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Neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) was tested as a disinfectant against Listeria monocytogenes on the surface of table eggs. Eggs were collected from a single Bovans White flock and were exposed to L. monocytogenes. Artificially contaminated eggs were divided into three different treatment groups: NEW, 2% citric acid solution (CAS), and saline solution (SS). To evaluate the bactericidal effect, the Mexican norm for antimicrobial activity determination protocol was performed. The observed bactericidal effect was compared against those obtained from CAS and SS. Bacterial cells present on the eggshells were quantified. NEW exhibited a significantly higher bactericidal effect than CAS when evaluated on the surfaces of chicken eggshells (6.11 log10CFU/ml reduction in vitro and a 2.18 log10 CFU/egg reduction on eggs vs. 1.06 log10CFU/ml in vitro reduction and 1.74 log10CFU/egg). Additionally, CAS was found to react with the carbonate egg shield, resulting in a loss of cuticle integrity. Mineral content of NEW‐treated eggshells was similar to SS‐treated eggshells; however, CAS‐treated eggshells showed a significant decrease in phosphorous concentration compared to NEW treatment. In this study, we demonstrated the effect of NEW and CAS on the integrity of the L. monocytogenes wall using transmission electron microscopy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the effect of NEW against L. monocytogenes on eggshells. Our results show that NEW is a viable alternative solution for the disinfection of table eggs that does not affect the cuticle or shell.

The genus Diaporthe is a cosmopolitan group of fungi that includes important plant pathogens, endophytes and saprobes with the ability to colonize a wide range of plant hosts. Pathogenic Diaporthe species are often reported to cause symptoms like dieback, stem canker, leaf spots, fruit rots and seed decay resulting in important economic losses on several crops. However, the occurrence of Diaporthe species associated with forest hosts and their pathogenic potential is poorly understood. We studied a collection of Diaporthe isolates obtained from a survey of forest‐related fungal diseases on Eucalyptus globulus, Pinus pinaster and Quercus suber in Portugal. Several Diaporthe species (D. eres, D. rudis, D. crousii, D. malorum and D. foeniculina) were found among the studied hosts. Pathogenicity trials were conducted to analyse the pathogenic potential and the ability to colonize putative new hosts. We report the occurrence of D. eres on P. pinaster in Portugal and a new host association with Q. suber. Additional new host reports were as follows: D. malorum and D. crousii on E. globulus, D. foeniculina on Q. suber and D. rudis on P. pinaster. Overall, Diaporthe species were shown to have low pathogenic impact on forest hosts under non‐stress conditions, despite their capability to colonize different hosts during the pathogenicity trials.

Concentrated agave sap (CAS) has gained popularity as an unrefined sweetener. It is obtained by boiling "aguamiel" that contains phytochemicals with diverse bioactivities. Saponins have been the most widely studied agave phytochemicals due to their cancer antiproliferative effect but their concentration may vary due to maturity of the agave plant and collection site. In this study, 18 CAS samples produced in different states of Mexico were analyzed using multivariate methods to determine which physicochemical or phytochemical parameters were responsible for variation. Additionally, extracts with different saponin profiles were tested to determine possible correlations with antiproliferative activity. Total soluble solids, pH, and water activity were similar to those reported for other agave sweeteners. Antioxidant capacity of samples was correlated to browning index. Eleven steroidal saponins were found in CAS samples and they were the main source of variability. Magueyoside B, a kammogenin tetraglycoside, was the most abundant saponin in all samples. With respect to bioactivity, multivariate analysis indicated that magueyoside B and a gentrogenin tetraglycoside were compounds strongly related with bioactivity. CAS from Hidalgo, Puebla, and Veracruz had higher concentration of magueyoside B than from the other kamogenin tetraglycoside found in the samples from other Mexican states. These results could be used as a first approach to characterize and standardize CAS to validate the potential health benefits derived from its consumption.

Summary The phylogeography of wild boars (WB) and domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) has contributed important insights into where and when domestication occurred. The geographic distribution of two core haplotypes (E1a and E1c) of the main European phylogenetic clade suggests that Central Europe was an early domestication centre, although the complexity of the pattern does not exclude the possibility that multiple domestication events occurred in different regions. To investigate the relationships among WB and domestic pig breeds in Iberia, a fragment of the mitochondrial DNA control region from a large sample (n = 409) of WB and local pig breeds was co-analysed with published sequences from other European populations. The Iberian sample revealed a high frequency of a sub-cluster (E1c) of the European haplogroup E1 in 77% of total Iberian samples, 96% of WB, 90% of Alentejano (Portugal) and 87% of Iberian breed pigs (Spain; Black Hairy, Black Hairless and Red varieties). Low genetic distance (F’ST = 0.105) was observed between Alentejano (Portugal) and Iberian breed pigs (Spain). Alentejano and Iberian breed pigs showed low genetic distances to both Iberian and Central European WB (average F’ST = 0.345 and 0.215, respectively). This pattern suggests that early pig husbandry in the Iberian Peninsula did not solely rely on imported Central European stock, but also included the recruitment of local WB.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to screen the multicontamination by mycotoxins in a wide variety of aromatic and/or medicinal herb samples collected in Spain. Mycotoxins studied were aflatoxins (AFs), ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), citrinin and fumonisins (FBs). Mycotoxins were analysed by ELISA after a clean-up step with multifunctional columns (AFs, ZEA, DON, FBs and T-2) or polyamide column (citrinin). RESULTS: Of the 84 samples analysed 99% were contaminated with T-2, 98% with ZEA, 96% with AFs, 63% with OTA, 62% with DON, 61% with citrinin and 13% with FBs. Nearly 87% of samples contained four or more mycotoxins simultaneously, being AFs, T-2 and ZEA the mycotoxins co-existing in almost every sample. 100% of the samples in our study were multicontaminated. CONCLUSION: This study shows that this kind of commodity could be an important source of mycotoxin contamination and, in general, this contamination is not limited to only one group of mycotoxins. Mycotoxin contamination on artichoke immature florets, boldus leaves, burdock leaves, dandelion plant, frangula bark, ginkgo leaves, lemon verbena leaves, olive leaves, red tea leaves, ribgrass leaves, St Mary's thistle seeds, spearmint leaves, star anise fruit, vervain and white tea leaves has been described for the first time. Finally, this is the first report on DON and T-2 presence in herbs. No study of this kind has been previously developed in Spain. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry