses. The study suggests that there is scope to improve manure management to protect the groundwater quality.

Defined as the mammary glands/udder inflammation, mastitis caused by various infectious etiological agents, is still considered a debilitating condition in dairy cows, influencing both animal welfare and the dairy industry through decreased production performance and increased culling rates. The consumption of raw milk or other milk products is related to the microbiological quality of raw milk. The main disadvantages in applying laboratory microbiological culture are related to logistical limitations and the expense of shipping samples, as well as the time required for analysis to receive interpretations, which can range from three to five days. The aim of this study is to validate the Soleris System as a rapid alternative method to the plate-count method in order to assess the microbiological quality of raw milk. Thus, this study establishes the reliability of this alternative method for determining the total viable count in raw milk in samples from cows. In conclusion, raw milk evaluation using the Soleris System demonstrates its promise as a valid tool for accurate testing in the dairy industry.

Background and Aim: Milk is a highly perishable commodity, which is subjected to various types of contamination right from the farm level to the consumers' table. This study aimed to assess the quality of raw milk sold in and around Guwahati city based on the microbial load. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 raw pooled milk samples collected from 25 different locations in and around Guwahati city were subjected to quality evaluation based on the methylene blue reduction test (MBRT), standard plate count, and coliform count as per the standard procedure. Results: Out of the 200 samples evaluated, more than 50% of them were graded as poor to very poor quality based on the MBRT results. None of the samples could be graded as excellent quality and only 14.5% were graded as good quality. The standard plate count and coliform count of all the raw milk samples were found to be significantly higher than the legal standard. A highly significant (p

Aim: This study aimed to analyze biological and microbiological parameters of Clarias gariepinus bred at Chundzha natural hot spring in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, a new feed additive, namely, the prebiotic "Ceobalyk." Materials and Methods: Two groups (50 heads each) of fish of the same age were established and kept in specialized rectangular pools of AsylTasEngineering LLP. The experiment lasted 61 days. We used the feed additive "Ceobalyk", developed based on natural minerals. Feed additive was added to the feed of the experimental group of fish in an amount of 10% per 1 kg of the main diet. Laboratory studies were conducted at the laboratories of the Kazakhstan-Japan Innovation Center. The quality of the fish was studied in accordance with the standards of the Republic of Kazakhstan and interstate standards. Results: In biological and microbiological studies of all samples of African sharptooth catfish, which received a new type of feed additive "Ceobalyk", the pH values of fish meat in the experimental groups were normal and varied in the range from 6.5 to 6.7. When setting up the reaction with copper sulfate, the reaction was positive. During bacterioscopy, there was a noticeable decrease in the number of microbes (2-3 bacteria less) in comparison with the control. An increase in the indices of the absolute body length and body width was observed by the end of the study. The body length in the experimental group was significantly greater (by 2.12% on average) than that in the control group. In the experimental variant, the average weight of fish was 21.8% higher. As a result of organoleptic studies, it was revealed that the musculature of the fish of the experimental groups was dense and elastic; when pressed on the skin with a finger, a fossa did not remain; the smell was specific, fresh. When tested by cooking, the broth was transparent and aromatic. Conclusion: This feed additive "Ceobalyk" does not cause deviations in the physiological status of fish and can be used as part of the main diet.

The aims of this project were to: 1) compare the antimicrobial efficacy and feasibility of three sanitizers including chlorine dioxide (ClO 2 ), neutral electrolysed water (EW) and peroxyacetic acid (PAA) for the treatment of fresh baby spinach leaves, and 2) to investigate the shelf life and quality attributes of spinach treated with these sanitizers. In the experiment for food safety, spinach leaves were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium and then treated by immerging in cold solutions of PAA, ClO 2, EW at different concentrations. Salmonella Typhimurium and total viable count (TVC) were determined immediately before and after the treatment. The treatment with 20 mg/L ClO 2 solution resulted in the highest reductions of S. Typhimurium and TVC (by 1.6 ± 0.1 log CFU/g) compared to other treatments. In the experiment for the shelf life of spinach, the samples were stored at 4 ℃ for 13 days after being treated with 75 mg/L PAA, 60 mg/L free chlorine (FCh) EW and 20 mg/L ClO 2 solutions. The results showed that TVC was significantly influenced by the treatments and storage time. At day 0, TVC of all treated samples was significantly lower than this of the control and the TVC of sample treated with ClO 2 was the lowest. However, by day 10, the TVC was not significantly different among the treated samples and the control. For the sensory qualities and physio-chemical properties of the spinach leaves, the treatment with ClO 2 showed significant reduction in quality of the treated sample since day 7 of the storage while other treatments did not show any significant effect on those parameters during the storage. In summary, although the treatment with 20 mg/L ClO 2 solution resulted in the highest antimicrobial efficacy against S. Typhimurium and TVC of spinach leaves, it also caused negative effects to the quality of spinach during the storage.

The Barhi date is a high-quality date cultivar whose fruits (dates) are plucked and eaten fresh when they reach the Khalal maturity stage due to their sweetness, crispiness, and yellow skin color. After harvesting, Khalal Barhi fruits rapidly matured to the Rutab stage, where their tissues become soft and their skin color browner. This results in a decrease in their market value and customer demand. This study aims at investigating the effectiveness of the postharvest ultrasonic treatment in conserving the physical, microbial, and nutritional quality of Barhi fruits and extending their shelf life. To achieve the goals of the present work, the response surface methodology (RSM) was used for the optimization of the ultrasonic intensity (50, 100, 150, and 200 W/cm2) and application time (5, 10, 15, and 20 min) to preserve the Barhi dates high quality features for varied storage temperatures (1, 5, 15, and 25 °C) and duration (1, 6, 16, and 21 days). In RSM, a four-factors-mixed-levels central composite rotatable design (CCRD) was applied to optimize the ultrasound treatment and storage environments for better-quality physical [total soluble solids (TSS), firmness, and total color changes (ΔE)], microbial [total viable count (TVC)], nutritional [total phenolic content (TPC), DPPH antiradical activity, glucose, and fructose] features of Barhi dates. The outcomes showed that ultrasound intensity and its application time, storage temperature, and storage period influence the physical, microbial, and nutritional quality attributes in different magnitudes. The ideal settings for lessening the changes in the physical attributes, eliminating the microbial growth, and improving the nutritional quality attributes were 140 W/cm2, 5.2 min, 20.9 °C, and 21 days for ultrasound intensity, ultrasound exposure duration, storage temperature, and storage duration, respectively. In conclusion, this study proved the potential application of ultrasound for persevering the excellence aspects of Barhi dates and identified the ideal ultrasound environments for maintaining the physical, microbial, and nutritional quality features of Barhi dates during extended storing.

ABSTRACT A total of 1500 day old broiler chicks were grouped into five treatments; each treatment group further consisted of six replicates. Group A was given a control diet having antibiotics. Group B and C were offered essential oil blend at the proportion of 0.1 g/kg and organic acid at the dose rate of 1g/kg. Group D was given both essential oil 0.1 g/kg and organic acid 1g/kg in combination. Group E was offered only a basal diet without antibiotics and considered as a negative control. The trial lasted for 35 days. Results indicated that the body weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) exhibited significant improvement but insignificant in the case of feed consumption. Bodyweight and FCR were better in group B, followed by C. Carcass characteristics like eviscerated weight and giblet weight were also improved in group B while dressed weight showed insignificant results. Total cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HDL) were unaffected by the treatments; however, increased blood glucose levels and decreased low-density lipoproteins (LDL) concentration were significantly noticed. Treatment groups have no effect on antibody titer against ND at the end of the trial. In gut morphology, significantly higher villus height was observed in group C, but villus width and crypt depth remained unaffected. In conclusion, essential oil and organic acids have improved performance, carcass parameters, serum biochemistry, gut health, and decreased bacterial count.

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of freezing broiler neck skin samples before their microbial analysis, compared to freshly examined samples regarding total viable count (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae count (EC). For this, 300 neck skin samples were taken at a German commercial broiler abattoir and each neck skin sample was cut into two parts. One randomly selected part underwent microbial examination after storage at 4 °C overnight; the other part was frozen at −30 °C for eight weeks before analysis in the same laboratory. Log cfu/g values of TVC and EC were separately compared between the fresh and frozen neck skin samples. A difference up to 0.5 log values was set as acceptable, i.e., fresh and frozen samples with counts that differed by this amount were considered as not different. The differences between the grouped samples of fresh and frozen broiler neck skin regarding both TVC and EC levels were less than 0.5 log values. Thus, it can be assumed that broiler neck skin samples, both fresh and frozen for eight weeks, are suitable for microbiological examination, as the TVC and EC results showed equivalence. Therefore, freezing broiler neck skin samples can be an option to maintain viable bacteria levels in broiler neck skin samples taken for microbiological examination in process control, when freezing and later examination is necessary due to insufficient laboratory capacity for the examination of fresh neck skin samples.

Barhi dates are widely consumed at Khalal maturity stage and preserving the freshness quality of Barhi at this stage is a challenging task as this period is short and the fruits are more perishable. In this study, response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the infrared (IR) treatment and storage conditions for preserving the physicochemical, microbial, and bioactive attributes of fresh Barhi dates. The effect of four factors, IR temperature (50, 70, 90, and 110 °C), IR time (1, 2, 3, and 4 min), storage temperature (1, 5, 15, and 25 °C), and storage time (1, 6, 11, 16, and 21 days), on the responses of total soluble solids (TSS), hardness, total color change (ΔE), total viable count (TVC), total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (DPPH), and glucose content were evaluated following central composite design (CCD). IR temperature, IR time, storage temperature, and storage time significantly affected the physical, microbial, and bioactive attributes of Barhi dates. The optimal conditions for minimizing the physical changes and microbial load and maximizing the bioactive attributes were IR temperature of 50 °C, IR time of 1.2 min, storage temperature of 1 °C, and storage time of 20 days. At the optimum conditions, the values of TSS, hardness, ΔE, TVC, TPC, DPPH, and glucose were 37.22%, 70.17 N, 11.12, 2.9 log CFU/g, 36.1 mg GAE/g, 65.31%, and 25.38 mg/g, respectively and these values were similar to predicted values. In conclusion, this study identified the ideal IR treatment and storage conditions for maintaining the overall quality attributes of Barhi dates during prolonged storage.

Abstract Objectives This study aims to assess the bacteriological quality of marketed raw meat with a special emphasis on isolation of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in raw meat marketed in Dharan. Altogether 50 meat samples were collected from local markets of Dharan and transported to the microbiology laboratory at 4 °C. The meat samples were homogenized in a sterile glass homogenizer and the possible pathogens were isolated and identified by conventional microbiological techniques. Results The mean total viable count values were found having a mean count of 8.22 ± 0.14, 8.29 ± 0.17, 7.87 ± 0.18 and 7.92 ± 0.19 in terms of log10 CFU/g ± Standard Error for chicken, pork, buffalo, and goat meat respectively. Coliforms were found in 84% samples, S. aureus was found in 68% samples, Salmonella spp. in 34% samples, Shigella spp. in 6% samples, Vibrio spp. in only 3 samples and P. aeruginosa was isolated from 40% sample. Higher microbial load and presence of intestinal commensals E. coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp indicates that meat might be contaminated by the visceral content and consumers are at risk of getting a foodborne disease when eaten raw.

For the successful validation and verification of the HACCP system, a food business operator is obliged, among other duties, to have continuous microbiological data of carcasses which are followed by a certain dynamic that the subject himself prescribed. To obtain these data, it is necessary to perform systematic monitoring of indicator microorganisms. The most important meat hygiene indicators are Total Viable Counts (TVC) and Enterobacteriaceae (EC). TVC are defined as indicators of overall slaughter hygiene (equipment, environment, tools, workers), while EC are indicators of faecal contamination on carcasses. The aim of this study was to determine the microbial contamination of cattle and pig carcasses, level of hygiene of the slaughter process as well as whether variations hygiene levels were related to seasonality in Serbia during 2017. The year was divided into four quarters of three months each, while the microbiological results were classified into three levels of hygiene status (unsatisfactory, satisfactory or acceptable). The highest percentage of the results surveyed during the entire study was at a satisfactory hygiene level. Furthermore, we found there were differences in results between the quarters, which could be associated with seasonality. The best microbiological results, and so the best hygiene of carcasses, was recorded in the period April, May, June, while the worst microbiological results were observed in the period of July, August and September.

Abstract Background A study to evaluate the microbial quality of goat carcasses at Chinsapo-2 and Chigwirizano slaughter slabs in Lilongwe District, Malawi, was conducted in June 2014. A total of 154 swab samples were collected from 34 carcasses for identification of the isolates and bacterial total viable counts (TVCs). Cotton swab samples were also collected from clothes, knives and hands of butchers and water used in the slaughter process. Results The study found that predominant bacterial isolates at Chinsapo-2 were E. coli (29%), followed by Bacillus spp. (18%), Proteus spp. (15%) and Klebsiella spp. (13%). On the other hand, bacterial isolates from Chigwirizano were E. coli (38%), followed by Bacillus spp. (23%), Proteus spp. (13%) and Klebsiella spp. (5%). The mean bacterial TVC before treatment (washing hands, clean knives with hot water and provision of working gear) for Chinsapo-2 were 6.74 ± 0.38, 6.38 ± 0.38 and 8.26 ± 0.38, while Chigwirizano had 9.48 ± 0.50, 9.48 ± 0.50 and 8.24 ± 0.50 log10 CFU/cm2. After treatment, Chinsapo-2 recorded 8.03 ± 0.38, 7.67 ± 0.38 and 7.30 ± 0.38 log10 CFU/cm2 on hands, knives and clothes while Chigwirizano had 7.12 ± 0.50, 8.84 ± 0.50 and 8.73 ± 0.50 log10 CFU/cm2, respectively. Washing hands with tap water before slaughter significantly (P 4.3 log CFU/cm2. Therefore, further studies should be conducted to reduce the bacterial contamination. Graphical abstract Relative frequencies at Chinsapo and Chigwirizano slaughter slabs

Eggs and their products such as desserts, confectioneries, bakery mixes, mayonnaise and many convenience foods have been implicated in food-borne disease outbreaks due to microorganism contamination. The effect of gamma irradiation on the presence of microorganisms in egg powder was investigated. Egg powder samples were exposed to several doses of irradiation: 0, 5, 10 and 15 kGy and stored for up to 12 months at ambient temperature (25 oC). Results indicated that the total viable count (TVC) (5.56 log10 cfu g-1), total coliform counts (TCC) (6.46 log10 cfu g-1) and mold and yeast counts (MYC) (9.12 log10 cfu g) in un-irradiated (control) samples of egg powder were higher than the maximum limits (4.88, 2.00 and 1.70 log10 cfu g-1, respectively). Application of the higher doses (10 and 15 kGy) decreased the TVC, TCC and MYC of the egg powder samples to less than 1 log10 cfu g-1 and the counts remained almost constant during storage for 12 months. D10 values for Escherichia coli and Salmonella typhimurium were 0.714 and 0.278 kGy, respectively. Gamma irradiation treatment could be chosen on the basis of preliminary microbiological tests including TVC, TCC and MYC and help improve the hygienic quality by killing and reducing the microorganisms that might be present inside of egg powder to meet national and international standards.

The present study was undertaken to mitigate Salmonella from betel leaf in Mymensingh. A total of 35 betel leaf samples were collected from 2 baroujes and 5 local markets in Mymensingh. The samples were sub-divided into two groups: (i) phosphate buffer solution (PBS) washed, and (ii) grinded sample. There was control and treated (with 1.5% vinegar, sorbitol, and sodium benzoate) sub-groups in both groups. Mitigation of Salmonella was determined by comparing Total Viable Count (TVC) and Total Salmonella Count (TSAC) of control with treated groups. No bacterial growth was observed in the betel leaf samples collected directly from barouj level. At market level, when grinded, there was no growth of bacteria in Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Salmonella- Shigella (SS) or Xylose Lysine De-oxy-chocolate (XLD) in both treated and untreated groups. But when the PBS washed samples were used, the TVC (mean log CFU±SD/mL) of betel leaf ranged from 5.16±0.82 to 5.96±1.11, whereas the TSAC value ranged from 4.87±0.58 to 5.56±1.00 for untreated group. In vinegar, there was no growth, but when treated with sorbitol, the TVC (mean log CFU±SD/mL) value reduced to 5.00±0.54 to 5.66±1.09, and TSAC (mean log CFU±SD/mL) value reduced to 4.28±0.71 to 4.78±0.64. When treated with sodium benzoate, the TVC (mean log CFU±SD/mL) value reduced to 5.06±0.53 to 5.75±1.02, and TSAC (mean log CFU±SD/mL) value reduced to 4.34±0.79 to 4.92±0.64. Data of this study indicates that all the three chemicals were effective in terms of reducing bacterial load but vinegar (1.5%) was found to be the most effective against Salmonella as well as some other bacteria when treated for 10 min.

Context: The survival of atraumatic restorative treatment (ART) restorations would probably increase if near total elimination of cariogenic microorganisms could be done in the process of cavity cleaning before going ahead with the restoration. Thus, use of naturally occurring disinfecting agents for achieving this goal could herald a new beginning in the field of contemporary minimum intervention dentistry. Aims: To evaluate the efficacy of hand instruments in excavating dental caries and comparatively evaluate the roles of Aloe vera and propolis as potential cavity disinfecting agents after minimally invasive hand excavation of dental caries. Settings and Designs: Experimental, in vivo intergroup split mouth, randomized clinical trial. Subjects and Methods: The study included Group I (Control), Group II (A. vera) and Group III (propolis). Ten patients with three teeth each have occlusal/occlusoproximal lesions suitable for ART were selected. Dentinal samples were collected three times from each tooth viz., preexcavation, postexcavation and postdisinfection of the cavities. These dentinal samples were subjected to microbiological analyses for total viable count. Statistical Analysis Used: Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Bonferroni post-hoc test and one-way ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test. Results: In all the three groups, significant amount of bacteria were left behind after hand excavation. Group II and Group III, in which cavities were treated with A. vera and propolis extracts respectively, showed a significant reduction in the bacterial counts when compared to control the group. Conclusions: Hand excavation alone does not completely eliminate bacteria, which may predispose treated teeth to secondary caries. Both propolis and A. vera extracts can be used as potential natural disinfecting agents, thereby embracing the concept of phytotherapy in minimum intervention dentistry.

Pistacia lentiscus fruits are ingredients of traditional Cypriot sausages. The objective of this study is to evaluate P. lentiscus extracts as natural additives to the sausages. First, the phenolic content and antioxidant activity of fruit and leaf extracts were determined. Results revealed that leaves are richer source of polyphenolic antioxidants than fruits, with methanol being the better extraction solvent. In the next step, the antioxidant and antimicrobial effects of methanolic extracts (300 mg/kg) in the pork sausage formulation were investigated. Peroxide, acid and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance values demonstrated that both fruit and leaf extracts reduced the rate of lipid oxidation of sausages at 4 °C. Total viable count revealed significant differences on the fifth day of storage, with better microbial inhibition by leaf extract. No significant differences between the extracts were observed after the tenth day of storage. Overall, the extracts can be used to prevent lipid oxidation and reduce microbial spoilage during the first days of storage of fresh traditional pork sausages.

The aim of this survey was to obtain data on microbiological contamination of pig carcasses and environments in three large-scale Italian slaughterhouses (identified as A-B-C) located in Northern Italy. Each slaughterhouse was visited six times. Five carcasses and three different sites of the slaughterhouse (before and during slaughter) were sampled on each sampling day. A single pooled caecal sample was taken on each sampling day. A total of 90 carcasses, 108 environmental samples and 18 caecal samples were collected. Samples from pig carcasses and slaughterhouse environment were analyzed for total viable count (TVC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EBC) and Salmonella. The caecal contents were examined for Salmonella. Carcasses from slaughterhouse A presented the greatest TVC and EBC mean log value, whereas environmental samples collected during slaughter activities from slaughterhouse C showed the greatest TVC and EBC mean log value. As far as the environmental samples collected before slaughter activities are concerned, an average up to 6 log10 colony forming unit (CFU)/cm2 TVC in two slaughter plants (A and C) and 5 log10 CFU/cm2 TVC in one slaughter plant (B) was detected. Salmonella was recovered in two slaughterhouses (A and B). Four different Salmonella serotypes were detected in the positive samples (11). Within serotype S. Rissen and S. Typhimurium monophasic-variant isolates, two pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were identified. The findings in this survey suggest that carcass contamination is influenced by the slaughterhouse plant and this could be a result of differences in line speed. The results of environmental sampling have not shown an association with the slaughterhouse plant.

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the anti-microbial efficacy of an indigenously prepared caries removing gel, in primary molars. Materials and Methods: Twenty teeth with broad occlusal cavitated lesions that fulfilled the clinical and radiographic criteria formed the study group. These teeth were subjected to chemomechanical method of caries removal, using an indigenously prepared caries removing gel. Prior to and following caries removal, the dentin samples were analyzed for total viable count and lactobacilli count. Results: The percentage of reduction in the total viable count was 92.4% and in the lactobacilli count it was 94.1%, which was statistically highly significant. Conclusion: Removal of carious tissue with a caries removing gel, a natural plant extract, proved to be efficient, easy to perform, and comfortable for the patient.

Cold plasma is described as a promising technique for the treatment of fresh food. In particular, the application of plasma-treated water gained interest in fresh-cut produce processing. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of plasma-treated water (PTW) to decontaminate lettuce during washing on a pilot-scale level with special interest in the dynamics of the culturable microbial community in a first approach. PTW was used in pilot-scale washing at different processing steps, and the total viable count (TVC) of endive lettuce was determined after treatment and after storage (seven days, 2 °C). Microflora representatives were identified using MALDI-ToF MS. The highest reduction of TVC (1.8 log units) was achieved using PTW for washing whole lettuce before cutting. The microbial community structure showed high variations in the composition along the processing chain and during storage with a decrease in diversity after washing with PTW. PTW reduced the microbial load of endive lettuce; however, this was not clearly detectable at the end of storage, similar to other sanitizers used in comparable studies. To assure the safety of fresh products, detailed knowledge about the microbial load and the composition of the microbial community close to the end of shelf life is of high interest for optimized process design.

Chicken meat freshness is in permanent attention for all partners involved in food chain. In this paper we want to highlight the variation of microbiota (psychrotrophic and total viable count) and the variation of biogenic amines in chicken red and white meat. We compared the two anatomical parts of chicken because they have different metabolism, and after cutting from the carcasses they can suffer microbial contamination in the process. The purpose of the study is the evaluation of refrigerated white and red chicken meat (breast and legs) quality using biogenic amines and microbiota. The psychrotrophic microorganisms were initially around a value of 4 log CFU/cm2 in both anatomical parts, when total viable count were determined around a value of 5 log CFU/cm2. The microbial load growth until the seventh day, predominant for chicken breast being the psychrotrophic microorganisms, and for chicken legs remaining the total viable count. We studied the most five well-known biogenic amines: histamine, cadaverine, putrescin, spermine and spermidine. Theirs variation during storage was as follows: histamine increased slowly, spermine decreased, spermidine decreased, cadaverine and putrescin increased. Cadaverine was not detected until the fifth day for both chicken legs and breasts and putrescin was not detected until third day and only for chicken legs.

Somatic cells count and total viable count are criteria used to estimate the compliance of raw cow milk with the Book of rules for demands for safety and hygiene and procedures for official controls of milk and milk products, Official Gazette of RM 157/2007. According to the given demands, raw milk operators are obliged to conduct all procedures and to guarantee that milk is in compliance with the criteria laid down in Book of rules. At the same time, Republic of Macedonia have to fulfill EU criteria laid down in Directive 92/46 (Council directive 92/46/EEC laying down the health rules for the production and placing on the market of raw milk, heat-treated milk and milkbased products) for quality of raw milk as part of implementation of community legislation and milk production. The independent laboratory for milk quality control at FVM-Skopje, in frame of its activities in the period February- August 2008 has conducted a study for obtaining preliminary results for the situation with raw milk quality produced in R. of Macedonia for somatic cells counts and total viable count. In the study we analyzed 2065 samples for TVC and 1625 samples for SCC of raw milk samples produced in different parts of the country. From the tested samples only 41,8% fulfill criteria for SCC and 41,45% criteria for TVC lay down in Book of rules for 2008. Assessment of the results in light of Council Directive it is obvious that only 42,7% of the samples for SCC and 10,7% for TVC fulfill the criteria of Council Directive having in mind different requirements vs. Book of rules.

A nondestructive method was developed for assessing total viable count (TVC) in pork during refrigerated storage by using hyperspectral imaging technique in this study. The hyperspectral images in the visible/near-infrared (VIS/NIR) region of 400–1100 nm were acquired for fifty pork samples, and their VIS/NIR diffuse reflectance spectra were extracted from the images. The reference values of TVC in pork samples were determined by classical microbiological plating method. Both partial least square regression (PLSR) model and support vector machine regression model (SVR) of TVC were built for comparative analysis to achieve better results. Different transformation methods and filtering methods were applied to improve the models. The results show that both the optimized PLSR model and SVR model can predict the TVC very well, while the SVR model based on second derivation was better, which achieved with RP (correlation coefficient of prediction set) = 0.94 and SEP (standard error of prediction set) = 0.4570 log CFU/g in the prediction set. An image processing algorithm was then developed to transfer the prediction model to every pixel of the image of the entire sample; the visualizing map of TVC would be displayed in real-time during the detection process due to the simplicity of the model. The results demonstrated that hyperspectral imaging is a potential reliable approach for non-destructive and real-time prediction of TVC in pork.

Bacteriological quality of 60 poulfry carcasses selected from a meat processing plant located at Kochi in Kerala was assessed during fhe present investigation. The sample consisted of 30 carcasses each randomly collected after the removal of head and fore feet (AR HF) and after evisceration (AE) to evaluate the bacterial quality as well as isolation and identification of salmonella .The samples were collected and brought to the laboratory in thermocool containers and processed immediately. The samples had an overall mean Coliform count, Escherichia coli count, Total viable count and Faecal streptococcal count of 3.81 ± 0.09 , 0.89 ± 0.23, 5.88 ± 0.13 and 3.89 ± 0.06, 0.89 logo cfu/ cm2 respectively in samples collected from ARHF and 3.92 ± 0.12, 2.15 X ± 0.24, 4.44 X ± 0.10, 3.97 ± 0.071og,o cfu/cm2 respectively in AE samples. The salmonella was isolated from ten per cent carcasses from ARHF and positive isolates belonged to S. enteritidis

The total viable count (TVC) in bacon overweight can cause serious damage to human health. In order to find a rapid and nondestructive method of TVC, hyper spectral imaging technique was applied to quantitatively analysis of TVC on bacon. Comprehensively comparing the pretreatment method of multiple scattering, derivative method and so on finally the multiple scattering for pretreatment was used. And the interval optimization method of least squares model was set up to predict, and get a good prediction results. The correlation coefficient of the calibration and predictions respectively was 0.808 and 0.808, interactive authentication root mean square error was 0.115 and 0.198 respectively. Therefore, hyper spectral imaging technique combining iPLS can be used for the rapid detection of TVC on bacon.