This study was carried out on 426 samples of raw meats collected from butcheries and supermarkets in Casablanca, Morocco. The samples were examined for the occurrence of Listeria species. Strains of Listeria monocytogenes were characterized by several biochemical tests and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). β-hemolytic cultures and nonhemolytic isolates were tested for biochemical pr...

QUESTION After hearing about outbreaks of illness resulting from Listeria and Salmonella, many of my patients are wondering about the risks of food-borne illnesses during pregnancy and what they can do to reduce their chances of contracting them. ANSWER Although heating or cooking food is the best way to inactivate food-borne pathogens, improved standards and surveillance have reduced the pre...

This is the first time that direct PCR - DNA amplification without prior DNA extraction - was successfully developed and fully validated for rapid and economical simultaneous identification of six commonly consumed meat species. To achieve this, six species-specific primers were selected from previous reports and newly designed from the mitochondrial cytochrome b (cyt b), cytochrome oxidase I (...

Background: Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) is regarded as a globally emerging enteropathogen. aEPECs exhibit various level of resistance to a range of antibiotics, which is increasing alarmingly. The present study investigated the antimicrobial resistance of aEPEC isolates recovered from diarrheal patients, healthy carriers, animals, and raw meats. Results: Among 267 aEPEC i...

Skin testing is a reliable and safe way to diagnose IgE-mediated allergies, with rare side-effects. Two cases of systemic allergic reactions during skin testing to food allergens are hereby reported. A 28-year-old male reported allergic reactions, mild to moderate in severity, each time he tasted fish in the frame of his professional duties. During SPT and prick-to-prick to raw and cooked fishe...

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the sanitary hygienic quality and presence of pathogenic microorganisms in raw meats fresh sausages marketed city Uruguaiana, Rio Grande do Sul (RS), Brazil. We analyzed 238 samples sausages, beef, pork, chicken from 18 commercial establishments (butchers, supermarkets, groceries). Samples were subjected to enumerate hygiene indicator (mesophilic aerobes enterobac...

Introduction .................................................................................................................................. 2 Human Illness .............................................................................................................................. 2 Outbreaks and Cases ...........................................................................................

AIMS To determine the antimicrobial resistant profiles and clonality of Campylobacter coli isolated from clinically ill humans and retail meats. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 98 C. coli isolates (20 from humans and 78 from retail meats) were phenotypically characterized. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was done using agar dilution method for ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, erythromycin and d...

Cured meats are high in nitrites. Nitrites generate reactive nitrogen species that may cause damage to the lung. The objective is to assess the relation between frequent consumption of cured meats and the risk of newly diagnosed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Between 1986 and 1998, the authors identified 111 self-reported cases of newly diagnosed COPD among 42,915 men from the He...