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Aim: Cattle is one of the main sources of food supply chain for humans in most countries. The present study aimed to identify the infection rates for Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcocystis spp. by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in native slaughtered cattle in Kashan, central Iran. Materials and Methods: Totally, 159 diaphragm, esophagus, and muscle samples (53 samples of each) were collected from native beef cattle from Kashan slaughterhouse, central Iran. The genomic DNA was extracted, and PCR method was used separately for detection of N. caninum, Sarcocystis, and T. gondii species using specific primers. Finding: Sarcocystis was found in 84.9% of muscles, 83% of esophagus, and 84.9% of diaphragm samples. Mixed infection (Sarcocystis cruzi–Sarcocystis hominis) was the most common infection, followed by S. cruzi and S. hominis. Sarcocystis hirsuta was not detected in any samples. T. gondii was detected only in three (5.7%) out of the 53 muscle tissues samples of cattle. N. caninum was found in 18.9% of muscles, 24.5% of esophagus, and 28.3% of diaphragm samples. One of the cattle had coinfection to Neospora, Toxoplasma, and Sarcocystis in muscles simultaneously. There was no statistically significant difference between infection rates and age as well as sex in each organ. Conclusion: This study revealed a low prevalence rate of T. gondii, but a high prevalence of infection to N. caninum and S. cruzi or mixed infection of S. cruzi with S. hominis among slaughtered cattle. Prevention measures such as keeping away dogs from cattle grazing are recommended. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus causes various toxigenic and invasive diseases in humans worldwide. This study examined the prevalence, virulence genes, and antibiotic resistance of S. aureus isolates collected from 894 retail food samples in Ardabil, Iran. Staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCC mec ), spa , and multilocus sequence typing methods were employed to further investigate the molecular characteristics of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. The results revealed that 11.18% ( n  = 100) of food samples exhibited contamination with S. aureus (10.50% methicillin-sensitive S. aureus [MSSA] and 0.67% MRSA). Notably, raw minced meat (29.41%), Faloodeh (25%), and Olivier salad (21.42%) emerged as the most frequently contaminated food items. Among the 100 isolates of S. aureus , 94% were characterized as MSSA, with the remaining 6% identified as MRSA. The highest resistance was observed for penicillin (12%). MRSA isolates exhibited significantly higher resistance rates. Seventy-nine percent of the isolates were positive for sea , 14% for seb , 8% for a sec , and 0% for sed enterotoxin-encoding genes. Sixteen percent of isolates harbored two or more staphylococcal enterotoxin genes, simultaneously. Moreover, 97%, 94%, 24%, and 22% of isolates were positive for hla , hld , tst , and pvl virulence-encoding genes, respectively. No isolate was positive for the exfoliative toxins encoding eta and etb genes. MRSA isolates belonged to CC8 ( n  = 4) and CC22 ( n  = 2). Isolates in CC8 belonged to lineage ST239-MRSA-III and spa type t030; the isolates in CC22 belonged to ST22-MRSA-IV and spa types t310 and t223. In conclusion, a relatively high proportion of our retail food samples were contaminated with S. aureus . The high incidence of isolates with toxigenic genes raises serious health concerns. Furthermore, the presence of MRSA lineages linked to humans suggests that retail foods may be contaminated with human origin.

Background and Objectives The Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever (CCHF) is a hemorrhagic viral infection with a high mortality rate. Due to the lack of specific treatment, the disease is managed by medical supports and antiviral drugs. In the present study, we assessed the consumption of blood products during the last outbreak of CCHF in 2017 in Sistan and Baluchestan Province Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, during the CCHF outbreak in 2016, all hospitalized patients with CCHF in the province, their disease status and used blood products were recorded. In addition, the probable causes of CCHF infection and response to treatment were recorded. The disease was diagnosed and confirmed in the patients by serological studies and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) The statistical analysis was done by SPSS 16 and descriptive levels. Results During the study period, 18 patients with a definitive diagnosis of Crimean-Congo Fever and mean age of 27.5 6 + 6.9 were hospitalized. All patients were male and most were slaughterhouse workers (44.5%). The main cause of CCHF contamination was contact with contaminated meat and infected livestock. Of the 18 patients, 11 (61%) required blood transfusions, and platelet concentrate was the most commonly used (83.2%) blood product among the patients. A total of 191 blood products units were consumed and none of the patients died from CCHF Conclusions CCHF is a hemorrhagic disease that required high rate of blood products transfusion, mostly platelet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Campylobacter spp. genera is one of the most common causes of microbial enteritis worldwide. This study aimed to find out how common Campylobacter organisms were in raw meat from large livestock in Iran, as well as to determine their antibiotic susceptibility profiles. Several 550 fresh, ready-to-eat meat samples were collected from slaughterhouses, butcher shops, and restaurants in the study region. The samples were collected from cattle (n=138), goats (n=102), camels (n=56), and sheep (n=254). Campylobacter spp. were isolated and identified using normal bacteriological methods and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genotyping was performed using PCR to identify virulence genes. The disc diffusion technique was used to determine antibiotic susceptibility. The two  Campylobacter spp. were found in 84 (15.27%) of the 550 meat samples tested. Cattle and camel samples accounted for the highest (52.38%) and lowest (3.57%) frequencies of  Campylobacter spp., respectively. There were significant differences in the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in cattle (2=43.04 or OR=7.68, CI=3.40-17.30, P <0.01). Campylobacter jejuni  and  Campylobacter coli  accounted for 82.14% (n=69) of Campylobacter spp. isolated from raw meat. While C. jejuni  was found in 39.28% of the samples (n=33), C. coli  was observed in 42.85% (n=36). Other  Campylobacter spp. formed 17.85 % (n=15) of the samples. The most common genotypes observed in C. jejuni  bacteria collected from different types of large animal samples were ciaB (100%) and flaA (100%). On the other hand, virbll (7.69%) was the  C. jejuni  strain found with the lowest incidence in different large animal samples. The most frequent genotypes found in  C. coli  bacteria were ciaB (100%) and flaA (100%).  C. coli  isolates dnaJ (0%), wlaN (0%), virbll (0%), and ceuE (0%) were detected with the lowest frequency in several samples from large livestock.  Campylobacter spp. isolated from different sample types and sources were 100% sensitive to aphA-3-1 and GM10 . The isolates were reported to be resistant to E15 (76.93%), cmeB (69.24%), aadE1 (69.24%), CIP5 (69.24%), and AM10 (69.24%). According to this study,  Campylobacter  was found in food from factory farming. Consequently, the disease can be transmitted by eating raw or undercooked meat. Therefore, proper handling and preparation of meat meals, as well as hygiene measures from the slaughterhouse to the retailer, are critical in preventing Campylobacter infections., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Aims:Staphylococcus aureus is considered a major cause of food poisoning in the world. We aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus isolated from hamburgers in Kashan city. Materials and Methods: In this study, 71 hamburger samples were collected from supermarkets in Kashan from March to July 2017. The samples were examined after dilution in the Baird–Parker Agar Base medium of inoculation for the bacterial growth of S. aureus. Gram staining, catalase tests, mannitol fermentation, coagulase, DNase, and sensitivity to novobiocin were used to detect the bacteria. Results: The collected hamburgers were about eight types of products. Of the total samples, 15 (21.13%) were Gram-positive bacteria contaminated, including seven cocci and eight bacilli. Seven samples (9.86%) of hamburgers were contaminated with S. aureus. The average counts of S. aureus in positive samples were 1.94 × 103 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g. Conclusion: The outbreak of S. aureus isolates in meat products, particularly hamburger, is of serious threat to public health. To prevent the outbreak of this pathogen in hamburgers, permanent control and monitoring should be performed in food industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Listeria monocytogenes are known as an emerged foodborne pathogen and considered as a severe health risk. In the present study, prevalence and antibiotic resistance of L. monocytogenes isolated from ready-to-eat meat products in Iran were assessed. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 ready-to-eat meat products, including chicken meat (wing, breast, and leg), lamb and fish, were collected, and L. monocytogenes was isolated according to ISO 11290-1. All of the isolates were verified using polymerase chain reaction and serotyping methods. Antibiotics susceptibility of L. monocytogenes isolates was assessed using the broth microdilution method. Results: The presence of L. monocytogenes was verified in 13% of the samples. The presence of L. monocytogenes was reported in 26% of roast chicken meat, 5% of roast fish and 8.33% of cooked beef. Serology showed that Serotype 1/2a (48.13%) was the dominant serotype, followed by 4b (38.4%), 1/2c (6.99%) and 1/2b (6.48%). The result showed that 37 out of 100 L. monocytogenes isolates were resistant to all tested antibiotics. Furthermore, eight isolates were intermediately multi-resistant to the antibiotics. The rate of antibiotic resistance in L. monocytogenes was 52% in Serotype 1/2a, 39% in Serotype 4b, and 35% in Serotype 1/2c. Isolates of L. monocytogenes were mostly resistant to penicillin, ampicillin and erythromycin, but highly susceptible to tetracycline and gentamycin. Conclusions: The high level of L. monocytogenes prevalence and its resistance to antibacterial agents in meat products may result in severe human listeriosis. Therefore, it is necessary to use efficient monitoring protocols for antibiotic administration and further safety management systems in food production units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Campylobacteria is one of the most common groups of bacteria which is transmitted between humans and animals. Among the animal source foods, the presence of campylobacter species in poultry meat has been extensively reported and the consumption of undercooked meat is the most important cause of campylobacter transmission to humans. The aim of this study was to identify Campylobacter spp.in Jahrom slaughterhouse chickens in2016-17. Material&Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, 328 samples of poultry carcasses were randomly selected from slaughterhouses of Jahrom during spring and winter of 2016-2017.Campy-Thio transient medium were used for transferring samples. Exeter Broth enrichment medium and Agar Skirrow selective medium and specific Bacteriological tests were used to identify campylobacter.Data were analyzed by SPSS software version21in descriptive statistics level and using frequency, percentage and chi-square test at the significant level of 0.05. Results: Out of 328 samples, contamination with Campylobacter species was showed in 217(66.2%) ones, 146 (67.3%) and 71 (32.7%) of the samples were infected with Campylobacter jejuni and other Campylobacter species, respectively. It is necessary to mention that 118samples (72%) were contaminated in spring and 99 ones (60.4%) in winter. Also, Frequency of Campylobacter species in liver was79.3%, gizzard 69.5%, heart 61% and meat of poultry55%. Conclusion: Due to the contamination of poultry carcasses (66.2%) especially the liver, which is a potential source of Campylobacter species infection and one of the major health hazards in human society, quality control, and the significant association between infection frequency and season Notification about not consuming certain parts of chicken and training proper methods of consumption and full baking of poultry meat and precautions during the different seasons seems essential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After half a century, Trichinella infection has been reported in humans following ingestion of wild boar meat hunted in Northern Iran. We have performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the prevalence of Trichinella spp. infections in wild boar and prevalence of anti- Trichinella antibodies among at-risk individuals for the first time in Iran. Muscle and sera samples were collected from 79 wild boars and 364 at-risk individuals. Trichinella infection has been investigated by artificial digestion and molecular identification (in wild boar muscles) and by serology (in humans). Trichinella larvae were isolated from three wild boars (3.7%; 95% CI, 2.9–4.3). The isolated larvae were identified as T. britovi using CO1 and 5S rRNA gene primers amplification. The percent identity regarding to 5S rRNA gene (98.7–100%) and divergence (0–1.9%) further confirmed the isolates as T. britovi . Of the 364 participants, anti- Trichinella IgG were detected in 8 (2.2%; CI 95%, 1.9–2.4). Risk factors associated with Trichinella infection seropositivity in humans, were hunter being (OR, 13.5; 95% CI, 3.1–59.4; P = 0.003) and high consumption (more than 7 time in a year) of wild boar meat (OR, 17.5; 95% CI, 3.2–93.6; P < 0.001). In conclusion, results of this study emphasized that consumption of wild boar meat could be important source of human trichinellosis as a completely neglected infection disease in Iran. We suggest that the additional studies should be performed in different parts of Iran to further clarify the prevalence of trichinellosis in wild animals to guide the development of appropriate public health interventions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is recognised as toxin producing group of E. coli and one of the most significant foodborne pathogens worldwide. The aim of this study was to detect STEC and determine virulence gene profiles of these pathogens in different kinds of meat and products in Iran. For this reason a total of 182 samples of minced beef, mutton, chicken meat, chicken feet and mechanically separated chicken meat were collected from retail markets for detection of STEC by PCR method. Of the 72 E. coli isolated from examined samples, 29 of them were STEC. The highest presence of STEC was detected in minced beef (23.5%) followed by chicken feet (15%), mutton (13.3%), mechanically separated chicken meat (12.5%) and chicken meat (5.5%) respectively. In addition the results of PCR assay indicated that 21 (72.4%) and 4 (13.7%) of isolates carried stx2 and eaeA genes respectively. However, according to the results stx2 was the most prevalent gene detected in all kinds of examined samples. Our findings showed that evaluation of the prevalence and virulence factors of this pathogen seems necessary considering the increasing importance of STEC as one of the most significant foodborne pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) and E. faecium ( E. faecium ) are commensals of the gastrointestinal biota of humans and animals and are considered opportunistic pathogens. This study aimed to improve the knowledge about E. faecalis and E. faecium isolated from meat. To this end, 104 meat samples were collected from sheep, goats, cattle, and calves from Shahrekord local markets in Iran. Presumptive colonies of E. faecalis and E. faecium were isolated from the samples and subjected to identification tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect some virulence genes. Furthermore, randomly amplified polymorphic DNA typing and repetitive element sequence-based PCR fingerprinting were used to show the clonal relatedness of the isolates. The results revealed that enterococci were present in 90 out of 104 samples. Specifically, E. faecalis and E. faecium were the commonly isolated species, with the predominance of E. faecalis , which exhibited high resistance to streptomycin (95%) but was susceptible to vancomycin (85.6%). Virulence genes detection showed that ccf and cpd genes were the most prevalent genes in both species. In addition, the molecular typing method indicated that the isolates belonged to separate subgroups. This study shows the contamination of meat products by potential pathogens and resistant enterococci. There is a need to implement regular surveillance to monitor the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant E. faecalis and E. faecium  in food, particularly in meat production., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Concurrent with an increase in the human population on the earth, more than ever, the creation of energy and maintenance of health is necessary, and nowadays, various sources of energy supply are being developed. The general global view in this regard is to provide protein and energy from available and cheap sources. Iran is no exception to this general rule, only in the field of ensuring the health of livestock resources every year, about 10 tons of peptone is needed for producing clostridial vaccines. Vermicomposting worms ( Esienia fetida ) with high protein percentages and rapid reproductions are a suitable source for peptone production. Based on this, the vaccine strain of Clostridium perfringens type D cultivated in two different media contain peptone produced from worms and meat peptone. The growth rate, epsilon toxin (ETX), and alpha toxin (CPA) of Cl. perfringens have been compared in two media. The results showed that the growth rate of bacteria in the worm peptone medium in 48 h was 22% higher than that of the meat peptone. Additionally, the activity of alpha toxin (phospholipase C) was in worm peptone 15% higher than meat peptone during 80 min of measurement. Regarding epsilon toxin lethality, all three mice of the N-worm peptone group died, while all three mice of the meat peptone group survived even 72 h after injection. The average survival time of mice in the N-worm peptone group was 1700 min. Therefore, we suggest the worms' protein is more suitable than industrial meat in peptone production for vicinal propose. To eliminate the need for hydrolyzed protein in the production of vaccines in the future, we suggest an increase in the fields of employment and the development of fertilizer and worm farms in Iran., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Salmonellosis, a zoonotic disease, is one of the leading causes of foodborne illness worldwide. It is responsible for most infections caused by consumption of contaminated food. In recent years, a significant increase in the resistance of these bacteria to common antibiotics has been observed, posing a serious threat to global public health. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of virulent antibiotic-resistant Salmonella spp. strains in Iranian poultry markets. A total of 440 chicken meat samples were randomly selected from meat supply and distribution facilities in Shahrekord and tested for bacteriological contamination. After culturing and isolating the strains, identification was performed using the classical bacteriological method and PCR. To determine antibiotic resistance, a disc diffusion test was performed according to the recommendations of the French Society of Microbiology. PCR was used to detect resistance and virulence genes. Only 9% of the samples were positive for Salmonella. These were Salmonella typhimurium isolates. All Salmonella typhimurium serotypes tested positive for the rfbJ, fljB, invA and fliC genes. Resistance to TET, cotrimoxazole, NA, NIT, piperacillin/tazobactam and other antibiotics was found in 26 (72.2%), 24 (66.7%), 22 (61.1%) and 21 (58.3%) isolates, respectively. The sul1, sul2 and sul3 genes were present in 20, 12 and 4 of 24 cotrimoxazole-resistant bacteria, respectively. Chloramphenicol resistance was found in six isolates, but more isolates tested positive for the floR and cat two genes. In contrast, 2 (33%) of the cat three genes, 3 (50%) of the cmlA genes and 2 (34%) of the cmlB genes were all positive. The results of this investigation showed that Salmonella typhimurium is the most common serotype of the bacterium. This means that most of the antibiotics commonly used in the livestock and poultry industries are ineffective against most Salmonella isolates, which is important for public health., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Toxoplasma gondii, the obligate, intracellular parasite afflicts human in diverse ways such as ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and genotyping of Toxoplasma isolated from meat samples being consumed in East Azerbaijan, Northwest of Iran. Methods: Overall, 150 samples including chicken, beef and lamb meat were collected from retailers in different regions of Tabriz, northwestern Iran during April to September 2014. Molecular detection was done by amplifying B1 gene and T. gondii surface antigen 2 (SAG2) loci. For genotyping of T. gondii, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) was performed using Sau3AI and HhaI restriction enzymes. Finally, three positive isolate from each host was sequenced to evaluate and phylogenetic analysis. Results: Overall, 26 (17.33%) samples were positive for T. gondii including 4 (8%) isolate from chicken, 8 (16%) isolates from cattle and 14 (28%) isolates from sheep. According to the RFLP patterns, sequencing and phylogenetic results, all of the samples were identified as genotype I. Conclusion: The results indicated a potential risk of transmission of the disease through the consumption of infected meat. This is particularly important especially for pregnant women and immuno-compromised patients and this suggests that the training on the prevention of infection is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: STEC isolates and also stx-negative Escherichia coli isolates from sheep meat from the Chaharmahal-va-Bakhtiari province, Iran were analyzed for nine clinically important non-O157 serotypes by PCR. A total of 90 E. coli isolates were tested. Stx-positive and eae-positive E. coli isolates did not belong to the nine most clinically relevant non-O157 STECs. Of the 80 non-STEC isolates, two belonged to the O103 and two belonged to the O128 groups. Stx-negative E. coli O103 and O128 strains isolated have potential in acquiring stx genes and continuing into the digestive system of consumers. Further studies are needed to analyze virulence characteristics of these E. coli strains to determine their potential role in causing disease in humans. For the sake of public health, it is important to monitor and investigate non-O157 diarrheagenic E. coli strains in meat in order to control and prevent them. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Most illnesses caused by E scherichia coli O157: H7 have been associated with eating undercooked, contaminated meat. In this study, a number of 200 cooked beef doner kebab samples from different restaurants across cities of Tehran and Mashhad were analyzed. After enrichment, selective plating and biochemical tests, the DNA from suspected colonies were extracted. Three multiplex polymerase chain reaction ( PCR) assays to confirm the isolates as E . coli O157: H7 and the presence of virulence factors were performed. Specific primers for cH7 and rfbO157 genes in the first and for stx1 and stx2 genes in the second m- PCR were used. The third m- PCR performed using specific primers for eaeA and EhlyA genes. From 25 nonsorbitol-fermenting isolates, 21 isolates confirmed as E . coli O157: H7. The results of third m- PCR showed 12 isolates harboring the EhlyA gene, three isolates the eaeA gene and three isolates harboring both the EhlyA and eaeA genes. Practical Applications The presence of E scherichia coli O157: H7 in cooked beef doner kebabs could be considered a serious public health hazard. These three multiplex PCR assay are a suitable method for rapid identification of E . coli O157: H7 virulence genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The incidence of the virulence-associated genes cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, cadF, dnaJ, racR, and pldA has been investigated in Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli collected from raw chicken and beef from retailers in Tehran, Iran, and from hospitalized children (age, ≤14 years) suffering from diarrhea. Campylobacter spp. were collectively identified by morphological and biochemical methods. Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli were discriminated from other Campylobacter spp. by amplification of a specific conserved fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. The distinction between C. jejuni and C. coli was subsequently made by molecular determination of the presence of the hipO gene in C. jejuni or the ask gene in C. coli. Fragments of the studied virulence-associated genes, cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, cadF, racR, dnaJ, and pldA, were amplified by PCR and subjected to horizontal gel electrophoresis. A total of 71 isolates of C. jejuni and 24 isolates of C. coli from meat were analyzed, while the numbers of isolates from the hospitalized children were 28 and 9, respectively. The unequal distribution of C. jejuni and C. coli in the samples has also been reported in other studies. Statistical analyses by the use of the two-tailed Fisher's exact test of the occurrence of the virulence genes in the isolates of different origins showed that the occurrence of the dnaJ gene was consistently significantly higher in all C. jejuni isolates than in C. coli. The occurrence of the other virulence markers did not differ significantly between species in the majority of the isolates. The PCR results also showed that the occurrence of the virulence markers in the analyzed isolates was much lower than in other studies, which may be caused by a divergent genomic pool of our isolates in comparison with others. L'incidence des gènes associés à la virulence cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, cadF, dnaJ, racR et pldA a été examinée chez Campylobacter jejuni et Campylobacter coli recueillis de poulet cru et de viande de bœuf vendus par des détaillants à Téhéran, Iran, ou prélevés chez des enfants hospitalisés (≤14 ans d'âge) souffrant de diarrhée. Les souches de Campylobacter ont été collectivement identifiées par des méthodes morphologiques et biochimiques. Campylobacter jejuni et C. coli ont été discriminées des autres espèces de Campylobacter par l'amplification d'un segment conservé spécifique du gène de l'ARNr 16S. La distinction entre C. jejuni et C. coli a été subséquemment réalisée par la détermination moléculaire de la présence de hipO chez C. jejuni et de ask chez C. coli. Des fragments des gènes associés à la virulence cdtA, cdtB, cdtC, cadF, dnaJ, racR et pldA ont été amplifiés par PCR et soumis à une électrophorèse sur gel horizontal. Un total de 71 isolats de C. jejuni et de 24 isolats de C. coli dérivés de la viande ont été analysés, alors que le nombre d'isolats recueillis chez les enfants hospitalisés était de 28 et 9, respectivement. La distribution inégale de C. jejuni et de C. coli dans les échantillons a déjà été rapportée dans d'autres études. Des analyses statistiques de l'occurrence des gènes de virulence des isolats d'origines différentes par le test de Fisher exact bilatéral ont montré que l'occurrence du gène dnaJ était systématiquement plus élevée chez tous les isolats de C. jejuni relativement à C. coli. Dans la majorité des isolats restants, l'occurrence des marqueurs de virulence ne différait pas de façon significative. Les résultats en PCR ont aussi montré que l'occurrence des marqueurs de virulence des isolats analysés était beaucoup plus faible comparativement à d'autres études, ce qui pourrait être causé par un pool génomique divergent de nos isolats, comparativement aux autres. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to determine the Salmonella prevalence, the serotypes involved and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of Salmonella isolates recovered from retail raw turkey, ostrich, and partridge meat in Esfahan, Iran. A total of 249 samples of turkey, ostrich, and partridge meat were purchased from 8 randomly selected retail outlets from April 2006 to July 2007. All samples were evaluated for the presence of Salmonella, serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. There was an overall Salmonella prevalence of 6.8%. The prevalence of Salmonella was statistically significantly higher in turkey meat (9.7%) than in ostrich meat (4.6%) (P ≤ 0.05). No Salmonella was isolated from partridge meat samples. Salmonella isolates recovered from turkey and ostrich meat samples were of 4 different serotypes including Salmonella enterica ser. Typhimurium, Salmonella enterica ser. Enteritidis, Salmonella enterica ser. Agona, and Salmonella enterica ser. Paratyphi B. The susceptibility of the 17 isolated strains to 12 antimicrobial drugs was determined using the disk diffusion method. Resistance to nalidixic acid was the most common finding (58.8%), followed by resistance to tetracycline (41.2%), streptomycin (29.4%), trimethoprim (23.5%), chloramphenicol (11.8%), and ciprofloxacin (5.9%). Salmonella isolates recovered from ostrich meat samples were susceptible to all 12 antimicrobial agents. To our knowledge, this is the first study on the prevalence of Salmonella in partridge meat and first report of the isolation of Salmonella spp. from retail raw turkey and ostrich meat in Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In recent years, interest in the consumption of ready-to-eat (RTE) food products has been increased in many countries. However, RTE products particularly those prepared by meat may be potential vehicles of antibiotic-resistance foodborne pathogens. Considering kebab and hamburger are the most popular RTE meat products in Iran, this study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of common foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes) in raw kebab and hamburger samples collected from fast-food centers and restaurants. Therefore, total bacterial count (TBC), as well as the prevalence rates and antibiogram patterns of foodborne pathogens in the samples were investigated. Also, the presence of antibiotic-resistance genes (bla SHV , bla TEM, bla Z , and mecA) was studied in the isolates by PCR., Results: The mean value of TBC in raw kebab and hamburger samples was 6.72 ± 0.68 log CFU/g and 6.64 ± 0.66 log CFU/g, respectively. E. coli had the highest prevalence rate among the investigated pathogenic bacteria in kebab (70%) and hamburger samples (48%). Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus were also recovered from 58, 50, and 36% of kebab samples, respectively. The contamination of hamburger samples was detected to S. aureus (22%), L. monocytogenes (22%), and Salmonella spp. (10%). In the antimicrobial susceptibility tests, all isolates exhibited high rates of antibiotic resistance, particularly against amoxicillin, penicillin, and cefalexin (79.66-100%). The bla TEM was the most common resistant gene in the isolates of E. coli (52.54%) and Salmonella spp. (44.11%). Fourteen isolates (23.72%) of E. coli and 10 isolates (29.41%) of Salmonella spp. were positive for bla SHV . Also, 16 isolates (55.17%) of S. aureus and 10 isolates (27.27%) of L. monocytogenes were positive for mecA gene., Conclusions: The findings of this study showed that raw kebab and hamburger are potential carriers of antibiotic-resistance pathogenic bacteria, which can be a serious threat to public health., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Abstract: Turkey carcasses were sampled in one commercial poultry processing plant of Isfahan (Iran) to evaluate the contamination of carcasses to Campylobacter spp. along the processing plant by PCR method. A total of 348 samples were collected during six plants visit from May to December 2007. Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 62.1% (216 out of 348) of the samples. Out of 216 Campylobacter isolates, 175 (81.0%) were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 41 (19.0%) as Campylobacter coli. The occurrences of Campylobacter spp. contamination after defeathering, evisceration and chilling were 75.9%, 77.6% and 32.8% respectively. The results indicate that the fecal recontamination of the avian skin occurred during defeathering and evisceration. However chilling process decreases Campylobacter spp. contamination of the turkey skin significantly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates are not only known as opportunistic nosocomial bacteria but may also be regarded as emerging bacterial contaminants in foods of animal origins. The present investigation was done to assess the prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of A. baumannii isolated from different types of raw meat samples. One hundred and ninety-four raw meat samples were collected and cultured for A. baumannii isolates. Culture-positive bacteria were also approved using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technique. The disc diffusion method was used for antibiotic susceptibility testing. Out of 194 raw meat samples, 39 (20.10%) were positive for A. baumannii isolates. Ovine raw meat was the most commonly contaminated samples (32.14%). All of the culture-positive A. baumannii isolates were also approved using the LAMP assay. A. baumannii isolates harboured the highest prevalence of resistance against gentamicin (87.17%), tetracycline (79.48%), erythromycin (74.35%), azithromycin (66.66%), ciprofloxacin (58.97%), trimethoprim/sulphamethoxazole (56.41%) and rifampin (51.28%). The lowest prevalence of resistance was found against imipenem (17.94%) and chloramphenicol (28.20%). Raw bovine, ovine, caprine, camel and poultry meat samples were considered as the important sources of isolates resistant to some of the categories of antimicrobials used to treat infections caused by A. baumannii. Further studies are required to find the exact role of resistant A. baumannii isolates in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance to human population., (© 2019 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Clostridium (Clostridioides) difficile is a Gram-positive anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium and the main cause of nosocomial diarrhoea in humans. In recent years, the transmission of C. difficile from environmental reservoirs (e.g. food) to humans has become a major focus of research. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and corresponding toxin genes of C. difficile in faecal samples and meat of quails. Thirty samples of packed quail meat in Mashhad, Iran and 500 faecal samples (pooled to n = 5) were collected on quail farms in the Northeastern Khorasan region for further investigation. Of 100 pooled quail faecal samples 10% showed cultural growth of C. difficile. In meat samples two out of 30 specimens (7%) showed cultural growth. In six of ten isolates from faecal samples toxin genes ( tcdB and tcdA ) were present, while four isolates harboured no toxin genes. However, in meat isolates no toxin genes were present. Mutations in the tcdC gene were not detected, indicating that 'hypervirulent' strains such as RT027 and RT078 were not present. The data suggest that quail and quail products might hold a potential for the spread of C. difficile.

Introduction: Staphylococcus aureus, in particular its enterotoxigenic strains, is a well-known pathogen in food microbiology as one of the most common causes of food poisoning. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of S. aureus enterotoxigenic strains in Iranian food resources by using a systematic review and meta-analysis., Methods: A systematic search was performed using electronic databases from papers that were published by Iranian authors to the end of July 2017. Then, 34 publications which met our inclusion criteria were selected for data extraction and analysis., Results: The average pooled prevalence of S. aureus in food resources was 15.5% (95% CI: 12.7%-18.9%) ranging from 1.1% to 52%. According to the examined publications the estimated average prevalence of enterotoxigenic strains was estimated at 53.7% (95% CI: 41.4%-65.6%) ranging from 13% to 83.3%. The average prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus in contaminated resources was estimated at 15.5% (95% CI: 11.1%-21.4%) ranging from 0% to 32%. The results showed that SEA and SEG were the most prevalent classic and new staphylococcal enterotoxins' (SEs) types. The results of antibiotic resistance pattern showed the highest resistance rates to β-lactams, tetracycline and erythromycin., Conclusions: The present analysis showed a significant presence of enterotoxigenic strains of S. aureus and a high rate of staphylococcal enterotoxins among food resources in Iran. However, also the prevalence of MRSA strains is remarkable and requires an improvement of the hygienic conditions to reduce the risk of MRSA dissemination in community and hospitals. Furthermore, the rational use of antibiotics in the environments related to food resources is recommended.

Pathogenic bacteria are responsible for a significant number of food poisonings in humans through infected poultries. The main objective of this study was to assess the effect of transportation of chicken carcasses at 18-24, 4-5, and 10-14 oC on the bacterial loads of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella species, and Escherichia coli. This study was conducted on 180 fresh chicken carcasses (1197.0&plusmn;19.88 g) randomly collected from a commercial poultry processing plant in southern Tehran, Iran, in a hot season in 2015. The sampling was performed at two stages, namely post-chilled washing and after 4 h of transportation. In the latter stage, the samples were selected from three vehicles with three types of temperatures. These vehicles included a pickup (18-24 oC), a refrigerated car (4-5 oC), and a refrigerated vehicle with switched off refrigerator (10-14 oC). According to the results, the whole body carcass samples transported at the pickup temperature had the highest mean total count (18.63&times;106&plusmn;2.82&times;106 cfu.ml-1) and was greater (P&lt;0.05) than the standard limit (5&times;106). On the other hand, the samples carried by the vehicle with switched off refrigerator had the lowest total count (0.65&plusmn;0.04&times;106 cfu.ml-1). Similar results were obtained for S. aureus; accordingly, it reached the maximum (333.0&plusmn;30.73 cfu.ml-1) at 18-24 oC, which was lower than the national standard limit even after 4 h of transportation. In addition, the cfu values for the total count and S. aureus sampled from the chicken carcasses were lower than the national standard level even after 4 h of carcass transportation, with the exception of Salmonella spp. at the three vehicle temperatures and E. coli at the pickup temperature. It was suggested that the transportation temperature of less than 10-14 oC could not affect the fresh chicken carcass to be contaminated with S. aureus and E. coli., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2018, Archives of Razi Institute. Published by Kowsar.)

According to controversial theories and results of studies, foods with animal origins play an important role in the transmission of H. pylori to human. The aim of this study was to determine the distribution of vacA genotypes of H. pylori, isolated from milk and meat samples of cow, sheep, goat, camel, and buffalo. Eight hundred and twenty raw milk and meat samples were collected from various parts of Iran. Samples were cultured and those found positive for H. pylori were analyzed for the presence of various genotypes of vacA gene. Out of 420 milk and 400 meat samples, 92 (21.90%) and 105 (26.25%) were positive for H. pylori, respectively. The most commonly detected genotypes in the vacA gene were s1a (86.80%), m1a (79.18%), s1b (69.54%), and m1b (63.45%) and detected combined genotypes were mostly m1as1a (68.52%), m1as1b (60.40%), m1bs1b (55.83%), and m1bs1a (53.29%). High presence of bacteria in the milk and meat samples of sheep represents that sheep may be the natural host of H. pylori. High presence of H. pylori strains in milk and meat samples similar to vacA genotypes in human being suggests that milk and meat samples could be the sources of bacteria for human.

To determine the prevalence of Clostridium difficile in farm animals from slaughterhouse through to retail stage, a total of 750 samples of feces, posteviscerated and washed carcass were collected from cattle, camels, goats, and sheep in Isfahan, Iran. The overall prevalence of C. difficile in feces, posteviscerated and washed carcass were 20 (13.3%), 23 (15.3%), and 11 (7.3%), respectively; while C. difficile was isolated from 79 (26.3%) retail samples. Twenty-nine (3.8%) isolates were toxigenic, with most toxigenic isolates (n = 17, 5.6%) identified from the retail stage. All toxigenic isolates harbored tcdA and tcdB; however, all were negative for cdtB. The 29 isolates were classified into 21 different ribotypes. This study revealed evidence of existence of toxigenic C. difficile in farm animal feces and meat in Iran.

Introduction: Salmonella is one of the major foodborne pathogens responsible for outbreaks of foodborne illness in humans worldwide., Methodology: A total of 560 samples of chicken meat and giblets were collected from retail markets for Salmonella identification, serotyping, and antimicrobial resistance testing., Results: Salmonella was detected in 19.8% of samples. Among the five serotypes identified, S. Thompson was the predominant type (48.7%). High antimicrobial resistance rates were observed to nalidixic acid (92.8%), tetracycline (81%), trimethoprim (68.4%), sulfamethoxazole / trimethoprim (61.2%), streptomycin (56.7%), and kanamycin (36.9%). Although resistance to chloramphenicol (3.6%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (5.4%), and ampicillin (11.7%) was detected, none of the isolates were resistant to ceftazidime, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, ciprofloxacin, colistin, gentamicin, nor imipenem., Conclusions: Restrictions on the irrational use of antibiotics in humans and animals are suggested for the reduction of resistant strains.

The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Listeria, Salmonella, and Yersinia spp. isolated from duck and goose intestinal contents. A total of 471 samples, including 291 duck and 180 goose intestinal contents, were purchased from wet markets between November 2008 and July 2010. Listeria, Salmonella, and Yersinia spp. were isolated from 58 (12.3%), 107 (22.7%), and 80 (17%) of the samples, respectively. It was concluded that Listeria ivanovii, Salmonella Thompson, and Yersinia enterocolitica were the predominant serovars among Listeria, Salmonella, and Yersinia spp., respectively. Moreover, resistance to tetracycline was common in Listeria (48.3%) and Salmonella spp. (63.6%), whereas 51.3% of the Yersinia spp. isolates were resistant to cephalothin. Therefore, continued surveillance of the prevalence of the pathogens and also of emerging antibiotic resistance is needed to render possible the recognition of foods that may represent risks and also ensure the effective treatment of listeriosis, salmonellosis, and yersiniosis.

Background: Clostridium difficile has been shown to be a nosocomial pathogen associated with diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis in hospitalised patients and the infection is believed to be acquired nosocomially. Recent studies have shown the occurrence of C. difficile in food animals which may act as a source of infection to humans.The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of C. difficile in retail raw beef, cow, sheep, goat, camel and buffalo meat in Iran., Method: From April to October 2012, a total of 660 raw meat samples from beef, cow, sheep, goat, camel and buffalo were purchased from 49 butcheries in Isfahan and Khuzestan provinces, Iran, and were evaluated for the presence of C. difficile using a method including selective enrichment in C. difficile broth, subsequent alcohol shock-treatment and plating onto C. difficile selective medium. C. difficile isolates were tested for the presence of toxin genes and were typed using PCR ribotyping., Results: In this study, 13 of 660 meat samples (2%) were contaminated with C. difficile. The highest prevalence of C. difficile was found in buffalo meat (9%), followed by goat meat (3.3%), beef meat (1.7%), cow (0.94%) and sheep meat (0.9%). Seven of the 13C. difficile strains (53.9%) were positive for tcdA, tcdB and cdtB toxin genes and were classified as ribotype 078. Four strains (30.8%) were positive tcdA, and tcdB, and one strain (7.7%) was possessed only tcdB. The remaining isolate was non-toxigenic. Susceptibilities of 13C. difficile isolates were determined for 11 antimicrobial drugs using the disk diffusion assay. Resistance to clindamycin, gentamycin, and nalidixic acid was the most common finding., Conclusions: To our knowledge, the present study is the first report of the isolation of C. difficile from raw buffalo meat. This study indicates the potential importance of food, including buffalo meat, as a source of transmission of C. difficile to humans.

1. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from different species of retail poultry meat in Iran. 2. From August 2012 to April 2013, a total of 540 raw poultry meat samples from chicken (n = 100), turkey (n = 100), quail (n = 100), partridge (n = 80), duck (n = 50), ostrich (n = 60) and geese (n = 50) were purchased from randomly selected retail outlets in Shahrekord, Isfahan, Sari and Rasht, Iran. 3. Using culture techniques, 71 of 540 poultry meat samples (13.1%) were positive for Arcobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Arcobacter spp. was found in chicken meat (28.0%), followed by quail (12.0%), duck (11.4%), turkey (11.0%), geese (8.0%), partridge (7.5%) and ostrich (3.3%) meat. The number of A. butzleri isolated from poultry meat samples (90.1%) was significantly higher than A. cryaerophilus (7.1%) and A. skirrowii (2.8%). Significantly more poultry meat samples were found to contain Arcobacter spp. by the PCR assay than by the culture method. 4. Susceptibilities of Arcobacter isolates were determined for 14 antimicrobial drugs using the disk diffusion method. All of the 71 Arcobacter isolates tested were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Resistance to cephalothin and vancomycin (95.8%) was the most common finding, followed by resistance to methicillin, azithromycin and ampicillin. All Arcobacter isolates were susceptible to gentamicin, streptomycin, tetracyclin and kanamycin. 5. The results of this study indicated the importance of poultry meat, especially chicken meat, as potential sources of Arcobacter spp. infection in people. Furthermore, the strains indicated resistance to a broad spectrum of antibiotics.

In humans, arcobacters are associated with watery diarrhea and septicemia. Although, recently, more cases of diarrhea have been caused by Arcobacter species, very little is known about its pathogenesis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the presence of six putative Arcobacter virulence genes (cadF, ciaB, cj1349, mviN, pldA, and tlyA), in a set of 113 Arcobacter butzleri, 40 Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and 15 Arcobacter skirrowii isolates that were recovered from various origins. The isolates were confirmed on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of genus and species specific PCR for determining three species. For confirmed isolates, PCR was carried out for the presence of virulence genes using specific primers. All A. butzleri isolates carried all six genes. For A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii, the cadF gene was detected just in 55 and 53.3%, ciaB in 97.5 and 86.6%, cj1349 in 45 and 60%, mviN in 90 and 80%, pldA in 32.5 and 13.3%, and tlyA in 37.5 and 40%, respectively. For A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii, the genes ciaB and mviN were significantly more prevalent than other virulence markers (P ≤ 0.05). The findings revealed that many of the important Arcobacter strains (86%) have these putative virulence genes which can be potential pathogenic properties for humans., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the prevalence of nine virulence and toxin genes of Campylobacter, a total of 90 Campylobacter strains including 48 C. jejuni and 42 C. coli were recovered from chicken feces by cultivation methods. The isolates were identified on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR for determining two species. For confirmed strains, PCR was carried out for the presence of virulence genes using specific primers. Data were analyzed by SPSS software, version 12.0.1. The cadF gene and three genes associated with cytolethal distending toxin were present in 100% of isolates. Plasmid virB11 gene was not found in any of the Campylobacter isolates, and the prevalence of pldA, wlaN, iamA, and cgtB genes were 92.22%, 82.22%, 81.11%, and 22.22%, respectively. The findings revealed that the distribution of the majority of these genes were not dissimilar among Campylobacter species. The results emphasized that many of the pathogenic C. jejuni and C. coli may have these genes, and the Campylobacter strains with poultry origin have pathogenic potential properties for humans.

Listeria and particularly Listeria monocytogenes are important foodborne pathogens that can cause listeriosis and severe complications in immunocompromised individuals, children, pregnant women, and the elderly. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Listeria spp. in raw meat in Iran. From July 2010 to November 2011, a total of 1,107 samples of various raw meats were obtained from randomly selected retail butcher shops. The results of conventional bacteriologic and PCR methods revealed that 141 samples (12.7%) were positive for Listeria spp. The highest prevalence of Listeria was found in raw buffalo meat samples (7 of 24 samples; 29.2%) followed by quail meat (26 of 116 samples; 22.4%), partridge meat (13 of 74 samples; 17.6%), and chicken meat (27 of 160 samples; 16.9%). The most common species recovered was Listeria innocua (98 of 141 strains; 75.9 % ); the remaining isolates were L. monocytogenes (19.1% of strains), Listeria welshimeri (6.4% of strains), Listeria seeligeri (3.5% of strains), and Listeria grayi (1.4% of strains). Susceptibilities of the 141 strains to 11 antimicrobial drugs were determined using the disk diffusion assay. Overall, 104 (73.8%) of the Listeria isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobials, and 17.0% of the isolates were resistant to three or more antimicrobials. The present study provides the first baseline data on the prevalence of Listeria in raw meat derived from sheep, goat, buffalo, quail, partridge, chicken, and ostrich in Iran and the susceptibility of these isolates to antimicrobials.

Listeria monocytogenes has been identified as an important foodborne pathogen in recent years. In humans, it most commonly affects pregnant women, neonates, children, elderly people, and persons with a suppressed immune system. It could contaminate both raw and cooked meat and poultry products. Studies regarding prevalence and risk factors of L. monocytogenes in broilers flocks are limited. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalence and risk factors for L. monocytogenes in poultry flocks in Shiraz, southern Iran. During August to September 2009, in total, 100 broiler flocks were selected at slaughter, and 21 specimens were collected from cloacal samples from each flock. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed on the samples enriched in buffered Listeria enrichment broth (BLEB), using specific primers. Furthermore, enriched samples in BLEB and/or BLEB treated with 5% KOH were subcultured on Palcam medium. Data about farm and flocks were collected using a structured questionnaire. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes was 7% (95% CI, 2-12%) and 1% using PCR and culture, respectively. Results showed that using antibiotics during rearing period was dramatically reduced the rate of isolation (odds ratio [OR]=0.07, p=0.03), whereas house capacity of more than 10,000 birds (OR=24.03, p=0.04) and number of houses (OR=2, p=0.02) significantly increased the prevalence. The correlation between poor management of large poultry flocks and increasing the risk of contamination was more likely due to the recontamination of cooked poultry/undercooking or cross-contamination of other ready-to-eat foods.

Campylobacter spp. are one of the most common causes of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in human beings which are transmitted mostly via food originating from animals. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter spp. isolated from retail raw meats in Iran. From June 2008 to June 2009, a total of 722 raw meat samples from camel (n = 107), beef (n = 190), lamb (n = 225), and goat (n = 180) were purchased from randomly selected retail outlets in Isfahan and Yazd, Iran, and were evaluated for the presence of Campylobacter spp. In this study, 50 of the 722 meat samples (6.9%) were contaminated with Campylobacter spp. The highest prevalence of Campylobacter spp. was found in lamb meat (12.0%), followed by goat meat (9.4%), beef meat (2.4%), and camel meat (0.9%). The most prevalent Campylobacter spp. isolated from the meat samples was Campylobacter jejuni (84.0%); the remaining isolates were Campylobacter coli (16.0%). Susceptibilities of 50 Campylobacter isolates were determined for 10 antimicrobial drugs using the disk-diffusion assay. Resistance to tetracycline was the most common finding (68.0%), followed by resistance to ciprofloxacin (46.0%) and nalidixic acid (40.0%). All of the isolates were susceptible to erythromycin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol. Significantly higher prevalence rates of Campylobacter spp. (p < 0.05) were found in the lamb meat samples taken in spring (20.0%) and summer (18.9%). To our knowledge, this study is the first report of the isolation of Campylobacter spp. from raw camel, lamb, and goat meat in Iran.

Verocytotoxin producing Escherchia coli (VTEC) infection has been associated with diarrhoea. Sheep, like other ruminants, appear to have VTEC in their feces and are regarded as natural reservoirs of these pathogens. As contaminated sheep products can serve as a risk factor, their role as a food safety threat should be considered. The carcasses of sheep during slaughtering were examined for the presence of VTEC, which were isolated from 19 (9.5%) of 200 animals. Most of the 19 VTEC isolates (73.68%) contained Shiga toxin 1 and 2 genes. Eight (4%) carcasses of sheep were contaminated by E. coli O157:H7. The monthly prevalence of VTEC in sheep was obtained and ranged from 0.2% to 9.5% and was at its highest level in spring and late summer, which is in parallel to the seasonal variation in reported cases of O157 VTEC infections in humans. This study showed that VTEC are widely distributed in southern Iranian sheep.

A total of 617 meat and meat products, diary, vegetables and ready to eat food samples were collected. Listeria spp. isolated by using USDA method of isolation and L. monocytogenes identified by biochemical and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The incidence of Listeria spp. was 4.6% in all food samples. L. monocytogenes was found in 1.2% of food samples. It was found that Listeria spp. was present in 6.7% of meat and meat product samples, 1.3% of diary samples, 1.2% of vegetable samples and 12% ready to eat samples. The results presented in this study indicate, the potential risk of eating ready to eat food or raw and undercooked foods.

Campylobacter spp. is a leading cause of human diarrhea. The common source of infection is contaminated food, particularly poultry. The veterinary use of antimicrobial drugs has been suggested to be largely responsible for resistance in human isolates of this zoonotic pathogen. From April to October 2004, 241 samples of chicken and beef meat for sale in retail outlets in Tehran (Iran) were analyzed for the presence of Campylobacter. Totally, 88 (36.5%) Campylobacter strains were isolated. Campylobacter was isolated from a significantly larger number of chicken (63%) than beef (10%) meat (P < 0.0001). Susceptibilities of 72 strains were determined for eight antimicrobial drugs using the disk diffusion assay. Resistance to nalidixic acid was the most common finding (75%), followed by resistance to ciprofloxacin (69.4%), tetracycline (45.8%), amoxicillin (11.1%), streptomycin (4.2%), chloramphenicol (2.8%) and gentamicin (1.4%). None of the isolates was resistant to erythromycin. Multidrug resistance was seen in 75% of the Campylobacter strains.

Brucellosis is being reported with increasing frequency in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Serum antibodies in high-risk and general populations help to define cut-off levels and can be used as a simple and rapid diagnostic tests in infected areas. We performed the rose Bengal test (RBT), serum agglutination test (SAT) and 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) titre determination on 415 healthy individuals including butchers, slaughterers and others. Positive results were found by RBT, SAT titre (1:80) and 2ME titre > or = 1:20 in slaughterers (10%, 20% and 6% respectively), butchers (6%, 4% and 1% respectively) and the general population (1%, 2% and < 1% respectively). A single SAT titre > or = 1:80 in the presence of 2ME titre > or = 1:20 can be diagnostic in this region.