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Researchers recognize the silent, negative and deleterious effects caused by mercury pollution in gold mining areas. Freshwater turtles are culturally part of the diet of riverside populations in the Amazon region and this area presents mercury (Hg) pollution issues mainly due to gold mining activities. Thus, this research aimed to evaluate the total mercury (THg) content in the different organs of Amazonian giant river turtle (Podocnemis expansa) and carry out a human health risk assessment associated with the consumption of these animals. This study was conducted in the Vila Balbina, municipality of Presidente Figueiredo, state of Amazonas, Brazil. Skin (n = 28), muscle (n = 19) and brain (n = 2) samples were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (TDA-AAS) and a DMA-80™ mercury analyzer was used for the total mercury determinations. The average values found for THg in the skin, muscle and brain samples were, respectively, 0.1045 mg·kg-1, 0.1092 mg·kg-1 and 0.0601 mg·kg-1. Thus, THg was observed even though the P. expansa were kept in captivity, possibly due to previous contamination by air, water and food. The Hazard Quotient (HQ) was calculated considering a 9.07 g·day-1 intake dose of P. expansa and the consumption of turtles once a week showed an HQ = 2.45, which may cause long-term injuries to human health. Although the muscle concentrations were below the maximum limit established by the World Health Organization (WHO) and Brazilian regulatory agencies, it is important to evaluate consumption factors such as amount ingested, frequency and animal gender, which may cause a potential risk to regular consumers due to mercury bioaccumulation. The WHO may consider various aspects in order to warn the Amazon population about the severity and silent hazard of this metal, especially due to the importance of this matrix in the region. This region urgently needs government actions to inhibit clandestine mining and to prevent future serious, chronic health problems of the entire population.

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Cachaça is a traditional Brazilian drink that has the potential to offer a new sensory and technological strategy for artisanal cheesemaking, particularly for small-scale producers and family farming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of cachaça immersion on the physicochemical, microbiological, color, texture, and sensory parameters of artisanal goat coalho cheeses using three different varieties of cachaça immersion. The results showed that cachaça immersion did not affect the cheese's proximate composition or starter culture viability, indicating its suitability as a new method for artisanal cheese production. Additionally, gold cachaça aged in oak casks was the most effective variety for sensory acceptance and purchase intention, suggesting that it may be a valuable strategy for small-scale producers to add value and encourage the consumption of artisanal goat coalho cheeses without compromising their quality. Thus, this study provides important insights for small-scale producers and family farming to enhance their product offerings and increase their competitiveness in the market.

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AIMS: The aim of this study was to analyze and compare the prevalence and distribution of resistance genes in Escherichia coli genomes isolated from human clinical samples and animal-based foods worldwide. METHODS AND RESULTS: We download from NCBI Pathogen Detection Database the corresponding metadata of the 7,123 E. coli genome to access the information about the antimicrobial resistance gene content. The geographic location and the source of isolation were also obtained and compiled with the antimicrobial resistance gene for statistical analysis, results and discussion. Our criteria considered four groups for analyzing the antimicrobial resistance gene distribution. The first group of genomes from invasive clinical human (ICH) samples from countries with Human Development Index (HDI) ≥ 0.850; the second group of ICH from countries with an HDI ≤ 0.849; the third group of animal-based foods (ABF) from countries with HDI ≥ 0.850 and the fourth group of ABFs from countries with HDI ≤ 0.849. The most prevalent genes in the first group were blaCTX-M-134 (96.53%) and blaCTX-M-27 (86.35%). In the second group, ere(A) (95.96%), soxS (94.49%), qepA8 (90.81%), blaCTX-M-15 (85.66%), and fosA3 (80.88%). In the third group, the most frequently detected were aadA12 (98.5%), ant(3") (89.92%), and blaCARB-2 (87.2%). In the fourth group, aadA12 and aac(3)-IV were identified in 100% of the analyzed genomes. CONCLUSIONS: It was clear that the use of aminoglycosides in animal production is increasing the selective pressure on micro-organisms in both groups of countries since genes linked to aminoglycoside resistance are related to E. coli from ABF samples. The genomic profile of E. coli from HDI ≥ 0.850 countries indicates a selective pressure aimed at cephalosporins given the high prevalence in both sources.

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OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the color and oxidative stability of beef gluteus medius (GM) from cattle raised in organic and non-organic production systems. METHODS: The GM samples (n = 10) were obtained from organic (ORG; n = 5) or non-organic (NORG; n = 5) beef samples, sliced into 2.54-cm steaks, packaged in aerobic conditions, and stored for nine days at 4°C. ORG and NORG steaks were compared regarding myoglobin concentration, pH, instrumental color, delta E (ΔE), metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA), and lipid oxidation on days 0, 5, and 9. RESULTS: Feeding system did not influence (p>0.05) the myoglobin concentration. ORG steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) meat pH, yellowness, and MRA, whereas NORG steaks exhibited greater (p<0.05) redness, chroma, R630/580, delta E, and lipid oxidation. ORG and NORG steaks exhibited similar (p>0.05) lightness and hue angle. During storage, ORG and NORG exhibited an increase in muscle pH, hue angle, and lipid oxidation; and a decrease (p<0.05) in redness, yellowness, chroma, and color stability (R630/580). Both samples exhibited a stable (p>0.05) pattern for lightness and MRA. CONCLUSION: Therefore, the production system can affect beef color and lipid stability during storage.

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The influence of harvest method on proximate composition, protein oxidation, and texture profile of beef from Nellore cattle were investigated. Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were obtained from twelve grain-fed Nellore carcasses. The animals were slaughtered after stunning (STU; n=6) or without stunning (WST; n=6) and after 24 hours postmortem, the LL was sliced into 2.54-cm steaks, packed under aerobic conditions, and stored at 4°C for nine days. Proximate composition was analyzed on day 0, whereas protein oxidation (carbonyl content) and texture profile (hardness, chewiness, cohesiveness, and springiness) were evaluated on days 0, 3, 6, and 9. STU and WST steaks exhibited similar proximate composition, hardness, and chewiness (p > 0.05). WST steaks exhibited greater protein oxidation and lower cohesiveness than their STU counterparts on day 0 (p < 0.05). Concerning the storage period, WST steaks demonstrated a decrease in springiness and a more pronounced increase in cohesiveness than their STU counterparts (p < 0.05). These results indicated that the harvest method influenced LL protein oxidation and texture profile from Bos indicus cattle.(AU)

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Antimicrobial resistance is a worldwide public health threat. Farm animals are important sources of bacteria containing antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). Although the use of antimicrobials in aquaculture and livestock has been reduced in several countries, these compounds are still routinely applied in animal production, and contribute to ARGs emergence and spread among bacteria. ARGs are transmitted to humans mainly through the consumption of products of animal origin (PAO). Bacteria can present intrinsic resistance, and once antimicrobials are administered, this resistance may be selected and multiply. The exchange of genetic material is another mechanism used by bacteria to acquire resistance. Some of the main ARGs found in bacteria present in PAO are the bla, mcr-1, cfr and tet genes, which are directly associated to antibiotic resistance in the human clinic.

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This study investigated the effects of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and ultraviolet radiation (UV-C), individually and combined, on the physical, chemical and bacterial parameters of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fillets stored at 4 °C for 14 days. Tilapia fillets were divided into four groups: control (untreated samples), UV-C, HHP, and UV-C combined with HHP (UV-C+HHP); UV-C was applied at dose of 0.103 ± 0.002 J/cm2, and HHP at a pressure of 220 MPa for 10 min at 25 °C. All samples were analyzed for total aerobic mesophilic count (TAMC), total aerobic psychrotrophic count (TAPC), Enterobacteriaceae count, pH, lipid oxidation, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N), ammonia (NH3), and biogenic amines. Although UV-C accelerated (P ≤ 0.05) the formation of cadaverine, both UV-C and HHP, alone or together, retarded bacterial growth and delayed the increase (P ≤ 0.05) in pH, TVB-N, NH3 and biogenic amines during refrigerated storage, extending the shelf life of refrigerated tilapia fillets at least 2.5 times considering the TAMC counts. Lipid oxidation was unaffected (P > 0.05) by UV-C radiation, and decreased (P ≤ 0.05) by HHP and UV-C+HHP. HHP alone or combined with UV-C showed higher potential benefits for tilapia fillets preservation considering the positive influence on cadaverine levels and lipid oxidation.

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Salmonella is one of the major causative agents of foodborne infections. Salmonellosis becomes more dangerous when strains resistant to several antibiotics are found in food, especially in chicken, one of the primary transmission vehicles of this pathogen for humans. The present study aimed to estimate the occurrence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses from the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil, as well as determine the antibiotic resistance profile and genotypic characteristic of multi-drug resistant (MDR) isolates. During a 15-month period, from 01/2014 to 05/2015, 850 samples of chilled fresh chicken carcasses were sampled from a slaughterhouse and submitted to Salmonella determinations according to the ISO-6579/2002 method, serotyping and multiplex PCR. The disc diffusion test was applied for 17 antibiotics, according to CLSI (2014). Five isolates were genotyped by repetitive sequence-based PCR using the semi-automated DiversiLab (bioMérieux®) system. The occurrence of Salmonella in chicken carcasses was of 3.7% (31/850), with only 4 strains (12.9%) presenting as MDR, and 6 strains (19.35%) displaying ESBL. The predominant serovars were Salmonella Infantis (35.4%, 11/31), and S. Abony (25.8%, 8/31), followed by serovars S. Agona (12.9%, 4/31), S. Schwarzengrund (9.7%, 3/31), S. Anatum and Salmonella enterica O:4,5 (6.5%, 2/31), and only one Salmonella enterica O:6,7 strain (3.2%, 1/31). All isolates were resistant to one to 5 classes of antibiotics in decreasing order: folate pathway inhibitors, ß-lactams (cephalosporins, penicillin, monobactams), tetracyclines, chloramphenicol, and gentamicin. However, strains sensitive to florfenicol, streptomycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, and nitrofurantoin were also found in this study. Genotyping revealed 98 to 99% homology between 3 Salmonella strains, which displayed high phenotypic resistance similarity to ß-lactams and folate pathway inhibitors. Detection of MDR non-typhoid Salmonella in chicken slaughterhouses with quality assurance systems such as Hazard Analysis and Critical Points and Implemented Good Manufacturing Practices is a concern, reinforcing the need for constant monitoring of these pathogens, with the purpose of safeguarding the safety of their products.

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The aim of this study was to produce a nutritious food, in short-time period, of final low cost, based in frog matrix. Tadpoles obtained from natural fertilization were reared for 100 days and then transported to industrial processing plants, where two primary products were elaborated, the frog tail fillet (FTF) and the non-edible part (NEP). Two canned preserves were developed from the FTF (frog tail fillet in oil/FTFoil; frog tail fillet in tomato sauce/FTFtomato) and from the NEP a flour was produced (tadpole flour/TF). The five products were subjected to physical-chemical analysis. Those elaborated from the tail presented chemical composition values close to the frog meat, while NEP and TF showed values of protein, lipid and ash compatible with by-products and ingredients normally used in the animal feed industry. The two canned preserves were subjected to acceptance test and purchase intent test, with emphasis on the FTFoil, which obtained an acceptance rate of 77% from the evaluators. The method of food production proposed proved to be satisfactory fully reaching the objectives stated. It also can be used in anti-hunger programs, as well as by human and animal industries, improving the quality of the products developed.

Objetivou-se a produção de um alimento nutritivo, em curto espaço de tempo, de custo final baixo, utilizando-se como matriz a rã. Girinos obtidos a partir de fertilização natural foram criados durante 100 dias e transportados para plantas processadoras, onde foram elaborados dois produtos, o filé da cauda de rã (FTF) e a parte não-comestível (NEP). Duas conservas enlatadas foram desenvolvidas a partir do FTF (filé da cauda de rã em óleo/ FTFoil; filé da cauda de rã com molho de tomate/FTFtomato) e da NEP, uma farinha foi produzida (farinha de girino/TF). Os cinco produtos foram submetidos à análise físico-química. Àqueles elaborados a partir do FTF apresentaram valores de composição química próximos à carne de rã, enquanto que NEP e TF apresentaram valores de proteínas, lipídios e cinzas compatíveis com coprodutos normalmente usados na indústria de alimentação animal. As duas conservas enlatadas foram submetidas a testes de aceitação e intenção de compra, destacando-se o FTFoil, que obteve uma taxa de aceitação de 77%. O método de produção de alimentos proposto mostrou-se satisfatório alcançando plenamente os objetivos estabelecidos. Os produtos propostos podem ser utilizados em programas de combate à fome, bem como pelas indústrias de alimentos, nas mais diversas formas.

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The aim of this study was to produce a nutritious food, in short-time period, of final low cost, based in frog matrix. Tadpoles obtained from natural fertilization were reared for 100 days and then transported to industrial processing plants, where two primary products were elaborated, the frog tail fillet (FTF) and the non-edible part (NEP). Two canned preserves were developed from the FTF (frog tail fillet in oil/FTFoil; frog tail fillet in tomato sauce/FTFtomato) and from the NEP a flour was produced (tadpole flour/TF). The five products were subjected to physical-chemical analysis. Those elaborated from the tail presented chemical composition values close to the frog meat, while NEP and TF showed values of protein, lipid and ash compatible with by-products and ingredients normally used in the animal feed industry. The two canned preserves were subjected to acceptance test and purchase intent test, with emphasis on the FTFoil, which obtained an acceptance rate of 77% from the evaluators. The method of food production proposed proved to be satisfactory fully reaching the objectives stated. It also can be used in anti-hunger programs, as well as by human and animal industries, improving the quality of the products developed.(AU)

Objetivou-se a produção de um alimento nutritivo, em curto espaço de tempo, de custo final baixo, utilizando-se como matriz a rã. Girinos obtidos a partir de fertilização natural foram criados durante 100 dias e transportados para plantas processadoras, onde foram elaborados dois produtos, o filé da cauda de rã (FTF) e a parte não-comestível (NEP). Duas conservas enlatadas foram desenvolvidas a partir do FTF (filé da cauda de rã em óleo/ FTFoil; filé da cauda de rã com molho de tomate/FTFtomato) e da NEP, uma farinha foi produzida (farinha de girino/TF). Os cinco produtos foram submetidos à análise físico-química. Àqueles elaborados a partir do FTF apresentaram valores de composição química próximos à carne de rã, enquanto que NEP e TF apresentaram valores de proteínas, lipídios e cinzas compatíveis com coprodutos normalmente usados na indústria de alimentação animal. As duas conservas enlatadas foram submetidas a testes de aceitação e intenção de compra, destacando-se o FTFoil, que obteve uma taxa de aceitação de 77%. O método de produção de alimentos proposto mostrou-se satisfatório alcançando plenamente os objetivos estabelecidos. Os produtos propostos podem ser utilizados em programas de combate à fome, bem como pelas indústrias de alimentos, nas mais diversas formas.(AU)

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