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AbstractAflatoxin B1 is a carcinogenic mycotoxin responsible for hepatocellular carcinoma in humans and animals. A two-dimensional combined stochastic sensor based on the physical modification of a gold dot with N-[5-methylpyridin-2yl] octadec-9-enamide was designed and validated for aflatoxin B1 determination in bovine and vegan milk. The working concentration range was between 0.1 fmol L−1 and 0.1 µmol L−1 with a sensitivity of 2.70 × 109 s−1mol−1L. The recovery values for aflatoxin B1 in the milk samples exceeded 95.00%, with relative standard deviations lower than 0.10%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Breastfeeding offers significant health benefits, but its practice and success can vary. While research on induced lactation in cisgender women has been documented, there is limited research on lactation induction in transgender women. Case presentation: A 50-year-old transgender woman undergoing hormone therapy and living with a pregnant partner sought to co-feed using induced lactation. After approval by the hospital ethics committee, a regimen of estradiol, progesterone, and domperidone was initiated, accompanied by nipple stimulation. Lactation was successfully induced and maintained, with milk composition analysis indicating high levels of protein and other key nutrients. This case, the seventh reported, highlights the complexity of lactation induction in transgender women, considering factors such as age, obesity, and insulin resistance. The nutrient profile of the milk suggests its suitability for infant feeding, despite some differences from typical human milk. Conclusions: Induced lactation is feasible in transgender women, expanding the understanding of non-puerperal lactation and its potential in diverse family structures. Further research is warranted to optimize lactation induction protocols in transgender women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The adulteration of milk is an important issue that needs to be addressed because of its deleterious effects on health. Detection of adulterants in milk can be done in laboratories or by purchasing adulteration detection kits. There are few home-based rapid tests to detect common milk adulterants, which are less known by our community. Objectives of this study were to estimate the proportion of milk adulteration and to identify common adulterants, to determine the association of milk adulteration with gastrointestinal and renal diseases; and also to validate rapid home-based tests by comparing its result with standard milk adulteration detection kit. Materials and Methods: A community-based study was conducted on 330 medical and paramedical staff. Collected milk samples during family visits were tested by standard milk adulteration detection tests and rapid home-based tests. Results: Among 330 tested milk samples, 233 samples were adulterated with one or more than one adulterant. The most common adulteration observed was the addition of water to milk, followed by detergent, urea, and neutralizer. The specificity of the rapid tests was found to be almost 100% in the detection of water and detergent in milk and accuracy was above 80%; with "substantial agreement" (kappa = 0.7) between rapid tests and standard tests on kappa statistics. Conclusion: The present study has identified a large extent of milk adulteration and common adulterants, which may have harmful effects on health. The utility of home-based rapid tests is clearly proven to detect common adulterants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Infant diet assessment validity varies by dietary component and feeding stage. • Carotenoid intake estimates differ by milk carotenoid adjustment and approach. • Carotenoid intake estimates from 3 days of food diaries correlate with 7 days. Validated carotenoid assessment methods are needed to study infant carotenoid nutrition. This is a secondary analysis of repeated diet assessments of healthy participants collected at 4- (n = 21), 6- (n = 12), and 8- (n = 9) months of age in Houston, TX between April 2019 and June 2020. Intake was assessed with 3 assessment tools, analyzed with 3 nutrient databases, and underwent 3 adjustments to account for milk composition variability. We hypothesized that manual adjustment of milk carotenoid intake based on laboratory measurements would improve the validity of all assessment approaches and that using a database with greater coverage of infant food carotenoid compositions would improve accuracy. Generalized linear mixed models assessed associations between tool, nutrient database, age, and milk carotenoid adjustment variables with carotenoid, energy, fruit, and vegetable intakes. The effect of the number of food diary days on intake estimate precision was evaluated by testing the correlation between intake estimates derived from 1, 3, or 5, vs. 7 days. Visit age influenced energy intake estimates (p =.029), along with assessment tool (p =.020). Estimates of vegetable intake were influenced by tool (p =.009). Combined fruit and vegetable intake differed by nutrient database (p =.007). Carotenoid intake differed by age (p =<.0001), tool (p =.002), and nutrient database (p =.004). A minimum of 3 food diary days strongly correlated (rho = 0.79-1) with reference estimates across ages. Milk carotenoid adjustment was most influential in estimating 4-month olds' carotenoid intake, while nutrient database and tool were important for 6- and 8-month-olds', highlighting the dynamic nature of infant diet assessment validity across feeding stages. There are multiple methods available to assess infant carotenoid intake. This study finds that estimated infant carotenoid intake is influenced by child age, milk carotenoid adjustment method, nutrient database, and assessment tool. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and sensitive fluorescence ratiometric method is developed for urea detection based on the pH-sensitive response of two fluorescent carbon dot (CD) systems: R-CDs/methyl red (MR) and NIR-CDs/Cu2+. The sensing mechanism involves breaking down urea using the enzyme urease, releasing ammonia and increasing pH. At higher pH, the fluorescence of NIR-CDs is quenched due to the enhanced interaction with Cu2+, while the fluorescence of R-CDs is restored as the acidic MR converts to its basic form, removing the inner filter effect. The ratiometric signal (F608/F750) of the R-CDs/MR and NIR-CDs/Cu2+ intensities changed in response to the pH induced by urea hydrolysis, enabling selective and sensitive urea detection. Detailed spectroscopic and morphological investigations confirmed the fluorescence probe design and elucidated the sensing mechanism. The method exhibited excellent sensitivity (0.00028 mM LOD) and linearity range (0.001 – 8.0 mM) for urea detection, with successful application in milk samples for monitoring adulteration, demonstrating negligible interference and high recovery levels (96.5% to 101.0%). This ratiometric fluorescence approach offers a robust strategy for selective urea sensing in complicated matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: This report describes a scoping literature review as preparatory work for the safety evaluation by EFSA of Human‐identical Milk Oligosaccharides (HiMOs) as Novel Foods (NFs). The main objective was to gather information on the concentrations of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (HMOs) in human milk, both individual and total, and the combinations/mixtures of HiMOs/HMOs in commercially available products or those reported in the literature. Methods: A scoping literature review was conducted, including a search strategy implemented in biomedical (PubMed) and multidisciplinary (Web of Science) databases from 2013 to March 2024, supplemented by an ad hoc search for primary studies included in two key recent systematic reviews and grey literature searches on relevant food business operators' websites. Both primary and secondary studies were selected to determine the individual concentrations of target HMOs, the total concentration of HMOs and relevant HMO fractions, and the combinations/mixtures of HiMOs/HMOs. Only studies with full text published in English or Spanish were eligible, excluding patents, editorials, conference abstracts, books, and dissertations. Results: The structured searches yielded 2,851 unique references, with 218 selected for full‐text evaluation and 36 additional unique references from the key systematic reviews. Ultimately, 171 publications were included in the review. Fourteen companies related to HiMOs were identified through grey literature. In most publications, concentration data for multiple groups of donors (e.g., based on factors like secretor status or lactation period) were reported. By groups of donors, the mean total concentration of HMOs in milk (excluding colostrum) was 6,740 mg/L, whereas the mean by publication was 5,341 mg/L. By publication, the mean concentrations of individual HMOs (mg/L, excluding colostrum) were: LNnT 288, LNT 971, 2'‐FL 1,468, 3‐FL 800, DFL 232, 3'‐SL 212, 6'‐SL 365, LNFP I 738, and LNT/LNnT 611. By groups of donors, the mean concentrations (mg/L, excluding colostrum) were: LNnT 382, LNT 1064.1, 2'‐FL 1685, 3‐FL 907, DFL 303, 3'‐SL 225, 6'‐SL 435, LNFP I 773, and LNT/LNnT 882. By publication, the mean concentration (mg/L) of groups of HMOs mean concentrations (excluding colostrum) was: 4,577 for total neutral; 851 for total acidic; 4,635 for total acidic fucosylated; 1,631 for α‐1‐3/4‐fucosylated; 3,304 for α‐1‐2‐fucosylated; 1,601 for non‐fucosylated; 1,505 for total sialyllated; 2,293 for acidic sialyllated. By group of donors, the mean concentration (mg/L) of groups of HMOs mean concentrations (excluding colostrum) was: 3,942 for total neutral; 1,032 for total acidic; 6,477 for total acidic fucosylated; 1,650 for α‐1‐3/4‐fucosylated; 3,748 for α‐1‐2‐fucosylated; 2,026 for non‐fucosylated; 1,957 for total sialyllated; 2,293 for acidic sialyllated. The most frequent combinations of HMOs/HiMOs were LNnT + 2'‐FL (24 products, 32%) and 2'‐FL + 3'‐SL (12 products, 16%). Conclusions: The findings of this review will support EFSA in the safety evaluation of HiMOs as NFs, in accordance with the EC mandate (M‐2023‐00157). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on sulphur-doped titanium dioxide (S-TiO2) nanostructures and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was presented for thiram (THI) determination in milk samples. Firstly, the S-TiO2 nanomaterial with a high product yield was prepared by using a facile sol-gel hydrolysis technique with a high product yield. After that, UV polymerization was carried out for the preparation of the THI-imprinted SPR chip based on S-TiO2 using a mixture including ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, N,N′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, and methacryloylamidoglutamicacid (MAGA) as the monomer. The reliability of the sensor preparation procedure has been successfully proven by characterization studies of the prepared nanomaterials and SPR chip surfaces through spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical methods. As a result, the prepared SPR sensor showed linearity in the range of 1.0 × 10−9–1.0 × 10−7 M with a detection limit (LOD) of 3.3 × 10−10 M in the real samples, and a sensor technique for THI determination with high sensitivity, repeatability, and selectivity can be included in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk and its products are considered healthy due to their content of key nutritional elements. Despite their essential role in the human diet, they may be susceptible to contamination with many chemical pollutants from the surrounding environment, most notably heavy metals such as lead, which is considered toxic to consumers. This study evaluated lead concentrations in milk and dairy product samples collected from various Egyptian environments. The results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in Pb concentrations in the samples collected from different environments in Egypt (industrial, traffic and rural). The average lead content in raw cow's milk, sterilised milk, Domiati cheese, Ras cheese, processed cheese and yoghurt samples from industrial areas were 2.23, 0.33, 3.19, 5.10, 0.11 and 0.09 mg/kg, respectively. In traffic areas, lead concentrations were 1.83, 0.30, 2.72, 4.72, 0.13 and 0.09, and in rural areas, they were 0.61, 0.27, 1.52, 3.13, 0.13 and 0.09. The data showed that Pb levels in dairy product samples collected from industrial areas are very high compared with those collected from traffic areas. By contrast, the lowest Pb concentrations were recorded in samples from rural areas. It is recommended that lead levels in different foods, especially milk and its products, be evaluated at regular intervals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new detection platform based on a hydroxylated covalent organic framework (COF) integrated with liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) was constructed and used for detecting adrenergic receptor agonists (ARAs) residues in milk. The hydroxylated COF was prepared by polymerization of tris(4-aminophenyl)amine and 1,3,5-tris(4-formyl-3-hydroxyphenyl)benzene and applied to solid-phase extraction (SPE) of ARAs. This hydroxylated COF was featured with hierarchical flower-like morphology, easy preparation, and copious active adsorption sites. The adsorption model fittings and molecular simulation were applied to explore the potential adsorption mechanism. This detection platform was suitable for detecting four α2- and five β2-ARAs residues in milk. The linear ranges of the ARAs were from 0.25 to 50 µg·kg−1; the intra-day and the inter-day repeatability were in the range 2.9–7.9% and 2.0–10.1%, respectively. This work demonstrates this hydroxylated COF has great potential as SPE cartridge packing, and provides a new way to determine ARAs residues in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractMagnetic Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with Tween 80 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monooleate) were synthesized and used in solid-phase extraction for arsenic adsorption. The nanoparticles were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDX), x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The arsenic concentration was determined by an ultrasonic nebulizer combined with inductively coupled plasma – optical emission spectrometry (USN-ICP-OES). The optimized conditions in the study were pH 2, 10 mg adsorbent, and 30 min of contact time. The adsorption of As(III) from aqueous solution was investigated. Additionally, adsorption isotherms and kinetics, foreign ions, and analytical value studies were performed under optimized conditions. The enrichment factor, limit of detection, and relative standard deviation were 35, 1.58 µg.L−1, and 0.81% for As(III). The method is compatible with the Langmuir isotherm model. Milk was analyzed for As(III) using magnetic solid phase extraction. The levels of As(III) in milk from Sakarya were below the permissible limits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

17β-Estradiol (E2) is the typical endocrine disruptor of steroidal estrogens and is widely used in animal husbandry and dairy processing. In the environment, even lower concentrations of E2 can cause endocrine dysfunction in organisms. Herein, we have developed a novel molecularly imprinted ratiometric fluorescent sensor based on SiO2-coated CdTe quantum dots (CdTe@SiO2) and 7-hydroxycoumarin with a post-imprint mixing strategy. The sensor selectively detected E2 in aqueous environments due to its two fluorescent signals with a self-correction function. The sensor has been successfully used for spiking a wide range of real water and milk samples. The results showed that the sensor exhibited good linearity over the concentration range 0.011–50 μg/L, obtaining satisfactory recoveries of 92.4–110.6% with precisions (RSD) < 2.5%. Moreover, this sensor obtained an ultra-low detection limit of 3.3 ng/L and a higher imprinting factor of 13.66. By using estriol (E3), as a supporting model, it was confirmed that a simple and economical ratiometric fluorescent construction strategy was provided for other hydrophobic substances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan, an abundant natural polysaccharide, was conjugated with carbon dots (CDs) and self-polymerized with chloramphenicol (CAP) templates to synthesize CD-incorporated and molecularly CAP-imprinted polychitosan (CD-MIC). The CD-MIC was used for fluorescent sensing, dispersive sorption, and dosage release of CAP at different pH levels. The sphere of action mechanism, approved by emission and excitation fluorescence, UV–Vis absorption, and fluorescence lifetime measurements, regulated the fluorescence static quenching. By the Perrin model, the quenching extent was linearly correlated to CAP within 0.17 − 33.2 μM (LOD = 37 nM) at pH 7.0. With an imprinting factor of 3.1, the CD-MIC was more selective for CAP than CD, although it was less sensitive to CAP. The recoveries of 5.0 μM CAP from milk matrix were 95% (RSD = 2.3%) for CD-MIC probes and 62% (RSD = 4.5%) for CD. The Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models preferably described the isothermal and kinetic sorptions of CAP into the imprinted cavities in CD-MICs, respectively. The Weber − Morris kinetic model showed three stages involved in intraparticle diffusion, which was pH-dependent and gradually arduous at the later stage, and showed external diffusion partly engaged in the diffusion mechanism. The 20 − 70% of CAP formulated in CAP-embedded CD-MICs were released in 8 − 48 h. The release percentage was lower at pH 7.0 than at pH 5.0 and 9.0, but the equilibrium time was shorter. At pH 7.0, the release percentage reached 45% at 10 min and slowly increased to 51% at 24 h. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in the Department of Animal Production/College of Agriculture and Forestry/University of Mosul from 3/4/2022 to 3/2/2023, by using forty Awassi ewes aged between 3-5 years and with an average weight of (42 kg). The ewes were distributed into two groups depending on the structure of growth hormone genes (AA,AG) to study the effect of genetic structure on milk yield and composition by using PCR-RFLP technique. The growth hormone gene was detected by amplifying the gene based on the genome primer. The number of ewes that are born and have AA genotype were 17ewes, while those have AG gene and were 7 ewes only. Results revealed that ewes that have AA structure of growth hormone gene produced more milk significantly (p ≤ 0.01) the total milk yield during 90 days was 25.19 kg as compared with those that had AG structure for growth hormone which was 19.48 kg. This increase in milk production was accompanied with increase in milk fat significantly at the first and third months of lactation period. Otherwise, the other milk components of protein, lactose and solid non-fat were not affected by the difference in growth hormone genotype. We conclude from the results in this study that the genotype of growth hormone has an important role in causing changes in the amount of milk produced and its fat content in the local Awassi ewes, and this has an additional effect on the growth of lambs and its ability to survive to the weaning.

Consumers may be exposed to mineral oil hydrocarbon (MOH) contamination via packaged foods, but data on the occurrence of MOH are currently available only for a limited number of foods. In this work, we have carried out an indicative research proposal on the contamination with MOH migrated into milk via food contact material (FCM). Mineral oil saturated hydrocarbons (MOSH) and mineral oil aromatic hydrocarbons (MOAH) were extracted by LC-GC-FID from three sample categories: food contact material (4 samples), milk in directly contact with FCM (4 samples) and milk with no contact with FCM (4 samples). Our results revealed an important contamination given by the contact materials, especially for the MOSH fraction, supported by a common contamination profile, confirmed in the analyzed milk samples. Quantitatively, the MOH contents were variable, with higher values in milk samples in direct contact with FCM, the increase in MOH concentrations being closely related to the important contamination values of FCM (105.4-116.6 mg/g MOSH; 4.3-4.9 mg/kg MOAH). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Cientifica de la Facultade de Veterinaria is the property of Universidad del Zulia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Environmental & Social Management Journal / Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental is the property of Environmental & Social Management Journal and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

A target-induced strand displacement (TISD) electrochemical aptasensor is reported for the sensitive determination of tobramycin (TOB). A novel substrate was synthesized by loading cerium-based metal organic framework (Ce-MOF) that was modified by Pd nanoparticles (PdNPs), onto polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified molybdenum disulfide (MoS2). The substrate (denoted by PEI-MoS2/Ce-MOF@PdNPs) was used to modify the Au electrode (AuE) to expand the electrode surface area for subsequent cDNA loading. Gold-platinum core–shell particles (Au@Pt) loaded with aptamers (Apt) were introduced as signal tags and mimetic peroxidase to hybridize with cDNA and form a double-stranded structure. When the target was present, strand displacement dominated by TISD occurred and the signal tag was released from the electrode surface, turning the signal off. Using the optimal conditions, the linear range of the sensor was from 5 × 10−11 to 1 × 10−6 mol/L and the detection limit was 1.05 × 10−12 mol/L with good stability, reproducibility, and specificity. The aptasensor provided good performance for the determination of tobramycin in milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk and milk products are widely consumed products in Kosovo, especially cow's milk, but new milk production and processing capacities are being built day by day. Along with the increase in the production of fresh cow's milk, the need for research on the quality of fresh milk also increases. This study investigated some physicochemical properties of milk in Kosovo. Milk samples were collected from dairy cows of several breeds such as: Holstein, Simmental and mixed breeds in 20 farms in the region of Peja and Gjakova. Studied parameters were: pH (ISO 26323:2009), density (ISO 15212), acidity (AOAC, 1990, no 947.05), fat (ISO 19662:2018), lactose (operation manual 11.04.19), proteins (AOAC 991.20), solids-not-fat (SNF-ISO 6731 and ISO 1737), water activity (aw-ISO 18787:2017), freezing point (FP-operation manual 11.04.19), conductivity (ISO 15091) total dissolved solids (TDSISO 26323:2009), salt (ISO 11271:2002), oxidation reduction potential (OrP-ISO 11271:2002), and ash (AOAC 942.05). Gained data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and T-test. The results indicated that there was a significant difference (p < 0.01) between milk in the two regions in physicochemical properties. At the Gjakova, the proteins and water activity (aw) were significantly higher compared to milk collected in Peja. Regarding the other parameters, the two regions share the same characteristics. From the experimental results, we come to the conclusion that many factors influence the physicochemical composition of fresh cow's milk, such as: type of food that the animals consume (dry food, food in the form of silage or combined), the breed of dairy cows, the conditions in which the cows stay, the season, etc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a new surface plasmon resonance (SPR) sensor based on sulphur-doped titanium dioxide (S-TiO2) nanostructures and molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was presented for thiram (THI) determination in milk samples. Firstly, the S-TiO2 nanomaterial with a high product yield was prepared by using a facile sol-gel hydrolysis technique with a high product yield. After that, UV polymerization was carried out for the preparation of the THI-imprinted SPR chip based on S-TiO2 using a mixture including ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDMA) as the cross-linker, N,N′-azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) as the initiator, and methacryloylamidoglutamicacid (MAGA) as the monomer. The reliability of the sensor preparation procedure has been successfully proven by characterization studies of the prepared nanomaterials and SPR chip surfaces through spectroscopic, microscopic, and electrochemical methods. As a result, the prepared SPR sensor showed linearity in the range of 1.0 × 10−9–1.0 × 10−7 M with a detection limit (LOD) of 3.3 × 10−10 M in the real samples, and a sensor technique for THI determination with high sensitivity, repeatability, and selectivity can be included in the literature.

This work demonstrates the utility of platinum metal electrode as replacement for conventional Ag/AgCl reference electrode for voltammetric electronic tongue based analysis of edible dairy products. It overcomes the limitations of conventional silver-based reference electrode that presents a potential health hazard when employed for analysis of edible dairy products. Various dairy products like toned milk, Lassi and skimmed milk powder were tested using a cluster of platinum, gold and rhodium working electrodes. Responses of electrode cluster were captured using cyclic voltammetry. Comparative investigations were carried out between responses with platinum reference electrode and Ag/AgCl reference electrode. Repeatability and reproducibility of results have been examined. Our results suggest that platinum metal reference electrode can be reliably used for voltammetric electronic tongue based analysis of dairy products. Further this shall pave way for commercial development of electronic tongue technology in food sector adhering to hygienic and food safety regulations.

Purpose: There has been a persistent claim that dairy products contain calcium-leaching proteins, although the soundness of such a claim has been challenged. A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effects of milk-derived protein supplementation on bone health indices in adults was performed to reconcile the controversy surrounding the potential skeletal safety concerns of proteins of dairy origin. Methods: The PubMed and Web of Science databases were searched for relevant RCTs. A random-effects model was used to generate pooled effect sizes and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Milk-derived protein supplementation did not significantly affect whole-body BMD (n = 7 RCTs) and BMD at the lumbar spine (n = 10), hip (n = 8), femoral neck (n = 9), trochanter (n = 5), intertrochanter (n = 2), and ultradistal radius (n = 2). The concentrations of bone formation markers (bone-specific alkaline phosphatase [n = 11], osteocalcin [n = 6], procollagen type 1 amino-terminal propeptide [n = 5]), bone resorption markers (N-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen [n = 7], C-terminal telopeptide of type 1 collagen [n = 7], deoxypyridinoline [n = 4]), and parathyroid hormone (n = 7) were not significantly affected. However, increased insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations (n = 13) were observed. Reduced IGF-1 concentrations were observed when soy protein was used as a comparator, and increased IGF-1 concentrations were observed when carbohydrate was used. Conclusion: Our findings do not support the claim that proteins of dairy origin are detrimental to bone health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted in the Department of Animal Production/College of Agriculture and Forestry/University of Mosul from 3/4/2022 to 3/2/2023, by using forty Awassi ewes aged between 3-5 years and with an average weight of (42 kg). The ewes were distributed into two groups depending on the structure of growth hormone genes (AA,AG) to study the effect of genetic structure on milk yield and composition by using PCRRFLP technique. The growth hormone gene was detected by amplifying the gene based on the genome primer. The number of ewes that are born and have AA genotype were 17ewes, while those have AG gene and were 7 ewes only. Results revealed that ewes that have AA structure of growth hormone gene produced more milk significantly (p ≤ 0.01) the total milk yield during 90 days was 25.19 kg as compared with those that had AG structure for growth hormone which was 19.48 kg. This increase in milk production was accompanied with increase in milk fat significantly at the first and third months of lactation period. Otherwise, the other milk components of protein, lactose and solid non-fat were not affected by the difference in growth hormone genotype. We conclude from the results in this study that the genotype of growth hormone has an important role in causing changes in the amount of milk produced and its fat content in the local Awassi ewes, and this has an additional effect on the growth of lambs and its ability to survive to the weaning [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Detection of erythromycin (ERY) residues in commercial milk samples is crucial for the safety assessment. Herein, a printed circuit board was patterned as a feasible miniaturized potentiometric sensor for ERY determination in dairy samples. The proposed chip design fits to a 3.5-mm female audio plug to facilitate the potential measurements of working electrode versus reference one in this all-solid-state system. The sensor utilizes molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) for the selective recognition of the studied drug in such challenging matrix. The electrode stability is achieved through the addition of poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) nano-dispersion on its surface. The proposed device detects down to 6.6 × 10−8 M ERY with a slope of 51 mV/decade in the 1 × 10−7–1 × 10−3 M range. The results display high accuracy (99.9% ± 2.6) with satisfactory relative standard deviation for repeatability (1.6%) and reproducibility (5.0%). The effect of common antibiotic classes, namely, amphenicols, beta-lactams, fluoroquinolones, sulfonamides, and tetracyclines, can be neglected as evidenced by their calculated binding capacities towards the proposed MIP. The calculated selectivity coefficients also show a good electrode performance in the presence of naturally present inorganic ions allowing its application to different milk samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: spoiled milk can cause gastrointestinal illnesses. Milk spoilage is often due to the growth of psychrophilic and psychrotolerant bacteria commonly found in farm environments. Methods: bacteria were isolated from bulk tank milk. On nutrient and selective medium (chromocult and blood), serial dilutions of the milk were produced and plated. Cell morphology was used to identify isolates, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry was used to characterize them. Results: utilizing matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, 93.5% of bacteria were identified down to the species level. Six and a half percent, however, were just genus-identified. Conclusion: according to the findings, milk contamination originated from a common source. The results further suggest that additional sources of contamination might include milk tanks. The results demonstrate that the milk tanks' hygiene standards do not meet the criteria of South Africa's Milk and Milk Products Regulations (R1555 of 1997). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Modifying milk flow rate is a common pediatric dysphagia treatment. Though past investigations have demonstrated how this can be achieved using bottle nipples, little is known about the impact of other bottle modifications. The objective of this investigation is to demonstrate how bottle vent, bottle position, and volume of milk alter bottle pressures and milk flow. Method: A Dr. Brown's bottle filled with formula was secured to a retort stand and inverted to allow milk to free flow from a Level 1 nipple. Milk flow rate and bottle pressures were calculated under three conditions: (a) with and without a vent in place; (b) with varying volumes of milk (1-4 oz); and (c) in horizontal, semi-inverted, and completely inverted positions. Differences between flow rates under the conditions were tested using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: Upon inversion, milk dripped from both vented and unvented bottles. Dripping continued throughout the 20-min testing period in the vented bottle; however, as air pressure and hydrostatic pressure declined (p < .01) in the unvented bottle, milk flow slowed and eventually ceased (p < .001). As angle of bottle inversion increased, hydrostatic pressure and milk flow rate had corresponding increases as well (p < .001). Hydrostatic pressure increased an average of 1.4 ± 0.12 mm Hg per additional ounce of formula that was added to the bottle, with corresponding increases in milk flow rate observed (p < .001). Conclusions: Milk flow rate can be altered by feeding conditions outside of bottle nipples alone. Future work examining the clinical significance of these modifications is warranted to determine optimal interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: All Coxiella burnetii isolates carry one of four large, conserved, autonomously replicating plasmids or a plasmid-like chromosomally integrated sequence. Materials and Methods: In this study, from 2020 to 2021, 400 milk samples were collected from domestic ruminants (cows, sheep, goats, and buffaloes) in West Azerbaijan province. DNA extraction (Forgen, Taiwan) was used to take the bacteria genome. Nested-PCR method was used to perform PCR to the amplification of IS1111 genes and plasmids (QPH1, QpRS, QpDV, and QpDG) using specific primers for each gene. Results: In total, out of 400 milk samples collected from cow, buffalo, sheep, and goats based on the IS1111 gene, 62 (15.5%), (95% CI: 12.3%–19.4%) samples were positive for C. burnetii. Out of 62 positive samples, 16 (25.8%), (95% CI: 16.6%–37.9%) samples contained QpH1 plasmid gene and 5 (8%), (95% CI: 3.5%–17.5%) samples contained QpRS plasmid gene. Also, there were 7 (11.3%), (95% CI: 5.6%–21.5%) positive samples for QpDG and 5 (11.3%), (95% CI: 3.5%–17.5%) positive to QpDV gene. The Phylogenetic analysis of plasmid sequences showed that all obtained sequences have 100% similarity. A phylogenetic tree constructed based on neighbor-joining analysis of partial genes revealed that 20 sequenced isolates were closely clustered together showing 99.9% similarity which can be considered identical and also revealed the 100% similarly of these sequences with more sequences in the gene bank from different sources. Conclusion: Our results indicated that nested PCR has high sensitivity in detecting plasmids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In dairy, there is a growing request for laboratory analysis of the main nutrients in milk. High throughput of analysis, low cost, and portability are becoming critical factors to provide the necessary level of control in milk collection, processing, and sale. A portable desktop analyzer, including three light-emitting diodes (LEDs) in the visible light region, has been constructed and tested for the determination of fat content in homogenized and raw cow's milk. The method is based on the concentration dependencies of light scattering by milk fat globules at three different wavelengths. Univariate and multivariate models were built and compared. The red channel has shown the best performance in prediction. However, the joint use of all three LED signals led to an improvement in the calibration model. The obtained preliminary results have shown that the developed LED-based technique can be sufficiently accurate for the analysis of milk fat content. The ways of its further development and improvement have been discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk proteins occupy a prominent place in the nutrition of adults and children. Generally, some commercial dairy contains proteins, lactose, other sugar derivatives, and additives. The proportions of the components that make up the milk are different in commercial milk. For this reason, analyzing milk correctly is essential for determining these contents. In this research, analyses of the milk were made by taking differential scanning calorimetry measurements (DSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometer (FTIR) measurements. Specific heat values and specific values of temperature peaks were examined for ten kinds of milk. DSC curves revealed triacylglycerol dissolution, lactose crystallization, and protein denaturation peaks. Wide variations were observed with the same fat content from 10 milk powders. Most characteristic peaks were not observed when the samples were re-measured after a year at -20°C. The powder samples were compared in terms of protein, fat, lactose content, whey protein casein, and caseinate contents according to differences in FTIR spectra. The FTIR results confirm the DSC curves for most of the analyzed milk types. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Extrauterine growth retardation (EUGR) is one of the major problems faced in most preterm neonates. The only way to prevent EUGR is by providing adequate amount of calories through fortification of human breast milk. Human milk fortification (HMF) is now considered a standard practice to prevent EUGR in most of the neonatal units. We compared targeted individualized fortification (TIF) versus standardized fortification (SF) of breast milk with HMF to assess catch‑up growth in preterm neonates. Materials and Methods: We conducted a prospective randomized control study at a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit in urban India for 1 year. Appropriate for gestational age neonates ≤32 weeks of gestation or with birth weight ≤1800 g were enrolled and followed up for 50 corrected weeks for the assessment of catch‑up growth. Results: A total of 32 infants were enrolled; 25 neonates completed the study (TIF: n = 13; SF: n = 12). The mean birth weight and head circumference were 1268.76 g and 27.23 cm in the TIF group and 1172.83 g and 26.58 cm in the SF group, respectively (both P > 0.05). At the end of the study, catch‑up growth for weight was achieved by 10 (77%) neonates in the TIF group and 2 (17%) neonates in the SF groups. Similarly, catch‑up growth for head circumference was achieved by 7 (54%) and 1 (8%) neonates in the TIF and SF groups, respectively. However, there was a significant difference in weight (P = 0.00071) and head circumference (P = 0.001752) in the TIF group at the end of the study. Conclusion: TIF is feasible in clinical practice. In preterm neonates, it helps in achieving catch‑up growth faster and may decrease the rates of EUGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Applied Veterinary Science & Technology is the property of Universitas Airlangga and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The hitherto implemented Listeria monocytogenes detection techniques are cumbersome or require expensive non-portable instrumentation, hindering their transposition into on-time surveillance systems. The current work proposes a novel integrated system resorting to loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), assisted by a bacteriophage P100–magnetic platform, coupled to an endpoint electrochemical technique, towards L. monocytogenes expeditious detection. Molybdophosphate-based optimization of the bacterial phagomagnetic separation protocol allowed the determination of the optimal parameters for its execution (pH 7, 25 °C, 32 µg of magnetic particles; 60.6% of specific capture efficiency). The novel LAMP method targeting prfA was highly specific, accomplishing 100% inclusivity (for 61 L. monocytogenes strains) and 100% exclusivity (towards 42 non-target Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria). As a proof-of-concept, the developed scheme was successfully validated in pasteurized milk spiked with L. monocytogenes. The phagomagnetic-based approach succeeded in the selective bacterial capture and ensuing lysis, triggering Listeria DNA leakage, which was efficiently LAMP amplified. Methylene blue-based electrochemical detection of LAMP amplicons was accomplished in 20 min with remarkable analytical sensitivity (1 CFU mL−1). Hence, the combined system presented an outstanding performance and robustness, providing a 2.5 h-swift, portable, cost-efficient detection scheme for decentralized on-field application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Milk, dairy products, and fish are the main sources of iodine in the UK. Plant-based products are increasingly popular, especially with young women, which may affect iodine intake as they are naturally low in iodine; this is concerning as iodine is required for fetal brain development. We, aimed to (i) assess the iodine fortification of products sold as alternatives to milk, yoghurt, cheese and fish through a cross-sectional survey of UK retail outlets in 2020, and (ii) model the impact of substitution with such products on iodine intake, using portion-based scenarios. We identified 300 products, including plant-based alternatives to: (i) milk (n 146); (ii) yoghurt (n 76); (iii) cheese (n 67) and (iv) fish (n 11). After excluding organic products (n 48), which cannot be fortified, only 28 % (n 29) of milk alternatives and 6 % (n 4) of yoghurt alternatives were fortified with iodine, compared with 88 % (n 92) and 73 % (n 51), respectively, with Ca. No cheese alternative was fortified with iodine, but 55 % were fortified with Ca. None of the fish alternatives were iodine fortified. Substitution of three portions of dairy product (milk/yoghurt/cheese) per day with unfortified alternatives would reduce the iodine provided by 97·9 % (124 v. 2·6 µg) and substantially reduce the contribution to the adult intake recommendation (150 µg/d; 83 v. 1·8 %). Our study highlights that the majority of plant-based alternatives are not iodine fortified and that the use of unfortified alternatives put consumers at risk of iodine deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blood oxygen is an essential component for numerous biological processes of mammalian animals. Milk production of ruminants largely relies on the supply of nutrients, such as glucose, amino acids and fatty acids. To define the regulatory role of blood oxygen availability in regard to milk production, seventy-five healthy Guanzhong dairy goats with similar body weight, days in milk and parities were selected. For each animal, milk yield was recorded and milk sample was collected to determine compositions. Milk vein blood was collected to determine parameters including blood gas, physio-biochemistry and haematology. Another blood sample was prepared for transcriptome and RT-qPCR. Results showed that both pressure of oxygen (pO2) in the milk vein (positively) and numbers of neutrophils in mammary vein (negatively) were associated with milk yield of the animals. To learn the role of pO2 in blood cell functionality, twelve animals (six with higher yield (H-group) and six with lower yield (L-group)) from seventy-five goats were selected. Compared with animals in L-group, goats in H-group were higher in pO2 but lower in pCO2, lactate, lactate dehydrogenase activity and neutrophil abundance in milk vein, compared with L-group. The blood transcriptome analysis suggested that compared with L-group, animals in H-group were depressed in functionality including neutrophil activation and metabolic pathways including glycolysis, NF-κB and HIF-1. Our result revealed that lower milk production could be associated with neutrophil activation responding to low pO2 in the mammary vein. In the meantime, we highlighted the potential importance of blood oxygen as a milk yield regulator. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study developed a dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction technique followed by spectrophotometric analysis for preconcentrating/determining penicillin G benzathine and penicillin G potassium. Methods: The procedure was based on forming a color complex of penicillin G with bromothymol blue and its extraction by DLLME. The univariate method was employed for optimizing the parameters. Results: Optimized conditions for extracting benzathine and potassium penicillin G were 1.5 mL methanol and acetone as dispersive solvents; 300 µL CHCI3 and 250 µL CCI4 as extracting solvents; pH 4 and 3; 0.8 mL and 0.9 mL bromothymol blue (10-3 M), and NaCl 0.8 M for both analytes. The calibration curves were linear over the ranges 50-750 and 800-950 IU mL-1 for analyzing benzathine, and 800-1600 and 1750-6500 IU mL-1 for potassium penicillin G. The relative standard deviations and detection limits were obtained to be 6.53% and 0.101 IU mL-1 and 4.65% and 0.149 IU mL-1 for determining benzathine and potassium penicillin G, respectively. Conclusion: The proposed method was employed for extracting and determining penicillin in human plasma, urine, orange juice, and milk, with acceptable recovery values of 94.3-102%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfonic acid-functionalized covalent organic frameworks (COF-SO3) as a coating of stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE) for capturing three fluoroquinolones from milk have been developed. The COF-SO3 material was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. Milk without any typical treatments like protein precipitation and defatting was only diluted five times with water for test. Combined with high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), a SBSE-HPLC method was established for detecting fluoroquinolones in milk samples. The corresponding wide linear ranges (4.00–500.0 µg L−1), low detection limits (1.20–2.62 µg L−1), good test repeatability (RSD < 5.2%), and acceptable enrichment factors (56.2–61.5) were implemented for three fluoroquinolones. The analytical method was applied to determine trace targets and provided satisfactory results. Furthermore, the research displayed satisfied reproducibility for bar-to-bar (RSD < 6.5%) and batch-to-batch (RSD < 8.6%) tests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Camels play an important role in social life and the economy. So, the current study was planned to detect the blood constituents and milk components of Maghrebi She-Camel in different parties. Thirty pregnant she-camels were inseminated and became pregnant in this study during the first quarter of 2019; thirteen pregnant she-camel managed to give calving successfully during March 2020. According to multiple parities, they were classified into three groups; (1-2 parities), (3-4 parities) and (5-6 parities). Blood measurements included hematology, substances, ions and milk measurements included yield and components. No significant differences between all groups for all hematological measurements. The overall mean of daily milk production was significantly higher after eight weeks of lactation than at the beginning of lactation. No significant results were shown in milk fat, lactose and protein neither parties nor lactation period. Milk total solid significantly was in its lowest values eight days of parturition for the first and second parties and was at its highest values for the third and fourth parties. A significant difference in ash% was found between experimental parties for the first eight days of lactation and after eight weeks. In general, those insignificant differences in blood parameters, milk productivity and composition might indicate animal health and stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dromedary camel is mainly found in the tropics of Africa, the Middle East, and the Indian sub-content, where it is of great importance to nomadic and rural communities to provide high-quality animal protein in the form of milk and meat and as a means of transportation. In the Arabian Gulf region, the camel gained popularity and importance recently as a racing animal. The camel is well adapted to harsh environments characterized by inadequate water and vegetation, high ambient temperature, and rough terrain. Camels are working animals suited to their desert habitat and are a vital means of transport for humans and cargo, especially for rural farmers. There are three surviving species of camel. Camels originated in North America and eventually spread across Beringia to Asia. They survived in the Old World, and eventually, humans domesticated them and spread them globally. However, the literature on the physiological parameters of the camel is scanty. This review aims to provide a general overview of the physiological features of the camel and an update on the available studies of physiological and behavioural features of the camel and the effects of thermal environmental conditions on some physiological responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a commensal bacterium associated with serious infections in men and animals. Recently, multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains of S. aureus especially the so-called methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), represent a serious challenge that hinders the control of infections in man and animals. This study aimed to monitor milk samples from mastitic cows and vaginal and nasal swabs from dogs for the incidence of S. aureus. In addition, the isolates' antibiogram profiles were assessed to determine the extent of MDR and MRSA existence among the recovered isolates. Out of 260 samples, 29 (11%) S. aureus isolates were recovered with the highest incidence in milk samples (15/90, 17%), followed by vaginal swabs (8/90, 9%) and nasal swabs (6/80, 7%). Identification of the isolates was confirmed by PCR amplification of 16S rRNA gene sequence. Twenty S. aureus isolates were tested against seven antibacterial agents. Surprisingly, all the twenty isolates were MRSA and three bitch vaginal isolates were MDR. The findings of this study call for more research and cooperation between authors interested in assessing the MRSA and MRD bacterial incidence in both medical and veterinary fields. The cooperation will augment the challenge of disseminating MRSA and MDR staphylococci from animals to humans and vice versa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial drugs are used as chemotherapeutic agents for treatment, prophylactic medication, growth promoters, and the improvement of feed efficiency. Indiscriminate use of these drugs may leave residues in milk, which could pose a potential threat to human health and have undesirable effects on consumers, including allergic or toxic reactions, carcinogenic effects, bacterial resistance, and imbalance of the gut microfloraTo guarantee the safety of food products as well as public health, monitoring the levels of antimicrobial residues is necessary. The sample preparation, extraction of different physicochemical residues of milk, preconcentration of the extract, and elimination of any matrix interferences that may affect the overall performance of the analytical methods. SPE extraction with an Oasis HLB column is one of the most commonly used techniques for sample preparation and provides an effective and repeatable method for the selective concentration of target analytes in complex matrices. Different variations of this method, including acetonitrile, methanol, and acetonitrile: methanol (50:50), 20% trichloroacetic acid, and McIlvaine buffer, were optimized. According to the obtained results, the prescribed criteria for the analytical yield are met only by the extraction method using 20% trichloroacetic acid and Na2EDTA-Mcllvaine buffer. Chromatographic separation of analytes was achieved on a Kinetex®C18 column and provided satisfactory resolution within the shortest run time. The ESI positive ionization was promoted, and the detection of the compounds was improved with the acidic mobile phase. After optimization of chromatographic conditions, MS/MS conditions, and extraction procedures, the LCMS/MS method was validated according to the criteria of Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A highly fluorinated porphyrin-based covalent organic frameworks magnetic adsorbent (FPy-COF@PDA@Fe3O4) was fabricated by using polydopamine (PDA) grafting Fe3O4 nanospheres as magnetic core and FPy-COF as shell for magnetic solid phase extraction (MSPE) of fluoroquinolones (FQs). FPy-COF was constructed by using 5,15-bis(4-aminophenyl)-10,20-bis(perfluorophenyl)porphyrin and 4,4′-biphenyldicarboxaldehyde as two building blocks. PDA as a bridge grafting on the surface of Fe3O4 nanospheres facilitated the growth of FPy-COF. The morphology and structure of FPy-COF@PDA@Fe3O4 adsorbent were characterized in detail. The prepared magnetic adsorbent exhibited good extraction capability to amphiphilic FQs due to their superior chemical affinities such as fluorophilic interaction and hydrogen-bond interaction from nitrogen-rich skeleton. Under the optimized conditions, the MSPE method combined with high performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC–UV) was developed to sensitively quantify trace level of six FQs in milk samples. The developed MSPE-HPLC method showed good linearity with wide concentration range, precision, and low limits of detection (S/N = 3) for six FQs as low as 2.3 ngꞏmL−1 in milk. The extraction recoveries of different spiked concentrations were in the range 77.8–110.4% for milk samples with RSD less than 9.7%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal / Balıkesir Sağlık Bilimleri Dergisi is the property of Balikesir Health Sciences Journal (BAUN Health Sci J) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, a portable desktop analyzer for the determination of fat content in milk is introduced. The prototype of the sensor consists of three light-emitting diodes (red, green, and blue) as a light source. The transmitted light is detected by a photoresistor and continuous voltage measurements provided by the microcontroller, and is recorded by a computer. The resulting univariate and multivariate models show that the developed analytical device is capable of determining fat content in raw and homogenized milk with sufficient accuracy.

This study discusses the design, development, and construction of a low-cost optical multisensor system. The light sources in the proposed system are lanthanide(III) complexes emitting light in the near-infrared spectral region. Through the ability to adjust the source wavelength, this measuring platform can be used for a variety of practical tasks. The feasibility of the developed devices is demonstrated for the analysis of milk samples.

The possibility of using mid-infrared (IR) spectroscopy in combination with the method of attenuated total reflection (ATR) to analyze the quality of dairy products is shown. The application of chemometrics, in particular the multivariate curve resolution (MCR) algorithm, to the spectral data of the milk drop-drying process allows us to obtain spectra of its individual components, which is potentially useful to make quantitative estimates of the sample composition.

A novel aptamer-AuNP-conjugated carboxymethyl chitosan–functionalized graphene oxide (CMC/GO@Apt-Au NP) probe was for the first time developed for the determination of Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium). Owing to the conformational change of the aptamers in the presence of S. typhimurium, the Au NPs, which were pre-adsorbed on the aptamers through van der Waals forces, were released into the solution phase and induced the color change of the solution. As a result, S. typhimurium ranging from 102 to 107 CFU/mL was successfully identified using the designed assay with a limit of detection (LOD) of 10 CFU/mL. This low detection level allowed the sensitive recognition of S. typhimurium in milk samples within 40 min without sample pretreatment, a conclusion that agreed well with the traditional plate counting method. The developed method not only provides a rapid way for the determination of S. typhimurium with simplicity and sensitivity but also shows potential universality in the quantification of other pathogenic microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was designed to identify Enterococcus faecalis from clinical mastitis of cattle and determine their antimicrobial resistance and virulence determinants to evaluate their potential public health significance. A total of 105 composite milk samples (80 from cattle with clinical mastitis and 25 from apparently healthy cattle) were analyzed. E. faecalis were isolated by culturing on enterococcal selective media and identified by PCR and sequencing. Antimicrobial resistance phenotype was elucidated by the disc diffusion method, and MIC was determined by broth microdilution method according to CLSI guidelines. Detection of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes was done by PCR. E. faecalis were isolated from 11.25% (9/80) of the clinical mastitis and 4% (1/25) of the apparently healthy cattle milk samples. The disc diffusion test revealed 40% isolates as resistant to tetracycline and azithromycin, respectively. Among them, 20% (2/10) of isolates showed resistance to both tetracycline and azithromycin. Tetracycline-resistant isolates showed MIC ranging from ≥64 to >128 μg/ml and carried tetracycline-resistant genes tetK, tetL, and tetM in 25%, 25%, and 50% of the resistant isolates, respectively. On the other hand, all the isolates were sensitive to amoxicillin, ampicillin, bacitracin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, penicillin, and vancomycin. In addition, the isolates carried at least one of the nine virulence genes screened with pil having the highest frequency, followed by fsrB, fsrC, ace, sprE, gelE, and agg genes. Positive correlations were evident between ace, fsrC, gelE, and sprE genes that are associated with the attachment and biofilm formation in E. faecalis. E. faecalis isolated in this study carried antibiotic resistance and virulence determinants which explain their competence to be potential human pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease which has become endemic in Iran. Contaminated milk with Brucella bacteria is the main way of transmission of this disease in humans. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Brucella spp. and B. abortus in raw milk samples collected from farms belongs to six geographical areas of Lorestan province. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 100 raw milk samples of cows which were less than 4 years, 4 to 6 years and over 6 years old were randomly collected. The isolates were identified by PCR method using specific bcsp31 and IS711 primers for Brucella spp. and B. abortus, respectively. Results & Conclusion: The results showed that 26 of the samples were infected with Brucella bacteria, of which 19 samples (73%) were B. abortus. Most of the brucellosis infection in cows belonged to cows less than 4 years (31.4%) and 4 to 6 years (31.4%) categories, 11 samples in both groups, so that in cows older than 6 years this rate was 13% (4 samples). The east of the province with 12 samples and the northwest of the province with one sample showed the highest and lowest levels of Brucella infection, respectively. The findings demonstrated that there is a significant difference between the frequency of Brucella contamination in milk in the eastern regions of Lorestan province with other regions (p<0.05). It should be noted that the possibility of transmitting brucellosis to humans through consumption of contaminated raw milk and dairy products in Lorestan province is high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]