RESUMO: Eurytrema coelomaticum, um trematódeo de ductos pancreáticos de ruminantes. Conjectura-se que possa ocasionar transtornos nas funções pancreáticas, mais especificamente nos processos digestivos e metabólicos dependentes destas. Neste estudo, o objetivo foi determinar se há comprometimento da função pancreática exócrina, correlacionado-a a carga parasitária. Foram utilizados pâncreas e respectivas amostras de sangue e fezes de 119 bovinos. As amostras de fezes foram submetidas aos testes de digestão da gelatina em tubo e digestão de filme radiográfico, ambos para detecção de tripsina nas fezes. Foram realizados os seguintes exames bioquímicos em amostras de sangue: amilase, lipase, glicemia, frutosamina, colesterol, triglicerídeos, proteínas totais, albumina e globulinas. Após isto, as análises bioquímicas foram correlacionadas com a quantidade numérica de parasitas encontrados no pâncreas (post-mortem). Houve maior quantidade de testes negativos (digestão do filme radiográfico e prova de digestão da gelatina) nos animais com alta carga parasitária (P < 0.001), quando comparados aos animais não parasitados e com baixa carga parasitária. Portanto, os exames supracitados se alteram somente se a quantidade de parasitas for moderada ou severa. As atividades das enzimas amilase e lipase foram significativamente maiores nos animais que apresentavam baixa parasitemia (P < 0.05), em comparação com os animais com alta carga parasitária e não parasitados. Conclui-se que em quadros de alta parasitemia há alteração significativa nos testes de digestão nas fezes, e que em quadros de baixa parasitemia há alterações significativas nos valores de amilase e lipase séricas, ambos comprovando alterações pancreáticas importantes, de acordo com o quadro de parasitemia.

ABSTRACT: Eurytrema coelomaticum is a trematode reported in the pancreatic ducts of ruminants. It is conjectured that may cause disorders in the pancreas, as well as digestive and metabolic processes dependent on them. This study, determined if there is an impairment of exocrine pancreatic function, and correlated it with parasite burden. Pancreas, blood, and fecal samples were collected from 119 bovines at a abattoir. Stool samples were subjected to the gelatin and x-ray film digestion tests (to detect the presence of trypsin in feces). Using blood samples, the following biochemical tests were performed: amylase, lipase, glucose, fructosamine, cholesterol, triglycerides, total protein, albumin, and globulins. Analyses were correlated with pancreatic parasite burden. Cattle with a high parasitic load presented higher incidence of negative tests in both gelatin digestion and x-ray film digestion tests (P < 0.001) when compared to non-parasitized animals and those with a low parasitic load. Changes in those tests only occurred if the parasitemia was moderate or severe. The activity of the amylase and lipase enzymes was significantly higher in animals with low parasitemia (P < 0.05), compared to non-parasitized animals and with a high parasitic burden. In this study, in cases of high parasitemia, negative results were observed in both gelatin and x-ray film in the feces digestion tests. However, the low infection of E. coelomaticum, higher levels of serum amylase and lipase that also indicated loss of pancreatic exocrine functions were reported.

Abstract This study aims to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of basil, marjoram, nutmeg, and oregano essential oils to use the essential oil with better results for Quark-type cheese preservation. To verify the shelf life of Quark-type cheese without essential oil (CTL) and Quark-type cheese added with 0.05% essential oil (OE), microbiological and physicochemical analyses were performed for 35 days (4 °C). The acceptability of the product was also evaluated. The oregano essential oil showed strong antimicrobial activity in the disk-diffusion test (34.0 to 51.0 mm), and lower values of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against all species of bacteria tested. A lower mold and yeast count (p < 0.05) was observed during storage in OE denoting a positive effect in delaying its deterioration. On the other hand, there was no difference (p > 0.05) between the CTL and OE count of total mesophiles and Enterobacteriaceae. For the physicochemical parameters evaluated, there were no significant differences between the CTL and OE, thus denoting that the typical characteristics of this cheese were maintained. The Quark-type cheese added with oregano essential oil also showed good acceptability (> 7), which is a way to preserve the product with a natural additive.

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the hygienic-sanitary quality of minimally processed vegetables commercialized in the city of Concórdia, Santa Catarina State, Brazil. Eight distinct products, sold in 3 different supermarkets, totalizing 24 samples were evaluated. Of the analyzed samples, just one was in discordance with the microbiological parameters established by the Brazilian legislation (210 MPN/g of coliforms at 45 °C for Kale 2). Beyond the absence of Salmonella sp. indicated in legislation, all samples also indicated the absence of positive coagulase staphylococci and Listeria monocytogenes. The most expressive microbial counts were obtained when evaluating the aerobic mesophilic microorganisms (ranging from 2.8×102 to 2.7×107), and for molds and yeasts (ranging from 4.5×102 to 4.9×105). We highlight that the quality and shelf-life of minimally-processed vegetables directly depend on the handling throughout the production chain, since obtaining the raw material, to processing and commercialization. Thus, periodic evaluations of these products can reduce the risks to consumer health and favor the commercial expansion of the segment of fresh and minimally processed vegetables.

RESUMO Óleos essenciais de espécies vegetais são fontes alternativas importantes de compostos antimicrobianos no combate a patógenos de importância alimentar. O presente estudo buscou avaliar a atividade antimicrobiana in vitro do óleo essencial de tomilho (Thymus vulgaris), e aplicá-lo na sanitização de rúcula (Eruca sativa) minimamente processada, visando ao aumento da segurança e da vida útil desta hortaliça. A atividade antibacteriana in vitro foi avaliada através dos ensaios de difusão em disco, determinação da concentração mínima inibitória (CMI) e da concentração mínima bactericida (CMB) frente a diferentes espécies bacterianas de importância em alimentos. Foi realizado um teste desafio de aplicação do óleo essencial de tomilho (0,2%) na sanitização de rúcula inoculada com Escherichia coli (3 Log UFC mL-1), em comparação com o hipoclorito de sódio (120 ppm de cloro ativo). Posteriormente, foi conduzido um experimento de aplicação do óleo essencial (0,2%) como sanitizante em rúcula minimamente processada para a avaliação da vida útil desta hortaliça, armazenada a 8 °C durante 7 dias. Periodicamente, foi realizada a contagem de microrganismos aeróbios mesófilos, determinação do pH, acidez total e avaliação da cor das amostras. O óleo essencial de tomilho apresentou forte atividade antimicrobiana in vitro, frente a todas as espécies de bactérias testadas (CMIs entre 0,075 e 0,62 mg mL-1). Nos experimentos in situ, o óleo essencial de tomilho (0,2%) e o hipoclorito de sódio (120 ppm de cloro ativo) não foram eficientes na eliminação de E. coli inoculada em rúcula minimamente processada, não resultando na extensão da vida útil deste produto, em comparação ao controle (p>0.05). Entretanto, a taxa de incremento da população de E. coli ao longo do tempo foi menor nas amostras de rúcula sanitizadas com a solução à base de óleo essencial de tomilho (0,2%), denotando um efeito positivo deste óleo essencial, que pode ser otimizado com futuras adequações de concentração e tempo de imersão durante a sanitização de rúcula.

ABSTRACT Essential oils from plants are an important alternative source of antimicrobial compounds against important pathogens for food safety. This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro antimicrobial activity of thyme essential oil (Thymus vulgaris) and to apply it in the sanitization of minimally processed arugula (Eruca sativa), aiming to increase the safety and shelf life of arugula. The in vitro antibacterial activity of the essential oil was evaluated by disc diffusion assays and determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against different foodborne pathogens. Thereafter, a “challenge test” was carried out to evaluate the antibacterial activity of the thyme essential oil (0.2%) on the sanitization of arugula inoculated with Escherichia coli (3 log CFU mL-1) compared to sodium hypochlorite (120 ppm of active chlorine). Afterwards, an experiment of applying the thyme essential oil (0.2%) as a sanitizing agent in minimally processed arugula was carried out to evaluate the vegetable shelf life compared to sodium hypochlorite (120 ppm of active chlorine). The arugula was stored at 8 °C for 7 days, and periodically, the number of aerobic mesophilic microorganisms, pH and titratable acidity were determined, and the color of the samples was evaluated. The thyme essential oil had strong antimicrobial activity in vitro against all species of bacteria tested. In the experiments in situ, the thyme essential oil (0.2%) and sodium hypochlorite (120 ppm of active chlorine) were not efficient in eliminating the inoculated E. coli from minimally processed arugula, and they did not result in an extension of the shelf life of the arugula in comparison to the control (p>0.05). However, the growth rate of the E. coli population over time on the arugula samples sanitized with the thyme essential oil (0.2%) was low, which indicates a positive effect of the essential oil, which may be optimized with future adjustments in the concentration and immersion time for the arugula sanitization.