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The protection of consumers from emerging Salmonella spp serovars depends on surveillance and control of the pathogen in food producing animals Among them pigs are the second most important species for transmitting emerging Salmonella spp serovars pathogenic to consumers Thus a microbiological investigation of pig salmonellosis was undertaken in Central Greece examining samples collected from multiple carcass sites aiming at the identification of prevalent serovars and their carcass location For this purpose tissue samples and environmental swab samples were cultured following ISO Twelve different serovars were isolated from feacal and tissue samples and two from the environmental samples representing a total of isolates Among the identified serovars were the emerging monophasic Typhimurium serovars S entericasubsp enterica ser i isolates and S enterica subsp enterica ser i isolates the monophasic S entericasubsp enterica ser k isolates and the rarer serovars of subspecies enterica subsp diarizonae k and S enterica subsp houtenae g t one isolate each Of the remaining isolates were serovar Typhimurium six were serovars S Bredeney isolates S Agona S Derby S Infantis S Meleagridis and S Cerro and four were untypeable Although serovar Typhimurium was the most prevalent one isolates the other serovars could also be considered of emerging public health importance due to pork contamination Thus the pig appears in Greece as a possible source of human salmonellosis caused not only by commonly reported serovars but also of rarer ones

The genus Salmonella, a group of important zoonotic pathogens, is having global economic and political importance. Its main political importance results from the pathogenicity of many of its serovars for man. Serovars Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are currently the most frequently associated to foodborne infections, but they are not the only ones. Animal food products contaminated from subclinically infected animals are a risk to consumers. In border free markets, an example is the EU, these consumers at risk are international. This is why, economic competition could use the risk of consumer infection either to restrict or promote free border trade in animals and their products. Such use of public health threats increases during economic recessions in nations economically weak to effectively enforce surveillance. In free trade conditions, those unable to pay the costs of pathogen control are unable to effectively implement agreed regulations, centrally decided, but leaving their enforcement to individual states. Free trade of animal food products depends largely on the promotion of safety, included in "quality," when traders target foreign markets. They will overtake eventually the markets of those ineffectively implementing agreed safety regulations, if their offered prices are also attractive for recession hit consumers. Nations unable to effectively enforce safety regulations become disadvantaged partners unequally competing with producers of economically robust states when it comes to public health. Thus, surveillance and control of pathogens like Salmonella are not only quantitative. They are also political issues upon which states base national trade decisions. Hence, the quantitative calculation of costs incurring from surveillance and control of animal salmonelloses, should not only include the cost for public health protection, but also the long term international economic and political costs for an individual state. These qualitative and qualitative costs of man and animal Salmonella infections should be calculated in the light of free trade and open borders. Understandably, accurate calculation of the economic and political costs requires knowledge of the many factors influencing nationally the quality and safety of pork products and internationally free trade. Thus, how Salmonella pig infections affect commerce and public health across open borders depends on a state's ability to accurately calculate costs for the surveillance and control of animal salmonelloses in general, and pig infections as a particular example.

This field study assessed the efficacy of a probiotic based on viable spores of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 (Calsporin; Calpis Co. Ltd., Japan) on the health status and productivity of sows and their litters through 2 full, sequential reproductive cycles from service of the first cycle to weaning of the second cycle. Fifty-six sows were allocated to 2 experimental groups, an untreated control (T1) group and a probiotic-treated (T2) group that received the same basal feed as the T1 group plus the probiotic at an approximate allowance of 30 g/t of feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g). The offspring of T1 and T2 sows were offered basal and T2 creep feed (3 × 10(5) cfu/g), respectively. Health and zootechnical parameters of sows and piglets were recorded. Feeding the probiotic to sows and piglets resulted in significant benefits, observed in both cycles: 1) improved sow body condition during pregnancy (P < 0.05), 2) increased sow feed consumption, 3) reduced sow weight loss during lactation (P < 0.05), 4) reduced sow weaning-estrus interval (P < 0.05), and 5) higher BW of piglets at weaning (P < 0.05). Additionally, a significant (P < 0.05) improvement in piglet birth weight and in the number of piglets weaned was observed in the second cycle of T2 sows, while a significant improvement of mean daily gain of piglets from birth to weaning was observed in the first cycle of T2 sows. Microbiological examination of fecal samples showed that probiotic treatment significantly reduced both Escherichia coli and Clostridium spp. in piglet feces, particularly during the second cycle. The data suggested that continuous feed supplementation with the probiotic is beneficial for both sows and piglets, since zootechnical benefits were observed in both cycles.

Campylobacter is one of the most common pathogen-related causes of diarrheal illnesses globally and has been recognized as a significant factor of human disease for more than three decades. Molecular typing techniques and their combinations have allowed for species identification among members of the Campylobacter genus with good resolution, but the same tools usually fail to proceed to subtyping of closely related species due to high sequence similarity. This problem is exacerbated by the demanding conditions for isolation and detection from the human, animal or water samples as well as due to the difficulties during laboratory maintenance and long-term storage of the isolates. In an effort to define the ideal typing tool, we underline the strengths and limitations of the typing methodologies currently used to map the broad epidemiologic profile of campylobacteriosis in public health and outbreak investigations. The application of both the old and the new molecular typing tools is discussed and an indirect comparison is presented among the preferred techniques used in current research methodology.

Salmonella enterica subsp. arizonae was isolated from 13 of 123 slaughtered pigs in central Greece. The samples cultured were feces, ileum tissue, mesenteric lymph nodes, and gallbladder swabs. A total of 74 isolates from 492 samples were identified as Salmonella spp. by use of standard laboratory culture media and two commercial micromethods and by use of a polyvalent slide agglutination test for the detection of O and H antigens. Among them were 19 (25.68%) suspected to be S. enterica subsp. arizonae according to analysis with standard laboratory culture media. Of those, 14 were identified as S. enterica subsp. arizonae by the API 20E (bioMérieux, France) and the Microgen GnA+B-ID (Microgen Bioproducts, Ltd., United Kingdom) identification systems. All the isolates were tested for resistance to 23 antimicrobials. Strains identified as S. enterica subsp. arizonae were resistant to 17 (70.8%) antibiotics. The highest proportions of resistance were observed for sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim (71.4%), tetracycline (71.4%), ampicillin (64.3%), and amoxicillin (57.1%). Two isolates were resistant to aztreonam (7.1%) and tigecycline (7.1%), used only for the treatment of humans. Thus, pork meat may play a role in the transmission of antibiotic-resistant S. enterica subsp. arizonae to human consumers. This is the first report of S. enterica subsp. arizonae isolation from pigs.

Salmonella enterica, the most pathogenic species of the genus Salmonella, includes more than 2,500 serovars, many of which are of great veterinary and medical significance. The emergence of food-borne pathogens, such as Salmonella spp., has increased knowledge about the mechanisms helping microorganisms to persist and spread within new host populations. It has also increased information about the properties they acquire for adapting in the biological environment of a new host. The differences observed between serovars in their host preference and clinical manifestations are referred to as “serovar-host specificity” or “serovar-host adaptation”. The genus Salmonella, highly adaptive to vertebrate hosts, has many pathogenic serovars showing host specificity. Serovar Salmonella Typhi, causing disease to man and higher primates, is a good example of host specificity. Thus, understanding the mechanisms that Salmonella serovars use to overcome animal species' barriers or adapt to new hosts is also important for understanding the origins of any other infectious diseases or the emergence of new pathogens. In addition, molecular methods used to study the virulence determinants of Salmonella serovars, could also be used to model ways of studying the virulence determinants used by bacteria in general, when causing disease to a specific animal species.

The examination of 2005 raw bovine (n = 950), caprine (n = 460) and ovine (n = 595) bulk milk samples collected throughout several regions in Greece for the presence of Escherichia coli serogroup O157 resulted in the isolation of 29 strains (1.4%) of which 21 were isolated from bovine (2.2%), 3 from caprine (0.7%) and 5 from ovine (0.8%) milk. Out of the 29 E. coli O157 isolates, only 12 (41.4%) could be classified as Shiga-toxigenic based on immunoassay and PCR results. All 12 Shiga-toxigenic E. coli serogroup O157 isolates belonged to the E. coli O157:H7 serotype. All except one of the 12 Shiga-toxin positive isolates were stx(2)-positive, five of which were also stx(1)-positive. The remaining isolate was positive only for the stx(1) gene. All stx-positive isolates (whether positive for stx(1), stx(2) or stx(1) and stx(2)) were also PCR-positive for the eae and ehxA genes. The remaining 17 E. coli O157 isolates (58.6%) were negative for the presence of the H7 flagellar gene by PCR, tested negative for Shiga-toxin production both by immunoassay and PCR, and among these, only four and three strains were PCR-positive for the eae and ehxA genes, respectively. All 29 E. coli O157 isolates displayed resistance to a wide range of antimicrobials, with the stx-positive isolates being, on average, resistant to a higher number of antibiotics than those which were stx-negative.

Chemically decontaminating broiler meat for consumer safety is possible with lactic acid (LA) and trisodium phosphate dodecahydrate (TPD). The bactericidal activity of each of these agents in vitro against five different strains of Salmonella spp. was tested. Both agents were bactericidal for all strains in high concentrations, but they were not satisfactorily effective in low concentrations or/and a short duration of activity. The most resistant strain among the tested Salmonella spp. was Salmonella enteritidis serotype pt4, although TPD was more effective than LA. The findings partly explain 1. The reported increases of human foodborne infections from S. enteritidis serotype pt4, thus 2. The increasing need for new methods to effectively decontaminate meat and meat products.

Three serological tests, the fluorescence-polarization assay (FPA), the indirect ELISA (iELISA) and the competitive ELISA (cELISA), were compared in detecting Brucella melitensis antibodies in 454 serum samples from sheep (71 from animals which had aborted, 228 from animals without a reported abortion for the last 2 years, 155 samples from animals vaccinated with the REV-1 vaccine) and 251 serum samples from goats (animals with sporadic abortions and of unknown vaccination-status). The sensitivity of the three tests was 85, 93.5 and 88.5% and their specificity 96, 94.5 and 98.5%, for the FPA, iELISA and cELISA, respectively. The agreement between the three methods was 63.5% when testing samples from abortion cases, 92% when testing samples from apparently healthy sheep and 84% when testing samples from vaccinated sheep. Agreement between the three methods increased, when the possibility of true infection decreased; it was higher when the samples were likely to be from brucella-free animals. It appears that iELISA would be valuable for use at the early stage of a control program, whilst cELISA at its final stage. The FPA did not appear to be as accurate as the other two tests, but it was the easier, cheaper and quicker to perform.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate under field conditions, the role that right management and vaccination against Escherichia coli plays in the prevention of neonatal kid diarrhoea. To meet this objective, a goat farm of low management standards suffering from a neonatal diarrhoea problem caused by enteropathogenic strains of E. coli was selected. Three experimental groups of new-born kids with their mothers were formed: (a) the kids in Group I were raised under the management conditions already existing in the farm, and served as negative controls, (b) the kids in Group II were raised under improved conditions, including specially prepared warm and draft-free areas for kidding and nursing, and (c) the kids in Group III were raised under the improved conditions of Group II, but were born from does previously vaccinated for E. coli. The three groups were compared with regard to the incidence and duration of diarrhoea, and the mortality of kids. It was shown that, compared to the control group, neonatal morbidity and mortality were both reduced by a factor of 3 in Group II, and by factors of 9.5 and 12.5, respectively, in Group III (P

Contents The objective of this study was to assess the effects of in-feed chlortetracycline (CTC) as a measure of preventing or minimizing infectious problems of reproductive failure in gilts and sows. In a farm of 400 Large White × Landrace gilts and sows with a clinical history of porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome (PRRS) virus, the animals were treated with CTC. Treatment consisted of 10 g CTC sow/day for 15 days every 3 months. It improved the health status of sows by decreasing post-farrowing clinical mastitis and vaginal discharges, abortions, return-to-oestrus and irregular return-to-oestrus rates. These beneficial effects had a positive impact on the performance of the litter. More piglets were born live and weaned. These positive effects improved with repeated use of CTC. The serological evidence of PRRS virus, Leptospira spp. and Chlamydia spp. and the subsequent beneficial use of the antimicrobial agent indicate that reproductive failure, possibly resulting from the bacterial agents can be controlled with in-feed use of broad spectrum antimicrobials.

Η λeπτοσπeίρωση, μια «νeο-αναδυόμeνη» μόλυνση των ζώων και του ανθρώπου, προκαλeίται από τον μικροοργανισμό Leptospira spp. Το γένος Leptospira πeριλαμβάνeι τουλάχιστον 200 ορότυπους, μe μηδαμινή ή eλάχιστη αντιγονική συγγένeια, οι οποίοι ταξινομούνται σe 8 παθογόνα eίδη, που προκαλούν κλινική ή υποκλινική νόσο. Φυσική δeξαμeνή του μικροοργανισμού στο πeριβάλλον θeωρούνται κυρίως τα τρωκτικά, αλλά φορeίς eίναι και πολλά άλλα eίδη ζώων. Οι φορeίς απeκκρίνουν το μικροοργανισμό μe τα ούρα τους, μολύνοντας το πeριβάλλον. Στο πeριβάλλον ο μικροοργανισμός eπιβιώνeι για μeγάλο χρονικό διάστημα, όταν η θeρμοκρασία παραμένeι γύρω στους 25°C. Το ποσοστό μόλυνσης των ζώων στις διάφορeς χώρeς κυμαίνeται από 2% έως 46% ανάλογα μe το eίδος ζώου και την πeριοχή. Στην Eλλάδα, πρόσφατeς αναφορές στην οροθeτικότητα πeριστατικών αποβολών μικρών μηρυκαστικών, υποδηλώνουν ποσοστό μόλυνσης γΰρω στο 25%, eνώ τα αντίστοιχο ποσοστό μeταξύ φαινομeνικά υγιών παραγωγικών ζώων κυμαίνeται από 5,7% έως 16,2%. Συχνότeροι ορότυποι βρέθηκαν ναeίναι οι Bratislava, Australis και Copenhageni. Στην Eλλάδα απαραίτητη eίναι η συστηματικότeρη μeλέτη της λeπτοσπeίρωσης, άρα και η δημιουργία eπιστημονικής και τeχνολογικής υποδομής (κυρίως λόγω των πιθανών κλιματικών αλλαγών).

Η νόσος του Aujeszky (ΝΑ) ή ψeυδολΰσσα αποτeλeί ένα σοβαρό ιογeνές νόσημα του χοίρου, που χαρακτηρίζeται από νeυρικά συμπτώματα στα νeογέννητα χοιρίδια, αναπνeυστικά προβλήματα στους παχυνόμeνους χοίρους και αναπαραγωγικές διαταραχές στα ζώα αναπαραγωγής. Ο Aladar Aujezsky, ο Ούγγρος κτηνίατρος από τον οποίο πήρe το όνομα του το νόσημα, για πρώτη φορά πeριέγραψe τη νόσο το 1902. Η ΝΑ προκαλeίται από έναν DNA ιό, ο οποίος ανήκeι στην υποοικογeνeια Alphaherpesvirinae της οικογένeιας Herpesviridae. Ο χοίρος αποτeλeί το μοναδικό φυσικό ξeνιστή του ιού, καθώς και eνα από τα eλάχιστα eίδη ζώων που μπορeί να eπιβιώσeι της μόλυνσης από αυτόν. Σημαντικοί παράγοντeς που καθορίζουν την παθογόνο δράση του ιού της ΝΑ eίναι οι ιικeς γλυκοπρωτeινeς και ένζυμα, αφού αυτά αλληλeπιδρούν άμeσα μe τα κύτταρα- στόχος. Το αρχικό σημeίο πολλαπλασιασμού του ιού κατά την eίσοδο του στον οργανισμό eίναι το eπιθήλιο του ανώτeρου αναπνeυστικού συστήματος, απ' όπου στη συνέχeια ο ιός μπορeί να μeταφeρθeί σe δeυτeρογeνή σημeία πολλαπλασιασμού (λeμφογάγγλια, πνeύμονeς, μήτρα κ.λπ.) μέσω της κυκλοφορίας του αίματος, καθώς και στο κeντρικό νeυρικό σύστημα μέσω της οσφρητικής οδού και της οδού του τρίδυμου νeύρου. Τα συμπτώματα της ΝΑ στο χοίρο eξαρτώνται κυρίως από την ηλικία των μολυσμένων ζώων. Η νόσος στα νeαρά χοιρίδια οδηγeί τις πeρισσότeρeς φορές στο θάνατο μe χαρακτηριστικά νeυρικά συμπτώματα, eνώ σe ζώα μeγαλύτeρης ηλικίας eμφανίζeται λιγότeρο σοβαρή μe χαρακτηριστικό τα συμπτώματα από το ανα­ πνeυστικό σύστημα. Στις σύeς, η μόλυνση από τον ιό της νόσου του Aujeszky μπορeί να προκαλέσeι αποβολές, καθώς και γeνικότeρα αναπαραγωγικά προβλήματα. Ένα σημαντικό χαρακτηριστικό του ιού αυτού eίναι η δυνατότητα παραμονής του στο ζώο ξeνιστή σe λανθάνουσα κατάσταση. Σe αυτήν την πeρίπτωση, eνώ το γeνeτικό υλικό του ιού υπάρχeι μέσα στον οργανισμό του ζώου, δeν πολλαπλασιάζeται και δeν παράγονται ιικά σωματίδια. Ωστόσο, κάτω από ορισμένeς συνθήκeς ο ιός eίναι δυνατό να eνeργοποιηθeί και να αρχίσeι να πολλαπλασιάζeται και να απeκκρίνeται από τον οργανισμό. Τα παθολογο­ ανατομία eυρήματα eίναι δυνατό να απουσιάζουν στην πeρίπτωση της μόλυνσης από τον ιό της ΝΑ. Στο κeντρικό νeυρικό σύστημα ιστολογικά μπορeί να παρατηρηθeί μη πυώδης μηνιγγοeγκeφαλίτιδα και γαγγλιονeυρίτιδα, eνώ eίναι δυνατή και η παρατήρηση eστιακών νeκρώσeων σe διάφορα όργανα (ήπαρ, σπλήνα, αμυγδαλές κ.λπ.). Για τη διάγνωση της ΝΑ eίναι αναγκαία η συνeκτίμηση διαφόρων παραμέτρων. Η αρχική διάγνωση βασίζeται στο ιστορικό της χοιροτροφικής μονάδας, σe συνδυασμό μe τα κλινικά συμπτώματα στις διάφορeς ηλικιακές ομάδeς και τις αλλοιώσeις, eνώ οριστική αιτιολογική διάγνωση eπιτυγχάνeται μe eξeιδικeυμένeς eργαστηριακές δοκιμές.

The efficacy of an organic acid solution in the prevention of neonatal kid diarrhoea, was examined in this study and was compared with that of different antibiotics. In a goat farm, kids and their mothers were divided in 4 experimental groups. The kids of Group I were not given any treatment serving as negative controls. The kids of Group II were treated orally for 3 consecutive days with a solution of organic acids starting approximately 12 h after their birth. The kids of Groups III and IV were treated once orally with ampicillin and oxytetracycline respectively, approximately 12 h after birth. All groups were compared as regards the occurrence of diarrhoea, its duration, and the rate of mortality. The results have shown that the number of cases and the duration of diarrhoea were significantly reduced in all treated groups, when compared to the control group (p 0.05). Samples of diarrhoeic faeces from kids in the control group resulted in the isolation of K88 and K99 strains of Escherichia coli. It was concluded that, early oral administration of organic acids can be effective in the prevention of scours in neonatal kids, possibly caused by enterotoxigenic E. coli strains, and to a degree of protection similar to that seen with the used antibiotic schemes. (Asian-Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2002. Vol 15, No. 7 : 1040-1044)

The presence of ciprofloxacin resistance commensal Escherichia coli (C-R-Ec) was determined for goats in the absence of selective pressure in Northern and Central Greece. The C-R-Ec was categorized in 3 groups with respect to their phenotypic resistance to other antibiotics as well as the carriage of antibiotic resistance genes. The first group consisted of 7 C-R-Ec that were found also resistant to tetracycline. Among them tet(B) (n = 7), qnr(S) (n = 7), and qnr(B) (n = 3) producers were identified by polymerase chain reaction. The second group consisted of 10 C-R-Ec that were found sensitive to all other antibiotics, and their phenotypic resistance to ciprofloxacin was not attributed to the presence of resistance genes. Finally, the third group consisted of 2 C-R-Ec also resistant to sulfamethoxazole. These strains were not carrying any transferable elements that contribute to resistance either to ciprofloxacin or to sulfamethoxazole. This is the first report of ciprofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolated from goats in Greece.

[EN] Greek people consume a limited amount of rabbit meat, with the exception of the island of Crete. In Crete rabbit meat is a traditional dish. A large number of farmer or shepherding families grow rabbits. This study focuses on the traditional rabbitries that serve mainly as a source of meat for the needs of the family, thus become good examples of farming priorities of low-income families. The study focused on rabbitries located at the villages of Krousonas, Sarchos, Korfes and Loutraki in the county of lraklion, Crete. A total of 70 traditional rabbitries were observed for the duration of four months (July to October 2000). The facilities of the rabbitries were of low cost materials, mostly homemade, with the exception of 15 rabbitries, which used commercial cages. The diet of the rabbits was mainly from garden plants supplemented with grains or other kinds of feed materials, such as leftover dry bread. Sorne characteristics of the production-system were: Maximum total rabbits number/farm 22.2±13.0 (n=70); Reproductive does number/farm 3.3±1.3 (n=70); Parturition number/year/doe 7.7±0.8 (n=230); Litter size in birth 8.0± 2.6 (n=105); Litter size in weaning 7.2±2.4 (n=97); Litter size in slaughter 6.5±2.4 (n=95); Slaughter age of fattening (months) 2.8± 0.9 (n=84); Body weight at slaughter 1.7±0.4 (n=84); In respect to health problems, there were not any serious pathological conditions observed other than sorne cases with ear mange lesions (18.7% in reproductive does, 28.6% in reproductive bucks, 15.2% in fryer rabbits) and a small percentage (8%) of slaughtered rabbits were observed with liver abnormalities believed to be due to coccidial infection. At the end of the paper, the different medications in use in the observed farms are refereed. The recommendation and the application mode of the used medications were entirely empiric, thus without a prescription from a veterinarian. In 39 farms no medication was used., [FR] La population grecque consomme peu de viande de lapin sauf sur l'ile de Crete. En Crete, de nombreuses familles de fermier et de bergers élevent des lapins dont la viande est utilisée pour la réalisation d'un plat traditionnel. Ce travail analyse les performances techniques de petits élevages familiaux pratiquant une production vivriere. 11 présente ainsi des exemples intéressants concernant les choix de production réalisés par des familles a bas revenu. Les fermes enquetées étaient localisées dans les villages de Krousonas, Sarchos, Korfes et Loutraki dans le comté d'lraklion en Crete. Au total 70 ateliers cunicoles traditionnels ont été observés durant quatre mois (entre juillet et octobre 2000). L'équipement des clapiers était constitué de matériel peu coOteux, généralement fait maison, a l'exception de 15 élevages équipés de cages commerciales. L'alimentation des lapins provenait principalement de plantes du jardin supplémentées avec des graines ou d'autres produits comme du pain rassis. Les principales caractéristiques techniques du systeme de production étaient les suivantes: Nombre maximum d'animaux/élevage: 22.2±13.0 (n=70); Nombre de femelles reproductrices/élevage: 3.3±1.3 (n=70); Nombre de mises bas/femelle/an: 7.7±0.8 (n=230); Taille des portées a la naissance: 8.0±2.6 (n=105); Taille des portées au sevrage: 7.2±2.4 (n=97); Taille des portées a l'abattage: 6.5±2.4 (n=95); Age a l'abattage (en mois): 2.8±0.9 (n=84); Poids vif a l'abattage: 1.7±0.4 (n=84). Concernant les aspects sanitaires, aucune pathologie grave n'a été observée a l'exception de quelques cas de gale des oreilles (18.7% chez les femelles reproductrices, 28.6% chez les males reproducteurs et 15.2% chez les lapins a l'engraissement). A l'abattage, un faible pourcentage d'animaux (8%) présentaient des anomalies au niveau du foie, probablement dues a une infection coccidienne. Les différents traitements médicamenteux utilisés dans les élevages enquetés sont référencés a la fin de cet article. Généralement, les recommandations et le mode d'utilisation des médicaments étaient totalement empiriques et done réalisés sans prescription vétérinaire. 39 élevages n'utilisaient aucun traitement médicamenteux.

The aim was to investigate the presence of leptospira infection and the antibiotic resistance of Enterobacteriaceae among wild rats living in a densely populated area. For this purpose 3-4 large traps were placed daily across the commercial port-front of Piraeus for the duration of two months. The rats captured were transferred in the laboratory alive, where samples were freshly collected. None of the 25 rats captured was found to be infected with leptospira. Only one rat was infected with Salmonella. Other predominant members of the family of Enterobacteriaceae were Escherichia coli, Proteus spp. and Klebsiella spp. Resistance to antimicrobial agents commonly used in veterinary treatment was very high for spectinomycin, erythromycin, neomycin and tetracycline in all tested species of Enterobacteriaceae. It appears that port rats living in the densely populated area of the city of Piraeus could become a source of infection for man and animals with microorganisms highly resistant to antimicrobial agents.

The bacteria Total Plate Count (TPC), Lactobacilli, pH and water activity influencing the shelf life of Greek vacuum-packed, heat-treated sausages kept at 7 0C were investigated. Samples of six types of whole and sliced, vacuum packed sausages were tested at weekly intervals and until sensory defects occurred. The TPC and Lactobacilli reached counts of about or over 108 cfu/g at the end of the products’ shelf life and were followed by a drop in pH to about or below 5.7. The findings showed that the shelf life of all the products falls short of the producer’s recommended sell-by-date, due to higher counts of bacteria and to a faster pH fall of the products., Istraživanje je provedeno da bi se odredio utjecaj ukupnog broja bakterija, laktobacila, pH i djelovanje vode na trajnost grčkih kobasica pakiranih u vakuumu pohranjenih pri temperaturi od 7 oC. Uzorci šest vrsta cijelih ili narezanih kobasica bili su pretraživani u tjednim razmacima sve dok se nisu promijenila njihova organoleptička svojstva. Ukupan broj bakterija i laktobacila dosegao je ili je bio veći od 108 kolonija/g pri kraju roka upotrebe što je pratio i pad pH vrijednosti na oko 5,7 ili niže. Rezultati su pokazali da bi, zbog većeg broja bakterija i bržeg pada pH vrijednosti proizvoda, rok upotrebe svih testiranih proizvoda morao biti kraći od onoga koji preporučuje proizvođač.

SALMONELLA species have been isolated from human, cattle and goat gallbladders (Chandra and others 2006, Dias and others 2013, Gonzalez-Escobedo and Gunn 2013). Salmonella species genetically regulate mechanisms of resistance to the antibacterial and detergent-like properties of bile salts, thus they survive for a long time in this hostile environment (Begley and others 2005). They do it, either by down-regulating secretion and invasion genes in the type III secretion system of pathogenicity (Prouty and Gunn 2000) or by forming protective biofilms on gallstones (Crawford and others 2010). Their survival leads to lengthy intermittent shedding of pathogenic serovars or multidrug resistant strains (Gonzalez-Escobedo and Gunn 2013). Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Salmonella species serovars in the gallbladder of slaughtered pigs and evaluate their antimicrobial resistance, thus their public health importance. One hundred and twenty-three gallbladders collected from randomly selected healthy pigs at slaughter over a period of 6 months were cultured following ISO 6579 (ISO 2002) (Annex D). Suspect colonies were subcultured on nutrient agar, confirmed as Gram negative, tested for oxidase production, utilisation of Triple Sugar Iron Agar (Merck, Germany) and assigned to species using the Microgen systems GnA and B-ID (Microgen …

The purpose of this pilot study was to evaluate under field conditions the effect of a probiotic containing Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis on young lamb mortality and sheep milk production when administered in the late pregnancy and lactation feed of ewes. In a sheep farm, two groups of milking ewes with identical genetic material, management, nutrition, health status and similar production characteristics were formed. One group (46 ewes) served as control, while the other one (48 ewes) served as a probiotic-treated group. Both groups of ewes received a similar feeding regiment, but the ewes of the second group were additionally offered a probiotic product containing B. licheniformis and B. subtilis (BioPlus 2B, Chr. Hansen, Denmark) at the approximate dose of 2.56 x 10(9) viable spores per ewe per day. Lamb mortality during the 1.5 months suckling period, and milk yield during the 2 months of milk collection for commercial purposes have been recorded. In the non-treated control group, 13.1% mortality was observed versus 7.8% in the probiotic-treated group (P = 0.33), with mortality being mainly due to diarrhoea. Microbiological examination of diarrhoeic faeces from some of the dead lambs in both groups revealed the presence of Escherichia coli. The average daily milk yield per ewe was significantly lower in the control group (0.80 l) than that in the probiotic-treated group (0.93 l) (P < 0.05). Fat and protein content of milk in ewes that received probiotics was significantly (P < 0.05) increased compared with untreated ewes. It was concluded that supplementing ewe's feed with probiotics may have beneficial effect on subsequent milk yields, fat and protein content.

A total of 1527 serum samples from pigs, goats, sheep, cattle and dogs in Greece were examined by the microscopic agglutination test and 11-8 per cent of them had antibodies against one or more Leptospira serovars at titres of 1/100 or more. The predominant serovar affecting farm animal species was Bratislava, and Copenhageni was common among dogs and the second most important serovar when all animals were considered together. Another prevalent serovar was Australis, but antibodies to Pomona were detected only in goats and cattle.