Essential oils from herbs against foodborne pathogens in chicken sausage

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The two faces of leuconostoc mesenteroides in food systems

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Surgical Treatment of Severe Frontal Bone Fracture

Craniofacial trauma can lead to several complications. The combined fractures of anterior and posterior walls of the frontal bone are almost always followed by lesions in nasofrontal orifices and disruption of nasofrontal ostia or ducts, a significant factor for the development of early and late complications after sinus fractures. This article reports a case of trauma patient, who underwent neurological evaluation and at first showed good general condition. Computed tomography noted fracture of the anterior and posterior walls of the frontal sinus and small foci of pneumocephalus in the cerebral cortex. The patient was monitored periodically and 9 days after trauma showed increased areas of pneumocephalus in prefrontal cortex, cerebrospinal fluid draining, and large dura mater lesion, with signs of necrosis and inflammation (meningitis). The necrotic tissues were removed, and dura mater was repaired through the approximation with resorbable wire polyglactin 910 5-0, oxidized cellulose application, and bonding with human fibrin sealant (fibrinogen, thrombin, and calcium chloride). Sinusectomy, frontal sinus, and nasofrontal duct obliteration with pedicled pericranium flap were performed. Tomographically, a reanatomization was noted in frontal region, and a 12-month follow-up showed no complication. The use of fibrin glue to repair dura mater lacerations, as well as the pedicle pericranium flap for frontal sinus and nasofrontal duct obliteration, is an efficient method for treating fractures of the frontal bone.

A flow cytometry method for testing the susceptibility of Cryptococcus spp. to amphotericin B

Human fungal infections have increased at an alarming rate in recent years, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Cryptococcosis is the second most prevalent systemic fungal infection worldwide, and the most prevalent systemic infection in immunocompromised individuals, representing more than 70% of cases. The incidence of cryptococcosis is high in people with HIV/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), with recent estimates indicating that there are one million cases of cryptococcal meningitis globally per year in AIDS patients. The aim of this research was to develop a rapid flow cytometric antifungal susceptibility test and to compare the results with the standard methods. A reference strain and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii were tested for susceptibility to amphotericin B by flow cytometry using propidium iodide as indicator of viability. Flow cytometry (FC) results were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values determined by microdilution. The antifungal activity of amphotericin B ranged from MICs of 0.06 to 2μg/ml for the 11 isolates studied. The same results were found by FC. The FC method allows same-day results, assisting in the selection of appropriate antifungal therapies. These results demonstrate an excellent correlation between FC and the classic methods of testing for susceptibility to antifungal agents. This rapid diagnosis method makes it possible to quickly administer effective therapeutic interventions, often saving lives.

Disseminated cutaneous histoplasmosis in elderly patients. An uncommon presentation

Background: Human fungal infections have increased at an alarming rate in recent years, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Cryptococcosis is the second most prevalent systemic fungal infection worldwide, and the most prevalent systemic infection in immunocompromised individuals, representing more than 70% of cases. The incidence of cryptococcosis is high in people with HIV/acquired immunodefi- ciency syndrome (AIDS), with recent estimates indicating that there are one million cases of cryptococcal meningitis globally per year in AIDS patients. Aims: The aim of this research was to develop a rapid flow cytometric antifungal susceptibility test and to compare the results with the standard methods. Methods: A reference strain and clinical isolates of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii were tested for susceptibility to amphotericin B by flow cytometry using propidium iodide as indicator of viability. Flow cytometry (FC) results were compared with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values determined by microdilution. Results: The antifungal activity of amphotericin B ranged from MICs of 0.06 to 2 g/ml for the 11 isolates studied. The same results were found by FC. Conclusions: The FC method allows same-day results, assisting in the selection of appropriate antifungal therapies. These results demonstrate an excellent correlation between FC and the classic methods of testing for susceptibility to antifungal agents. This rapid diagnosis method makes it possible to quickly administer effective therapeutic interventions, often saving lives.

Avaliação microbiológica da superfície muscular de carcaças ovinas durante as operações de abate em matadouro

In order to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of lamb carcasses for human consumption, this study aimed at quantifying populations of indicator microorganisms, such as: mesophiles and psychrotrophs, molds and yeasts, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp. and at identifying pathogenic microorganisms (Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp.). The study was conducted in one lamb slaughterhouse located in the State of São Paulo. Swab samples were collected from muscle surface of forequarter and hindquarter regions of 30 half-carcasses after skinning, evisceration and washing processes. Population counts were between the following values in log10: 2,00 ± 0,32 and 2,59 ± 0,76 UFC/cm2 for mesophiles; 1,52 ± 0,98 and 2,35 ± 1,17 UFC/cm2 for psychrotrophs; 0,75 ± 0,87 and 1,23 ± 0,97 UFC/cm2 for molds and yeasts; 0,00 ± 0,00 and 0,31 ± 0,84 NMP/cm2 for Escherichia coli and 1,75 ± 0,71 and 1,95 ± 0,68 UFC/cm2 for Staphylococcus spp. Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp. were not detected from any of the sampled points. These results indicate the necessity to improve the hygienic-sanitary conditions.

Análise retrospectiva da implantação do serviço de inspeção municipal de Rio Verde – GO e de microrganismos patogenicos em produtos cárneos

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Qualidade microbiológica e perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana dos isolados de tilápias (Oreochromis spp.) de pesque-pague da microrregião do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Novas alternativas terapêuticas para o tratamento da Criptococose: análogos de Resveratrol e microRNAs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Meningite supurativa secundária a otite média e interna em um gato: relato de caso

Suppurative meningitis are rarely reported in dogs and cats. The present study aims to report the occurrence of suppurative meningitis secondary to otitis media and interna in a five-year-old female Persian cat examined at the Veterinary School of Unesp-Botucatu with acute progressive multifocal neurological alterations. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) demonstrated predominance of neutrophils (90%) and the presence of bacteria. Therapy with antibiotics was initiated, but the animal came to die. beta-hemolytic Staphylococcus, beta-hemolytic Streptococcus and Proteus mirabilis were detected in fragments sent to culture. The present report demonstrates the importance of performing more specific exams such as complete CSF analysis in cases of otitis media and interna. This way, central nervous infections can be diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, as those are acute diseases with poor prognosis.

Desenvolvimento de um embutido cárneo fermentado, com teores reduzidos de gordura e sais de cura, através da utilização de culturas probióticas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Absence of Interferon-γ–Inducible Gene IGTP Does Not Significantly Alter the Development of Chagasic Cardiomyopathy in Mice Infected with Trypanosoma cruzi (Brazil Strain)

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) contributes to host resistance during acute infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, the causative agent of Chagas’ disease. Inducibly expressed guanosine triphosphatase (IGTP), a 48-kDa guanosine triphosphatase (GTPase), is a member of a family of GTPase proteins inducibly expressed by IFN-γ. The expression pattern of IGTP suggests that it may mediate IFN-γ–induced responses in a variety of cell types. IGTP has been demonstrated to be important for control of Toxoplasma gondii infection but not for resistance against Listeria monocytogenes. We evaluated the role of IGTP in development of chronic chagasic cardiomyopathy in IGTP null mice and C57X129sv (wild type [WT]) mice infected with the Brazil strain for 6 mo. There was no significant difference in parasitemia or cardiac histopathology between null and WT mice. Right ventricular remodeling was observed in infected IGTP null mice, suggesting that IGTP does not significantly alter the course of T. cruzi infection.

Microbiological quality and safety of minimally processed vegetables marketed in Campinas, SP-Brazil, as assessed by traditional and alternative methods

In this study, a total of 172 samples of minimally processed vegetables (MPV) were collected from supermarkets in the city of Campinas, Brazil. The MPV were analyzed using traditional and/or alternative methods for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, Escherichia coil, coagulase positive staphylococci, Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes. All the MPV analyzed presented populations of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms and total coliforms were >4 log(10) CFU/g and 1.0-3.4 log(10) CFU/g, respectively. E. coil was enumerated in only 10 samples out of 172 collected, while none of the 172 samples of MPV presented contamination by coagulase positive Staphylococcus (<10(1) CFU/g). Among the four methods used for detection of Salmonella in MPV (Vidas, 1,2 Test, Reveal, and Traditional), when Reveal was used a total of 29 positive samples were reported. For L monocytogenes, the four methods tested (Vidas, Vip, Reveal, and traditional) performed similarly. The presence of Salmonella and L monocytogenes in MPV was confirmed in one (watercress) and two samples (watercress and escarole), respectively. In conclusion, it has been observed that the microbiological quality of MPV commercialized in Campinas is generally satisfactory. Besides, the choice of microbiological method should be based not only on resource and time issues, but also on parameters such as sensitivity and specificity for the specific foods under ahalysis. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Experimental infection of suckling mice by subcutaneous inoculation with Oropouche virus

Oropouche virus, of the family Bunyaviridae, genus Orthobunyavirus, serogroup Simbu, is an important causative agent of arboviral febrile illness in Brazil. An estimated 500,000 cases of Oropouche fever have occurred in Brazil in the last 30 years, with recorded cases also in Panama, Peru, Suriname and Trinidad. We have developed an experimental model of Oropouche virus infection in neonatal BALB/c mouse by subcutaneous inoculation. The vast majority of infected animals developed disease on the 5th day post infection, characterized mainly by lethargy and paralysis, progressing to death within 10 days. Viral replication was documented in brain cells by in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and virus titration. Multi-step immunohistochemistry indicated neurons as the main target cells of OROV infection. Histopathology revealed glial reaction and astrocyte activation in the brain and spinal cord, with neuronal apoptosis. Spleen hyperplasia and mild meningitis were also found, without viable virus detected in liver and spleen. This is the first report of an experimental mouse model of OROV infection, with severe involvement of the central nervous system, and should become useful in pathogenesis studies, as well as in preclinical testing of therapeutic interventions for this emerging pathogen. (c) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of rhamnolipid and surfactin to reduce the adhesion and remove biofilms of individual and mixed cultures of food pathogenic bacteria

Biofilms represent a great concern for food industry, since they can be a source of persistent contamination leading to food spoilage and to the transmission of diseases. To avoid the adhesion of bacteria and the formation of biofilms, an alternative is the pre-conditioning of surfaces using biosurfactants, microbial compounds that can modify the physicochemical properties of surfaces changing bacterial interactions and consequently adhesion. Different concentrations of the biosurfactants, surfactin from Bacillus subtilis and rhamnolipids from Pseudomonas aeruginosa, were evaluated to reduce the adhesion and to disrupt biofilms of food-borne pathogenic bacteria. Individual cultures and mixed cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis were studied using polystyrene as the model surface. The pre-conditioning with surfactin 0.25% reduced by 42.0% the adhesion of L monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, whereas the treatment using rhamnolipids 1.0% reduced by 57.8% adhesion of L monocytogenes and by 67.8% adhesion of S. aureus to polystyrene.Biosurfactants were less effective to avoid adhesion of mixed cultures of the bacteria when compared with individual cultures. After 2 h contact with surfactin at 0.1% concentration, the pre-formed biofilms of S. aureus were reduced by 63.7%, L. monocytogenesby 95.9%, S. Enteritidis by 35.5% and the mixed culture biofilm by 58.5%. The rhamnolipids at 0.25% concentration removed 58.5% the biofilm of S. aureus, 26.5% of L monocytogenes, 23.0% of S. Enteritidis and 24.0% the mixed culture after 2 h contact. In general, the increase in concentration of biosurfactants and in the time of contact decreased biofilm removal percentage. These results suggest that surfactin and rhamnolipids can be explored to control the attachment and to disrupt biofilms of individual and mixed cultures of the food-borne pathogens. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.