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A collection of 250 enterococci isolated from various food-stuffs were used to investigate seven virulence determinants and the microbial susceptibility of eight antibiotics. Species-specific PCR revealed the presence of E. faecalis (127 isolates), E. faecium (77 isolates), E. casseliflavus (21 isolates), E. mundtii (19 isolates) and E. durans (six isolates). Multiplex PCR for virulence factors showed that from a total 250 isolates, 221 (88.4%) carried one or more virulence-encoding genes. β-Haemolytic activity was also evident in enterococcal species other than E. faecalis and E. faecium. Species other than E. faecalis and E. faecium isolated from food are also seen to harbour the potential for virulence. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the disk diffusion method showed that of the total 250 isolates, 114 (46%) were resistant to cephalothin and 94 (38%) to ofloxacin. Lower antibiotic resistance was seen with ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin and teicoplanin. None of the isolates was found to be resistant to vancomycin. The results of this study show that food can play an important role in the spread of enterococci with virulence potential through the food chain to the human population.

The aim of this study was to assess the quality of raw cow's milk from an automatic milking system. Samples of milk (48) were analyzed chemically and microbiologically and the somatic cell count, freezing point and inhibitor residues were determined. For comparison purposes, milk analysis data from two farms using conventional machine milking and 2008 milk analysis report data for the Czech Republic were used. All physical and chemical characteristics of the study samples were within the established limits

Janštová B., Dračková M., Cupáková Š., Přidalová H., Pospíšilová M., Karpíšková R., Vorlová L. (2010): Safety and quality of farm fresh goat's cheese in the Czech Republic. Czech J. Food Sci., 28: 1-8.The composition and selected physical and chemical parameters of 44 samples of fresh goat cheeses produced on a farm in the Czech Republic were determined. The following average values were obtained for the parameters analysed: pH 4.87 ± 0.14, titratable acidity (SH) 98.09 ± 4.93, dry matter 46.83 ± 1.57%, fat in dry matter 52.74 ± 5.24%, sodium chloride (NaCl) 2.08 ± 0.54%, and a w 0.979 ± 0.007. All samples showed excellent sensory characteristics and their compositions corresponded to those declared by the producer. Microbiological tests were used for the detection of Enterobacteriaceae spp., lactic acid bacteria, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella spp. and listeria monocytogenes. Under the applicable regulations, the analysed fresh goat's cheeses were microbiologically safe and had the appropriate physical and chemical characteristics.

The study was carried out to investigate the incidence of Escherichia coli O157 in raw materials, foodstuffs and the agricultural environment. Of a total of 987 samples examined, 22 strains (2.2%) were identified as E. coli O157 and 10 of them as E. coli O157:H7. Cefixime-Tellurite MacConkey sorbitol agar (CT-SMAC) agar and Biosynth culture medium (BCM) E. coli O157:7 medium were used for the isolation. The virulence factors (stx1, stx2, eae, and ehxA genes) were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Most strains were isolated from the mechanically deboned poultry meat (nine), minced meat (six) and raw milk (four). One strain was isolated from beef carcass and two strains from waste water. No strains were were found in mass for sausages, refreshment salads, swabs of pork and poultry carcasses and faeces of cattle and pigs. Ten strains from the 22 identified proved to be positive for all factors of virulence. They were isolated from minced meat (four), raw milk (four), waste water (one) and swab from beef carcass (one). Sensitivity to the antimicrobial drugs ampicillin (AMS), ampicillin-sublactam (SAM), tetracycline (TET), ofloxacine (OFL), cefuroxime (CRX), chloramphenicol (CPM), gentamicine (GEN), colistin (COL), cephalozine (CLZ), cefoxitin (CXT), aztreonam (AZT), and sulphamethoxazole + trimethoprim (COT) was tested using the standard dilution technique and disc diffusion test. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) characteristics (MIC(50), MIC(90), MIC range) and inhibitory zone diameter were determined for each strain. As determined by MICs, the resistance to tested antibiotics in E. coli O157 isolates was found to AMS (90.9%), CLZ (81.8%), CRX (63.6%), CXT (72.7%), CPM (72.7%), TET (81.8%), SAM (59.1%), COT (9.1%), COL (63.61%), AZT (9%) and GEN (4.5%). The similar results were obtained using the disc diffusion method. The differences were found relating to SAM, CXT, CMO and TET. Resistance against one or more antibiotics was found in 95.4% of E. coli O157. Only one strain was susceptible to all tested antibiotics. Most of the strains were resistant to ampicillin and cephalozine. Eight different resistance phenotypes were demonstrated in E. coli O157.

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Abstract:The aim of this study was to monitore the capability of Enterococcus fecalis and Enterococcus fecium to form biofilms. Enterococci isolates originated from individual milk, bulk milk samples and environmental swabs obtained at farm level, dairy plant level including semi and final dairy products. Biofilm formation potential was determined by growing the tested strains in glas tubes containing BHI medium. The capability of forming biofilms was detected in 28% of Enterococcus spp. strains. Higher number of biofilm forming strains of the Enterococcus faecium (33%) than Enterococcus faecalis (28%) has been registered. Isolates obtained at plant level were forming biofilms more often than isolates from plant level and in final products (cheese and curd cheese), no isolate has been seen to be able to form biofilm.

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