scholarly journals A Review of Microbial Contamination in Processed and Street Foods

Author(s):  
Muthukumaran P ◽  
Karthikeyan R ◽  
Nirmal Kumar R

As a basic physiology need threat to sufficient food, production is threat to human survival food security was a main issue that has gained global concern. This paper looks at the food borne contamination by assessing the availability of food and accessibility of the available food from a food as a microbiologist’s perspective, there are several microorganisms similarly viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and parasites for which foods serve as vehicles of transmission. Among these agents, several bacteria are most commonly implicated in foodborne outbreak episodes. Foodborne diseases in human beings are caused either by straight contact with infested food animals/animal products (zoonotic) or humans, such as a food handler, or by direct absorption of polluted foods. There are three important terms with regard to foodborne diseases foodborne infections, foodborne toxicoinfections and foodborne intoxications. Foodborne infection is the condition caused by the incorporation of viable cells of a pathogen. For example, Salmonella Enteritidis and Escherichia coli infections are brought about by the ingestion of food contaminated with living cells of these pathogens. Finally, foodborne toxicoinfection is that in which the ingestion of viable pathogenic cells causes the toxins productions inside the human body, leading to infection episodes. For example, Vibrio cholerae produces cholera toxin inside the body after being ingested by the host. The morphology, Gram’s reaction, biochemical properties, and associated foods with important foodborne bacteria.

1987 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 249-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Cohen ◽  
M. Ferne ◽  
T. Rouach ◽  
S. Bergner-Rabinowitz

SUMMARYA food-borne outbreak of sore throat caused by Lancefield group G β-haemolytic streptococci and involving 50 persons occurred in May 1983 in an Israeli military camp. All of the patients available for clinical examination had sore throat and difficulty in swallowing. Exudative tonsillitis occurred in 46% of the patients and the body temperature was above 37·5 °C in 81%. The pattern of attack was uniform over the base and 37 became ill during the night and morning of the 5 May. Thirty-two (84%) of the throat cultures taken from 37 patients grew group G β-haemolytic streptococci. Eight of 29 contacts were positive for group G β-haemolytic streptococci and 6 of the 28 foodhandlers examined had positive cultures of the same group. The organism was also isolated from one food sample. The epidemiological and laboratory investigations indicated that a food handler, a convalescent carrier of group G streptococci, might have been the source of infection. Assumptions on the potential of non-group A streptococci to cause epidemics are discussed.


1987 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 223-230 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. G. Cruickshank ◽  
T. J. Humphrey

The number of reported cases of food poisoning and food-borne disease continues to increase in most countries. The published figures are recognized as being only a small fraction of the true total and the problem is clearly both very large and international.Of the variety of micro-organisms responsible for outbreaks, Salmonella spp. are by far the most frequently incriminated and in the United Kingdom these organisms cause over 90% of cases (Epidemiology, 1986). The almost universal presence of these organisms in certain common foods, their ability to grow in a wide variety of foodstuffs over a substantial temperature range, the ease with which dissemination occurs from person to person and the prolonged period of excretion following recovery are the properties which, taken together, distinguish Salmonella spp. from other food-poisoning organisms. It is because of these characteristics that salmonellas are really the only food-poisoning organisms in which human beings as carriers pose potential problems as sources of outbreaks. This review is, therefore, confined to a consideration of the practical significance of the faecal carriage of salmonellas by asymptomatic food handlers, to an evaluation of the degree of risk, if any, that such a person may pose and to an assessment as to whether the time and money devoted to the investigation and exclusion of such persons is well spent.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 394-406
Author(s):  
Alejandro de Jesús Cortés-Sánchez

Food is a necessity of human beings, and the consumption of food is aimed at obtaining energy and nutrients necessary for the growth and proper functioning of the body. However, food can also be a vehicle for various diseases, and the causal agents can have physical, chemical or biological origin with relevance to health due to their incidence, mortality and negative consequences in the population. Bacteria are the main agents of biological origin associated with foodborne diseases. Among these microorganisms are species of the genus Campylobacter, which cause a zoonosis with one of the highest incidences globally, known as Campylobacteriosis. This document provides an overview of foodborne diseases, specifically the causal agents of Campylobacteriosis, including the different measures of control and prevention for this disease in different foods such as poultry, milk, meat, and fish, among others. It also covers the phenomenon of resistance to antimicrobials by these pathogens and the health implications to consumers. The above can generate and maintain safety practices in food production for the protection of public health in different regions around the world.


2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 221
Author(s):  
Engki Zelpina ◽  
Susan M Noor

<p class="awabstrak2"><em>Non-typhypoid Salmonella</em> (NTS) is a pathogenic bacteria causing gastroenteritis in humans which is transmitted through animals and contaminated animal products with <em>Salmonella typhimurium</em> or <em>Salmonella enteritidis</em>. Many cases of NTS infection in humans have been reported in the world, however most people in Indonesian are generally more familiar with <em>Salmonella typhoid</em>, which is caused by <em>Salmonella typhoid</em> and <em>Salmonella paratypoid</em>. Gastroenteritis due to NTS infection seldom requires antimicrobial treatment. If there is no post-infectious complications such as septicemia, reactive arthritis or aortic aneurysm. Eggs, chicken meat, raw milk and other animal products contaminated with NTS are a source of transmission through food (food-borne pathogens). An estimated 1-3% of pets carry NTS without causing illness. Treatment of NTS in humans can be done by administering antibiotics, but the increase in Salmonella resistance to several types of antibiotics makes it more effective to prevent it through biosecurity applications in farms and prevent contamination of livestock products and their derivatives. This paper provides an overview of NTS, epidemiology, diagnosis and procedures for infection prevention and control in humans and animal reservoirs.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 42-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarra Tlili

The Ikhwān al-Ṣafāʾ’s animal epistle is an intriguing work. Although in the body of the narrative the authors challenge anthropocentric preconceptions and present nonhuman animals in a more favourable light than human beings, inexplicably, the narrative ends by reconfirming the privileged status of humans. The aim of this paper is to propose an explanation for this discrepancy. I argue that the egalitarian message reflected in the body of the narrative is traceable back to the Qur'an, the main text with which the authors engage in the fable, whereas the final outcome is due to the Ikhwān's hierarchical worldview.


Author(s):  
Shiva Kumar K ◽  
Purushothaman M ◽  
Soujanya H ◽  
Jagadeeshwari S

Gastric ulcers or the peptic ulcer is the primary disease that affects the gastrointestinal system. A large extent of the population in the world are suffering from the disease, and the age group of people those who suffer from ulcers are 20-55years. Herbs are known to the human beings that are useful in the treatment of diseases, and there are a lot of scientific investigations that prove the pharmacological activity of herbal drugs. Practitioners have been using the herbal material to treat the ulcers successfully, and the same had been reported scientifically. Numerous publications have been made that proves the antiulcer activity of the plants around the world. The tablets were investigated for the antiulcer activity in two doses 200 and 400mg/kg in albino Wistar rats in the artificial ulcer those are induced by the ethanol. The prepared tablets showed a better activity compared to the standard synthetic drug and the marketed ayurvedic formulation. The tablets showed a dose-dependent activity in ulcer prevention and treatment. Many synthetic drugs are available for the ulcer treatment, and the drugs pose the other problems in the body by showing the side effects and some other reactions. This limits the use of synthetic drugs to treat ulcers effectively. Herbs are known to the human beings that are useful in the treatment of diseases, and there are a lot of scientific investigations that prove the pharmacological activity of herbal drugs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 343-367
Author(s):  
Roberto Paura

Transhumanism is one of the main “ideologies of the future” that has emerged in recent decades. Its program for the enhancement of the human species during this century pursues the ultimate goal of immortality, through the creation of human brain emulations. Therefore, transhumanism offers its fol- lowers an explicit eschatology, a vision of the ultimate future of our civilization that in some cases coincides with the ultimate future of the universe, as in Frank Tipler’s Omega Point theory. The essay aims to analyze the points of comparison and opposition between transhumanist and Christian eschatologies, in particular considering the “incarnationist” view of Parousia. After an introduction concern- ing the problems posed by new scientific and cosmological theories to traditional Christian eschatology, causing the debate between “incarnationists” and “escha- tologists,” the article analyzes the transhumanist idea of mind-uploading through the possibility of making emulations of the human brain and perfect simulations of the reality we live in. In the last section the problems raised by these theories are analyzed from the point of Christian theology, in particular the proposal of a transhuman species through the emulation of the body and mind of human beings. The possibility of a transhumanist eschatology in line with the incarnationist view of Parousia is refused.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 201-209
Author(s):  
Syed Saqib Ali ◽  
Mohammad Khalid Zia ◽  
Tooba Siddiqui ◽  
Haseeb Ahsan ◽  
Fahim Halim Khan

Background: Ascorbic acid is a classic dietary antioxidant which plays an important role in the body of human beings. It is commonly found in various foods as well as taken as dietary supplement. Objective: The plasma ascorbic acid concentration may range from low, as in chronic or acute oxidative stress to high if delivered intravenously during cancer treatment. Sheep alpha-2- macroglobulin (α2M), a human α2M homologue is a large tetrameric glycoprotein of 630 kDa with antiproteinase activity, found in sheep’s blood. Methods: In the present study, the interaction of ascorbic acid with alpha-2-macroglobulin was explored in the presence of visible light by utilizing various spectroscopic techniques and isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC). Results: UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopy suggests the formation of a complex between ascorbic acid and α2M apparent by increased absorbance and decreased fluorescence. Secondary structural changes in the α2M were investigated by CD and FT-IR spectroscopy. Our findings suggest the induction of subtle conformational changes in α2M induced by ascorbic acid. Thermodynamics signatures of ascorbic acid and α2M interaction indicate that the binding is an enthalpy-driven process. Conclusion: It is possible that ascorbic acid binds and compromises antiproteinase activity of α2M by inducing changes in the secondary structure of the protein.


AJIL Unbound ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 272-276
Author(s):  
Jérôme de Hemptinne

In times of war, the first instinct is to relieve the suffering of human beings. Environmental and animal interests are always pushed into the background. However, warfare strongly affects natural resources, including animals, which makes animal issues a matter of great concern. Certain species have been vanishing at a rapid rate because of wars, often with disastrous effects on the food chain and on the ecological balance. Indeed, belligerents rarely take into account the adverse consequences of their military operations on animals. They even take advantage of the chaotic circumstances of war in order to poach protected species and to engage in the trafficking of expensive animal products. While generating billions of dollars each year, such poaching and trafficking allows armed groups to grow and to reinforce their authority over disputed territory. States have also trained, and continue to train, certain animals—principally marine mammals such as bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions—to perform military tasks, like ship and harbor protection, or mine detection and clearance. Millions of horses, mules, donkeys, camels, dogs, and birds are obliged to serve on various fronts (transport, logistics, or communications) and become particularly vulnerable targets.


2016 ◽  
Vol 115 (12) ◽  
pp. 2181-2188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bi-xia Huang ◽  
Ying-ying Zhu ◽  
Xu-ying Tan ◽  
Qiu-ye Lan ◽  
Chun-lei Li ◽  
...  

AbstractPrevious studies have demonstrated that betaine supplements increase lean body mass in livestock and improve muscle performance in human beings, but evidence for its effect on human lean mass is limited. Our study assessed the association of circulating betaine with lean mass and its composition in Chinese adults. A community-based study was conducted on 1996 Guangzhou residents (weight/mass: 1381/615) aged 50–75 years between 2008 and 2010. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect general baseline information. Fasting serum betaine was assessed using HPLC-MS. A total of 1590 participants completed the body composition analysis performed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry during a mean of 3·2 years of follow-up. After adjustment for age, regression analyses demonstrated a positive association of serum betaine with percentage of lean mass (LM%) of the entire body, trunk and limbs in men (all P<0·05) and LM% of the trunk in women (P=0·016). Each sd increase in serum betaine was associated with increases in LM% of 0·609 (whole body), 0·811 (trunk), 0·422 (limbs), 0·632 (arms) and 0·346 (legs) in men and 0·350 (trunk) in women. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that the prevalence of lower LM% decreased by 17 % (whole body) and 14 % (trunk) in women and 23 % (whole body), 28 % (trunk), 22 % (arms) and 26 % (percentage skeletal muscle index) in men with each sd increment in serum betaine. Elevated circulating betaine was associated with a higher LM% and lower prevalence of lower LM% in middle-aged and elderly Chinese adults, particularly men.


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