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Listeria monocytogenes is a bacterial pathogen that can cause life-threatening central nervous system (CNS) infections. While mechanisms by which L. monocytogenes and other pathogens traffic to the brain have been studied, a quantitative understanding of the underlying dynamics of colonization and replication within the brain is still lacking. In this study, we used barcoded L. monocytogenes to quantify the bottlenecks and dissemination patterns that lead to cerebral infection. Following intravenous (IV) inoculation, multiple independent invasion events seeded all parts of the CNS from the blood, however, only one clone usually became dominant in the brain. Sequential IV inoculations and intracranial inoculations suggested that clones that had a temporal advantage (i.e., seeded the CNS first), rather than a spatial advantage (i.e., invaded a particular brain region), were the main drivers of clonal dominance. In a foodborne model of cerebral infection with immunocompromised mice, rare invasion events instead led to a highly infected yet monoclonal CNS. This restrictive bottleneck likely arose from pathogen transit into the blood, rather than directly from the blood to the brain. Collectively, our findings provide a detailed quantitative understanding of the L. monocytogenes population dynamics that lead to CNS infection and a framework for studying the dynamics of other cerebral infections.

The present study highlights the ongoing threat of foodborne illnesses to public health, primarily caused by bacterial pathogens. Despite advancements in conventional microbiological testing techniques, which are sensitive but time-consuming, challenges remain in ensuring timely detection of contaminants throughout the food supply chain. The Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system is recognized as a more effective approach to ensuring food safety, emphasizing proactive identification and control of hazards at critical points in production. Emerging technologies like quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and biosensors offer faster and more accurate detection methods, although with certain limitations. Biosensors such as ELISA, SPR, and electrochemical immunosensors, in particular, show promise due to their high sensitivity and specificity, enabling rapid detection of a wide range of contaminants. This paper underscores the importance of integrating advanced technologies with established food safety protocols to enhance the safety and quality of food products, benefiting consumers, producers, and regulatory agencies alike.

We describe group B Streptococcus linked to disease in farmed pigs and wild porcupines in Italy. Occurrence in pigs was attributed to transmission from nonpasteurized bovine milk whey. Antimicrobial-resistance profiles in isolates from porcupines suggest no common source of infection. Our findings expand the known host range for group B Streptococcus disease.

Staphylococcus aureus causes foodborne disease in eggs. It is characteristic of pathogenicity and harmful to human health if contaminated eggs and products are contaminated from pre-production at the manufacturer until post-production. S. aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium normally present in the skin and mucosa of humans and other animals. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a strain of S. aureus that is resistant to several types of antibiotics, including tetracycline, amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, beta-lactam, and azithromycin. Impure S. aureus infections in eggs and processed egg products have been reported in Indonesia for for 5 years. However, only a limited number of cases have been reported. Based on the Indonesian National Standard, S. aureus contamination in fresh poultry eggs is limited to

Background and Aim: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of clinical and asymptomatic mastitis in dairy cattle, as well as in milk and dairy products that affect milk quality. Mastitis caused by K. pneumoniae is even more serious due to its poor response to antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to detect and identify the presence of K. pneumoniae in milk and dairy products produced in Libya. Materials and Methods: A total of 234 samples were randomly collected from various locations in Libya. Samples were examined for the presence of K. pneumoniae using conventional cultural techniques, including cultivation in violet red bile agar plus 4-methylumbelliferyl-ß-D-glucuronide broth and CHROM agar, followed by polymerase chain reaction identification and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA. Results: Of the 234 samples of milk and dairy products collected, 16 (6.8%) isolates revealed mucoid colonies on agar media that were phenotypically suggested to be K. pneumoniae. Identification of isolates was confirmed using molecular techniques (16S rRNA). Among the examined samples, K. pneumoniae was recovered from camel’s milk, raw cow’s milk, raw fermented milk, Maasora cheese, Ricotta cheese, soft cheese, full cream milk powder, milk powder infant formula, cereal baby food, and growing-up formula. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on 12 of the 16 K. pneumoniae isolates, and the results showed that K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to more than eight antibiotics; interestingly, two isolates showed metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production. Conclusion: K. pneumoniae is considered a risk to human health because many of these products do not comply with the microbiological criteria of international and/or Libyan standards. This study emphasized the relationship between K. pneumoniae and raw milk, cheese, milk powder, and infant milk retailed in Libya. There is a need to take the necessary measures to ensure effective hygiene practices during production in dairy factories, handling, and distribution on the market, in particular at a small local production scale.

Eyob Hirpa Tola Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Agriculture, Addis Ababa University, Bishoftu, Oromia, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Eyob Hirpa Tola, Email eyobhirpatola@gmail.com; eyob.hirpa@aau.edu.etAbstract: Listeriosis is an important foodborne zoonotic disease affecting humans and animals in Ethiopia. This review aims to synthesize the epidemiology, prevalence, distribution, and antimicrobial resistance of Listeria species in the country. The literature reveals a widespread occurrence of Listeria infection in humans, animals, and food products, with an average prevalence of 21.6% for Listeria species and 6.9% for L. monocytogenes. Three sequence types (STs) of L. monocytogenes (2, 145, and 18) and twelve STs of L. innocua (1489, 1619, 603, 537, 1010, 3186, 492, 3007, 1087, 474, 1008, and 637) were reported from milk and dairy products. Contamination rates ranged from 4.1% to 42.9% across livestock, dairy, slaughterhouses, and processing facilities, indicating faults in production practices. Sporadic human listeriosis outbreaks have occurred since 1967, causing meningitis, perinatal infections, and deaths, with recent studies showing L. monocytogenes isolation in up to 10.4% of febrile patients, confirming foodborne transmission. Non-pathogenic Listeria species were also common on farms and in facilities. Ovine listeriosis poses a threat to Ethiopia’s sheep and goat industries, with over 40% seroprevalence in some herds. Comprehensive control measures across the food chain are needed to curb contamination and protect public health. Isolates from various foods show antibiotic resistance to first-line agents but susceptibility to others like gentamicin and cephalosporins. In conclusion, this review synthesizes evidence on Listeria distribution in Ethiopia’s food system and disease burden, highlighting the need for improved food safety policies and awareness.Keywords: animals, listeriosis, foodborne, pregnancy, zoonotic

Background and Aim: Klebsiella pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of clinical and asymptomatic mastitis in dairy cattle, as well as in milk and dairy products that affect milk quality. Mastitis caused by K. pneumoniae is even more serious due to its poor response to antibiotic therapy. The aim of this study was to detect and identify the presence of K. pneumoniae in milk and dairy products produced in Libya. Materials and Methods: A total of 234 samples were randomly collected from various locations in Libya. Samples were examined for the presence of K. pneumoniae using conventional cultural techniques, including cultivation in violet red bile agar plus 4-methylumbelliferyl-β-D-glucuronide broth and CHROM agar, followed by polymerase chain reaction identification and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA. Results: Of the 234 samples of milk and dairy products collected, 16 (6.8%) isolates revealed mucoid colonies on agar media that were phenotypically suggested to be K. pneumoniae. Identification of isolates was confirmed using molecular techniques (16S rRNA). Among the examined samples, K. pneumoniae was recovered from camel's milk, raw cow's milk, raw fermented milk, Maasora cheese, Ricotta cheese, soft cheese, full cream milk powder, milk powder infant formula, cereal baby food, and growing-up formula. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed on 12 of the 16 K. pneumoniae isolates, and the results showed that K. pneumoniae isolates were resistant to more than eight antibiotics; interestingly, two isolates showed metallo-beta-lactamase (MBL) production. Conclusion: K. pneumoniae is considered a risk to human health because many of these products do not comply with the microbiological criteria of international and/or Libyan standards. This study emphasized the relationship between K. pneumoniae and raw milk, cheese, milk powder, and infant milk retailed in Libya. There is a need to take the necessary measures to ensure effective hygiene practices during production in dairy factories, handling, and distribution on the market, in particular at a small local production scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: An outbreak of Salmonella Infantis was associated with the consumption of shredded pork products at multiple restaurants in Ontario between July 2021 and October 2021. The outbreak involved 36 case-patients from six public health units. The implicated shredded pork products were obtained from an unlicensed source. This is the largest reported outbreak of Salmonella Infantis linked to restaurant food exposures in Ontario, with complexities related to the investigation of unlicensed foods. This article aims to describe the epidemiological, food safety and laboratory investigations that led to the identification and removal of the source of the outbreak from implicated restaurants, including the challenges encountered while investigating an outbreak related to an unlicensed source of food. Methods: Epidemiological and laboratory analyses were conducted to identify the source of the outbreak. Food safety investigations were conducted to ascertain the origin and distribution of the implicated food. Results: Whole-genome sequencing identified the outbreak strain from the isolates of 36 casepatients across six public health units in Ontario. Seven case-patients (19%) were hospitalized. No deaths were reported. The outbreak was linked to shredded pork products (i.e., rinds or skins) that were distributed by an unlicensed meat processor and consumed at various restaurants that served Southeast Asian fusion cuisine concentrated in the Greater Toronto Area. The product was removed from implicated restaurants. Conclusion: Historically, foods from unlicensed sources have been implicated in multiple large outbreaks and continue to be of significant public health risk. The outbreak investigation emphasized the threat of food from unlicensed sources to the public’s health and the importance of additional public health interventions to prevent outbreaks linked to unlicensed sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Food Safety & Quality is the property of Journal of Food Safety & Quality Editorial Department 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.)

Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium are the most common serovars observed in human salmonellosis while contaminated poultry products are the major source of Salmonella transmission to humans. Therefore, high pathogenicity of poultry originated S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium strains poses a serious risk to human health. In this study, we investigated the virulence genes of S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium strains isolated from litter and environmental samples of broiler chicken flocks. SipA, sipD, sopB, sopD, sopE, sopE2, sitC, sifA, ssaR, spvC, and pefA genes were investigated in a total of 137 strains consisting of 105 S. Enteritidis and 32 S. Typhimurium. Nine strains (6.6%) had all genes. No negative strain was detected for all genes. SopE was found in all strains (100.0%). SitC (89.1%), ssaR (83.9%), sipA (70.1%), sipD (73.0%), sopE2 (68.6%), spvC (68.6%), and pefA (73.0%) were also highly prevalent. Noticeable differences were observed between serovars in terms of sopE2, spvC and pefA prevalence: 77.1%, 80% and 82.9%, respectively, of S. Enteritidis strains were sopE2, spvC and pefA positive while 40.6%, 31.3% and 40.6% of S. Typhimurium strains were positive. This finding indicates that S. Enteritidis is more frequent than S. Typhimurium in poultry populations due to its higher virulence. Based on virulence gene distribution, the strains were divided into 44 different virulence genotypes, with the major genotype 4 (15.3%) carrying 8 of the 11 genes. The majority of strains (75.9%) were positive for at least 6 genes. S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium strains were highly virulent and pose a threat as zoonotic infection agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of antibiotic resistance and related genes of foodborne Acinetobacter spp. and the analysis of whether they are genetically related to clinical infection-agent strains are crucial in terms of sustainability of food safety. The study at hand investigated antibiotic resistance, aminoglycosidemodifying enzyme (AME), and colistin resistance (PmrA) genes, clonal relationships while evaluating a possible correlation between antibiotic resistance and related genes between 27 foodborne and 50 clinical Acinetobacter spp. in Turkey. Antimicrobial susceptibilities, AME, PmrA genes, and clonal relatedness of the strains were performed by disc diffusion, PCR, and Pulsed Field gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) methods, respectively. The aph-AI, aph-6, anth(3")-I, aadA1, aadB, and PmrA genes were found as 48%(n=24), 22%(n=11), 14%(n=7), 2%(n=1), 4%(n=2), and 92%(n=46) respectively, in clinical strains. This rate was found as 51.9%(n=14),59.3%(n=16), 70.4%(n=19), 7.4%(n=2), 0%(n=0), and 100%(n=27), respectively in foodborne isolates. A positive correlation existed between the number of aph-AI gene positivity and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and gentamycin resistance; anth (3")-I gene positivity, and colistin resistance; PmrA gene positivity and piperacillintazobactam, ceftazidime, meropenem, amikacin, and imipenem resistance in clinical strains (P<0.05). A positive correlation between trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole resistance and aadAI gene positivity was found in foodborne strains (P<0.05). Clonal relations were absent between foodborne and clinical A. baumanni species. Finally, AME genes rise parallel to multidrug-resistance in the clinical isolates, and foods may be potential reservoirs for disseminating multi-AME and PmrA genes while being susceptible to several antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staka is a traditional Greek sour cream made mostly from spontaneously fermented sheep milk or a mixture of sheep and goat milk. At the industrial scale, cream separators and starter cultures may also be used. Staka is sometimes cooked with flour to absorb most of the fat. In this study, we employed culture-based techniques, amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics to analyze the Staka microbiome for the first time. The samples were dominated by Lactococcus or Leuconostoc spp. Most other bacteria were lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the Streptococcus and Enterococcus genera or Gram-negative bacteria from the Buttiauxella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Hafnia genera. Debaryomyces, Kluyveromyces, or Alternaria were the most prevalent genera in the samples, followed by other yeasts and molds like Saccharomyces, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Stemphylium, Coniospotium, or Cladosporium spp. Shotgun metagenomics allowed the species-level identification of Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus raffinolactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Escherichia coli, Hafnia alvei, Streptococcus parauberis, and Enterococcus durans. Binning of assembled shotgun reads followed by recruitment plot analysis of single reads could determine near-complete metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Culture-dependent and culture-independent analyses were in overall agreement with some distinct differences. For example, lactococci could not be isolated, presumably because they had entered a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state or because they were dead. Finally, several LAB, Hafnia paralvei, and Pseudomonas spp. isolates exhibited antimicrobial activities against oral or other pathogenic streptococci, and certain spoilage and pathogenic bacteria establishing their potential role in food bio-protection or new biomedical applications. Our study may pave the way for additional studies concerning artisanal sour creams to better understand the factors affecting their production and the quality. [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.)

BackgroundListeria monocytogenes is a Gram-positive bacterium transmitted to humans through contaminated food, water, and animal faeces, posing a public health risk. Listeria monocytogenes is difficult to isolate and is not sensitive to first-line treatment with broad-spectrum cephalosporins for bacterial meningitis. Listeria meningitis is rare but can progress rapidly and may be accompanied by serious complications (hydrocephalus, ventricular inflammation, cerebral palsy, and brain abscess) and a high mortality rate.Case presentationIt is a retrospective analysis of the clinical characteristics and treatment of a rare case of Listeria monocytogenes infection. Using laboratory indicators such as white blood cells (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), and procalcitonin (PCT), three detection methods (cerebrospinal fluid/blood culture), Targeted gene sequencing technology (tNGS), and Metagenomic next-generation sequencing technology (mNGS) combined with clinical manifestations of patients, analyze the use plan and prognosis of antibiotics in patients. The patient in this case initially had neurological symptoms such as fever, headache, unclear consciousness, and vomiting; laboratory indicators include elevated WBC, CRP, and PCT. Listeria monocytogenes was cultured in both the patient’s cerebrospinal fluid and blood samples. After treatment with penicillin and meropenem, the patient recovered and was discharged without any sequelae.ConclusionDue to the rarity of Listeria monocytogenes, there may be deficiencies and difficulties in clinical differential diagnosis, making it difficult to achieve targeted antibiotic treatment. Therefore, accurate identification of Listeria monocytogenes and relevant laboratory inflammation indicator testing, combined with traditional culture methods and NGS testing, through empirical coverage of Listeria monocytogenes, targeted antibiotic treatment ultimately impacts clinical outcomes significantly.

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is the leading cause of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in children and adults. The gastrointestinal tract is the primary reservoir of uropathogenic E. coli, which can be acquired from a variety of environmental exposures, including retail meat. In the current study, we used a novel statistical-genomic approach to estimate the proportion of pediatric UTIs caused by foodborne zoonotic E. coli strains. E. coli urine isolates were collected from DC residents aged 2 months to 17 years from the Children’s National Medical Center Laboratory, 2013–2014. During the same period, E. coli isolates were collected from retail poultry products purchased from 15 sites throughout DC. A total of 52 urine and 56 poultry isolates underwent whole-genome sequencing, core genome phylogenetic analysis, and host-origin prediction by a Bayesian latent class model that incorporated data on the presence of mobile genetic elements (MGEs) among E. coli isolates from multiple vertebrate hosts. A total of 56 multilocus sequence types were identified among the isolates. Five sequence types—ST10, ST38, ST69, ST117, and ST131—were observed among both urine and poultry isolates. Using the Bayesian latent class model, we estimated that 19% (10/52) of the clinical E. coli isolates in our population were foodborne zoonotic strains. These data suggest that a substantial portion of pediatric UTIs in the Washington DC region may be caused by E. coli strains originating in food animals and likely transmitted via contaminated poultry meat.IMPORTANCEEscherichia coli UTIs are a heavy public health burden and can have long-term negative health consequences for pediatric patients. E. coli has an extremely broad host range, including humans, chickens, turkeys, pigs, and cattle. E. coli derived from food animals is a frequent contaminant of retail meat products, but little is known about the risk these strains pose to pediatric populations. Quantifying the proportion of pediatric UTIs caused by food-animal-derived E. coli, characterizing the highest-risk strains, and identifying their primary reservoir species could inform novel intervention strategies to reduce UTI burden in this vulnerable population. Our results suggest that retail poultry meat may be an important vehicle for pediatric exposure to zoonotic E. coli strains capable of causing UTIs. Vaccinating poultry against the highest-risk strains could potentially reduce poultry colonization, poultry meat contamination, and downstream pediatric infections.

Giardia duodenalis is a globally distributed intestinal parasite that commonly infects both humans and animals. G. duodenalis is a species complex, which includes eight assemblages that vary both in genetic structure and host specificity. The prevalence of mixed-assemblage G. duodenalis cysts on food, an understudied infection route for G. duodenalis, remains unknown. In the present study, a method able to detect G. duodenalis mixed-assemblage infections using next-generation amplicon sequencing (NGS) of the beta-giardin gene was applied in combination with the US-FDA’s BAM Chapter 19b protocol for the detection of G. duodenalis from fresh produce to ascertain the limit of detection of G. duodenalis on leafy greens. Ready-to-eat baby Romaine lettuce was inoculated with 5 (n = 5), 20 (n = 10), 100 (n = 10), 200 (n = 10), or 1,000 (n = 10) G. duodenalis cysts of the assemblage B strain H3. Detection of G. duodenalis was successful in 100% of the samples seeded with 1,000, 200, and 100 cysts, in 50% of the samples seeded with 20 cysts, and in none of the samples seeded with 5 cysts. We thus demonstrate robust detection of G. duodenalis on packaged leafy greens using the BAM Chapter 19B method coupled with assemblage-sensitive NGS. This protocol provides a new diagnostic tool useful for both prevalence studies and outbreak investigations involving fresh produce that may assist in better describing the role of G. duodenalis in foodborne illness and in protecting consumers from contaminated fresh produce.

Aims: A cross‐sectional study was carried out to assess the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Trichinella spp. exposure in wild boar and Iberian domestic pigs from Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Spain. Methods and Results: Serum samples from 1360 wild boar and 439 Iberian domestic pigs were obtained during 2015–2020, from regions where Iberian pigs are raised under extensive conditions, hence sharing habitat with wild boar. Seropositivity was found in 7.4% (100/1360; 95% CI: 6.1–8.9) of the wild boar analysed. In this species, the individual seroprevalence ranged from 3.6% (8/223) (hunting season 2016–2017) to 11.4% (37/326) (2018–2019). A significant higher seropositivity was observed during the hunting season 2018–2019 (p < 0.009: OR = 3.07; 95% CI = 1.32–7.18) and one statistically significant cluster was detected within the studied area, in south central Andalusia [Relative Risk (RR) = 2.9; p = 0.037]. Females showed a significantly higher seroprevalence than males (8.7% vs. 5.8%) (p < 0.001: OR = 1.58; 95% CI = 1.08–2.32). No seropositivity to Trichinella spp. was detected in Iberian domestic pigs (0.0%; 95% CI: 0.0–0.9). Conclusions: Although wild boar play an important role as a reservoir of Trichinella sp. in the Mediterranean ecosystems of southwestern Spain, our results suggest that the wild boar production system does not seem to pose a risk of Trichinella exposure to domestic pigs, despite sharing habitats in these ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumption of raw and mildly processed seafood, in the context of modern Western world eating trends, is recognized as a major driver for human fish-borne infections. However, these zoonoses and their unfamiliar risks remain neglected and underappreciated among European diagnosticians. In contemporary Europe anisakidosis is one of the most important fish-borne zoonoses. It is caused by ingesting the third-stage infective larvae of the nematode parasites that belong to the family Anisakidae. The case described herein, is an intestinal and ectopic form of anisakiosis (Anisakis spp.), causing symptoms of subacute abdomen and masquerading as an intraperitoneal malignancy. It is the first anisakidosis case reported in Greece, affecting a young patient who had been repeatedly exposed to the parasite by consuming homemade raw fish. Right hemicolectomy, omentectomy and excision of a descending colon nodule were uneventfully performed. The pathology report confirmed granulomatous tissue with eosinophilic infiltration and parasites that were morphologically and molecularly identified as Anisakis spp. Although challenging, acquiring an accurate diagnosis of anisakidosis can prevent unnecessary surgery, as the infection typically is self-resolving, and if treatment is deemed necessary, it can be limited to antiparasitic medication. However, in rare cases, extra-gastrointestinal migration of larvae can cause severe damage with practically unknown risks, posing a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. In such a clinical case scenario, surgical exploration can decisively contribute to a definitive diagnosis and early identification of intraabdominal complications necessitating surgical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is one of the leading causes of foodborne infections associated with broilers and laying hens. Portugal has had the lowest notification rates of salmonellosis in recent years, due to the vaccinations of layer and breeder flocks and strict compliance with biosecurity measures. However, data about the genetic diversity of S. Enteritidis in Portugal are scarce. In this study, 102 S. Enteritidis isolates selected from human (n = 63) and non-human sources (n = 39) were characterized by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility, and whole genome sequencing. The S. Enteritidis population was mainly resistant to fluoroquinolones, and a sole isolate showed resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. ST11 was the most frequent sequence type, and three novel STs from human isolates (ST9236, ST4457, and ST9995) were assigned. Several Salmonella pathogenic islands (SPI) and Putative SPI were present in the genomes, namely SPI-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14, C63PI, CS54_island, and 170 virulence genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains from Portugal are genetically heterogeneous regarding sample type, collection date, and genetic content. This study increases the available data, essential to a better characterization of strains in a global context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus causes foodborne disease in eggs. It is characteristic of pathogenicity and harmful to human health if contaminated eggs and products are contaminated from pre-production at the manufacturer until post-production. S. aureus is a Gram-positive bacterium normally present in the skin and mucosa of humans and other animals. Methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) is a strain of S. aureus that is resistant to several types of antibiotics, including tetracycline, amoxicillin, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, beta-lactam, and azithromycin. Impure S. aureus infections in eggs and processed egg products have been reported in Indonesia for for 5 years. However, only a limited number of cases have been reported. Based on the Indonesian National Standard, S. aureus contamination in fresh poultry eggs is limited to <1×102 colony forming unit/g, eggs processed from salty eggs as much as <1 × 101 colonies/g, and food processed from base eggs, e.g., custard a must negative/gram. One Health is an approach to collaborative cross-recognized sector linkages between human health, animal health, and the environment, which should be managed holistically. It is expected that one health approach will be able to prevent and control the risk of S. aureus contamination in eggs and processed egg proucts. This review describes the incidence of S. aureus and MRSA in Indonesia compared with other countries. This review provides information on the One Health approach for preventing and controlling S. aureus contamination of eggs in Indonesia so that it can be adopted elsewhere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver carbene complexes (SCCs), a group of novel silver-based compounds capable of gradually ‎releasing ‎silver ions, have shown significant antimicrobial activity against a wide range of ‎bacterial pathogens mainly ‎isolated from human cases. The antimicrobial activity against ‎animal isolated pathogens has yet been done. ‎The in vitro efficacy of two SCCs with different ‎carrier molecules (SCC1 with a methylated caffeine backbone ‎and SCC22 with a ‎dichloroimidazolium backbone) was investigated against three important animal and ‎human ‎pathogen species. SCC1 and SCC22 exhibited bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects against ‎multidrug ‎resistant Salmonella Typhimurium (poultry isolate), E. coli 843 and E. coli 1568 ‎‎(swine isolates), and the ‎poultry field isolates Salmonella Heidelberg, Salmonella Enteritidis, and ‎Salmonella Montevideo with MICs ‎and MBCs ranged from 16-21 µM (6-8 µg/mL) and 16-32 µM ‎‎(6-12 µg/mL), respectively. Clostridium ‎perfringens type A was sensitive to both SCC1 and ‎SCC22 with the MICs being 11 (4 µg/mL) and 21 µM ‎‎(8 µg/mL), respectively. These values were ‎comparable to the MICs and MBCs for silver acetate. The MBCs ‎against C. ‎perfringens was >85 µM for ‎SCCs and >192 µM for silver acetate (>32 µg/mL for all compounds). Ten hours incubation ‎of C. ‎perfringens with ‎‎40 µg/mL of all three products showed down regulation of virulence genes plc and netB, ‎‎suggesting viable cells and silver can modulate the virulence. Treating the C. ‎perfringens with higher ‎concentration (100 ‎‎µg/mL) of each SCC for 10 hours inhibited more bacteria compared to the ‎untreated bacterial cells, however, no ‎differences in the ultrastructure of lysed bacteria were seen ‎and this concentration might not induce viable ‎but non-culturable (VBNC) state as suggested by ‎transmission electron microscopy findings. SCCs showed a ‎broad antimicrobial activity against ‎all bacterial species tested including multidrug resistant pathogens. Both ‎SCCs demonstrated ‎inhibitory effect against the Gram-positive anaerobic C. perfringens type A ‎which ‎could have a high accumulation capacity for silver ion. These data suggest that SCCs may ‎represent a ‎novel class of broad-spectrum antimicrobial agents, which may be used to reduce the ‎burden of pathogenic ‎bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract of poultry‎‎‎.

Paslahepevirus balayani (formerly known as hepatitis E virus) is an emerging cause of foodborne disease in Europe, transmitted mainly by the consumption of raw or undercooked pork. Since little is known about the presence of the virus in several pork products that are eaten uncooked, our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of Paslahepevirus balayani in groups of commercial pork products intended for human consumption subjected to different processing techniques. A total of 1265 samples of pork products from Spain were divided into four groups and tested for the presence of Paslahepevirus balayani RNA: unprocessed pig and wild boar meat frozen at −20 °C (n = 389), dry-cured pork products (n = 391), dry-cured and salted pork products (n = 219), and boiled products (n = 266) (none of these products contained pork liver). Five samples were positive for Paslahepevirus balayani RNA (overall prevalence: 0.4%; 95% CI: 0.17% - 0.92%). All positive samples were from unprocessed meat stored at −20 °C, with a prevalence in this group of 1.3% (95% CI: 0.42–3.44); two samples came from pigs (1.1%; 95% CI: 0.13–3.81) and three from wild boar (1.5%; 95% CI: 0.31–4.28). None of the pork samples in the other groups was positive. In conclusion, Paslahepevirus balayani was found in unprocessed swine products form Spain, but not in processed products intended to be consumed undercooked, demonstrating that transmission of this zoonotic virus by eating these pork products should be more seriously considered.

Background and Aim: Mechanically recovered meat (MRM) products have been linked to outbreaks of human salmonellosis. However, no studies have investigated the prevalence of Salmonella species in MRM products in South Africa despite the products being imported. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with Salmonella spp. contamination of mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) imported into South Africa. Materials and Methods: This study used secondary data of MRPM consignments imported through a port entry into South Africa from May 2016 to December 2017. Crude and factor-specific proportions of Salmonella positive MRPM and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association among country, season, importer, year, and MRPM Salmonella status. Results: A total of 8127 MRPM consignments were imported. Seventeen percentages (17.18%, 985/5733) of consignments tested positive for Salmonella species and only 364 isolates were serotyped. Salmonella Heidelberg (73.90%, 269/364) was the most common serotype followed by Salmonella Infantis (6.59%, 24/364), Salmonella Salamae (4.67%, 17/364), and Salmonella Schwarzengrund (3.57%, 13/364). The odds of a consignment testing positive for Salmonella spp. was higher among consignments from country-B (Odds Ratio [OR]: 3.958, p < 0.0001) compared to “All others.” The odds of testing positive for Salmonella were also higher among consignments imported in autumn (OR: 1.488, p < 0.0001) but lower among those imported in spring (OR: 0.767, p = 0.0004) and summer (OR: 0.843, p < 0.0001) when compared to the winter season. Consignments imported in 2016 compared to 2017 were 1.563 times (p < 0.0001) as likely to test positive for a Salmonella species. Conclusion: Salmonella species were reported in MRPM consignments in this study with Salmonella Heidelberg being the most common serotype. Furthermore, some Salmonella serotypes reported in this study have been implicated in foodborne disease outbreaks. Country of origin, season, and year of importation were significantly associated with the odds of a consignment testing positive for Salmonella species.

Aims To determine if the bacteriophage abortive infection system ToxIN is present in foodborne Salmonella and if it protects against infection by bacteriophages specific to enteric bacteria. Methods and results A set of foodborne Salmonella enteritidis isolates from a 2010 eggshell outbreak was identified via BLASTN (basic local alignment search tool nucleotide) queries as harboring a close homolog of ToxIN, carried on a plasmid with putative mobilization proteins. This homolog was cloned into a plasmid vector and transformed into the laboratory strain Salmonella typhimurium LT2 and tested against a set of Salmonella -specific phages (FelixO1, S16, Sp6, LPST153, and P22 HT105/1 int -201). ToxIN reduced infection by FelixO1, S16, and LPST153 by ∼1–4 log PFU ml−1 while reducing the plaque size of Sp6. When present in LT2 and Escherichia coli MG1655, ToxIN conferred cross-genus protection against phage isolates, which infect both bacteria. Finally, the putative ToxIN plasmid was found in whole-genome sequence contigs of several Salmonella serovars, pathogenic E. coli , and other pathogenic enterobacteria. Conclusions Salmonella and E. coli can resist infection by several phages via ToxIN under laboratory conditions; ToxIN is present in foodborne pathogens including Salmonella and Shiga-toxigenic E. coli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial pathogens are leading causes of infections with high mortality worldwide having a great impact on healthcare systems and the food industry. Gold standard methods for bacterial detection mainly rely on culture-based technologies and biochemical tests which are laborious and time-consuming. Regardless of several developments in existing methods, the goal of achieving high sensitivity and specificity, as well as a low detection limit, remains unaccomplished. In past years, various biorecognition elements, such as antibodies, enzymes, aptamers, or nucleic acids, have been widely used, being crucial for the pathogens detection in different complex matrices. However, these molecules are usually associated with high detection limits, demand laborious and costly production, and usually present cross-reactivity. (Bacterio)phage-encoded proteins, especially the receptor binding proteins (RBPs) and cell-wall binding domains (CBDs) of endolysins, are responsible for the phage binding to the bacterial surface receptors in different stages of the phage lytic cycle. Due to their remarkable properties, such as high specificity, sensitivity, stability, and ability to be easily engineered, they are appointed as excellent candidates to replace conventional recognition molecules, thereby contributing to the improvement of the detection methods. Moreover, they offer several possibilities of application in a variety of detection systems, such as magnetic, optical, and electrochemical. Herein we provide a review of phage-derived bacterial binding proteins, namely the RBPs and CBDs, with the prospect to be employed as recognition elements for bacteria. Moreover, we summarize and discuss the various existing methods based on these proteins for the detection of nosocomial and foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim: Mechanically recovered meat (MRM) products have been linked to outbreaks of human salmonellosis. However, no studies have investigated the prevalence of Salmonella species in MRM products in South Africa despite the products being imported. Therefore, this study aimed to estimate the prevalence and factors associated with Salmonella spp. contamination of mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM) imported into South Africa. Materials and Methods: This study used secondary data of MRPM consignments imported through a port entry into South Africa from May 2016 to December 2017. Crude and factor-specific proportions of Salmonella positive MRPM and their 95% confidence intervals were calculated. A logistic regression model was used to assess the association among country, season, importer, year, and MRPM Salmonella status. Results: A total of 8127 MRPM consignments were imported. Seventeen percentages (17.18%, 985/5733) of consignments tested positive for Salmonella species and only 364 isolates were serotyped. Salmonella Heidelberg (73.90%, 269/364) was the most common serotype followed by Salmonella Infantis (6.59%, 24/364), Salmonella Salamae (4.67%, 17/364), and Salmonella Schwarzengrund (3.57%, 13/364). The odds of a consignment testing positive for Salmonella spp. was higher among consignments from country-B (Odds Ratio [OR]: 3.958, p < 0.0001) compared to “All others.” The odds of testing positive for Salmonella were also higher among consignments imported in autumn (OR: 1.488, p < 0.0001) but lower among those imported in spring (OR: 0.767, p = 0.0004) and summer (OR: 0.843, p < 0.0001) when compared to the winter season. Consignments imported in 2016 compared to 2017 were 1.563 times (p < 0.0001) as likely to test positive for a Salmonella species. Conclusion: Salmonella species were reported in MRPM consignments in this study with Salmonella Heidelberg being the most common serotype. Furthermore, some Salmonella serotypes reported in this study have been implicated in foodborne disease outbreaks. Country of origin, season, and year of importation were significantly associated with the odds of a consignment testing positive for Salmonella species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridioides species possess many virulence factors and alarming levels of muti-drug resistance which make them a significant risk to public health safety and a causative agent of livestock disease. Clostridioides result in serious systemic and gastrointestinal diseases such as myonecrosis, colitis, food poisoning and gastroenteritis. As foodborne pathogens, Clostridioides species are associated with significant incidences of morbidity and mortality where the application of broad-spectrum antibiotics predisposes patients to virulent Clostridioides colonisation. As part of the One Health approach, there is an urgent need to eliminate the use of antibiotics in food production to safeguard animals, humans and the environment. Alternative options are warranted to control foodborne pathogens at all stages of food production. Antimicrobial peptides and bacteriophages have demonstrated efficacy against Clostridioides species and may offer antimicrobial biocontrol options. The bacteriocin nisin, for example, has been implemented as a biopreservative for the control of Listeria, Staphylococcus and Clostridia species in food. Bacteriophage preparations have also gained recognition for the antibacterial action against highly virulent bacterial species including foodborne pathogens. Studies are warranted to mitigate the formulation and administration limitations associated with the application of such antimicrobials as biocontrol strategies. This review outlines foodborne Clostridioides species, their virulence factors, and potential biocontrol options for application in food production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryptosporidium parvum and Blastocystis hominis are foodborne parasites known for causing diarrhea. They accumulate in mussels grown on contaminated water bodies, due to the discharge of treated sewage from sewage treatment plants (STP). Despite this, some countries like Chile do not include these parasites in the control or monitoring of sewage water. The objective of this research was to evaluate the contamination of C. parvum. and B. hominis from treated sewage (disinfected by chlorination) and Cholga mussels in a touristic rural cove from the bay of Concepción. Cholga mussels from commercial stores and a treated sewage sample were analyzed. Cryptosporidium spp. was identified by Ziehl-Neelsen-Staining (ZNS) and C. parvum by direct-immunofluorescence assay (IFA) from ZNS-positive samples. Blastocystis hominis was identified by PCR using locus SSU rDNA. C. parvum and B. hominis subtype ST3 were found in 40% and 45% of Cholga mussel samples, respectively, and both parasites were identified in the treated sewage. Blastocystis hominis SSU rDNA gene alignment from Cholga mussels and treated sewage showed 89% of similarity, indicating that could be the same parasite in both samples. We describe the first evidence of possible contamination with these parasites from treated sewage to Cholga mussel suggesting an environmental contamination with high human risk. Based on these results, further studies will consider all the rural coves and STP from the bay to prevent possible contamination of these parasites.

Background: Foodborne diarrhea prevention in children under five is simple, but it is critical to address the infection's three components prioritized for preventive intervention. This study has developed a local strategy of preventive measures for foodborne diarrhea in children under five in collaboration with stakeholders (caregivers, community leaders, nurses, doctors and health technicians). Design and method: A Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was used to develop the strategy in two districts, and 31 stakeholders participated. In the rural area (Marracuene), 16 stakeholders participated, while in the urban area (KaMaxaqueni), 15 stakeholders participated. In each area, the NGT session with stakeholders generated ideas and reached a consensus on what should be done in the strategy as measures to prevent foodborne diarrhea in children under the age of five. The process was inclusive, and the strategy summarized the general agreement. Findings: In rural areas, stakeholders emphasized the importance of hand washing, improving traditional medicine storage conditions, and not giving traditional medicine to children under six months. The measures in urban areas were environmental hygiene, water treatment, and putting ash inside latrines. Conclusion: The stakeholders prioritized foodborne diarrhea prevention measures based on the reality of the household. The inclusion of stakeholders in the strategy design brings measures that allow for the mitigation of factors.

Foodborne illnesses are a major public health concern, and meat products are one of the most common sources of contamination. Handling and processing raw meat in restaurants can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses if the correct hygiene and safety measures are not followed. Consequently, it is important to conduct a comprehensive assessment of foodborne illness-causing microorganisms to monitor the food safety practices in restaurants and prevent the spread of contamination, protecting public health and ensuring the safety of the food supply chain. In view of this, this study conducted an assessment of local restaurants to identify the prevalence of different foodborne illness-causing microorganisms. A total of 63 samples were collected aseptically using cotton swabs from restaurants in 9 different locations in Al-Mandaq City, Saudi Arabia (7 samples from each location). Klebsiella aerogenes (K. aerogenes), Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were isolated and identified from each sample using different media. From 63 samples, 91 isolates of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 9 restaurants. Higher prevalence was found in location 7, where the number of isolates was 17, while the lowest pathogenic load was observed in location 2, where the number of isolates was 8. Among the samples, the highest number of pathogenic isolates was observed in raw foods (22), followed by samples collected from the tools (18). Of the 109 bacterial counts, S. aureus contributed 43.12%, followed by S. epidermidis (42.2%), Salmonella spp. (6.42%), and K. aerogenes (4.58%). The frequency of E. coli occurrence was low (2.75%) in all the samples collected from the nine locations.

Staka is a traditional Greek sour cream made mostly from spontaneously fermented sheep milk or a mixture of sheep and goat milk. At the industrial scale, cream separators and starter cultures may also be used. Staka is sometimes cooked with flour to absorb most of the fat. In this study, we employed culture-based techniques, amplicon sequencing, and shotgun metagenomics to analyze the Staka microbiome for the first time. The samples were dominated by Lactococcus or Leuconostoc spp. Most other bacteria were lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from the Streptococcus and Enterococcus genera or Gram-negative bacteria from the Buttiauxella, Pseudomonas, Enterobacter, Escherichia-Shigella, and Hafnia genera. Debaryomyces, Kluyveromyces, or Alternaria were the most prevalent genera in the samples, followed by other yeasts and molds like Saccharomyces, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Stemphylium, Coniospotium, or Cladosporium spp. Shotgun metagenomics allowed the species-level identification of Lactococcus lactis, Lactococcus raffinolactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Streptococcus gallolyticus, Escherichia coli, Hafnia alvei, Streptococcus parauberis, and Enterococcus durans. Binning of assembled shotgun reads followed by recruitment plot analysis of single reads could determine near-complete metagenome assembled genomes (MAGs). Culture-dependent and culture-independent analyses were in overall agreement with some distinct differences. For example, lactococci could not be isolated, presumably because they had entered a viable but not culturable (VBNC) state or because they were dead. Finally, several LAB, Hafnia paralvei, and Pseudomonas spp. isolates exhibited antimicrobial activities against oral or other pathogenic streptococci, and certain spoilage and pathogenic bacteria establishing their potential role in food bio-protection or new biomedical applications. Our study may pave the way for additional studies concerning artisanal sour creams to better understand the factors affecting their production and the quality.

ObjectiveTo explore the characteristics of resistance， virulence factor and sequence typing of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus （S. aureus） in China in 2020.MethodsAntimicrobial susceptibility test for S. aureus was performed using the broth microdilution method. Multilocus sequence typing （MLST）， the important antibiotic resistance gene mecA， and virulence genes were analyzed using whole genome sequencing.ResultsThe overall resistance rate of the 224 foodborne S. aureus isolates to 12 classes of antimicrobials was 87.9% （197/224）， with the highest resistance rate of 82.6% （185/224） to penicillin. The multi-drug resistance rate was 23.2% （52/224）， with ST398 accounting for the highest percentage （26.9%， 14/52） of multi-drug resistant bacteria. The methicillin-resistant S. aureus detection rate was 8.0% （18/224）. The overall carriage rate of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes was 52.2% （117/224）， with sea having the highest carriage rate of 24.6% （55/224）. The ST type of S. aureus carrying the most types of enterotoxin genes was ST1. A total of 31 ST types were detected in this study， among which ST7 （12.9%， 29/224） was the predominant ST of isolates， followed by ST398 （10.7%， 24/224）. In addition， the carriage rates of toxic shock syndrome toxin coding gene （tsst-1） and leukocytocin encoding genes （lukF-PV and lukS-PV） were 6.3% （14/224） and 4.5% （10/224）， respectively.ConclusionThe high rate of antimicrobial resistance and enterotoxin genes carriage of foodborne S. aureus in China and the detection of virulence genes that play an important role in clinical infection suggest that the potential hazards of S. aureus in food should not be ignored. There is a high correlation between ST type and food type， antimicrobial susceptibility， and pathogenicity， which provides scientific data for further analysis of the epidemiological characteristics and risk prevention and control of foodborne S. aureus in China.

Background: Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds contain polyphenolic compounds which can be considered a suitable option for the green synthesis of nanoparticles. Objective: In this study, the antibacterial activity against foodborne bacteria of ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from the aqueous extract of Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seeds was evaluated. Methods: The synthesized ZnO nanoparticles were characterized using different analyses. The minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentration of the nanoparticles were investigated against standard foodborne bacteria, S. aureus, Y. enterocolitica, E. coli O157:H7, and B. cereus, using the broth microdilution method. Results: UV-Vis spectroscopy analysis indicated an absorption peak at 231 nm which confirms the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. In addition, the X-ray diffraction pattern is consistent with the JCPDS cards, which also means the formation of ZnO nanoparticles. The results of the electron microscope revealed that the nanoparticles had a hexagonal shape with an average size of 50 nm, which is in agreement with the results obtained from the dynamic light scattering analysis. In addition, the minimum inhibitory concentration of ZnO nanoparticles against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria, Y. enterocolitica, E. coli O157:H7, S. aureus, and B. cereus were 62.5, 62.5, 31.25 and 500 µg/ml, respectively. Conclusion: ZnO nanoparticles synthesized from Foeniculum vulgare Mill. seed extract had an appropriate antibacterial effect against foodborne bacteria.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen that can produce serious, even fatal, infections. Among other foods, it can be found in unpasteurized dairy and ready-to-eat products. Surveillance of L. monocytogenes is of great interest since sources of infection are difficult to determine due to the long incubation period, and because the symptoms of listeriosis are similar to other diseases. We performed a genomic study of L. monocytogenes isolated from fresh cheeses and clinical samples from Ecuador. Sixty-five isolates were evaluated and sequenced, 14 isolates from cheese samples and 20 from clinical listeriosis cases from the National Institute of National Institute of Public Health Research, and 31 isolates from artisanal cheese samples from 8 provinces. All isolates exhibited heterogeneous patterns of the presence of pathogenicity islands. All isolates exhibited at least 4 genes from LIPI-1, but all references (26 L. monocytogenes closed genomes available in the NCBI database) showed the complete island, which encompasses 5 genes but is present in only two Ecuadorian isolates. Most isolates lacked gene actA. Genes from LIPI-2 were absent in all isolates. LIPI-3 and LIPI-4 were present in only a few references and isolates. With respect to the stress survival islets, our samples either presented SSI-1 or SSI-F2365, except for one isolate that presented SSI-F2365 and also one gene from SSI-1. None of the samples presented SSI-2. The predominant ST (sequence type) was ST2 (84.62% 55/65), and the only ST found in food (93.33% 42/45) and clinical samples (65% 13/20). Isolates were not grouped according to their sampling origin, date, or place in a phylogenetic tree obtained from the core alignment. The presence of ST2 in food and clinical samples, with high genomic similarity, suggests a foodborne infection risk linked to the consumption of fresh cheeses in Ecuador.

Foodborne illnesses are a major public health concern, and meat products are one of the most common sources of contamination. Handling and processing raw meat in restaurants can increase the risk of foodborne illnesses if the correct hygiene and safety measures are not followed. Consequently, it is important to conduct a comprehensive assessment of foodborne illness-causing microorganisms to monitor the food safety practices in restaurants and prevent the spread of contamination, protecting public health and ensuring the safety of the food supply chain. In view of this, this study conducted an assessment of local restaurants to identify the prevalence of different foodborne illness-causing microorganisms. A total of 63 samples were collected aseptically using cotton swabs from restaurants in 9 different locations in Al-Mandaq City, Saudi Arabia (7 samples from each location). Klebsiella aerogenes (K. aerogenes), Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) were isolated and identified from each sample using different media. From 63 samples, 91 isolates of pathogenic bacteria were isolated from 9 restaurants. Higher prevalence was found in location 7, where the number of isolates was 17, while the lowest pathogenic load was observed in location 2, where the number of isolates was 8. Among the samples, the highest number of pathogenic isolates was observed in raw foods (22), followed by samples collected from the tools (18). Of the 109 bacterial counts, S. aureus contributed 43.12%, followed by S. epidermidis (42.2%), Salmonella spp. (6.42%), and K. aerogenes (4.58%). The frequency of E. coli occurrence was low (2.75%) in all the samples collected from the nine locations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A commercial phage biocontrol for reducing Listeria monocytogenes has been described as an effective tool for improving fresh produce safety. Critical challenges in the phage application must be overcome for the industrial application. The validation studies were performed in two processing lines of two industry collaborators in Spain and Denmark, using shredded iceberg lettuce as the ready-to-eat (RTE), high process volume product. The biocontrol treatment optimized in lab-scale trials for the application of PhageGuard ListexTM was confirmed in industrial settings by four tests, two in Spain and two in Denmark. Results showed that the method of application that included the device and the processing operation step was appropriate for the proper application. The proper dose of Phage Guard ListexTM was reached in shredded iceberg lettuce and the surface was adequately covered for the successful application of phages. There was no impact on the headspace gas composition (CO2 and O2 levels), nor on the color when untreated and treated samples were compared. The post-process treatment with PhageGuard ListexTM did not cause any detrimental impact on the sensory quality, including flavor, texture, browning, spoilage, and visual appearance over the shelf-life as the phage solution was applied as a fine, mist solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global health problem without geographic boundaries. This increases the risk of complications and, thus, makes it harder to treat infections, which can result in higher healthcare costs and a greater number of deaths. Antimicrobials are often used to treat infections from pathogens in food-producing animals, making them a potential source of AMR. Overuse and misuse of these drugs in animal agriculture can lead to the development of AMR bacteria, which can then be transmitted to humans through contaminated food or direct contact. It is therefore essential to take multifaceted, comprehensive, and integrated measures, following the One Health approach. To address this issue, many countries have implemented regulations to limit antimicrobial use. To our knowledge, there are previous studies based on AMR in food-producing animals; however, this paper adds novelty related to the AMR pathogens in livestock, as we include the recent publications of this field worldwide. In this work, we aim to describe the most critical and high-risk AMR pathogens among food-producing animals, as a worldwide health problem. We also focus on the dissemination of AMR genes in livestock, as well as its consequences in animals and humans, and future strategies to tackle this threat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most current Salmonella subtyping analyses rely on whole genome sequencing (WGS), which focuses on the high-resolution analysis of single genomes or multiple single genomes fromthe isolated colonies onmicrobiological agar plates. In this study, we introduce bioinformatics innovations for ametagenomic outbreak response workflow that accurately identifies multiple Salmonella serovars at the same time. bettercallsal is one of the first analysis tools to identify multiple Salmonella enterica serotypes frommetagenomic or quasi-metagenomic datasets with high accuracy, allowing these isolate-independent methods to be incorporated into surveillance and root cause investigations. It was tested on an in silico benchmark dataset comprising 29 unique Salmonella serovars, 46 non-Salmonella bacterial genomes, and 10 viral genomes at varying read depths and on previously well-characterized and sequenced non-selective primary and selective enrichments of papaya and peach samples from separate outbreak investigations that resulted in the identification of multiple Salmonella serovars using traditional isolate culturing and WGS as well as nucleic acid assays. Analyses were also conducted on these datasets using a custom-built k-mer tool, SeqSero2, and Kallisto to compare serotype calling to bettercallsal. The in silico dataset analyzed with bettercallsal achieved the maximum precision, recall, and accuracy of 100, 83, and 94%, respectively. In the papaya outbreak samples, bettercallsal identified the presence of multiple serovars in agreement with the Luminex® xMAP assay results and also identified more serovars per sample, as evidenced by NCBI SNP clustering. In peach outbreak samples, bettercallsal identified two serovars in concordance with k-mer analysis and the Luminex xMAP assay. The genome hit reported by bettercallsal clustered with the chicken isolate genome, as reported by the FDA peach outbreak investigation from sequenced isolates (WGS). Overall, bettercallsal outperformed k-mer, Seqsero2, and Kallisto in identifying multiple serovars from enrichment cultures using shotgun metagenomic sequencing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Antibiotic resistance has become a worldwide public health and biosafety problem. The clinical efficacy of colistin was jeopardized by the report of the first mobile colistin resistance (mcr) gene, and subsequently, the mcr-gene family of mcr-1 to mcr-10 has been identified. Cronobacter is an emerging foodborne opportunistic pathogen, which can cause neonatal meningitis, bacteremia, and necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) by contaminating food. However, the entire picture of foodborne Cronobacter carriage of the mcr genes is not known. Here, we investigated the mcr genes of Cronobacter isolates (N = 877) by whole-genome sequencing. We found 133 of 877 previously undescribed Cronobacter isolates carrying mcr genes. Further genomic analysis revealed that these mcr genes mainly belonged to the mcr-9 and mcr-10. Genomic analysis of the flanking structures of mcr genes revealed that two core flanking structures were prevalent in foodborne Cronobacter isolates, and the flanking structure carrying IS1R was found for the first time in this study. These findings suggest that foodborne Cronobacter isolates carrying the mcr genes already pose a threat to human health. IMPORTANCE Cronobacter is an emerging foodborne opportunistic pathogen, which can cause neonatal meningitis, bacteremia, and NEC by contaminating food. However, the entire picture of foodborne Cronobacter carriage of the mcr genes is not known. Here, we investigated the mcr genes of Cronobacter isolates by whole-genome sequencing and found 133 previously undescribed Cronobacter isolates carrying mcr genes. Further genomic analysis revealed that these mcr genes mainly belonged to the mcr-9 and mcr-10. Genomic analysis of the flanking structures of mcr genes revealed that two core flanking structures were prevalent in foodborne Cronobacter isolates, and the flanking structure carrying IS1R was found for the first time in this study.

Shrimp is one of the most consumed seafood products globally. Antimicrobial drugs play an integral role in disease mitigation in aquaculture settings, but their prevalent use raises public health concerns on the emergence and spread of antimicrobial resistant microorganisms. Vibrio spp., as the most common causative agents of seafood-borne infections in humans, and Enterococcus spp., as an indicator organism, are focal bacteria of interest for the monitoring of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in seafood. In this study, 400 samples of retail shrimp were collected from randomly selected grocery stores in the Greater Sacramento, California, area between September 2019 and June 2020. The prevalence of Vibrio spp. and Enterococcus spp. was 60.25% (241/400) and 89.75% (359/400), respectively. Subsamples of Vibrio (n = 110) and Enterococcus (n = 110) isolates were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST). Vibrio isolates had high phenotypic resistance to ampicillin (52/110, 47.27%) and cefoxitin (39/110, 35.45%). Enterococcus were most frequently resistant to lincomycin (106/110, 96.36%), quinupristin-dalfopristin (96/110, 87.27%), ciprofloxacin (93/110, 84.55%), linezolid (86/110, 78.18%), and erythromycin (58/110, 52.73%). For both Vibrio and Enterococcus, no significant associations were observed between multidrug resistance (MDR, resistance to ≥3 drug classes) in isolates from farm raised and wild caught shrimp (p > 0.05) and in isolates of domestic and imported origin (p > 0.05). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) of a subset of Vibrio isolates (n = 42) speciated isolates as primarily V. metschnikovii (24/42; 57.14%) and V. parahaemolyticus (12/42; 28.57%), and detected 27 unique antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) across these isolates, most commonly qnrVC6 (19.05%, 8/42), dfrA31 (11.90%, 5/42), dfrA6 (9.5%, 4/42), qnrVC1 (9.5%, 4/42). Additionally, WGS predicted phenotypic resistance in Vibrio isolates with an overall sensitivity of 11.54% and specificity of 96.05%. This study provides insights on the prevalence and distribution of AMR in Vibrio spp. and Enterococcus spp. from retail shrimp in California which are important for food safety and public health and exemplifies the value of surveillance in monitoring the spread of AMR and its genetic determinants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims This study aims to investigate the in vitro pathogenicity of Chromobacterium haemolyticum strain WI5 toward the intestinal tract, its resistance to water treatments, and its potential for foodborne transmission through leafy greens produced in hydroponic systems. Methods and results C. haemolyticum WI5 caused cytopathic effects in human colon cells HCT116 and exhibited an 8.2-fold higher cell attachment compared to Salmonella serotype Typhimurium. It showed comparable resistance to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) and ultraviolet (UV) treatments as Escherichia coli O157: H7 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa but was more susceptible to desiccation. On lettuce, C. haemolyticum WI5 failed to persist, with counts decreasing below the detection limit (≥4 log reductions) after 3 and 2 days at 4 and 25°C, respectively. Conclusions C. haemolyticum WI5 demonstrated considerable virulence features and high in vitro pathogenicity toward the intestinal tract. NaOCl and UV treatments were effective in disinfecting C. haemolyticum in water. Due to its high susceptibility to desiccation and poor survivability on lettuce, the foodborne transmission potential of C. haemolyticum is considered limited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial agents are a critical component of modern healthcare systems, fulfilling a core function in patient care and improving individual patient outcomes and consequently overall public health. However, the efficacy of antimicrobial interventions is being consistently eroded by the emergence and dissemination of various antimicrobial resistance (AMR) mechanisms. One highly valued class of antimicrobial compounds is carbapenems, which retain efficacy in treating most multidrug‐resistant infections and are considered "last line" agents. Therefore, recent trends in proliferation of carbapenem resistance (CR) via dissemination of carbapenemase‐encoding genes among members of the Enterobacteriaceae family pose a significant threat to public health. While much of the focus relating to this has been on nosocomial environments, community‐acquired carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) infections and their associated transmission routes are less well studied. Among these community‐associated vectors, the role of food chains and contaminated foods is important, since Enterobacteriaceae occupy niches within these settings. This review examines foodborne CPE transmission by exploring how interactions within and between food, the food chain, and agriculture not only promote and disseminate CPE, but also create reservoirs of mobile genetic elements that may lead to further carbapenemase gene proliferation both within and between microbial communities. Additionally, recent developments regarding the global occurrence and molecular epidemiology of CPEs in food chains will be reviewed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram-negative bacterium which is considered as the most reported cause of foodborne infection, especially for poultry species. The object of this work is to evaluate the occurrence of C. jejuni in chicken meat as well its control via three types of sorghum extracts (white sorghum (WS), yellow sorghum (YS), and red sorghum (RS)); antibacterial activity, antioxidant power, and cytotoxicity of sorghum extracts were also assessed. It was found that C. jejuni is very abundant in chicken meat, especially breast and thigh. WS extract showed more effectiveness than both yellow and red ones. Lyophilized WS extract offered high total phenolic compounds (TPCs) and total flavonoid compounds (TFCs) of 64.2 ± 0.8 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE/g) and 33.9 ± 0.4 mg catechol equivalent (CE)/g, respectively. Concerning the antibacterial and antioxidant activities, WS showed high and significant antibacterial activity (p < 0.001); hence, WS displayed a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 6.25%, and revealed an inhibition zone of 7.8 ± 0.3 mm; it also showed an IC50 at a concentration of 34.6 μg/mL. In our study, different samples of chicken fillet were collected and inoculated with pathogenic C. jejuni and stored at 4 °C. Inoculated samples were treated with lyophilized WS extract at (2%, 4%, and 6%), the 2% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 10th day, the 4% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 8th day, while the 6% treatment showed a full reduction in C. jejuni on the 6th day. Additionally, 2%, 4%, and 6% WS extracts were applied on un-inoculated grilled chicken fillet, which enhanced its sensory attributes. In sum, WS extract is a promising natural preservative for chicken meat with accepted sensory evaluation results thanks to its high antibacterial and antioxidant potentials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foodborne outbreaks (FBOs) are common and sometimes severe, posing a public health emergency, especially in closed communities (cafeterias, hostels, schools), requiring prompt investigation and mandatory reporting. This retrospective cohort study involving 80 students was conducted in February 2017 following an FBO episode at IFMEREE in Oujda. A clinical and epidemiological definition of cases was developed. A questionnaire was designed to collect information on the implicated foods. Descriptive, univariate, and multivariate analyses were performed to study the food-related factors associated with this epidemic. In total, 57 respondents, aged 17 to 29 years, with an average of 20 years and a mode of 18 years, participated. The male sex predominated, with a sex ratio (M/F) of 2.16. There were 30 cases, resulting in an attack rate of 52.6%, with a female predominance (72.2% female vs. 43.4% male), and no deaths were reported. Among the foods served during lunch, buttermilk (LBEN) was the only food significantly associated with FBO, with a relative risk (RR) of 2.45, a confidence interval (CI95%: [1.61-3.74], p 0.0012), and an adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 17.05 (CI95%: [2.0-145.1], p 0.0096). Following our investigation of the FBO, a new hygiene control and monitoring system involving a new subcontracting company was implemented. This system aims to ensure compliance with the cold chain and update the medical records of kitchen and service staff. It also ensures improved traceability of foods, especially implicated dairy products (LBEN), from production to consumption, encompassing the entire distribution chain, including the requirement for a control meal.

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis (S. Enteritidis) is one of the leading causes of foodborne infections associated with broilers and laying hens. Portugal has had the lowest notification rates of salmonellosis in recent years, due to the vaccinations of layer and breeder flocks and strict compliance with biosecurity measures. However, data about the genetic diversity of S. Enteritidis in Portugal are scarce. In this study, 102 S. Enteritidis isolates selected from human (n = 63) and non-human sources (n = 39) were characterized by serotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility, and whole genome sequencing. The S. Enteritidis population was mainly resistant to fluoroquinolones, and a sole isolate showed resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. ST11 was the most frequent sequence type, and three novel STs from human isolates (ST9236, ST4457, and ST9995) were assigned. Several Salmonella pathogenic islands (SPI) and Putative SPI were present in the genomes, namely SPI-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13, and 14, C63PI, CS54_island, and 170 virulence genes were identified. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains from Portugal are genetically heterogeneous regarding sample type, collection date, and genetic content. This study increases the available data, essential to a better characterization of strains in a global context.