The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and combined effects of rosemary, oregano and fennel volatile oil (FVO) supplementation on the performance and ilio-caecal bacteriological flora of broiler chickens. A total of 800 male Ross-308 broiler chickens were divided equally into 8 groups; each contained 100 chickens. The study included a control treatment (NC) with no dietary additives that was supplemented with oils according to the following 7 treatments: 200 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg (PC), 100 mg oregano volatile oil (OVO)/kg, 100 mg rosemary volatile oil (RVO)/kg, 100 mg FVO/kg and an equal mixture of oregano+rosemary+fennel VO (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, VOM-1, VOM-2 and VOM-3, respectively). The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, dietary supplementation with α-tocopherol, oregano, rosemary and FVO and two different volatile oil mixtures (VOMs) (VOM-2; VOM-3) significantly increased the body weights (BWs) of broilers at 7, 14 and 21 d of age compared to the negative control (NC) (-) and VOM-1 groups. At 0-42 d, birds fed on VOM-3 were considerably heavier and also gained more weight than NC (-) and VOM-1 groups. The blend of VOs at 400 mg/kg significantly increased Lactobacillus spp. in faeces. The blends of oregano, rosemary and FVOs (VOM-3) at 400 mg/kg concentration and also VOM-3 group exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against coliform bacteria compared to the NC (-) group. In conclusion, the blend of oregano, rosemary and fennel VOs at higher concentrations (400 mg/kg concentration) in diets can be used to stimulate the growth and can improve the intestinal microbial balance (including a reduction of coliform bacteria and an increase in Lactobacillus spp. counts) of broiler chickens.

This study aimed to determine the current prevalence, serovar distribution and antimicrobial resistance rate and patterns of nontyphoid Salmonella (NTS) in slaughter sheep and their edible offal. While filling the gap of up to date related information in Turkey, data presented is also of significance since contamination of ovine meat, its products and offal with this pathogen is threat to public health due to their considerably high consumption rates in our country. Current NTS carriage in 200 apparently healthy slaughter sheep by ISO 6579:2002, 6579:2002/A1:2007 standard bacteriology (ISO) was 5% (10/200) (4 fecal content -2%, 3 mesenterial lymph node -1.5%, 3 kidney -1.5%) out of 1,400 samples (0.7%), with no isolation from carcass, liver, gallbladder, spleen. Realtime PCR was in substantial agreement to ISO in confirming Salmonella-suspect isolates (Relative Trueness: 93.6%). S. Newport (40%) was the predominant serovar, followed by the second prevalent serovars as S. Typhimurium and S. Kentucky (20%), and by S. Umbilo and S. Corvallis (10%). Four and 6 out of 10 NTS isolates were susceptible (40%) and resistant (60%) to 18 antimicrobials, respectively. S. Typhimurium isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR) to tigecycline and sulphamethoxazole/trimethoprim, with one also resistant to cefepime. S. Corvallis was MDR to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and pefloxacin. The predominance of S. Newport and first isolation of S. Corvallis in sheep in the world; first time isolations of Newport, Kentucky, Corvallis, Umbilo serovars from sheep in Turkey; and high antimicrobial resistance rates obtained in majority of the isolates highlights study findings.

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This study examined the incidence of Clostridium perfringens in raw, ready-to-cook (RTC), and ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and meat-based products (N = 306) collected from restaurants, supermarkets, and butcher shops in Bursa, Turkey. In addition, we investigated the presence of the C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), as well as cpe genes and their source (chromosomal or plasmid borne). In this study, tryptose sulfite cycloserine (TSC) agar for classic culture isolation and API and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques were used to identify C. perfringens and detect cpa and cpe genes from these products, respectively. Seventeen C. perfringens isolates (5.6%) were isolated and identified with API 20A. In addition, 42 of 81 suspicious isolates (51.9%) were identified as C. perfringens using RT-PCR. Of the 81 suspicious isolates tested by RT-PCR, 22 (27.2%) carried the cpe gene either on the plasmid or chromosome. Twenty-one isolates were positive for chromosomal cpe (C-cpe), and one was positive for plasmid-borne cpe (P-cpe). CPE was detected in 31.8% (7/22) of the cpe positive isolates by the PET-RPLA test. In conclusion, C. perfringens and their CPEs were present in raw, RTC, and RTE meat and meat-based foods in this study. It is emphasized that the presence of C. perfringens and the cpe gene in these foods may be a potential risk for human health.

Current nontyphoid Salmonella (NTS) carriage in 200 apparently healthy slaughter cattle by ISO 6579 standard bacteriology (ISO) was 1% (2/200) in carcass and fecal content, and 2% (4/200) in mesenterial lymph nodes. There was no isolation from liver, kidney, spleen, and gallbladder, with an overall prevalence of 4% (8/200). Real‐time PCR was in substantial agreement to ISO in confirming Salmonella‐suspect isolates (Relative Trueness: 93.33%). Predominant serovar was S. Enteritidis (50%) followed by S. Typhimurium (37.5%), and S. Albany (12.5%). Five and three of eight NTS isolates were susceptible (62.5%) and resistant (37.5%) to 18 antimicrobials, respectively. Only three S. Enteritidis isolates (37.5%) showed multidrug resistance to 2–3 of 7 antimicrobials (amikacin, cefotaxime, cefoxitin, gentamicin, norfloxacin, pefloxacin, and tobramycin). S. Enteritidis predominance over S. Typhimurium, first detection of S. Albany in cattle in Turkey, and sole resistance in mesenterial lymph node S. Enteritidis isolates highlights study findings. Practical applications Contaminated carcass and related material, for example, fecal content and mesenterial lymph nodes of apparently healthy slaughter cattle carrying nontyphoid Salmonella serovars still pose significant health risk to public in Turkey, where bovine meat covers the highest annual red meat consumption quota with high demand to edible offal. In this study, current predominance of S. Enteritidis, particularly in mesenterial lymph nodes, and the MDR pattern identified; the presence of S. Typhimurium as the second dominant and pansusceptible serovar; detection of S. Albany for the first time in cattle fecal content are new epidemiological findings. This data could be used in revising both bovine meat and offal's actual NTS status, and the control and prevention programs in our country and in the neighboring countries of interest.