Determination of biogenic amines in sucuk

The biogenic amines content of sucuk (Turkish dry fermented sausage) were determined on 30 samples obtained from retail markets and butchers in Turkey. Also, pH and a_w values, microbiological properties, and NPN levels of these samples were analyzed. The most important biogenic amines were tyramine (range 2.4–676 mg/kg), followed by putrescine varied from not detected to 364 mg/kg. Histamine content was under 50 mg/kg in 80% of the samples while it was over 100 mg/kg in only one sample. Tryptamine was detected in 16 of 30 samples in the range of 1.2–82.3 mg/kg.

Lactic acid bacteria, Micrococcus/Staphylococcus and Enterobacteriaceae counts of samples varied from 2.84 to 8.85 log cfu/g, <2.00 to 6.74 log cfu/g, and <2.00 to 5.04 log cfu/g, respectively. pH values were varied between 4.53 and 6.29 while water activity (a_w) were measured to be between 0.761 and 0.960. NPN values were determined to be between 1.47% and 4.10%. Generally, total amine content was high in samples that had high NPN levels.     

Comparison of the microflora isolated from spoiled cold-smoked salmon from three smokehouses

The microflora on spoiled, sliced and vacuum packed, cold-smoked salmon from three smokehouses was quantified and characterized in two independent experiments. Large variations in the microflora were observed both within (i.e. among vacuum packs from the same batch) and among the smokehouses. Lactic acid bacteria dominated the microflora, which reached 10⁷ cfu g⁻¹. Total viable counts of microorganisms alone were not related to quality, though spoilage characteristics were typical for microbiological spoilage. Among the lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillus curvatus (ca 52–55%) was the most common species in both experiments with Lactobacillus saké, Lactobacillus plantarum, Carnobacterium spp. and Leuconostoc spp. present in smaller numbers. In some cases, large numbers of Enterobacteriaceae were also present and identified species were Serratia liquefaciens, Enterobacter agglomerans and Hafnia alvei. The microflora on cold-smoked salmon appeared to be related to the source of contamination i.e. the raw material and/or the smokehouse rather than being specific for the product, thus rendering the identification of the specific spoilage organisms difficult.     

婴儿配方粉干法加工过程肠杆菌科和克罗诺杆菌属监测

目的了解婴儿配方粉干法加工过程中肠杆菌科和克罗诺杆菌属的分布,掌握终产品中克罗诺杆菌属的污染途径。方法对4家企业的产品相关样品(原辅料、中间产品和终产品)和环境进行监测,选择传统分离培养方法对肠杆菌科和克罗诺杆菌属进行检验,利用脉冲场凝胶电泳技术进行克罗诺杆菌属溯源研究。结果地面、空调回风口和使用后的清洁工具中肠杆菌科检出率较高,均在20%左右。产品相关样品、清洁作业区环境相关样品中克罗诺杆菌属检出率分别为2.56%(12/468)和0.27%(6/2 185),22株分离株共有13种脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)带型,每个企业的指纹图谱各不相同,其中有四组分离株分别具有同源性。终产品中克罗诺杆菌属的污染主要来自原辅料,其次为环境中定植的菌株。结论该研究对掌握婴儿配方粉加工企业肠杆菌科和克罗诺杆菌属的污染分布及终产品中克罗诺杆菌属的可能污染源,制定加工过程的卫生控制措施,确保终产品的安全具有重要意义。     

Visual evaluation of cattle cleanliness and correlation to carcass microbial contamination during slaughtering

The aim of the study was to establish whether the visual cleanliness of cattle slaughtered was correlated to hide and carcass contamination as indicated by aerobic colony count (ACC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EC) and Escherichia coli count (ECC). Cattle in a slaughterhouse were visually inspected and assigned to a category from 1 (very clean) to 5 (very dirty) based on cleanliness. Fifteen animals for each category were randomly selected, hide and carcass sampled and analyzed for ACC, EC and ECC. Results showed that increasing dirt on cattle was associated with higher ACC, EC and ECC on hide and carcasses. Carcass ACC and ECC belonging to animals classified in cleanliness categories 3, 4 or 5 have a higher probability of exceeding the limits set by the Reg. EU 2073/2005. The study supports the conclusion that the pre-slaughter visual evaluation of animal cleanliness and application of corrective actions can be an effective aid to reduce carcass contamination.     

ENTEROBACTER AGGLOMERANS—A NEW BACTERIAL CONTAMINANT ISOLATED FROM LAGER BEER BREWERIES

From a large number of bacterial strains isolated from all stages of the brewing process in four different beer breweries in South Africa, fifty-five bacterial strains were identified as Enterobacteriaceae by phenotypic analysis. All enterobacterial species previously reported in brewery samples, as well as eighteen strains of Enterobacter agglomerans were found. E. agglomerans strains were isolated from pitching yeast and fermenting wort samples. The occurrence of E. agglomerans in pitching yeast is significant and indicates that these bacteria survive the brewing process. E. agglomerans is regarded as a potential beer spoilage contaminant in lager beer breweries.     

Selective enumeration of viable Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. in milk within 7 h by multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization following microcolony formation

Rapid and simultaneous enumeration of viable Enterobacteriaceae and viable Pseudomonas spp. in milk was achieved by using multicolor fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with oligonucleotide probes based on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequences in combination with a microcolony growth method (multicolor microcolony-FISH; MMC-FISH). The procedure of MMC-FISH method is rather simple; that is milk clearing, filtration of cells, incubation, hybridization and enumeration. Enumeration of targeted bacteria in logarithmic growth phase, stationary phase, or in a starved state in milk by MMC-FISH required 5-7 h, while it took 1-3 days to test for Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas putida by the conventional culture method. The numbers of E. coli and P. putida in each phase or in a starved state in milk determined by MMC-FISH were almost the same or greater than the number of colony forming units determined by the plate counting method. The MMC-FISH allows rapid examination of contamination in milk by viable Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. with growth potential.     

Development of a histidine decarboxylase medium and its application to detect other amino acid decarboxylases

A liquid medium is described which can be used to detect histidine decarboxylase activity in bacterial pure cultures within 24 h. It can also be used to detect the presence of histamine-producing Enterobacteriaceae in mixed cultures, e.g. in environmental swab specimens by colour change within 48 h. A limited number of tests with tuna fish meat show that this medium may also be used for a semi-quantitative detection of histamine producers, for example by utilizing the MPN technique. Comparative examinations with Møller's decarboxylase medium using 122 Enterobacteriaceae strains demonstrated that the medium can also be used to prove the decarboxylation of lysine, ornithine and arginine. The advantage of the new medium is the faster indication of positive reactions.     

Resistance to ��-lactams in Bacteria Isolated from Different Types of Portuguese Cheese

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of β-lactam-resistant bacteria in six different types of Portuguese cheese. The numbers of ampicillin resistant (AMP^r) bacteria varied from 4.7 × 10² to 1.5 × 10⁷ CFU/g. Within 172 randomly selected β-lactam-resistant bacteria, 44 resistant phenotypes were found and 31.4% were multidrug resistant. The majority (85%) of the isolates identified belonged to the Enterobacteriaceae family. The presence of the bla_TEM gene was detected in 80.9% of the tested isolates. The results suggest that without thermal processing of the milk and good hygienic practices, cheese may act as a vehicle of transfer of β-lactam-resistant bacteria to the gastrointestinal tract of consumers.     

从进口浓缩营养粉中检出阪崎肠杆菌

为保证供特殊人群食用的营养食品的安全,对进口浓缩营养粉进行监测,从中检出1株阪崎肠杆菌。提示特殊食品的监测十分必要。