Transmission of Campylobacter to humans has been prominently associated with mishandling or improperly preparing contaminated poultry carcasses. The number of organisms per carcass represents an ...important measure of human exposure to the agent. Therefore, we wished to estimate this public exposure over 1 yr among Italian broiler carcasses. We sampled 213 broiler carcasses from rinse water samples collected from a single slaughterhouse. Groups of carcasses had mean processed weights ranging from 1.2 to 2.7 kg. These were produced from 22 commercial broiler chicken flocks collected from 12 different farms, 3 of which were seasonally tested. Carcasses were rinsed with sterile water, and the rinse suspension was then serially diluted and spread-plated directly onto Campy-Cefex agar plates. One to 5 typical Campylobacter colonies per plate were identified by polymerase chain reaction as Campylobacter thermo-tolerant species. The overall estimated mean count per carcass in our study was 5.16 +/- 0.80 log10 cfu. This value increased in summer and autumn, as well as on carcasses collected from farms located >100 km far from the slaughterhouse. A total of 678 Campylobacter colonies were identified by polymerase chain reaction. The majority of isolates were classified as Campylobacter jejuni (49.2%) or Campylobacter coli (47.5%). The overall number of C. jejuni was significantly higher on 1) carcasses weighing >2 kg, 2) carcasses belonging to flocks with >10,000 birds, and 3) carcasses collected from farms located >100 km from the slaughterhouse. Moreover, among farms tested seasonally, C. jejuni was significantly greater than C. coli in winter. These data provide the first results of a continuing survey on Campylobacter loads and species identification from Italian broiler carcasses and represents an important baseline to estimate the human exposure to Campylobacter in Italy.
This is the first report of Arcobacter spp. in rectal fecal samples from healthy water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) reared on a dairy farm. Arcobacter species were isolated after enrichment, and ...isolates were identified at species level by multiplex-polymerase chain reaction assay. Thirty samples were examined and Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 96.7% of water buffaloes tested: 38 Arcobacter spp. isolates were obtained, with A. cryaerophilus as the dominant species followed by A. butzleri and A. skirrowii. Nine animals (31%) were colonized by more than one Arcobacter species. The present study indicates that water buffaloes can harbor a variety of Arcobacter spp. and that healthy buffaloes may act as hosts. Water buffalo fecal shedding of Arcobacter spp. may be of significance to human health, considering the potential fecal contamination during harvesting of raw milk and slaughtering.
In order to investigate the occurrence of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter species in caecal contents of rabbits reared in intensive and rural farms, a total of 87 samples from animals ...belonging to 29 farms were analysed by both cultural and PCR analyses.
PCR analysis directly from faecal samples detected 100% positive samples for Campylobacter genus, 3.4% for Helicobacter genus and none for Arcobacter genus. 83 out of 87 animals (95.4%) and all the 29 farms were positive for Campylobacter cuniculorum as also determined by cultural examination. Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni were isolated only from three animals reared in two rural farms. No Helicobacter and Arcobacter species were isolated. To evaluate a possible genetic variability, one strain of C. cuniculorum from each farm was analysed by Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP). Genotyping revealed that C. cuniculorum population is heterogeneous among the different sources and no dominant clone has spread in the investigated farms.
This survey highlighted a high presence of C. cuniculorum with a high rate of intestinal colonization, low presence of C. jejuni–coli, Helicobacter spp. and any Arcobacter spp. in farmed rabbits.
Food safety standards in the European Union include microbiological criteria and targets in primary production. The current paper provides a strategy to elucidate risk-based metrics such a potential ...Food Safety Objective for Campylobacter used as benchmark to derive possible Performance Objectives for the pathogen in broiler carcasses tested after chilling. The Performance Objectives were developed using the EFSA data collected on broiler carcasses during the monitoring study performed in 2008 in the European Union according to the evaluation of the different risk factors included in the survey. The FSO for Campylobacter was set at −1.2 log10 cfu/g (∼6 cfu/100 g). The Campylobacter concentrations after chilling resulting in a final concentration equal or below this proposed FSO were suggested as possible POs. The results obtained indicated that batches originating from previously thinned flocks can be more at risk of being colonized with Campylobacter. In fact, the estimated mean concentrations of Campylobacter on carcasses were 1.05 and 2.38 log10 cfu/g for non thinned and thinned flocks, respectively. Further, the impact of high Campylobacter contamination on carcasses (>2.5 log10 cfu/g) was shown since for those carcasses a reduction in PO values higher than 1.5 log10 cfu/g is needed to meet the FSO. In contrast no significant differences for PO values estimated were found between slaughterhouses with different capacity and for carcasses tested at different times from collection. This study provides a validated methodology for the estimation of risk-based metrics based on a quantitative approach allowing food safety authorities to develop specific microbiological criteria.
•The paper provides a strategy to elucidate a potential FSO to derive possible POs.•The FSO for Campylobacter was set at −1.2 log10 cfu/g.•The Campylobacter concentrations after chilling were suggested as possible POs.•The estimated mean Campylobacter levels were 1.05 and 2.38 log10 cfu/g for non thinned and thinned flocks.
Background:
Perfusion of the optic nerve has been widely studied using fluorescein angiography (FAG), which is currently regarded as the criterion standard. However, FAG has adverse effects ...associated with intravenous contrast administration and is limited in its capacity to characterize and stratify the different vascular layers of the optic nerve and retina. The use of new imaging techniques, such as optical coherence tomographic angiography (Angio-OCT), is therefore important.
Aim:
A qualitative description is made of the vascular layers of the optic nerve and of how vascular events affect radial peripapillary capillaries (RPC). Two patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO), 1 with arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (AAION), and 3 healthy subjects were studied.
Results:
The Angio-OCT imaging afforded better visualization of the depth of the RPC and rest of the vascular layers of the retina compared with FAG. Optic nerve surface perfusion was affected in AAION and proved normal in CRAO.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate that perfusion of the papilla and RPC mainly arises from the papillary plexus that depends on the posterior ciliary artery.
The main aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence and ribotypes of Clostridium perfringens in broiler flocks reared in 2 European countries that apply European Union Regulation 1831/2003. ...A total of 1,532 cecum contents were collected between June 2005 and November 2006 from birds belonging to 51 intensively reared flocks produced in the Czech Republic and 41 intensive production, organic, and free-range flocks reared in Italy. Clostridium perfringens was detected in 64.7 and 82.9% of the Czech Republic and Italian flocks, respectively, at mean loads ranging between 3.65 and 4.77 log10 cfu per gram of cecum content. More than 1 ribotype was identified among isolates belonging to the same flock in 57.1 and 76.5% of the Czech Republic and Italian flocks, respectively. Moreover, common ribotypes were identified between strains belonging to 2 up to 8 different flocks. In particular, 4 ribotypes were shared between strains isolated in the 2 European countries. The results of this study report on C. perfringens occurrence and mean populations in broilers reared on diets devoid of antibiotic growth promoters. Moreover, these findings show for the first time the presence of common ribotyping profiles among isolates collected from birds reared more than 1,000 km apart.
Blood pressure (BP) targets in diabetic patients stills represent the object of a major debate, fueled by the recent publication of post hoc observational analyses of the INVEST and the ONTARGET ...trials, suggesting an increased risk of cardiovascular events with tighter control, the J-curve effect, and by the results of the ACCORD trial, showing no improvements in the composite primary outcome of nonfatal myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death in the intensive BP-lowering arm (<120/80 mmHg). In the present review, we focus on existing evidence about different BP targets in diabetic subjects and we present the results of our recent meta-analysis, showing that tight BP control may significantly reduce the risk of stroke in these patients without increasing the risk of myocardial infarction. Therapeutic inertia (leaving diabetic patients with BP values of 140/90 mmHg or higher) should be avoided at all costs, as this would lead to an unacceptable toll in terms of human lives, suffering, and socioeconomic costs.
The paper describes the evaluation studies of a learning game for older adults using a multicultural European sample. The goal of the evaluation was to explore the acquisition of knowledge as a ...result of game play, the acceptance of two different game interaction systems by the seniors, their experiences while playing the game, and the accessibility of the game's user interface. Several qualitative and quantitative research methods were combined among older adults in the Netherlands, Spain and Greece. The tests revealed that (i) the accessibility of the game menus and interaction devices was high, (ii) the player experience in digital game play with a TV remote control and 3D sensor were mostly positive, and (iii) the older adults reported that they experienced learning. Overall, it can be concluded that the goals were met, offering a similar accessibility and player experience between the three different countries, and to provide a learning experience for older Europeans.
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