scholarly journals Incidence of psychrotrophs bacteria with potential public health implications in ice cream sold in Zakho markets

Author(s):  
Yousif Abdulla AlBany ◽  
Reem Qasim Mohammed ◽  
Nagham Mohammed Azzo ◽  
Mohammad Ismail Al-Berfkani

Background: Foodborne illness are caused by the consumption of food that is contaminated with either bacteria or their toxins and the most common causes are psychotropic bacteria which cause major public health problem. The aim was to detect and enumerate pathogenic bacteria in locally made ice cream.Methods: 250 locally made ice cream samples were randomly collected from automatic soft machines and dipping cabinets in the markets of Zakho city over a period of ten months starting in July 2016 to May 2017. All collected samples were transported to the microbiology laboratory. The most probable number methods used for detection and enumeration of pathogenic psychotropic bacteria.Results: In general, both types of ice cream samples were showed heavy contamination with aerobic bacteria. The Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) counts exceeded the standard limits in all samples; the count in dipping cabinets' samples was higher than automatic soft machines samples whereas Coliform count in automatic soft machines samples was higher than dipping cabinets' samples. High incidence of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes had been detected in all ice cream samples and the range in samples from automatic soft machines were higher than samples obtained from dipping cabinets.Conclusions: This study indicates a high prevalence of pathogenic psychrotrophs in unpacked ice cream and poor hygiene during production, which make local ice cream unsuitable for consumption and it is indicating the need to monitor the hygienic quality of markets and the health authorities must be informed about such cases to avoid food poisoning. 

Food Research ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 441-448 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seow Hoon Saw ◽  
J.L. Mak ◽  
M.H. Tan ◽  
S.T. Teo ◽  
T.Y. Tan ◽  
...  

The eating of fresh and minimally processed vegetables is getting popular among Malaysians. This trend poses an increased risk of food poisoning associated with the consumption of fresh produce contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Salmonellosis is a foodborne disease caused by several non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica serovars, predominantly serovars Enteritidis and Typhimurium. The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of Salmonella spp., S. enterica serovar Enteritidis and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in fresh leafy vegetables such as cabbages (n = 40), lettuces (n = 20), and fruit vegetables such as tomatoes (n = 40), carrots (n = 40) and cucumbers (n = 40), which were sold by three different hypermarkets and a wet market in Kampar, Perak, Malaysia. The study was performed over a period of 13 months (January 2018 to January 2019). A combination of most probable number-multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPN-mPCR) method was used to quantify the concentrations of Salmonella spp., S. enterica serovar Enteritidis and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium in the examined samples. The results of this study demonstrated that of the vegetables tested, tomatoes, carrots and lettuces were not contaminated by Salmonella spp., S. enterica serovar Enteritidis and S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. However, the presence of Salmonella spp. was detected in 3.3% of cabbages from the hypermarket, with estimated microbial loads ranging from <3.0 MPN/g to 15.0 MPN/g. On the other hand, S. enterica serovar Typhimurium was detected in 10.0% of the cucumbers from hypermarkets and 20% of them from the wet market. Their microbial loads were ranging from <3.0 MPN/g to >1,100 MPN/g. This indicated that cabbages and cucumbers could be the potential sources of salmonellosis. Therefore, the monitoring of food safety and hygienic practices should be strictly enforced by relevant government agencies to avoid potential poisoning by foodborne pathogens.


Antibiotics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cebriá-Mendoza ◽  
Sanjuán ◽  
Domingo-Calap

Bacteriophages represent an alternative strategy to combat pathogenic bacteria. Currently, Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections constitute a major public health problem due to extensive antibiotic resistance in some strains. Using a non-pathogenic species of the same genus as an experimental model, Mycobacterium smegmatis, here we have set up a basic methodology for mycobacteriophage growth and we have explored directed evolution as a tool for increasing phage infectivity and lytic activity. We demonstrate mycobacteriophage adaptation to its host under different conditions. Directed evolution could be used for the development of future phage therapy applications against mycobacteria.


Author(s):  
Siavaah CHALABIANI ◽  
Mina KHODADAD NAZARI ◽  
Nada RAZAVI DAVOODI ◽  
Mahdi SHABANI ◽  
Masoud MARDANI ◽  
...  

Background: Brucellosis as a zoonotic disease is widespread among human and animal that it continues to be a major public health problem. Due to the shortage of recent epidemiologic data regarding the brucellosis distribution in Iran, we convinced to evaluate the prevalence of brucellosis in provinces of Iran. Methods: In this descriptive study, data were collected from brucellosis suspected patients referred to Noor Pathobiology Laboratory, Tehran, Iran from 18 out of 31 provinces of Iran during 2013-2015. Results: Overall, 2635 out of 17103 attending cases (15.4%) were recognized as brucellosis patients. The most prevalent rate was found in patients aged 20-39 yr old (41%) which of them 67% were male. Patients with brucellosis were significantly diagnosed in spring season (Apr to late May). Among included provinces, Hamadan Province had the highest (25%) prevalence followed by Markazi and Mazandaran with 24.7% and 22.5%, respectively. Conclusion: Brucellosis is still considered as an important infectious disease with a high prevalence in many provinces of Iran. It is necessary to implement a national brucellosis control program by increasing medical education, public knowledge and various controlling plans for preventing, controlling and eradicating of brucellosis.  


2017 ◽  
Vol 20 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Danielle de Bem Luiz ◽  
Carlos Danger Ferreira e Silva ◽  
Simone Rodrigues Campelo ◽  
Viviane Rodrigues Verdolin dos Santos ◽  
Leandro Kanamaru Franco de Lima ◽  
...  

Abstract Salmonellosis is a major public health problem related to food contamination and ensuing food poisoning. Brazilian resolution RDC nº 12/2001 of the Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA) established the absence of Salmonella in 25 g of fish for consumption. However, the significant increase in the occurrence of fish contamination by Salmonella and other pathogenic bacteria shows that the currently applied strategies are not sufficient and that, in addition to the implementation of good health practices, the application of new sanitizer technologies in the fish industry is also necessary. In this context, the present study evaluated the effectiveness of ozone in an aqueous medium as a sanitizer for Salmonella contaminated fish. The experiment was carried out using a completely randomized design with eight treatments and five replicates, giving a total of 40 experimental units. Each sample consisted of three fishes, totalizing 120 fishes. The treatments consisted of different combinations of temperature and water-dissolved ozone (O3) concentrations (21 °C × 0.35 ppm; 20 °C × 0.45 ppm; 21 °C × 0.60 ppm; 20 °C × 0.80 ppm; 19 °C × 1.7 ppm; 6 × 5.1 ppm; 4 °C × 7.2 ppm; and 2 °C × 9.1 ppm). Colossoma macropomum (Tambaqui) samples were experimentally infected with Salmonella typhymurium (ATCC 14028) and immersed in water with the different treatments. After three minutes, the fish samples were collected and subjected to qualitative Salmonella analyses. The ozone tests were not efficient in eradicating Salmonella under the experimental conditions presented here, indicating the need for the identification of effective sanitizers in order to meet the determinations of Brazilian law.


2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Pascal Vilain ◽  
Sophie Larrieu ◽  
Xavier Combes ◽  
Arnaud Bourdé ◽  
Pierre-Jean Marianne dit Cassou ◽  
...  

In Reunion Island, alcohol is a major public health problem. Syndromic surveillance system based on ED data was used for describe alcohol intoxication visits between 2010-2012 and factors associated with their variations. During the study period, alcohol intoxication was the second leading cause of all visits in ED. Time-series models showed a robust association between ED visits and days of minimum social benefits payment, weekends, public holidays. These results will be transmitted to health authorities in order to orient the public health policies.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 406-410
Author(s):  
Sunil Arya ◽  
Sehrish Gazal ◽  
Anil K. Raina

A cross-sectional study was conducted among the residents of three villages of Doda district, J&K. A total of 391 individuals (202 males and 189 females) were examined from 60 households by house to house survey for recording the prevalence and severity of dental fluorosis by using Dean’s Index (1942) along with WHO health assessment form (1997b) and Community fluorosis Index. Of the total studied population 299 (76.47%) have found to be affected with various grades of dental fluorosis with moderate (33.5%) level of fluorosis to be the most frequent category observed. Prevalence of dental fluorosis was more in males (86.61%) than females (63.49%). No significant relation (P>0.05) between prevalence of dental fluorosis to the socioeconomic status was found. Community fluorosis Index was found to be 2.05 which denotes “marked” category of public health significance. High prevalence and high community fluorosis Index suggest that fluorosis is a major public health problem in the area.


Author(s):  
Jong-Gyu Kim ◽  
Joong-Soon Kim ◽  
Jeong-Gyoo Kim

Norovirus food poisoning outbreaks in Korea (South) appeared in 2000s and have been increasing since then. We aimed to investigate the epidemiological features of norovirus food poisoning outbreaks in Korea over the past years (2002 ~ 2017), based on official food poisoning statistics and available reports, and to find their association with climate factors. Norovirus was the most common cause of food poisoning among known causative substances in Korea during the study period. More than one-third of the incidents occurred in group meal-service facilities, including school lunch programs. A few of these facilities used groundwater contaminated with noroviruses to wash / cook food, which contributed to outbreaks. Norovirus occurrences showed strong seasonality; cold and relatively dry winter air may help norovirus to flourish. Both norovirus genotypes GI and GII infectious to humans were detected, with GII becoming more prevalent than GI. According to our correlation analysis in connection with climate factors, average temperatures, the highest and lowest temperatures, precipitation, the number of rain days, and humidity showed a significant negative correlation with a monthly norovirus occurrence (p &lt; 0.05). The lowest temperature and average temperature had higher coefficients of correlation, -0.377 and -0.376, respectively. The norovirus outbreaks in Korea showed complex etiological characteristics, although it more prevailed in wintertime, and are now considered as a major public health problem. The use of groundwater in group meal-service settings has a public health impact as well as norovirus concern, therefore groundwater used in food service facilities / business should be treated for safety.


Author(s):  
Carlos Albuquerque ◽  
Bernardete Machado ◽  
Carlos Albuquerque

Oral diseases remain a major public health problem, due to its high prevalence and consequences, however, in Portugal, oral health indicators have been improving over the last few years. This is associated with the implementation of various strategies in health promotion, prevention and early treatment of oral diseases, with an important reinforcement of public sector intervention. It is important to revisit what measures have been implemented, how effective they are and how to improve them.


Crisis ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Mino ◽  
Arnaud Bousquet ◽  
Barbara Broers

The high mortality rate among drug users, which is partly due to the HIV epidemic and partly due to drug-related accidental deaths and suicides, presents a major public health problem. Knowing more about prevalence, incidence, and risk factors is important for the development of rational preventive and therapeutic programs. This article attempts to give an overview of studies of the relations between substance abuse, suicidal ideation, suicide, and drug-related death. Research in this field is hampered by the absence of clear definitions, and results of studies are rarely comparable. There is, however, consensus about suicidal ideation being a risk factor for suicide attempts and suicide. Suicidal ideation is also a predictor of suicide, especially among drug users. It is correlated with an absence of family support, with the severity of the psychosocial dysfunctioning, and with multi-drug abuse, but also with requests for treatment. Every clinical examination of a drug user, not only of those who are depressed, should address the possible presence of suicidal ideation, as well as its intensity and duration.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wanda Aulya ◽  
Fadhliani Fadhliani ◽  
Vivi Mardina

Water is the main source for life and also the most severe substance caused by pollution. The mandatory parameters for determining microbiological quality of drinking water are total non-fecal Coliform bacteria and Coliform fecal (Escherichia coli). Coliform bacteria are a group of microorganisms commonly used as indicators, where these bacteria can be a signal to determine whether a water source has been contaminated by bacteria or not, while fecal Coliform bacteria are indicator bacteria polluting pathogenic bacteria originating from human feces and warm-blooded animals (mammals) . The water inspection method in this study uses the MPN (Most Probable Number) method which consists of 3 tests, namely, the presumption test, the affirmation test, and the reinforcement test. The results showed that of 15 drinking water samples 8 samples were tested positive for Coliform bacteria with the highest total bacterial value of sample number 1, 15 (210/100 ml), while 7 other samples were negative. From 8 positive Coliform samples only 1 sample was stated to be negative fecal Coliform bacteria and 7 other samples were positive for Coliform fecal bacteria with the highest total bacterial value of sample number 1 (210/100 ml).


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