Special Issue "Strategies to Control Foodborne Pathogens: Pre- and Post-harvest Safety of Animal Food Products"

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal System and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2021.

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Amit Vikram
E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, NE 68933, USA
Interests: food Safety; food microbiology; bacteriophages; antimicrobial resistance; microbiome and metagenomics

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Achieving a safe food supply has become increasingly challenging in the modern era. Major challenges include both traditional and emerging pathogens in pre- and post-harvest operations. For instance, mitigation of bacterial pathogens Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter on-farm and in raw meat and poultry remains challenging. Additionally, viral pathogens continue to be a concern at food service and Listeria monocytogenes is a concern in ready-to-eat processed products. More recently antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens has emerged as major challenge. Novel strategies are required to understand the sources of antimicrobial resistance, transmission and mitigations approaches. Although traditional methods of pathogen control in the food matrix have improved food safety, numerous food safety incidences indicate a need to further develop and improve the food safety interventions at both pre- and postharvest levels.

We invite original research papers and reviews that address improved pathogen control on the farm, in raw and ready-to-eat animal products. Additional topics include pathogen-microbiome interactions in farmed animals, antimicrobial resistance in foodborne pathogens and the transmission of pathogens from farm to final products.

Dr. Amit Vikram
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • foodborne pathogens
  • meat safety
  • poultry
  • microbiome
  • food-safety interventions
  • on-farm food safety
  • pathogen transmission
  • antimicrobial resistance

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Article
Prevalence of Mastitis and Antibiotic Resistance of Bacterial Isolates from CMT Positive Milk Samples Obtained from Dairy Cows, Camels, and Goats in Two Pastoral Districts in Southern Ethiopia
Animals 2021, 11(6), 1530; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11061530 - 24 May 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1511
Abstract
A study was carried out from August 2017 to February 2018 on lactating dairy cows, one-humped dromedary camels, and goats to determine mastitis in the Bule Hora and Dugda Dawa districts of in Southern Ethiopia. Milk samples from 564 udder quarters and udder [...] Read more.
A study was carried out from August 2017 to February 2018 on lactating dairy cows, one-humped dromedary camels, and goats to determine mastitis in the Bule Hora and Dugda Dawa districts of in Southern Ethiopia. Milk samples from 564 udder quarters and udder halves from 171 animals consisting of 60 dairy cows, 51 camels, and 60 goats were tested for mastitis. Sixty-four positive udder milk samples were cultured, and bacterial mastitis pathogens were isolated and identified. The antibiotic resistance of bacterial isolates from milk with mastitis was tested against nine antimicrobials commonly used in the study area. Cow- and quarter-level prevalence of mastitis in dairy cows, camels, and goats was 33.3%, 26.3%, and 25% and 17.6%, 14.5%, and 20%, respectively. In cattle, the prevalence was significantly higher in Dugda Dawa than in Bule Hora. Major bacterial isolates were coagulase-negative Staphylococcus species (39.1%), S. aureus (17.2%), S. hyicus (14.1%), and S. intermedius and Escherichia coli (9.4% each). In camels, udder abnormality and mastitis were significantly higher in late lactation than in early lactation. Mastitis tends to increase with parity in camels. E. coli isolates were highly resistant to spectinomycin, vancomycin, and doxycycline, whereas most S. aureus isolates were multidrug-resistant. Most of the rural and periurban communities in this area consume raw milk, which indicates a high risk of infection with multidrug-resistant bacteria. We recommend a community-focused training program to improve community awareness of the need to boil milk and the risk of raw milk consumption. Full article
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Article
Controlling the Colonization of Clostridium perfringens in Broiler Chickens by an Electron-Beam-Killed Vaccine
Animals 2021, 11(3), 671; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11030671 - 03 Mar 2021
Viewed by 638
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a Gram-positive anaerobe that is one of the causative agents of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, which leads to high mortality. Owing to the ban of administering antibiotics in feed to chickens, there has been an increase in the [...] Read more.
Clostridium perfringens (Cp) is a Gram-positive anaerobe that is one of the causative agents of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, which leads to high mortality. Owing to the ban of administering antibiotics in feed to chickens, there has been an increase in the number of NE outbreaks all over the world, and the estimated loss is approximately 6 billion U.S. dollars. The best alternative method to control NE without antibiotics could be vaccination. In this study, we exposed three different strains of Cp to electron beam (eBeam) irradiation to inactivate them and then used them as a killed vaccine to control the colonization of Cp in broiler chickens. The vaccine was delivered to 18-day old embryos in ovo and the chickens were challenged with the respective vaccine strain at two different time points (early and late) to test the protective efficacy of the vaccine. The results indicate that an effective eBeam dose of 10 kGy inactivated all three strains of Cp, did not affect the cell membrane or epitopes, induced significant levels of IgY in the vaccinated birds, and further reduced the colonization of Cp strains significantly (p < 0.0001) in late challenge (JGS4064: 4 out of 10; JGS1473: 0 out of 10; JGS4104: 3 out of 10). Further studies are necessary to enhance the efficacy of the vaccine and to understand the mechanism of vaccine protection. Full article
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Article
Combined Effect of Organic Acids and Modified Atmosphere Packaging on Listeria monocytogenes in Chicken Legs
Animals 2020, 10(10), 1818; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10101818 - 06 Oct 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 542
Abstract
The combined effect of organic acid (citric, propionic or acetic acid) treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the growth of L. monocytogenes in chicken legs kept at 4 °C for 10 days was evaluated. Chicken legs were inoculated with L. monocytogenes [...] Read more.
The combined effect of organic acid (citric, propionic or acetic acid) treatment and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) on the growth of L. monocytogenes in chicken legs kept at 4 °C for 10 days was evaluated. Chicken legs were inoculated with L. monocytogenes and washed with either 2% citric, 2% propionic or 2% acetic acid solution or distilled water (control). Legs were packaged under the following conditions: air, vacuum, 80% N2/20% CO2, 60% N2/40% CO2 or 40% N2/60% CO2. The greatest L. monocytogenes growth reductions after treatment were observed in chicken legs washed with propionic acid (2.14 log units lower compared to control legs). The lowest growth rates of L. monocytogenes were found in samples washed with acetic acid and packaged in atmospheres containing CO2. An extended shelf life was observed in legs packaged in 40% N2/60% CO2, but these packaging conditions did not reduce L. monocytogenes growth. Consequently, it is necessary to design measures in order to control this bacterial pathogen. Washing of chicken with 2% propionic acid or 2% acetic acid can decrease L. monocytogenes counts in chicken packaged in MAP. Full article
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Review

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Review
Clostridium perfringens as Foodborne Pathogen in Broiler Production: Pathophysiology and Potential Strategies for Controlling Necrotic Enteritis
Animals 2020, 10(9), 1718; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10091718 - 22 Sep 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1536
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens (Cp.) is the cause of human foodborne desease. Meat and poultry products are identified as the main source of infection for humans. Cp. can be found in poultry litter, feces, soil, dust, and healthy birds’ intestinal contents. Cp. strains are known [...] Read more.
Clostridium perfringens (Cp.) is the cause of human foodborne desease. Meat and poultry products are identified as the main source of infection for humans. Cp. can be found in poultry litter, feces, soil, dust, and healthy birds’ intestinal contents. Cp. strains are known to secrete over 20 identified toxins and enzymes that could potentially be the principal virulence factors, capable of degrading mucin, affecting enterocytes, and the small intestine epithelium, involved in necrotic enteritis (NE) pathophysiology, also leading to immunological responses, microbiota modification and anatomical changes. Different environmental and dietary factors can determine the colonization of this microorganism. It has been observed that the incidence of Cp-associated to NE in broilers has increased in countries that have stopped using antibiotic growth promoters. Since the banning of such antibiotic growth promoters, several strategies for Cp. control have been proposed, including dietary modifications, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, organic acids, and vaccines. However, there are aspects of the pathology that still need to be clarified to establish better actions to control and prevention. This paper reviews the current knowledge about Cp. as foodborne pathogen, the pathophysiology of NE, and recent findings on potential strategies for its control. Full article
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Review
Non-Typhoidal Salmonella at the Human-Food-of-Animal-Origin Interface in Australia
Animals 2020, 10(7), 1192; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071192 - 14 Jul 2020
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 875
Abstract
Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a major zoonotic pathogen that plays a significant role in foodborne human salmonellosis worldwide through the consumption of contaminated foods, particularly those of animal origin. Despite a considerable reduction in human salmonellosis outbreaks in developed countries, Australia is experiencing a [...] Read more.
Non-typhoidal Salmonella is a major zoonotic pathogen that plays a significant role in foodborne human salmonellosis worldwide through the consumption of contaminated foods, particularly those of animal origin. Despite a considerable reduction in human salmonellosis outbreaks in developed countries, Australia is experiencing a continuous rise of such outbreaks in humans. This review of the literature highlights the reported non-typhoidal Salmonella outbreaks in humans as well as the occurrence of the pathogen in foods from animal sources throughout Australia. Non-typhoidal Salmonella infections from food animals are more often associated with at-risk people, such as immunocompromised and aged people or children. Although several animal-sourced foods were recognised as the catalysts for salmonellosis outbreaks in Australia, egg and egg-based products remained the most implicated foods in the reported outbreaks. This review further highlights the antimicrobial resistance trends of non-typhoidal Salmonella isolates at the human–food interface, with a focus on clinically important antimicrobials in humans, by collating evidence from previous investigations in Australia. The rise in antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella, especially to antimicrobials commonly prescribed to treat human salmonellosis, has become a significant global public health concern. However, the overall prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Australia is considerably lower than in other parts of the world, particularly in terms of critically important antimicrobials for the treatment of human salmonellosis. The present review adds to our understanding of the global epidemiology of non-typhoidal Salmonella with emphasis on the past few decades in Australia. Full article

Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

1. Review

Clostridium perfringens as a foodborne pathogen in broilers production. Pathophysiology and potential strategies for controlling necrotic enteritis

Zuamí Villagrán-de la Mora 1, María Esther Macías-Rodríguez 2, Jenny Arratia-Quijada 3, Yesica Sughey Gonzalez-Torres1, Karla Nuño 3,*and Angélica Villarruel-López 2,*

1   Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Centro Universitario de Los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Rafael Casillas Aceves 1200, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Jalisco, Mexico; [email protected] (Z.V.-M.); [email protected] (Y.S.G.-T.)

2   Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Gral. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Olímpica 44430, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico; [email protected] (M.E.M.-R); (A.V.-L.)

3. Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Nuevo Perif. Ote. 555, Ejido San José, Tateposco 45425 Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico; [email protected] (J.A.-Q); (K.N.)

*   Correspondence: [email protected]; [email protected]

AbstractClostridium perfringens (Cp.), is a cause of human foodborne illness. Meat and poultry products are identified as the main source of infection for humans. It can be found in poultry litter, feces, soil, dust and in healthy bird intestinal contents. Cp. strains are known to secrete >20 identified toxins or enzymes that could potentially be the principal virulence factors (capable of degrading mucin, affecting enterocyte, and small intestine epithelium), involved in necrotic enteritis pathophysiology. Also, it leads immunological responses, microbiota modification and anatomical changes. The colonization of this microorganism can be determined by different environmental and dietary factors. It has been observed that the incidence of Cp-associated necrotic enteritis in broilers has increased in countries that have stopped using antibiotic growth promoters. Since the banning of such antibiotic growth promoters, several strategies for Cp control have been proposed, including: dietary modifications, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phytogenics, organic acids and vaccines.  However, there are aspects of the pathology that still need to be clarified, and thus establish better action for the control and prevention of the disease. This paper reviews the current knowledge about Cp. as foodborne pathogen, the pathophysiology of necrotic enteritis and recent findings on potential strategies for its control.

Keywords: C. perfringens, necrotic enteritis, pathophysiology, control strategies

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