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The serrano artisan cheese produced from raw milk of dairy cattle is a typical product of high-altitude farms in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. However, marketing of the cheeses occurs illegally because they lack the minimum maturation period required for cheese produced from raw milk. The production of artisan cheeses is required to follow strict hygiene standards. This study aimed to test the quality and safety of cheeses that were produced in 31 farms of the Serrana region in Santa Catarina after 14 and 28 days of maturation. Coliform count was measured at 35 °C, and presence of other microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. were also tested. Fat and protein percentages, acidity, salt content, and humidity were also evaluated. Data were subjected to statistical analyses using the SAS ® software. After 14 and 28 days of maturation, 74.19% (23/31) and 64.52% (20/31) of samples, respectively, showed higher numbers of coliforms at 35 °C than those permissible by law. Higher than permissible numbers of E. coli were observed in 45.16% (14/31) and 48.39% (15/31) of the samples analyzed after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. Coagulasepositive staphylococci values above 10 3 CFU/g were observed in 54.84% (17/31) and 51.61% (16/31) of cheese samples after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. Contamination with Salmonella spp. was not detected. However, Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b was isolated in 3.23% (1/31) and 6.45% (2/31) of samples after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. The results of humidity tests classified the cheese samples into three categories: low, medium, and high humidity. Semi fat cheeses were predominant in both maturation periods, although the samples were classified in thin, semi fat, and fat cheeses. The main variations in the compositions of analyzed samples occurred for salt and acidity levels. The maturation process has not proven to be effective in reducing microbiological contamination to compliance levels. Considering the heterogeneity of the analyzed cheese samples, the frequency of non-conformities with respect to microorganisms and pathogens present in the samples, this study indicates the necessity to improve the Serrano artisan cheese production system through adoption of good manufacturing practice measures. 3 UFC/g. Nenhuma das amostras avaliadas estava contaminada com Salmonella spp., porém Listeria monocytogenes sorovar 4b foi isolada em 3,23% (1/31) e em 6,45% (2/31) das amostras aos 14 e 28 dias de maturação, respectivamente. Em relação à umidade, os queijos foram classificados como de baixa, média e alta umidade. Em relação aos teores de gordura houve a predominância de queijos semigordos nos dois períodos de maturação, embora as amostras tenham sido enquadradas como queijos magros, semigordos e gordos. As principais variações na composição entre as amostras avaliadas ocorreram nos teores de sal e acidez. O processo de maturação não demonstrou ser efetivo na redução de ...

No abstract

Arcanobacterium pyogenes é uma bactéria comensal das membranas mucosas do trato respiratório e genital de várias espécies de animais domésticos e selvagens. Porém, em decorrência de estresse ou traumatismos, A. pyogenes pode se tornar um patógeno oportunista, associado a infecções supurativas. Estresse é um importante fator de risco para doenças em todos os animais, mas especialmente em animais silvestres não habituados ao contato humano. Um veado-campeiro (Ozoteceros bezearticus) criado em área conservacionista, foi encontrado prostado e demonstrando dificuldades respiratórias. Este animal foi encaminhado ao Hospital de Clínica Veterinária-CAV/UDESC, onde recebeu tratamento, mas, dois dias após, morreu. O exame microscópico dos pulmões revelou áreas focalmente extensas de necrose associada a infiltrado moderado de polimorfonucleares, circundados por tecido fibroso. De acordo com a necropsia, cultivo microbiológico e seqüenciamento de DNA, o agente envolvido foi classificado como A. pyogenes, caracterizando o primeiro relato de Broncopneumonia causada por A. pyogenes em Veado-Campeiro (Ozoteceros bezearticus) no Brasil.

No abstract

β-Glucosidases are enzymes present in all living organisms, playing a pivotal role in diverse biological processes. These enzymes cleave β-glycosidic bonds between carbohydrates, or between a carbohydrate and a non-carbohydrate moiety, which may result in the liberation of volatile aglycones. Released compounds execute diverse physiological roles , while the industry takes advantage of exogenously added β-glucosidases for aroma enrichment during food and beverage production. β-Glucosidase enzymatic activity has been reported in human saliva and given the fact that these enzymes are involved in aroma release, we investigated here the correlation between β-glucosidase activity in human saliva and the occurrence of halitosis. Measurement of salivary enzyme activity of 48 volunteers was performed using p -nitrophenyl-β- d -glucopyranoside as substrate. Each volunteer was clinically evaluated by a dental surgeon and clinical and laboratorial data were statistically analyzed. Gas-chromatography of saliva headspace allowed the analysis of the direct role of exogenous β-glucosidase on aromatic /volatile profile of saliva samples. The data demonstrated a positive correlation between halitosis and enzymatic activity, suggesting that the enzyme exerts a direct role in the occurrence of bad breath. Gas-chromatography analysis demonstrated that exogenously added enzyme led to the alteration of volatile organic content, confirming a direct contribution of β-glucosidase activity on saliva volatile compounds release. Although halitosis is a multifactorial condition, the complete understanding of all governing factors may allow the development of more effective treatment strategies. Such studies may pave the way to the use of β-glucosidase inhibitors for halitosis clinical management.

The serrano artisanal cheese is a typical product from South region of Brazil, which is produced by skilled cheesemakers using raw milk. The contamination of this food by Escherichia coli has a great impact on public health, since it could threat the consumers’ health. The study evaluated the presence of virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility profiles and bofilm-production ability of Escherichia coli isolates obtained from raw milk and artisanal cheese produced in Southern Brazil. A total of 117 isolates of E. coli were characterized by multiplex PCR to detect the following virulence genes: eae for enteropatogenic E. coli (EPEC), lt and st for enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), stx for shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), stx and eae for enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), ipaH for enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) and aggR for enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). In addition, antimicrobial susceptibility profile to 22 antimicrobial agents was also performed by disk diffusion method, and we searched for extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and/or carbapenemase- producing isolates. Isolates that were positive for ESBL and carbapenemase were further investigated for the presence of the genes: blaTEM, blaSHV, blaOXA, blaCTX-M, for ESBL and blaOXA-48 for carbapenemase. Further, isolates had their ability to form biofilms investigated by the red Congo agar method. Virulence genes of E. coli were identified in 21.37% of the tested isolates, which were classified as EPEC (the most prevalent pathotype) and ETEC or EAEC. Ten (8.55%) of the total studied E. coli isolates revealed a multidrug-resistant profile, since they were resistant to three or more antimicrobial classes; whereas four isolates (3.42%) were classified as ESBL-producers and showed the presence of blaTEM gene. None of the isolates exhibited carbapenemase activity nor did they carry carbapenemase genes. From the total of E. coli isolates, 79 (67.52%) were considered potential biofilm producers. These results address a serious public health issue, since artisanal cheeses pose a risk to consumers’ health, since may be sources of dissemination of diarrheogenic E. coli, that can cause from subclinical to severe and fatal infections in children and adults, and also emphasize the need to improve adaptations/adjustments in the manufacturing processes of these products.

Listeria monocytogenes is an opportunistic pathogen that causes listeriosis, a foodborne disease with low incidence but with high mortality rate in humans. This microorganism has been recovered from several dairy products, especially those produced with raw milk. The objective of this work was to investigate the presence of virulence genes, and also to defi ne the antimicrobial susceptibility profi le of L. monocytogenes isolates recovered from serrano artisanal cheese produced in Southern region of Brazil.Nine strains of L. monocytogenes (serotypes 1/2b and 4b) were evaluated through PCR to detect the presence of the virulence genes hly, inlA, inlC, inlJ, actA, plcB and iap, while antimicrobial susceptibility profi le was determined via disk diffusion method. All strains exhibited the presence of the genes hly and plcB, whereas the other genes (iap, actA, inlA, inlC and inlJ) were only detected in eight strains. We verifi ed that all strains were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent and three of them showed multidrug resistance. These fi ndings demonstrated the serrano artisanal cheese offers risks to consumers' health and point to a need of adaptations and monitoring of manufacturing process of this food, in order to prevent the dissemination of L. monocytogenes.