RASFF – Salmonella in Celery in Denmark sourced in Vietnam
RASFF – Enterobacteriaceae in Dog Chews in Italy sourced in China
RASSF – Norovirus in Clams in France sourced in the UK
RASFF – Salmonella in Beef Meat in Sweden via Germany/Netherlands
RASFF – Clostridium and E.coli in Green Beans in Denmark sourced in France
France – Listeria in Fresh Goats Cheese
Posted in Bacteria, Clostridium botulinum, Clostridium perfringens, E.coli, Enterobacteriaceae, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Safety Alert, Food Testing, Food Virus, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Norovirus, Pathogen, RASFF, Recall, Salmonella
Tagged dog chews, goats cheese, norovirus
The performances of three chromogenic agars were evaluated for the recovery of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from spiked de-chlorinated tap, ground and surface water, and treated drinking water samples. The chromogenic agars: ChromAgar O157 (CHROM), Rainbow Agar O157 (RB) and HiCrome EC O157 (HC) were compared to cefixime-tellurite Sorbitol MacConkey (CT-SMAC), commonly used for the isolation of E. coli O157:H7. Confirmation of suspect E. coli O157:H7 colonies were performed by colony real-time PCR (C-RTi-PCR) based on the presence of Shiga-toxin genes (stx1 and stx2). Recovery of inoculated E. coli O157:H7 from de-chlorinated tap water indicated that RB and CHROM agars demonstrated improved recovery when compared to HC or CT-SMAC. There was a significant drop in recovery on all agars tested after 120 hours (day 5). Twenty de-chlorinated tap and/or treated drinking water samples were inoculated with a pure culture of E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43894), and a mixed culture of E. coli O157:H7 (ATCC 43894), E. coli strain K-12, and Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC 063589). After a 48 hour holding time, the recovery using CHROM (99 %) and HC (12 %) from samples contaminated with the pure culture were found to be significantly different (p < 0.05). Recovery results using CHROM (39 %) and CT-SMAC (32 %) from samples contaminated with the mixed culture after 48 hour holding time were not significantly different (p > 0.05). Analysis by C-RTi-PCR of forty five environmental water samples (surface, sewage, and final effluents) which were negative for E. coli O157:H7 showed an incidence of false suspect positive colonies of 38 % (CHROM), 53 % (RB), 58 % (HC), and 91 % (CT-SMAC). Further analysis of eight of the environmental samples inoculated with E. coli (ATCC 43894) showed 100% recovery when utilizing CHROM, 50% when using RB and 40 % when using HC. In addition, the C-RTi-PCR positive confirmation rate was 100% for CHROM and HC and 65% for RB. CHROM demonstrated improved recovery of E. coli O157:H7 over RB, HC, and CT-SMAC in terms of sensitivity and specificity.
Posted in E.coli, E.coli O157, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research
Tagged science
Produce related outbreaks have been traced back to the preharvest environment. A longitudinal study was conducted on five farms in New York State to characterize prevalence, persistence, and diversity of foodborne pathogens in fresh produce fields and to determine landscape and meteorological factors that predict their presence. Produce fields were sampled four times per year for two years. A total of 588 samples were analyzed for L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). The prevalence measures of L. monocytogenes, Salmonella and STEC were 15.0, 4.6, and 2.7%, respectively. L. monocytogenes and Salmonella were detected more frequently in water samples, while STEC was detected with equal frequency across all sample types (soil, water, feces and drag swabs). L. monocytogenes sigB gene allelic types 57, 58 and 61, and Salmonella Cerro, were repeatedly isolated from water samples. Soil available water storage (AWS), temperature, and proximity to three land cover classes: water, roads and urban development, and pasture/hay grass, influenced the likelihood of detecting L. monocytogenes. Drainage class, AWS, and precipitation were identified as important factors in Salmonella detection. This information was used in a geographic information systems framework to hypothesize locations of environmental reservoirs where the prevalence of foodborne pathogens may be elevated. The map indicated that not all croplands are equally likely to contain environmental reservoirs of L. monocytogenes. These findings advance recommendations to minimize the risk of preharvest contamination by enhancing models of the environmental constraints on the survival and persistence of foodborne pathogens in fields.
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Inspections, Food Poisoning, Food Safety, Food Testing, Hygiene, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Microbiology, Pathogen, Research, STEC, Toxin
Tagged environment, information systems framework, nature, salmonella detection, science
RASFF – Salmonella in Duck Breasts in Sweden sourced in France
RASFF – Salmonella in Chicken Breast in Italy sourced in Romania
RASFF – E.coli in Mussels in Italy sourced in Spain
RASFF – Lactic Acid Bacteria in Whiskey Sauce in Denmark
Belgium – Blood Sausage with Listeria monocyotgenes
Norway – Salmonella Outbreak
RASFF – E.coli in Mussles in Italy sourced in Spain.
RASFF – Salmonella in Frozen Snails in France sourced in Greece
RASFF – Aflatoxin in Maize in Italy sourced in Spain
RASFF – Mould in Hazlenuts in UK from Turkey
RASFF – Histamine in Tuna in Ireland sourced in Thailand
A total of 28 persons infected with the outbreak strain of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coliO157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) have been reported from five states, with most cases in New York.
42% of ill persons have been hospitalized. Two ill persons have developed hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a type of kidney failure, and no deaths have been reported.
The outbreak was initially in New York. More recently, more ill persons in other states have been reported, and the investigation has expanded.
Posted in Bacteria, CDC, E.coli, E.coli O157, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Hygiene, Food Illness, Food Inspections, Food Safety, Food Testing, Foodborne Illness, Hygiene, Illness, Methods, Microbiology, outbreak, Pathogen, Recall
Tagged climate, hemolytic uremic syndrome, ill persons, kidney failure, research, science
Our generation uses mobile phones and smartphones for work, college, making phone calls, reminders, sending messages, emails, music, photographs, games and the internet. Over 80% of the world citizens are in a possession of mobile phones.
With how attached people have become to their mobile phones or smartphones, it’s not a surprise that what we touch ends up on the screen. It’s what exactly ends up there that’s the real shocker.
Researchers from UW-Milwaukee’s Microbiology department tested heavily used mobile phones.
The tests found traces of E. coli and other coliforms. Coliforms are a bacteria indicating fecal contamination. They found between about 2,700 and 4,200 units of coliform bacteria on 8 phones.
Posted in Bacteria, Coliforms, E.coli, Hygiene, Research
Tagged coliform bacteria, fecal contamination, internet, microbiology department, mobile, technology
The Health Department of Northwest Michigan, along with Community Health and the Michigan Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development are investigating a series of E. coli infections that may be associated with unpasteurized, unlabeled apple juice in Antrim County. Officials are collecting stool samples and samples of the cider to test for the outbreak strain of the bacteria.
The cider was made by an unlicensed facility and was not labeled as unpasteurized.
USDA Isolation of Non 0157 Shiga Toxin E.coli with Appendix
USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes with Appendix
USDA Isolation of Listeria monocytogenes PCR
Posted in Bacteria, E.coli, E.coli O104, E.coli O145, E.coli O157, E.coli O26, Eurofins Laboratories, Food Safety, Food Testing, Listeria, Listeria monocytogenes, Methods, Microbiology, Pathogen, Recall, STEC, USDA
Tagged e coli, isolation, Methods, science, toxin, usda methods
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