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We identified bacteria collected from the ejaculates and cloacae of male Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) and from the cloacae of their mates during two breeding seasons and at three geographic locations with two distinct breeding habitats in each. In all, 42% of 233 ejaculates contained at least one bacteria species. Analysis of control samples suggested that some bacteria come from contamination during collection, but most are either carried within the ejaculate or are present on the male cloaca. As in an earlier study of Agelaius phoeniceus, we recorded many different species with considerable diversity between samples. We tested several explanations for this diversity. We found no overlap in either the presence of bacteria or the species found in multiple ejaculates obtained from the same male. We also found no association between bacteria in the ejaculate and those in the cloaca from the same male, or in samples collected from a male and those from the females nesting on his territory. Surveys of ejaculates from three locations, Kentucky, New York, and Wisconsin, yielded similar patterns of prevalence and diversity. Ejaculate samples from males inhabiting relatively dry upland habitats contained a similar number of bacteria and array of species as males inhabiting relatively wet, marshy territories. Many of the isolated bacteria are probably benign, but pathological effects of some species have been recorded in some circumstances. Our results suggest that acquiring pathogenic bacteria represents a potential cost to multiple mating by females, but the potential benefits of some microbes may offset these risks. Bacterias en el Sistema Reproductivo de Agelaius phoeniceus Resumen. Identificamos bacterias aisladas del semen eyaculado y de las cloacas de machos de la especie Agelaius phoeniceus y de las cloacas de sus parejas hembras durante dos estaciones y en tres áreas geográficas, con dos tipos de hábitat en cada área. En general, el 42% de las 233 muestras de eyaculaciones presentó por lo menos una especie de bacteria. El análisis de las muestras control sugiere que algunas bacterias provienen de contaminación ambiental durante la colecta, pero la mayoría de las bacterias provienen del semen o están presentes en la cloaca del macho. Al igual que en un estudio anterior con Agelaius phoeniceus, registramos muchas especies distintas, con bastante diversidad entre las muestras. Pusimos a prueba algunas hipótesis que podrían explicar esta diversidad. No encontramos coincidencia ni en la presencia de bacterias ni en las especies encontradas entre múltiples muestras obtenidas de un mismo macho. Tampoco encontramos correspondencia entre las bacterias presentes en las muestras de semen y de la cloaca de un mismo macho, ni entre las muestras colectadas de los machos y de las hembras que se encuentran anidando en su territorio. El estudio de muestras de eyaculaciones provenientes de tres localidades, Kentucky, New York, y Wisconsin, produjo patrones similares de prevalencia y diversidad. Muestras de semen de machos que habitan ambientes relativamente secos en tierras altas presentaron números de bacterias y especies similares a las muestras colectadas de machos que habitan territorios pantanosos. Probablemente, muchas de las bacterias son benignas, pero en ciertas circunstancias se han registrado efectos patológicos de algunas especies. Nuestros resultados sugieren que adquirir bacterias patológicas es un posible costo del apareamiento múltiple de las hembras, pero los posibles beneficios de algunos microbios podrían compensar estos riesgos.

The country-cured ham process, including curing, equalization, cold-smoked or nonsmoked, and aging up to 6 mo, was validated and showed its effectiveness in achieving a 6-log reduction of Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli O157:H7. The viable counts of L. monocytogenes populations decreased to below detection levels after 206 d, Salmonella populations required 122 d, and E. coli O157:H7 required 66 d. However, L. monocytogenes-inoculated hams were positive and Salmonella spp-inoculated and E. coli O157:H7-inoculated hams were negative following enrichment procedures at the end of the aging process. Therefore, the survival of L. monocytogenes on country-cured ham represents a risk.