BackgroundFollowing the ban on the use of growth factors, the use of zeolite in poultry feed could be a solution to obtain healthier food products that are more demanded by the consumer.MethodsZeolite (Clinoptilolite) was added to turkey male and female feed at concentrations 1% or 2% and was evaluated for its effectiveness on performance of the production. The turkeys were given free and continuous access to a nutritionally non-limiting diet (in meal form) that was either a basal diet or a ‘Zeolite supplemented-diet’ (the basal diet supplemented with clinoptilolite at a level of 1% or 2%).ResultsIt was found that adding zeolite in the turkey diet had a positive effect on growth performance and increased weight gain compared to the control. In addition, zeolite treatment had a positive effect on oxidative stress and organoleptic parameters that were measured. It was found that adding zeolite in the turkey diet reduced the MDA level in the liver and in the meat, as compared to the control. Quality of meat was measured as a significantly increase (p < 0.05) in pH for male meat, indicated that the zeolite could maintain the quality of longer period. The adding of zeolite in the turkey diet increased level of polyunsaturated fatty acid.ConclusionThis study showed the significance of using zeolite, as a feed additive for turkey, as part of a comprehensive program to improve growth performance and oxidative stress parameters and to increase level of polyunsaturated fatty acid on the turkey body.

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In this study, we conducted an investigation to determine the true prevalence of bovine and ovine brucellosis in central-eastern Tunisia. A total of 1134 veterinary samples taken from 130 ruminant herds were screened for brucellosis using IS711-based real-time PCR assay. Sera collected from the ruminants were tested using the Rose Bengal test and indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Based on serological and molecular results, the true adjusted animal population level prevalence was 23.5 % in cattle, against 13.5 % in sheep. In addition, the true adjusted herd level prevalence of brucellosis was 55.6 % in cattle and 21.8 % in sheep. A statistically significant association was found between vaginal and milk shedding for ruminants. In addition, our results showed that Brucella abortus could be responsible for bovine and ovine brucellosis. Multivariable logistic regression analysis at the animal population level indicated that age and origin variables were important risk factors for cattle. However, age and abortion variables were found to be associated with ovine brucellosis. At the herd level, risk factors for Brucella positivity were as follows: abortion and herd composition for cattle against herd composition, mortality rates, and hygiene for sheep. Animal hygiene, food quality, and sanitary practices on the farm should be applied as strategies to control brucellosis in herds.

Salmonella is a leading cause of foodborne diseases worldwide. The use of antibiotics in food-producing animals may contribute to the development of antimicrobial resistance in nontyphoidal Salmonella. The development of resistance to potent antimicrobials such as fluoroquinolones and extended-spectrum β-lactamases is a significant public health problem. The present study was conducted to examine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates obtained from food samples. Salmonella was cultured according to ISO 6579:2002 method, and antimicrobial resistance was evaluated with the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Forty-five Salmonella isolates were recovered, and a high Salmonella prevalence was detected in clams (7 of 20 samples, 35%), chicken (28 of 97 samples, 28.9%) and cow's milk (10 of 80 samples, 12.5%). Salmonella Enteritidis (n = 19) and Salmonella Kentucky (n = 18) were the most prevalent isolates. Multidrug resistance was found in 31.1% of the isolates (14 of 45); 84, 46, 28, and 17% of the isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, and both ofloxacin and cefotaxime, respectively. The isolates resistant to cefotaxime were screened by PCR for the genes for TEM β-lactamase, extended-spectrum β-lactamases (CTX and OXA), and AmpC β-lactamases (FOX, MOX, DHA, ACC, CIT, and EBC). One Salmonella Kentucky isolate from milk harbored an AmpC gene (FOX), and the same serotype isolated from chicken carried the EBC AmpC determinant. The blaTEM gene was detected in all nonsusceptible isolates. We also screened isolates with reduced fluoroquinolone susceptibility for the presence of transferable plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance determinants. Three qnr genes (qnrB, qnrD, and qnrS) were detected in four isolates (two from milk and two from chicken). To our knowledge, this is the first report of the AmpC FOX and EBC gene families and the qnrD gene within a foodborne pathogen in Tunisia. These findings highlight the emergence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella isolates with decreased susceptibility to fluoroquinolones and third-generation cephalosporins, which are drugs commonly used for the treatment of Salmonella infections. HIGHLIGHTS

Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) strains are among the major foodborne pathogens with emerging multidrug-resistant phenotypes. In this study, antimicrobial susceptibilities of a collection of  Salmonella isolates (n=54) recovered from poultry and bivalve molluscs were performed. The study also investigated the virulence and resistance genes profiling as well as the phylogenetic relationships through PFGE and ERIC/PCR fingerprinting. Results revealed the presence of multiple virulence genes among Salmonella  isolates. siiA ,  sopB ,  cat2 ,  safC ,  sefB and sopE2 genes were present in most (83.32%-100%) of the isolates, while the remaining tested genes ( spvC , spvB, and sopE ) were exclusively detected within the serotype Enteritidis. The highest resistance rates were observed for oxacillin (94.4%), ampicillin (37%) and nalidixic acid (27.7%), followed by cefotaxime and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (14.8%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (9.3%) and ciprofloxacin (5.5%). The results of the present study indicate that S.  Enteritidis serotype possessed the widest range of virulence determinants and increasing levels of resistance. Such high-risk clones should be particularly controlled in Tunisia. Overall, increased resistance and virulence confers a selective advantage for the evolution of the bacteria which represents an alarming problem for global public health. The genetic study via Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC/PCR) showed the high diversity of the clonal origins of the bacteria and the sources of contamination,and revealed the great capacity of the pathogen to diversify within food-producing animals.