Introduction This research aimed to identify and quantify potentially pathogenic Vibrio from different cultivations of bivalve shellfish in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil, and water regions in the South Bay, as well as correlate the incidence of these microorganisms with the physicochemical parameters of marine waters. Methods Between October 2008 and March 2009, 60 oyster and seawater samples were collected from six regions of bivalve mollusk cultivation, and these samples were submitted for Vibrio counts. Results Twenty-nine (48.3%) oyster samples were revealed to be contaminated with one or more Vibrio species. The Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus counts in the samples ranged from < 0.5 log10 Most Probable Number (MPN) g–1 to 2.3 log10 MPN g–1 oyster and from < 0.5 log10 MPN g–1 to 2.1 log10 MPN g–1 oyster, respectively. Of the 60 seawater samples analyzed, 44 (73.3%) showed signs of contamination with one or more vibrio species. The counts of V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus in the samples ranged from < 0.3 log10 MPN·100mL–1 to 1.7 log10MPN·100mL–1 seawater and from < 0.3 log10 MPN·100mL–1 to 2.0 log10 MPN·100mL–1 seawater, respectively. A positive correlation between V. vulnificus counts and the seawater temperature as well as a negative correlation between the V. parahaemolyticus counts and salinity were observed. Conclusions The results suggest the need to implement strategies to prevent vibrio diseases from being transmitted by the consumption of contaminated bivalve shellfish.

New microbiological methods have been developed and commercialized, but their performance must be guaranteed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the PetrifilmTM and TEMPO® systems compared to the conventional method for counting microorganisms in pasteurized milk. A total of 141 samples of pasteurized milk were analyzed by counting mesophilic aerobic, Coliforms at 35 ºC, Coliforms at 45 ºC, and Escherichia coli microorganisms. High correlation was found between the methods for counting Coliforms at 35 ºC, but low correlation was found for counting mesophilic aerobic, Coliforms at 45 ºC, and Escherichia coli. No significant statistical difference was found among the three methods for counting Coliforms at 35 ºC; however, the mean counts of mesophilic aerobic, Coliforms at 45 ºC, and Escherichia coli showed significant statistical difference. PetrifilmTM and TEMPO® systems had satisfactory results for Coliforms at 35 ºC in pasteurized milk but low performance for mesophilic aerobic, Coliforms at 45 ºC and Escherichia coli.

The development of alternative microbiological techniques is driven by the necessity to meet the current needs to deliver rapid results in the manufacturing process of foods, but it is important that these methods be evaluated for each application. The objective of the present study was to assess the PetrifilmTM EB and the TEMPO® EB systems with ISO 21528-2:2004 for the count of Enterobacteriaceae in pasteurized and UHT milk samples. We analyzed the microflora of 141 pasteurized milk samples, 15 samples of artificially contaminated pasteurized milk and 15 samples of artificially contaminated UHT milk. Investigation of the method PetrifilmTM EB and ISO 21528:2 regression analysis showed a high correlation in the samples, r = 0.90 for the microflora of pasteurized milk, r = 0.98 for artificially contaminated pasteurized milk and r = 0.99 for the artificially contaminated UHT milk. In evaluating the system TEMPO EB ® method and ISO 21528:2 correlation was also significant in the analyzed samples, with r = 0.86 for the microflora of pasteurized milk, r = 0.96 for artificially contaminated pasteurized milk and r = 0.99 for artificially contaminated UHT milk. No statistically significant differences were observed between the three methods conducted to analyze artificially contaminated pasteurized and UHT milk at three inoculum levels. In conclusion, the PetrifilmTM EB system and the TEMPO® EB system may be an alternative to the ISO 21528-2:2004 for the Enterobacteriaceae assay for milk as because of the ease-of-operation and the time reduction achieved for conducting the microbiological assay using these systems.

Micro-organismos estão presentes em toda a cadeia de processamento da carne, desde a matéria-prima até o produto final e compete aos programas de qualidade industrial verificar se existe contaminação na matéria-prima e nos produtos finais para, dessa forma, garantir um produto seguro ao consumidor. Para tanto, faz-se necessário utilizar metodologias alternativas à convencional na rotina diagnóstica dos laboratórios para obtenção de resultados confiáveis e em menor tempo possível. Com objetivo de verificar e comparar a correlação e o tempo de processamento, da metodologia convencional com as metodologias alternativas do sistema PetrifilmTM (3M) e sistema TEMPO® (bioMeriéux), foi realizada contagem de micro-organismos mesófilos, de enterobactérias e de Escherichia coli. As amostras foram coletadas da superfície de carcaças suínas em um abatedouro com Inspeção Federal no Estado de Santa Catarina, Brasil. A contagem de micro-organismos mesófilos, de enterobactérias e Escherichia coli foi feita por meio de ensaios realizados com os métodos alternativos TEMPO®, Petrifilm™ e o método convencional de contagem de micro-organismos em placas. Após análise estatística, o coeficiente de correlação de Pearson (r) demonstrou fortes correlações, acima de 0.70 entre as metodologias utilizadas para a contagem de enterobactérias e micro-organismos mesófilos, porém demonstrou moderada correlação, entre 0.30 a 0.70, para o diagnóstico de Escherichia coli. O uso dos métodos alternativos testados em substituição à metodologia convencional pode ser utilizado para diagnóstico de Escherichia coli, enterobactérias e micro-organismos mesófilos, por haver concordância entre os resultados encontrados, acrescido da rapidez dessas metodologias com benefício direto para a indústria de carne suína.

Micro-organisms are present throughout the meat processing chain, from raw materials until finished product. Industrial quality programs check for contamination in raw materials and final products to ensure the safety of consumer products; for this reason, the use of alternative methods instead of the conventional methods used in routine diagnostic laboratories is necessary to obtain reliable results in the shortest time possible. Samples of pig carcasses were collected in a slaughterhouse with Federal Inspection in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Mesophilic micro-organisms, Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli were evaluated and tests performed by alternative methods, TEMPO®, Petrifilm™, and the conventional method of counting micro-organisms in Petri dishes. After statistical analysis, the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) showed a strong correlation up to 0.70 between the methodologies used for the enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic micro-organisms, show a moderate correlation between 0.30 to 0.70, for the diagnosis of Escherichia coli. The use of alternative methods to replace the conventional method can be recommended for diagnosis of Escherichiacoli, Enterobacteriaceae and mesophilic micro-organisms, because there was consistency between the results and the speed was increased by the alternative methodologies benefiting the pork industry.

A pesquisa teve como objetivo acrescentar culturas starters nativas em salame tipo Italiano e avaliar o desempenho frente a culturas comerciais quanto às características microbiológicas, físico-químicas e sensoriais. As culturas utilizadas foram Staphylococcus xylosus, isolado de salames coloniais, e Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, isolado de um produto lácteo e fermentado em meio de cultura de plasma suíno. Elaboraram-se os seguintes tratamentos: T1 - adição de starters comerciais (Staphylococcus xylosus e Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis); T2 - mistura de Staphylococcus xylosus isolado mais Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis comercial; T3 - mistura de Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis isolado mais Staphylococcus xylosus comercial; e T4 - Staphylococcus xylosus e Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, ambos isolados. Os tratamentos apresentaram uma queda de pH significativa e também uma redução na Aw, garantindo uma segurança microbiológica aos produtos. Em relação à oxidação lipídica, os tratamentos que continham Staphylococcus xylosus isolados de salames artesanais apresentaram valores menores que os outros tratamentos. Os salames elaborados com Staphylococcus xylosus e Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis, ambos isolados, apresentaram melhores resultados sensoriais quando comparados com salames elaborados com culturas starters comerciais. Portanto, a adição de culturas starters nativas pode ser utilizada na elaboração de salames, proporcionando produtos seguros e com flavor diferenciado.

The objective of this paper was to add native starter cultures in fermented Italian sausages and evaluate the performance compared to commercial cultures in terms of microbiological and physicochemical parameters and sensorial characteristics. The cultures used were Staphylococcus xylosus, isolated from colonial sausages, and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis isolated from a dairy product and fermented in pork plasma medium. The following treatments were performed: T1 - addition of commercial starters (Staphylococcus xylosus and Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis); T2 - mixture of isolated Staphylococcus xylosus plus commercial Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis; T3 - mixture of isolated Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis plus commercial Staphylococcus xylosus; and T4 - Staphylococcus xylosus and Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis both isolated. The treatments showed a significant decrease of pH and reduction in the Aw ensuring microbiological safety to the products. With regard to lipid oxidation, the treatments that contained isolated strains of Staphylococcus xylosus presented significantly lower values than the other treatments. The sausages elaborated with Staphylococcus xylosus and Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis, both strains isolated, presented better sensorial results than the sausages elaborated with commercial starter cultures. Therefore, the addition of native starter cultures can be used in the elaboration of fermented Italian sausages providing safe products with differentiated flavor.