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To investigate the microbiological conditions of hunted wild boar carcasses and factors that contribute to the microbial carcass contamination, skin and carcass meat swab samples from 210 hunted wild boars were collected from freshly shot animals. The mean aerobic colony counts (ACCs) and Enterobacteriaceae counts on the skin were 5.2 and 3.6 log 10 CFU/cm 2 , with 1.4% of animals' skin tested positive for Salmonella spp. Slightly higher mean ACC and Enterobacteriaceae counts of 5.4 and 3.8 log 10 CFU/cm 2 were obtained from carcass meat with Salmonella spp. prevalence of 1.9%. Inadequate hygiene practices in handling and dressing wild boar carcasses, such as evisceration in the laying position on the ground and practice of skin and interior carcass surface washing after evisceration, were found to have the most significant influence on the microbiological conditions of final carcasses. Therefore, these findings indicate the need for the implementation and strict adherence to good hygiene practice in hunting estates and game handling establishments.

Some Staphylococcus aureus strains, identified as causative agents of mastitis in cattle, exhibit the ability of producing a viscous extracellular polysaccharide layer (slime), which is nowadays considered to be a virulence factor, as it promotes bacterial adhesion onto the mammary epithelial cells and protects bacteria from opsonization and phagocytosis. Some strains of this genus are believed to exist in the form of a biofilm in the udder tissue, which may partly explain frequent therapeutic failures and a chronic course of infection. In this study we investigated the ability of slime production and biofilm formation in 70 subclinical and clinical bovine mastitis isolates S. aureus. Slime production was determined from colony morphology of isolates in Congo red agar. The ability of biofilm formation was assessed in a quantitative assay using a microtiter-plate test involving crystal violet staining and for selected strains, scanning electron microscopy on stainless steel coupons was done. Eight S. aureus isolates (11.42%) formed black colonies of dry consistency, characteristic for slime-producing strains. According to the result of microtiter plate test, 9 isolates (12.86%) were categorized as strong biofilm producers, 21 (30%) as moderate, and 40 (57.14%) as weak biofilm producers. Scanning electron microscopy revealed differences between investigated isolates with respect to their ability to colonize stainless steel surfaces and to form a three-dimensional biofilm structure

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Antibiotic residues in milk are of great concern to dairy farmers, milk processors, regulatory agencies, and consumers. The aim of this study was to compare the screening tests for residue detection in milk with the purpose of choosing the most sensitive test that could prove residue quantities at maximum residue limits (MRL). The Penzyme S, Delvo-X-press β-lactam II, Delvo SP test, and diffusion test were examined. Milk samples (218) were collected from different segments of milk production chain: farms, milk collection points, dairy, and market. The limit of detection (LOD) of all methods for penicillin G, ampicillin, and amoxicillin were within the MRL, except the LOD for cloxacillin (diffusion test and Delvo-X-press), which were above the MRL value of 30 ng/g. Agreement between test results evaluated by kappa statistic for all tests was substantial (κ=0.61-0.80). We suggest the samples to be examined by Delvo SP test in the dairy. Positive milk samples should be retested by Penzyme S or Delvo-X-press test because of the high probability that residues are β-lactams, and these tests can prove it. By recurrent examining procedure, starting with the milk samples from pickup trucks, bulk milk tanks in collection points, or bulk milk tanks at farm and from individual producers, the specific milk that was contaminated by antibiotics can be traced.

Histamine levels in fish and fish products are regarded as a primary criterion for food safety, considering the effects of histamine on human health. The aim of this research was to describe a case of massive histamine intoxication in Serbian children and to provide relevant information regarding the presence of histamine in imported marine fish and fish products available in the Serbian market. In January 2014, an incident of foodborne illness occurred in 28 children (aged 2 to 5 years) who consumed canned sardines in a kindergarten in Vojvodina province, northern Serbia. The diagnosis was established based on anamnestic data, epidemiological data, and clinical symptoms and confirmed by positive histamine finding in the incriminated sardines. Substantially high histamine levels (>300 mg/kg) were detected in seven of the nine examined units of these canned sardines. In addition, during an official veterinary border control from January 2013 to January 2015, 273 lots in total, including 2,457 fish and fishery product units, were analyzed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Even though only nine (3.29%) of all examined lots were declared as unsafe for human consumption, the presented case of histamine intoxication strongly suggests the importance of border inspection and comprehensive control of each imported lot.

The main objective of this study was to assess the exposure associated with aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) of the adult population in Serbia from consumption of milk and dairy products. This assessment was performed using concentration values of AFM1 in raw milk (385 samples) and dairy products (556 samples) based on the analyses conducted in the period between 2015 and 2018. In parallel, a dairy products consumption survey was completed during 2018 based on ‘one-day’ and ‘seven-day’ recall methods. In order to estimate the intake of AFM1 from the consumption of dairy products for both recall methods, a Monte Carlo simulation was conducted. The study revealed that pasteurized milk and yogurt are dairy products mostly consumed by the Serbian adult population. Estimated daily intake of AFM1 was in the range of 62–74 × 10−3 ng/kg bw/day, depending on the recall methods and scenarios employed. Although the results show moderate exposure risks compared to similar studies worldwide, climatic conditions and weather extremes that have occurred recently may have negatively influenced the contamination of feed and, consequently, AFM1 contamination of milk. As a result, it is justifiable to promote continuous monitoring in feed and dairy supply chains in Serbia and provide an update of exposure assessment.