Ângela Patrícia Santana

PCR multiplex for detection of Salmonella Enteritidis, Typhi and Typhimurium and occurrence in poultry meat

The occurrence of foodborne diseases is increasing throughout the world. Bacteria of the genus Salmonella are responsible for food poisoning and, in some cases, may be fatal. The aim of this study was to adapt the multiplex PCR technique (mPCR) on the rapid and direct identification of the presence of Salmonella sp. as well as serotypes Enteritidis, Typhi and Typhimurium in poultry carcasses (n=127) and viscera (n=73). The implementation of the standard technique using positive controls was successfully adapted. The results of Salmonella sp. detection in refrigerated viscera showed that the mPCR was able to detect Salmonella genus in 2.74% of these samples. Traditional microbiological analysis also identified the same positive samples for Salmonella sp. but was not able to differentiate the serotype. The serotype Enteritidis was detected by mPCR in 1.37% of the samples. Our conclusion was that the mPCR was able to detect the presence of these bacteria in a short period of time and enabled the identification of serotype Enteritidis in one of the samples found positive for Salmonella sp.

Antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from chicken carcasses in the Federal District, Brazil.

The aim of the present study was to perform microbiological isolation of Campylobacter jejuni from chilled chicken carcasses marketed in the Federal District of Brazil and to subject the strains to an antibiogram. A total of 92 samples from chilled chicken carcasses were acquired, 18 of which (19.56%) tested positive for C. jejuni. A total of 16 strains were tested for susceptibility to eight antimicrobial drugs. All 16 strains were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 15 strains to nalidixic acid, streptomycin, tetracycline, and gentamycin, 14 strains to amoxicillin, 11 strains to erythromycin, and 6 strains to chloramphenicol. The present study is the first to report on the presence of C. jejuni in chilled chicken carcasses marketed in the Federal District region of Brazil. These results may indicate flaws in certain steps of this food processing and highlight a possible public health problem due to the high level of resistance exhibited by the isolated strains.

Causes of condemnation of carcasses from poultry in slaughterhouses located in State of Goiás, Brazil

The aim of this research was to detect the principal reasons for condemnation of poultry carcasses in two slaughterhouses (A and B); located in the southeastern region of the State of Goias, Brazil. The data were collected by the federal veterinary inspection services of the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture between January and April 2007. The principal causes of condemnation observed in both industries were cellulite, contusion/ fractures and bruises, as well as contamination due to gut severance at evisceration. The three main values observed for each of the causes were different between the slaughter houses. In A, cellulite was the main cause of condemnation with 51.20% of all condemnations, followed by 5.67% for contusion/ fractures and bruising and 33.61% for contamination by evisceration. In B, the major cause of condemnation was 28.90% due to fractures/ contusion and bruising, followed by 25.27% for cellulite and 22.50% for contamination. Other causes of condemnation were observed, however in minute quantities in both industries (<10% to A and <23% to B). The high cellulite occurrence in A was due to the high density of the poultry in sheds (17 or 18 chickens m-2). The greater value for fractures/ contusion and bruising verified in B was due to the inefficiency during capture in the sheds and putting on hooks in the slaughterhouse. Carcass lesions were also caused by insensitization because of non-uniformity in the poultry groups. Contamination by residues due to gut severance, mainly intestines, was attributed to problems in adjustment of machinery and non- uniformity of lots in industry A. In industry B the value detected within an acceptable level of failure in evisceration for machine, according to the manufacturer. All problems observed suggest a failure in handling, cellulite and mainly failures in pre slaughter and slaughter procedure to prevent contusions, fractures and bruising.