The serrano artisan cheese produced from raw milk of dairy cattle is a typical product of high-altitude farms in the states of Santa Catarina and Rio Grande do Sul. However, marketing of the cheeses occurs illegally because they lack the minimum maturation period required for cheese produced from raw milk. The production of artisan cheeses is required to follow strict hygiene standards. This study aimed to test the quality and safety of cheeses that were produced in 31 farms of the Serrana region in Santa Catarina after 14 and 28 days of maturation. Coliform count was measured at 35 °C, and presence of other microorganisms such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus, Listeria spp., and Salmonella spp. were also tested. Fat and protein percentages, acidity, salt content, and humidity were also evaluated. Data were subjected to statistical analyses using the SAS ® software. After 14 and 28 days of maturation, 74.19% (23/31) and 64.52% (20/31) of samples, respectively, showed higher numbers of coliforms at 35 °C than those permissible by law. Higher than permissible numbers of E. coli were observed in 45.16% (14/31) and 48.39% (15/31) of the samples analyzed after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. Coagulasepositive staphylococci values above 10 3 CFU/g were observed in 54.84% (17/31) and 51.61% (16/31) of cheese samples after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. Contamination with Salmonella spp. was not detected. However, Listeria monocytogenes serovar 4b was isolated in 3.23% (1/31) and 6.45% (2/31) of samples after 14 and 28 days of maturation, respectively. The results of humidity tests classified the cheese samples into three categories: low, medium, and high humidity. Semi fat cheeses were predominant in both maturation periods, although the samples were classified in thin, semi fat, and fat cheeses. The main variations in the compositions of analyzed samples occurred for salt and acidity levels. The maturation process has not proven to be effective in reducing microbiological contamination to compliance levels. Considering the heterogeneity of the analyzed cheese samples, the frequency of non-conformities with respect to microorganisms and pathogens present in the samples, this study indicates the necessity to improve the Serrano artisan cheese production system through adoption of good manufacturing practice measures. 3 UFC/g. Nenhuma das amostras avaliadas estava contaminada com Salmonella spp., porém Listeria monocytogenes sorovar 4b foi isolada em 3,23% (1/31) e em 6,45% (2/31) das amostras aos 14 e 28 dias de maturação, respectivamente. Em relação à umidade, os queijos foram classificados como de baixa, média e alta umidade. Em relação aos teores de gordura houve a predominância de queijos semigordos nos dois períodos de maturação, embora as amostras tenham sido enquadradas como queijos magros, semigordos e gordos. As principais variações na composição entre as amostras avaliadas ocorreram nos teores de sal e acidez. O processo de maturação não demonstrou ser efetivo na redução de ...

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In this work, we investigated the phenotypic profile of Staphylococcus spp. isolates recovered from raw milk and artisanal cheese, and their enterotoxigenic potential through the detection of classical enterotoxin genes (sea, seb, sec, sed and see). A total of 104 isolates (58 coagulase-positive Staphylococcus-CoPS; and 46 coagulasenegative Staphylococcus-CoNS) were used, of which 33 were retrieved from raw milk and 71 from artisanal cheese produced in the Serrana region of Santa Catarina. Identification of CoPS was conducted via biochemical tests. Detection of the genes sea, seb, sec, sed, and see was carried out by multiplex PCR technique. Among the 58 CoPS analyzed, 64% were identified as S. aureus, 22% as S. scheiferi coagulans, 12% as S. hyicus and as 2% S. intermedius. In the present study was noted that 40% of CoPS isolates retrieved from milk harbored seb gene, while only one from artisanal cheese was positive for gene sea. In this study all CoNS samples investigated were negative for enterotoxins genes. The enterotoxigenic potential of CoPS, is an issue of great importance for public health. For that reason, it is necessary that cheese factories strictly follow the safety processes involved in manufacturing.

RESUMO:A Inseminação Artificial é uma biotécnica da reprodução estabelecida e aplicada na suinocultura cujo objetivo é a maximização do uso dos ejaculados, mantendo e melhorando a eficiência reprodutiva. Entretanto, quando há contaminação bacteriana no sêmen, pode haver comprometimento da viabilidade espermática. O objetivo deste trabalho foi pesquisar a contaminação bacteriana em ejaculados colhidos em centrais de inseminação artificial e relacionar com as características quantitativas e qualitativas dos ejaculados, além de testar a sensibilidade dos agentes isolados frente a diferentes antibióticos. Foi coletado sêmen suíno de três centrais de inseminação artificial em Santa Catarina. Essas amostras foram submetidas à análise microbiológica, onde foi realizado o isolamento, identificação, contagem bacteriana além dos antibiogramas. Estas amostras foram também avaliadas quanto à motilidade, vigor, aglutinação e concentração. Para esta avaliação foram utilizados dados fornecidos pela empresa. Foram realizados esfregaços das amostras de sêmen e corados com eosina-negrosina para a avaliação da morfologia espermática. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância utilizando-se o procedimento GLM do pacote estatístico SAS. Houve isolamento de 17 diferentes gêneros bacterianos, entre os quais os mais frequentes foram Staphylococcus sp. Proteus sp. Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., porém não houve uma correlação significativa (P>0,05) quando comparado o número de unidade formadora de colônia /mL do sêmen com motilidade, concentração e alterações morfológicas. Foi encontrado um efeito isolado do gênero Staphylococcus sp. P(<0,05) provocando uma diminuição na motilidade dos espermatozóides. A maioria dos agentes bacterianos mostrou-se resistentes aos antibióticos testados. Palavras-chave: antibiograma; bactérias; cachaço; sêmen INFLUENCE OF BACTERIAL CONTAMINATION IN PIG SPERM PARAMETERS AND RESISTANCE PROFILE OF ISOLATED AGENTS ABSTRACT:Artificial insemination is an established biotech and applied reproduction in pigs whose objective is to maximize the use of ejaculated, maintaining and improving reproductive efficiency. However, when there is bacterial contamination in semen, may be impaired for sperm viability. The aims of this study was to investigate the bacterial contamination in semen collected in artificial insemination centers and related to quantitative and qualitative qualities, and test the sensitivities of the isolates against different antibiotics. Boar semen was collected three artificial insemination centers in Santa Catarina. These samples were submitted to microbiological analysis, where we performed the isolation, identification, bacterial count beyond antibiograms. These samples were also evaluated for motility, vigor, concentration and agglutination. For this evaluation we used data provided by the company. Smears were prepared from semen samples and stained with eosinnegrosina for the evaluation of sperm morphology. The data were subjected to analysis of variance using the GLM procedure of SAS ...

Background: Antimicrobial resistance is described as a condition in which a micro-organism is able to survive when exposed to an antimicrobial agent. The resistance rates to antimicrobials in companion animals have risen considerably. Studies of local antimicrobial susceptibility profiles are needed as well as education and warning about the use of tests for the identification and susceptibility of pathogenic bacterial strains. The aim of this study was to identify the main antimicrobial resistance in clinical samples of dogs, and to detect multidrug-resistant strains of importance to public health.Materials, Methods & Results: Bacterial pathogens of 77 dog infections were isolated and their sensitivity profile to antimicrobials was determined. One hundred bacterial isolates were identified. Of these, 61 were Gram-positive (55 Staphylococcus spp., 4 Enterococcus spp. and 2 Streptococcus spp.) and 39 Gram-negative (36 fermenters and 3 non-fermenters). Seventy-nine isolates were considered multiresistant following individual assessment of drugs, and 85 following the evaluation of classes. Only 3 were sensitive to all drugs. Four isolates were resistant to all classes and only sensitive to some antibiotics. Of the 55 samples of Staphylococcus spp., 36 (65.45%) were identified as phenotypically MRS. Two isolates of Enterococcus spp. were resistant to vancomycin (VRE). Also 66.67% (26/39) of the samples were positive for the presumptive test for ESBL. For the MRS-positive isolates detected in this study, chloramphenicol was the antimicrobial that showed superior sensitivity in 74.29% of the cases (27/36); therefore it is considered the most appropriate for treatment of this type of micro-organism. In case of aminoglycosides, when their resistance was checked in MRS isolates, all resistance percentages increased, implying a limited use of this class for such a type of multi-resistant micro-organism. Contrarily, in case of ESBL, a superior sensitivity was observed towards MRS isolates, thus making them a prime treatment choice for the infection caused by these micro-organisms.Discussion: Literature have reported a gradual increase in multidrug resistance towards antimicrobial agents in veterinary medicine over the past decades. In this study, 64% of multiresistant strains were considered of significant importance, notably MRS (36), VRE (2) and ESBL (26). The early identification of pathogens in animals has become an important step in order to minimize the transmission of antibacterial resistance. The increase in the number of multidrug-resistant bacteria in animals and humans demonstrates the need to develop and implement measures in order to monitor and control the spread of this resistance. It is possible that the increased drug resistance is linked to the constant exposure to these drugs and the subsequent selective pressure, causing the transfer of resistant genes between strains. Carbapenems and glycopeptides should be used with caution in veterinary medicine in order to prevent such processes of selection that develop resistance in micro-organisms to these two classes, which can result in cross-resistance between animals and humans and create obstacles in the treatment of patients, especially for the two drugs mentioned, since they are important for the treatment of nosocomial infections in humans. The resistance percentage towards fluoroquinolones was identified to be higher in Gram-positive isolates, particularly in MRS, which showed 75% resistance against this class (according to the CLSI, resistance to one fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent provides resistance to other antimicrobials of this class). For ESBL isolates, the resistance was shown to be 50%. The resistance towards the fluoroquinolones and aminoglycosides class can be associated with the expression of the genes that produce ESBL.