Edible insects are expected to become an important nutrient source for animals and humans in the Western world in the near future. However, before insects can be put on the market, the safety of ...their use for feed and food is warranted. This literature study was prepared to provide an overview of the actual knowledge of possible food safety hazards, including chemical, microbiological, and allergenic agents and prions, to human and animal health upon the use of insects for food and feed, and to highlight data gaps and suggest the way forward. From the data available, heavy metals of concern are cadmium in black soldier fly and arsenic in yellow mealworm larvae. Investigated mycotoxins do not seem to accumulate. Residues of pesticides, veterinary drugs, and hormones, as well as dioxins and PCBs, are sometimes found in insects. Contamination of insects with pathogens to human health is a consequence of a combination of the substrates used and the farming and processing steps applied. Insects harbor a wide variety of microorganisms, and some human pathogenic bacteria may be present. In addition, insects may harbor and transmit parasites. There is no evidence so far insects may harbor pathogenic viruses or prions, but they may act as vectors. Insects and insect‐derived products may have allergenic potential. In this review, evidence on some safety aspects is displayed, and data gaps are identified. Recommendations are given for future research to fill the most relevant data gaps.
•The study monitored the microbiological load of silkworm farms.•Five microbiological indicators were monitored throughout silkworm rearing.•Silkworm microbial load varies significantly along the ...rearing cycle.•Hot air-drying process significantly reduces the microbial load of fresh pupae.•Results are useful for the silk industry and for future food applications of silkworm.
Silkworms have been farmed for their silk since ancient times. After silk reeling, their chrysalides are consumed as food in several Asian countries. Despite the long rearing tradition of this insect, few studies have investigated the silkworm’s microbiological safety all along the life cycle, focusing on detecting silkworm pathogens or on the safety of the dried chrysalis for food consumption. However, the in-farm rearing process, which takes around forty days, may affect the microbial load of the silkworm and of the rearing environment, as well as the quality of fresh cocoon and other performance parameters. No data is available on how microbial contamination changes during the rearing period and between different farmers. Furthermore, in light of the possible use of the chrysalis as food, it is crucial to understand how its microbial load varies according to the water content. To address these specific questions, we conducted an investigation involving the analysis of specific microbial indicators commonly used in the food chain. We collected environmental and silkworm samples from several farms. The examination covered the entire life cycle of silkworms, beginning with the first instar larvae and concluding with the scrutiny of both freshly harvested and dried pupae. Silkworm farms in Northeast Italy proved to be an appropriate model system for carrying out the experimentation. Additionally, an evaluation of rearing performance was conducted, with a focus on the quality of fresh cocoons and the survival rate of the insects.
Summary
This report describes gastric squamous cell carcinoma (GSCC) in seven horses. It records the clinical signs, treatment and outcomes. Main clinical signs were mostly nonspecific and included ...weight loss, anorexia, fever, tachycardia and tachypnoea. Some more suggestive clinical signs were observed such as recurrent choke, halitosis and hypersalivation. Chronic anaemia and hypoalbuminaemia were common findings. Gastroscopy identified a gastric mass in four cases (57.1%); however, visualisation of the stomach was precluded in the other three horses due to distal oesophageal neoplastic infiltration and compression. Gastric wall thickening was noticed using abdominal ultrasonography in four horses (57.1%). Neoplastic cells could only be detected in the peritoneal fluid of 2 out of 7 horses. Endoscopic‐guided or transabdominal ultrasound‐guided biopsies allowed an ante‐mortem diagnosis in three horses (42.8%). Gastric masses were identified at post‐mortem examination and metastasis were confirmed in the liver and/or the spleen for 4/4 cases. In the cases for which palliative therapy was attempted, most of the horses were subjected to euthanasia within 4 weeks. In conclusion, GSCC is an uncommon neoplastic disease in horses. A combination of diagnostic tests is often necessary to achieve a diagnosis, which is frequently only made late in the course of the disease. As a result, GSCC is commonly associated with a poor short‐term prognosis.
Summary
This report describes a rare case of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in a 10‐year‐old Shetland pony. The pony was presented for evaluation of a chronic, ulcerating mass of the foot associated ...with a nonweightbearing lameness of the right forelimb. Foot radiographs revealed an aggressive bone lesion with severe osteolysis of the distal phalanx. Amputation of the digit was performed under general anaesthesia at the level of the metacarpophalangeal joint using a palmar flap technique and a transfixation cast for protection of the stump. Avascular necrosis, infection and dehiscence of the stump occurred 3 weeks later and a second amputation was performed at the level of the proximal third of the third metacarpal bone. Histopathology revealed a squamous cell carcinoma. After healing of the stump, a prosthesis was fitted to the limb for improved ambulation of the pony. Two years after the amputation, telephone follow‐up with the referring veterinarian and the owner, revealed that the pony was healthy and able to go out daily in a paddock with its prosthesis. SCC represents an unusual indication for limb amputation. Successful outcome is rarely reported in horses.
Equine grass sickness (EGS) (equine dysautonomia) is a neurodegenerative condition of grazing equines. Pre-mortem diagnosis of EGS is a challenge for practitioners as definitive diagnosis requires ...ileal/myenteric lymph node biopsies. This study aimed to develop a clinical score that could be used by practitioners to improve the detection of acute or subacute EGS cases in the field. Suspected EGS cases were declared by veterinary practitioners. A case was classified as confirmed positive if ileal or rectal biopsy samples showed neuronal degeneration typical of EGS. A semi-quantitative scoring system, including epidemiological and clinical data, was created to attempt to classify suspected EGS horses into confirmed positive or negative cases. Each variable was weighted based on a boosted regression trees model, while taking into account its clinical relevance. Twenty-eight EGS cases were confirmed by biopsy during the entire study period. The best cut-off value for the score to have a high sensitivity while maximizing specificity was 8, with a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 53%. In our dataset, 77% of animals would be correctly classified with this cut-off value of 8. Highest sensitivity was chosen in order to detect the highest number of potential cases. Our score represents an inexpensive and useful tool to aid in the identification of suspected EGS cases in the field and selection for further diagnostics procedures to confirm or rule out the disease. Application of the score to larger populations of animals would be required to further adapt and refine the score.
Since the identification of cyclo-oxygenase-2 as a potentially important therapeutic target in veterinary oncology, numerous studies on its expression have been conducted. Unfortunately, results have ...been heterogeneous and conclusions are difficult to draw. We tested the ability of a defined positive control to guarantee reproducibility of results among different laboratories. Valid positive controls were defined by positivity of the renal macula densa without background labelling. Fifteen colorectal tumours and 15 oral squamous cell carcinomas were labelled immunohistochemically by six European laboratories. Slides were evaluated in blinded fashion for percentage of positive cells and labelling intensity by three pathologists, and results were analyzed statistically for reproducibility and inter-reader variability. Macula densa positivity was an insufficiently sensitive control to guarantee reproducible results for percentage of positive cells and labelling intensity. Inter-reader variability was proven statistically, making the case for image analysis or other automated quantitative evaluation techniques.
This report describes an unusual case of primary cryptococcoma in the proximal thoracic spinal cord of an 11-year-old immunocompetent cat from a farm on which there were large numbers of pigeons. ...This animal was referred for examination with progressive paralysis and shown to be free from feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus, feline coronavirus and
Toxoplasma gondii. It died 2 months later. At necropsy, the only lesion detected was a malacic area, 4
cm in length, in the spinal cord. Histopathological examination of the spinal cord revealed severe granulomatous inflammation associated with large numbers of encapsulated yeast cells. In addition to the granulomatous host response, necrosis, digestion chambers, Gitter cells, spheroids and lymphocytic perivascular cuffs were features of the malacic areas. Immunohistochemistry confirmed the presence of
Cryptococcus neoformans var.
grubii yeast cells.
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