Search

Simple Summary: Salmonellosis is the second most reported gastrointestinal disorder in the European Union, resulting from the consumption of Salmonella-contaminated foods. Chickens are considered reservoirs of this pathogen among food-producing animals, for which hygienic and sanitary measures mitigate the risk to humans through the food chain. However, data about the presence of this pathogen in autochthonous Portuguese chickens or their by-products is scarce. In this context, the aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation on the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in autochthonous Portuguese laying hens raised in a semi-extensive system for small-scale production. The screening revealed an absence of Salmonella spp. in all cloaca, eggshell, and litter material samples collected (n = 279) from the 31 selected flocks. Considering these results and the fact that Salmonella is still the leading cause of food-borne outbreaks, the risk posed by Portuguese autochthonous chicken breeds produced through alternative and extensive farming methods can be considered low. However, this risk should not be neglected and needs to be further investigated, using a larger sample size, to validate this trend. The sustainability of agroecological systems, biodiversity protection, animal welfare, and consumer demand for higher quality products from alternative and extensive farming methods have reinforced interest in local breeds that are well adapted to low-input environments. However, food safety needs to be safeguarded to reinforce consumer confidence. The aim of this study was to conduct a preliminary investigation on the occurrence of Salmonella spp. in eggshells, hen's cloaca, and litter materials from autochthonous Portuguese laying hens raised in a semi-extensive system for small-scale production. A total of 279 samples from 31 flocks belonging to 12 farms were obtained, with 63 samples from the "Preta Lusitânica" breed, and 72 samples each from the remaining autochthonous breeds, namely, "Branca", "Amarela", and "Pedrês Portuguesa". None (0%) of the samples analyzed were positive for Salmonella spp. To the best of our knowledge, these are the first results of Salmonella evaluation from hen's cloaca, eggshells, and litter materials in autochthonous Portuguese chickens, suggesting that a semi-extensive production system can contribute to better food security and a lower risk to public health and the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of edible coatings incorporating bioextracts from mushrooms native to Portuguese forests aims to enhance the value of the endogenous forest and mycological resources by harnessing their potential as a source of antimicrobial and antioxidant compounds. Edible coatings represent an important pathway to decreasing food waste and contributing to implementing a circular bioeconomy. The coating should result in product valorization through improved preservation/conservation, increased shelf life, as well as enhancement of its antioxidant and enzymatic properties. To evaluate the effectiveness of an edible coating on fungal food matrices, a 14-day shelf-life study was conducted, wherein both coated and untreated mushrooms were examined under controlled storage temperatures of 4 °C and 9.3 °C. Agaricus bisporus was chosen as the food matrix for its bioeconomy significance, and Pleurotus eryngii was selected for the preparation of the food-based coating due to its profile of bioactive compounds. Microbiological analysis and physicochemical monitoring were conducted on the food matrices and the coating. Coated mushrooms had less mass loss and color change, and had better texture after 14 days. Microbiological analysis revealed that the coating had no antimicrobial activity. Overall, the coating improved the shelf life of the coated mushrooms but had less effect on the microbial community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After calving, bovine colostrum is obtained from the mammary gland of the dam in the first days and fed to newborn ruminant to prevent microbial infections. Each bovine colostrum has a unique biochemical composition with high nutraceutical value compared to milk. However, bovine colostrum is influenced by various factors, such as environmental, individual, and genetic factors, as well as processing methods. Proper colostrum management is crucial for obtaining high-quality colostrum and mitigating bacterial contamination. This is important not only for the health and survival of calves but also for the health of humans who consume colostrum and its co-products. It is essential to ensure that the consumed colostrum is free of pathogens to reap its benefits. Health-promoting products based on colostrum have gained significant interest. However, colostrum can contain pathogens that, if not eliminated, can contribute to their transmission and spread, as well as antibiotic resistance. The aim of this review was to promote the animal and human health benefits of bovine colostrum by improving its microbial quality and highlighting potential routes of dissemination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Implementing hygienic measures is one of the key factors in mitigating colostrum bacterial contamination and obtaining safe and high-quality colostrum. This helps reduce the exposure of pathogens to newborn calves, other animals, and humans, in a One Health analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Enterococci are among the most responsible agents for nosocomial infections and are globally prevalent antibiotic-resistant microorganisms. The risk of calves being fed colostrum contaminated with these bacteria or antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, leading to the colonization of their gastrointestinal tract, is a concern of public health. The objective of this study was to investigate whether bovine colostrum can act as a reservoir and vehicle for the dissemination of antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus spp. via the food chain. The sensitivity to 14 antibiotics using the disk diffusion method, as well as the presence of antibiotic-resistant genes and virulence genes, were analyzed in calf colostrum samples. E. faecalis, E. faecium and E. gallinarum were identified in the colostrum samples. The results demonstrated a very high percentage (92.1%) of isolates classified as multidrug-resistant (≥3 antimicrobial classes). Additionally, 52% of the isolates showed the presence of ≥4 virulence genes. E. faecium was most likely to carry erythromycin and tetracycline resistance genes, as well as virulence genes. This study revealed that colostrum serves as a reservoir and/or vehicle for the spread of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. These results have to be analyzed in a One Health perspective to better combat this spread to humans, other animals and the environment. Enterococci are considered among the most prevalent global multidrug-resistant microorganisms globally. Their dissemination is a global concern, particularly by food-producing animals for both animals and humans. The aim of this study was to identify the species and investigate the antibiotic resistance and virulence profile of Enterococcus in bovine colostrum. Out of 88 presumptive Enterococcus isolates, species identification and susceptibility to 14 antimicrobials were tested using the disk diffusion method. An analysis of the antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was performed on the most prevalent species, using specific PCR assays. Enterococcus faecalis (54.5%), E. faecium (14.8%) and E. gallinarum (6.8%) were the identified species. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. gallinarum in bovine colostrum. The majority of the isolates showed resistance to quinupristin-dalfopristin (95.9%), erythromycin (80.7%), tetracycline (80.7%) and streptomycin (58%). Ninety-two percent of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant. The most frequently detected resistance genes were tet(K) (61.1%), tet(M) (75.9%), tet(L) (90.7%), erm(B) (55.6%) and ant(6)-Ia (46.3%). The most prevalent virulence factors were cpd, esp, agg and cylLL. Enterococcus faecium showed a higher probability of carrying the erm(C), tet(M), ace and gel(E) genes (p < 0.05). These results demonstrated that colostrum can constitute an important reservoir and vehicle for the dissemination of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes to the three niches included in a One Health perspective (humans, animals and the environment), highlighting the importance of hygiene sanitary measures to mitigate colostrum microbial contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Numerous studies have already reported the presence of different antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus species in food-producing animals, animal products and pet food. However, studies specifically evaluating antimicrobial resistance in Enterococcus spp. in ornamental animals and their food are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to identify Enterococcus spp. and their antibiotic-resistant patterns in ornamental animal feed, as this could lead to the spread of antimicrobial resistance to humans due to their close contact with these animals. Enterococcus is a bacterial genus that is strongly associated with nosocomial infections and has a high capacity to transfer and acquire resistance genes. In this study, the main objective was to evaluate the presence of Enterococcus species in ornamental animal feed and characterize their antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using 14 antimicrobial agents by the disk diffusion method, complemented by genotypic analysis to identify Enterococcus species and the presence of 14 antimicrobial resistance and 10 virulence genes. From 57 samples of ornamental animal feed, 103 Enterococcus isolates were recovered from 15 bird, 9 fish and 4 reptile feed samples. Enterococcus isolates were highly resistance to rifampicin (78%) and erythromycin (48%), and 48% of isolates were classified as multidrug-resistant. Enterococcus faecalis (36.7%) and E. faecium (31.7%) were the species most frequently identified. Most isolates carried the resistance genes ermB (57%) and tetL (52%) and the virulence genes, cylL (52%) and esp (40%). Enterococcus gallinarum was the species with the highest number of multidrug-resistant isolates (50%) and virulence genes (80%). These results highlight the high levels of antibiotic-resistant Enterococcus spp. present in ornamental animal feed and the growing interaction of these animals with humans as a public health concern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial water quality is a major concern in the world, since the ingestion of water contaminated with microorganisms poses risks to human and animal health. The aim of this study was to evaluate the microbiological quality of drinking water on dairy cattle farms. The study was carried out to determine the occurrence of coliforms and enterococcus species in drinking water samples obtained from selected dairy cattle farms located in four different areas of Portugal (north, central, south and islands). A questionnaire was used to collect relevant information regarding farmer demographics, characteristics of the cattle farms, as well as number of animals per herd, number of adult cows, production type, water source, use of disinfectants and pasture area. In this study, a convenience sample of 32 dairy cattle farms was subjected to screening for water quality. The numbers of animals in the study were 8086 cattle, with a mean herd size of 253, of which 51.7% were cows. Coliform and enterococcus bacterial species were identified by performing the membrane filtration method. The occurrence of poor water quality was recorded in 19 (59.4%) cattle farms. Isolated bacteria included Escherichia coli (20.0%), Enterococcus faecalis (25.0%), total coliforms (65.6%) and fecal coliforms (43.8%). Farms that did not routinely perform disinfection had the worst water quality (70.8%) when compared with farms that performed disinfection (25.0%) (p = 0.022). This research revealed the importance of screening the quality of drinking water on cattle farms, which could contribute to improved animal, human and environmental health in a One Heath approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]