This study evaluated the microbiological quality of milk and Coalho cheese, the prevalence of enterotoxin genes, antimicrobial resistance and determined an inducible MLSB resistance phenotype by the D-test in strains of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from these products. Seventy samples of milk and Coalho cheese were analyzed. S. aureus strains were identified by biochemical tests. The presence of se genes (sea-see) was tested by polymerase chain reaction. The antimicrobial sensitivity of S. aureus strains was evaluated for 13 antimicrobial drugs using the disk diffusion technique and the double-disk diffusion test (D-test) was performed to determine inducible resistance to lincosamide phenotype. The amount of toxin sufficient to cause foodborne diseases is generally observed when Staphylococcus populations exceed 105 CFU mL-1 g-1. In this study, none of the milk samples analyzed showed these counts; however, 73.3% (22/30) of Coalho cheese samples exceeded this value. A total of 109 isolates were identified as S. aureus. The presence of enterotoxin genes was detected in 25.7% of these isolates and amplified only for the sec gene. Most of the isolates (78.5%) were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. The D test showed that 25.0% of erythromycin-resistant isolates had the constitutive resistance phenotype, and 3.8% had the inducible resistance phenotype to clindamycin. These results indicate that these dairy products represent a health risk since these bacteria can cause foodborne diseases or may be a possible route for the transfer of antimicrobial resistance to humans.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate live weight and carcass traits, from birth to slaughter, and meat quality of Nellore (NEL), Curraleiro Pé-Duro (CPD), and crossbred (F1) products in the state of Piauí, Brazil. Progenies from CPD, NEL, and their F1 crossbred (½ NEL + ½ CPD), a total of 252, males and females, from birth to 24 months of age, were evaluated in a comparative study in growth performance. The steers were sent to slaughter at 28 months of age and carcasses and meat quality were analyzed. After slaughter, carcass weight, dressing percentage and Longissimus dorsi area (rib eye area) were evaluated; an index was created by the relationship between these measures per hundred kg of chilled carcass produced.To assess meat quality, the shear force, water-holding capacity, color, brightness, pH, and cooking loss were investigated. Results obtained showed that month and year of birth were significant on growth, indicating influence of climatic variables. Nellore offspring was heavier than F 1 and this was heavier than CPD throughout the study period, including the hot and cold carcass. No differences were found in dressing percentage among NEL and F 1 , but CPD and F 1 showed a rib eye area and index significantly higher than NEL. The meat from CPD group presented a stronger red coloration than the others, but there was no significant difference in the remaining meat qualitative variables among the three groups. Curraleiro Pé-Duro and F 1 crossbred produce more meat per 100 kg of carcass than Nellore in natural pasture of Piauí State.

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