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The majority of human diseases attributed to seafood are caused by Vibrio spp. and the most commonly reported species are Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Vibrio vulnificus, and Vibrio cholerae. The conventional methods for the detection of Vibrio species involve the use of selective media, which are inexpensive and simple but time-consuming. The present work aimed to develop a rapid method based on the use of multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae in bivalve mollusks. 30 aliquots of bivalve mollusks (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were experimentally inoculated with two levels of V. parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, and V. cholerae. ISO 21872-1:2017 was used in parallel for qualitative analysis. The limit of detection of 50% was 7.67 CFU/g for V. cholerae, 0.024 CFU/g for V. vulnificus, and 1.36 CFU/g for V. parahaemolyticus. For V. vulnificus and V. cholerae, the real-time PCR protocol was demonstrated to amplify the pathogens in samples seeded with the lowest and highest levels. The molecular method evaluated showed a concordance rate of 100% with the reference microbiological method. V. parahaemolyticus was never detected in samples contaminated with the lowest level, and it was detected in 14 samples (93.33%) seeded with the highest concentration. In conclusion, the multiplex real-time PCR developed proved to be reliable for V. vulnificus and V. cholerae. Results for V. parahaemolyticus are promising, but further analysis is needed. The proposed method could represent a quick monitoring tool and, if used, would allow the implementation of food safety.

Salmonella is one of the most common agents of foodborne illness. The genus Salmonella includes two species (Salmonella bongori and S. enterica) and six subspecies (enterica I, salamae II, arizonae IIIa, diarizonae IIIb, houtenae IV, and indica VI), each of which contains multiple serotypes associated with animal and human infections. The aim of the study was to evaluate the presence of Salmonella spp. in carcasses of food-producing animals and foods in southern Italy and the serovar distribution among different sources. From 2011 to 2021, a total of 12,246 foods and 982 samples from animal carcasses were collected and analyzed. The overall percentage of positive samples was 5.84% (N = 773) and a significant increase in prevalence was observed by comparing the years 2011–2015 (257, 3.27%) and 2016–2021 (516, 9.61%; p < 0.05). The highest percentage of positive food samples was observed in “Meat and Meat Products” (N = 327/2,438, 13.41%) followed by “Fish and fishery products” (N = 115/1,915, 6.01%). In carcasses, the highest percentage of positive samples was reported from broilers (N = 42/81, 51.85%) followed by buffalo (N = 50/101, 49.50%) and pork (N = 140/380, 36.84%). After typing, the isolates were assigned to the species S. enterica and to the subspecies: enterica (N = 760, 98.32%), diarizonae (N = 8, 1.03%), salamae (N = 3, 0.39%) and houtenae (N = 2, 0.26%). S. Infantis was the most frequently detected (N = 177, 24.76%), followed by S. Derby (N = 77, 10.77%), monophasic S. Typhimurium (N = 63, 8.81%), S. Typhimurium (N = 54, 7.55%), and S. Rissen (N = 47, 6.57%). By comparing the sampling period 2011–2015 with that of 2016–2021, an increase in the prevalence of S. Infantis and monophasic S. Typhimurium and a decrease of S. Typhimurium were recorded (p < 0.05). Thus, present data suggest that, despite the implementation of national and European control strategies to protect against Salmonella, the prevalence of this pathogen in southern Italy is still increasing and a change of national control programs to protect against Salmonella are necessary.

Wild boars can be infected with several foodborne pathogens which may be transmitted to humans through the consumption of their meat, but currently, data of their prevalence are still limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the presence of enteric pathogens in wild boar meat samples killed in the Campania region. Twentyeight wild boar meat samples were analyzed for the detection of Salmonella spp, Y. enterocolitica, Campylobacter spp., and Shiga- Toxigenic E. coli. Salmonella spp. was detected and isolated in ten samples and after serotyping S. Veneziana, S. Kasenyi, S. Coeln, S. Manhattan, S. Thompson, and S. Stanleyville were identified. Twenty-one meat samples were found to be contaminated with Y. enterocolitica; in 6 samples the ystA and ystB genes were detected simultaneously, while in 15 only the ystB gene, which characterizes the bacteria belonging to the biotype 1A, was present. Shiga-Toxin producing E. coli was detected in 12 while Campylobacter spp was never detected. In conclusion, due to the high occurrence of pathogenic bacteria detected, the present research shows that wild boars are important reservoirs for foodborne zoonoses which may be transmitted to livestock and humans. This confirms the importance of controls throughout the wild boar supply chain. In the Campania region, checks are guaranteed by the Veterinarians who work within the “management and control plan for wild boar in the Campania region” which has the twofold objective of containing the increasingly invasive presence of this animal and guaranteeing greater safety, traceability, and transparency in the consumption of meat.

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli, also referred to as Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), can be transmitted to humans through person-to-person contact, consumption of contaminated food or water, or by direct contact with animals. Its clinical and economic consequences have prompted the development of alternative approaches to the official method of analysis “UNI CEN ISO/TS 13136: 2012”, which describes the identification of STEC through the detection of its main virulence genes. Recently, droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) has been proposed as a technique for the sequence-specific detection and direct quantification of nucleic acids. The present study aimed to investigate if ddPCR could be able to detect STEC in less time than that required by the official method. This study consisted of the ddPCR of slices of beef contaminated with STEC and of the sponges used for beef official control at the slaughter stage. The results showed the ability of ddPCR to detect STEC in slices of beef already after sample incubation for 7 h at 37 °C while, in the case of sponges used for official controls, 9 h at 37 °C was needed. In this way, the ddPCR could represent an efficient method for detecting STEC and providing results in less time than the official method.

Fresh fish are highly perishable, owing mainly to their moisture content, high amount of free amino acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Microorganisms and chemical reactions cause the spoilage, leading to loss in quality, human health risks and a market value reduction. Therefore, the fishing industry has always been willing to explore new technologies to increase quality and safety of fish products through a decrease of the microbiological and biochemical damage. In this context, antimicrobial active packaging is one such promising solution to meet consumer demands. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of an active polypropylene-based packaging functionalized with the antimicrobial peptide 1018K6 on microbial growth, physicochemical properties and the sensory attributes of raw salmon fillets. The results showed that application of 1018K6-polypropylene strongly inhibited the microbial growth of both pathogenic and specific spoilage organisms (SSOs) on fish fillets after 7 days. Moreover, salmon also kept its freshness as per volatile chemical spoilage indices (CSIs) during storage. Similar results were obtained on hamburgers of Sarda sarda performing the same analyses. This work provides further evidence that 1018K6-polymers have good potential as antimicrobial packaging for application in the food market to enhance quality and preserve the sensorial properties of fish products.

Wild animals are potential vectors of antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the environment. The present study aimed to investigate the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella serovars isolated from wildlife and the environment in Italy. A total of 164 Salmonella isolates were analyzed, and six different subspecies and 64 serovars were detected. High proportions of Salmonella isolates proved resistant to streptomycin (34.1%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (23.2%), tetracycline (17.7%), ciprofloxacin (14.63%) and ampicillin (11.59%). By source, the lowest level of resistance was observed in Salmonella serovars isolated from a water environment, while antimicrobial resistance was frequent in strains collected from shellfish, reptiles and birds. Multidrug-resistant strains were recovered from seafood (n = 11), mammals (n = 3) and water (n = 1). Three S. Typhimurium monophasic variant strains showed asimultaneous resistance to ampicillin, streptomycin, tetracycline and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, which represents a recognized alert resistance profile for this serovar. These data indicate the environmental dissemination of resistant strains due to anthropogenic activities, which, in southern Italy, probably have a higher impact on marine ecosystems than on terrestrial ones. Moreover, as most of the animals considered in the present study are usually consumed by humans, the presence of resistant bacteria in them is a matter of great concern.

Bacillus cereus is a spoilage bacterium and is recognized as an agent of food poisoning. Two food-borne illnesses are caused by B. cereus: a diarrheal disease, associated with cytotoxin K, hemolysin BL, non-hemolytic enterotoxin and enterotoxin FM, and an emetic syndrome, associated with the cereulide toxin. Owing to the heat resistance of B. cereus and its ability to grow in milk, this organism should be considered potentially hazardous in dairy products. The present study assessed the risk of B. cereus poisoning due to the consumption of water buffalo mozzarella cheese. A total of 340 samples were analyzed to determine B. cereus counts (ISO 7932:2005); isolates underwent molecular characterization to detect the presence of genes encoding toxins. Eighty-nine (26.1%) samples harbored B. cereus strains, with values ranging from 2.2 × 102 to 2.6 × 106 CFU/g. Isolates showed eight different molecular profiles, and some displayed virulence characteristics. Bacterial counts and the toxin profiles of isolates were evaluated both separately and jointly to assess the risk of enteritis due to B. cereus following the consumption of buffalo mozzarella cheese. In conclusion, the results of the present study showed that the risk of poisoning by B. cereus following the consumption of this cheese was moderate.

The continuous collection and analysis of updated data on the antimicrobic resistance among bacterial strains represent the essential core for the surveillance of this problem. The present work aimed to investigate the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella serovars isolated in foods in 2015–2019. A total of 178 Salmonella strains belonging to 39 serovars were tested against 10 antimicrobials. High proportions of Salmonella isolates were resistant to tetracycline (n = 53.9%), ciprofloxacin (n = 47.2%), ampicillin (n = 44.4%), nalidixic acid (n = 42.7%), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (n = 38.8%). Different resistance rates were recorded among the different serotypes of Salmonella, and S. Infantis, exhibited the highest resistance to antibiotics. A high percentage of strains isolated from poultry, pork, and bovine were resistant to at least one or two antimicrobials. Resistant and multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains were also recorded among the isolates from molluscan shellfish; however, the occurrence of resistant Salmonella strains isolated from this source was significantly lower compared with those reported for poultry, pork, and bovine. The high levels of resistance reported in the present study indicate a potential public health risk. Consequently, additional hygiene and antibiotic stewardship practices should be considered for the food industry to prevent the prevalence of Salmonella in foods.