RESUMO: Bacillus cereus é uma bactéria formadora de esporos aeróbica e facultativamente anaeróbica, encontrada naturalmente no solo e representa um fator de risco para a contaminação de alimentos e alimentos, incluindo cereais, vegetais, especiarias, alimentos prontos para comer (RTE), carnes, leite e laticínios. Este estudo teve como objetivo determinar a prevalência de B. cereus em carne crua de aves, leite de vaca cru, queijo, especiarias e alimentos RTE na província de Hatay. O estudo também analisou as propriedades psicrotróficas, características toxigênicas e perfis de PFGE dos isolados. Os níveis de contaminação com B. cereus determinados para queijo, leite cru, alimentos RTE, especiarias e carne de frango crua foram de 16,6%, 34,2%, 42,8%, 49% e 55,5%, respectivamente. B. cereus foi isolado de 84 (42%) das 200 amostras analisadas e os 84 isolados foram verificados por análise de PCR visando o gene da hemolisina específico para B. cereus. Do total de isolados, 64 (76,1%) eram psicrotróficos. O perfil do gene da toxina de isolados de B. cereus foi determinado pela amplificação dos quatro genes nhe, hbl, cytK e ces. Os genes nhe e cytK foram detectados com maior frequência nos isolados, enquanto os genes hbl e ces não foram encontrados. Além disso, uma alta relação genética entre os isolados foi detectada em um nível de similaridade de 92% pela análise de PFGE. Em conclusão, a ocorrência de cepas psicrotróficas e toxigênicas de B. cereus neste estudo indica um risco potencial de deterioração e intoxicação alimentar.

ABSTRACT: Bacillus cereus is an aerobic and facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium, and it is found naturally in soil and poses a risk factor for the contamination of food and foodstuffs including cereals, vegetables, spices, ready-to-eat (RTE) foods, meats, milk, and dairy products. This study determined the prevalence of B. cereus in raw poultry meat, raw cow’s milk, cheese, spices, and RTE foods in Hatay province. The study also analysed the psychrotrophic properties, toxigenic characteristics, and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles of the isolates. The levels of contamination with B. cereus determined for cheese, raw milk, RTE foods, spices, and raw poultry meat were 16.6%, 34.2%, 42.8%, 49%, and 55.5%, respectively. B. cereus was isolated from 84 (42%) of the 200 samples analysed and the 84 isolates were verified by PCR analysis targeting the haemolysin gene specific for B. cereus. Of the total isolates, 64 (76.1%) were psychrotrophic. The toxin gene profiling of B. cereus isolates was determined by amplifying the four genes nhe, hbl, cytK, and ces. The nhe and cytK genes were most frequently detected in the isolates, while the hbl and ces genes were not found. In addition, a high genetic relationship between the isolates was detected at a 92% similarity level by PFGE analysis. In conclusion, the occurrence of both psychrotrophic and toxigenic B. cereus strains in this study indicated a potential risk for food spoilage and food poisoning.

RESUMO: O indicador econômico mais tangível do consumo de proteína animal é o preço real de 1g de proteína de determinada qualidade. O presente estudo teve como objetivo determinar e comparar o custo-efetividade de algumas proteínas animais na Turquia. Para determinar a relação custo-benefício, foram utilizados os teores de proteína (g/100 g), valores biológicos (%) e preços reais de 36 meses (TRY/kg), ajustados pela inflação, de oito diferentes alimentos de origem animal. O teste ANOVA rendeu uma diferença significativa entre o custo-efetividade das proteínas animais selecionadas (P < 0,01 e η2 = 0,973). Múltiplas comparações revelaram que a carne de frango e o ovo de galinha, entre os quais não houve diferença significativa, foram economicamente superiores aos outros alimentos (P < 0,05). O leite de vaca e o iogurte homogeneizado, entre os quais não houve diferença significativa, ficaram em segundo lugar em termos de custo-benefício. Esses produtos foram seguidos por queijo kashar fresco, queijo branco turco curado, carne bovina e carne de carneiro. Também havia relações significativas entre os preços unitários de certos produtos de origem animal. Embora o preço real de 1 g de proteína animal varie de acordo com o tempo e o local, dependendo dos fatores que afetam a oferta e a demanda, a vantagem econômica global do ovo e da carne de frango coincide com as dimensões da saúde e das crenças religiosas. Contudo, se os desenvolvimentos demográficos, climáticos, biológicos e tecnológicos de hoje podem tornar a produção de proteína animal mais barata e mais confiável, o bem-estar do consumidor em países subdesenvolvidos e em desenvolvimento pode aumentar.

ABSTRACT: The most tangible economic indicator of animal protein consumption is the real price of 1 g protein of a certain quality. The present study aimed to determine and compare the cost-effectiveness of some animal proteins in Turkey. To determine cost-effectiveness, average protein contents (g/100 g), biological values (%), and inflation-adjusted 36-month real prices (TRY/kg) of eight different foods of animal origin were used. The ANOVA test yielded a significant difference between the cost-effectiveness of selected animal proteins (P<0.01 and η2 = 0.973). Multiple comparisons revealed that chicken meat and chicken egg, between which there was no significant difference, were economically superior to other foods (P < 0.05). Cow’s milk and homogenized yogurt, between which there was no significant difference, took second place in terms of cost-effectiveness. These products were followed by fresh kashar cheese, ripened Turkish white cheese, beef meat, and mutton meat. There were also significant relationships between the unit prices of certain animal products. Although the real price of 1 g of animal protein varies according to time and place depending on the factors affecting supply and demand, the global economic advantage of egg and chicken meat coincides with the dimensions of health and religious beliefs. If today’s demographic, climatic, biological, and technological developments can make animal protein production cheaper and more reliable, consumer welfare in underdeveloped and developing countries can increase.

RESUMO: Campylobacter é uma das causas mais comuns de doenças bacterianas de origem alimentar em todo o mundo. Este estudo foi conduzido para determinar a prevalência, a resistência antimicrobiana e a virulência de isolados de Campylobacter de leite de vaca cru e amostras de águas residuais de matadouros de gado em Hatay, na Turquia. Um total de 114 amostras de leite cru e 78 de águas residuais foram analisados para identificação de C. jejuni, C. coli e C. lari por PCR multiplex. A prevalência global de Campylobacter foi de 7,2%, destes isolados, 85,7% foram identificados como C. jejuni e 14,2% como C. coli, mas C. lari não foi detectado no estudo. Os genes cdtA e cadF estavam presentes em 66,6% e 41,6% dos isolados de C. jejuni testados, respectivamente, mas o gene wlaN não foi encontrado em nenhum dos isolados. Os resultados da análise de resistência antimicrobiana mostraram que 71,4% dos isolados eram resistentes à eritromicina; 64,2% à tetraciclina e; 57,1% à ciprofloxacina. Em geral, 8 dos 14 isolados de Campylobacter (57,1%) apresentaram resistência a múltiplos fármacos.

ABSTRACT: Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of bacterial foodborne diseases throughout the world. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence of Campylobacter isolates of raw cow’s milk and cattle slaughterhouse wastewater samples in Hatay, Turkey. A total of 114 raw milk and 78 wastewater samples were analyzed for the identification of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari by multiplex PCR. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter was found to be 7.2%, of these isolates, 85.7% were identified as C. jejuni and 14.2% as C. coli, but C. lari was not detected in the study. The cdtA and cadF genes were present in 66.6% and 41.6% of C. jejuni isolates tested, respectively, but wlaN gene was not found in any of the isolates. Results of antimicrobial resistance analysis showed that 71.4% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin, 64.2% to tetracycline, and 57.1% to ciprofloxacin. Overall, 8 of 14 Campylobacter isolates (57.1%) showed a multidrug resistance.

Abstract The objectives of this study were i) to isolate Arcobacter species (Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter skirrowii, Arcobacter cryaerophilus) from different foods and sources, ii) to verify the isolates by multiplex PCR assay, iii) to detect the antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates. In this study a total of 60 Arcobacter isolates were obtained. Arcobacter species were mostly isolated from swab samples (40%), followed by wastewater (29.1%), broiler wing meat (30%), raw milk (23.9%) and minced meat (6.6%). Regarding the seasonal distribution of Arcobacter from swab and wastewater samples, the bacterium was commonly isolated from wastewater in winter and spring, while it was frequently detected in swab samples during autumn and spring. All of the isolates were found to be resistant to nalidixic acid, ampicillin, rifampin, and erythromycin. The most effective antibiotic was tetracycline, because 96.66% of the isolates were susceptible against it. This is the first report of the isolation, seasonal distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter species in cattle slaughterhouse samples in Turkey. These results indicate that foods of animal origin and cattle slaughterhouses are significant source of the antimicrobial resistant arcobacters.

Abstract The objectives of this study were i) to isolate Listeria spp. and Listeria monocytogenes in broiler wing meat samples, ii) to confirm the isolates by PCR, based on prs and hly A gene sequences, iii) to determine the seasonal and monthly distribution of the isolates. A total of 120 broiler wing meat samples (60 packaged pieces wrapped using strech film in styrofoam plates and 60 unpackaged pieces) bought from different markets in Hatay province were analysed. Listeria spp. was isolated from 57 (47.5%) out of 120 samples. Fifty-four, out of 57 Listeria spp. isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes was isolated from the samples collected during the spring, winter, summer, and autumn at the levels of 26.6%, 40%, 53.3%, 60%, respectively. In this study, the isolation rates were found to be the highest in autumn, while the isolation rates were found to be the lowest in spring. As a consequence, high prevalence of Listeria spp. and L. monocytogenes in poultry wing meat samples may pose a risk for human health. We consider that with obeying the rules of good hygiene practices (GHP), good manufacturing practices (GMP) and HACCP can minimize the contamination with Listeria spp.

Fish consumption preferences are affected by individuals’ socioeconomic characteristics. The aims of the present paper were (i) to obtain information on fish consumption level and frequency; (ii) to investigate the associations between the socioeconomic characteristics of consumers and their preferences; and (iii) to examine the influence of determinants on fish consumption. Data were gathered through a questionnaire completed by a total of 127 randomly selected individuals from different socioeconomic backgrounds from the Antakya, Turkey. The average consumption was found to be 2.98 kg/person/year for fish. Anchovies, gilt-head sea bream, and sea bass were reported as the most consumed three species, respectively. Significant differences in fish consumption were found among age groups, gender groups, and education groups, as well as between marital statuses. A majority of the consumers eat fish once a month throughout the year or only during the winter months. Fish consumption level and frequency were significantly positively correlated with education (p<0.01), income (p<0.05) and total meat consumption (p<0.01). The stepwise multiple regression model explained 41.7% (p<0.01) of the total variance for fish consumption. The amount and frequency of the consumption in the region, which is very far below the world and Turkey average especially for lower socioeconomic groups and for less-consumed fish species, can be increased by certain policies, such as training, advertising and different marketing strategies. Moreover, consumption should be distributed equally throughout the year instead of consuming only in certain seasons.