Improving Rapid Detection Methods for Foodborne Pathogens.

Researchers at Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a microfluidic device that exploits cell movement to separate live and dead bacteria during food processing. The food processing industry is interested in technologies or methods that can quickly and accurately detect viable (live) bacteria, as these are the pathogens that can cause illness.Common foodborne pathogen screening methods like polymerase chain reaction (PCR) use DNA-based methods to perform the detection. However, because both viable (live) and non-viable (dead) bacteria contain the same DNA and other properties, it is difficult to distinguish between them without performing additional time-consuming incubation and culturing steps. Researchers at the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI) have developed a microfluidic device that exploits cell movement to separate live cells from dead ones for real-time pathogen detection.The phenomenon known as chemotaxis is the movement of an organism in response to a chemical stimulus. For example, live bacteria naturally sense nutrient molecules such as sugars and amino acids and move toward them. Dr Jie Xu, GTRI research scientist and project director, explained: “The hypothesis is that by changing the local environment of the cells, their movement can be manipulated so all the viable cells can be separated and concentrated. This would improve the probability of detection and also provide a high level of confidence that viable cells are being detected.” GTRI’s chemotaxis-based microfluidic device consists of a 100-micrometre thick nitrocellulose membrane layer engraved with a micron-sized centre channel to contain the bacteria-laden sample. Two additional side channels are engraved into the same membrane layer that contains nanometer-sized pores that allow the formation of a chemical gradient across the center channel. The bacteria interact with these chemicals in the centre channel and then move based on the nature of these interactions, either toward it if it is a food source or away if it is a repellant. The separated bacteria are then collected in the channel’s respective outlets In recent experiments, E. coli 0157:H7 was used as the model bacterium, and aspartic acid (an attractant) and nickel ion (a repellent) were used as the chemotactic effectors. Researchers found the chemical gradients inside the channel can be maintained for an extended period. They also observed the cell population shift toward the side channel with attractant when live cells flowed inside the center channel, while the dead cells remained in the primary flow stream and exited the center channel.continue

Salmonella prevention requires teamwork between production and processing.

Identifying the pathways of Salmonella contamination has poultry producers and processors looking for answers in every step of the process from the farm to table.Chuck Hofacre, PhD, University of Georgia, told poultry health today that we know Salmonella occurs naturally in the bird’s intestinal tract and lives there without harming the bird. In processing plant, USDA/FSIS routinely samples processed poultry for the presence of Salmonella. While numerous strains of Salmonella have been identified, not all pose a human-health hazard. “Either Salmonella is present or it’s not,” Hofacre said. “FSIS testing doesn’t identify the strain or the relative amount of Salmonella present in a sample.” Contamination often occurs through a broken intestinal tract or feather follicles in the wings. Poultry processors are working on environmental interventions in the plant to reduce bacterial contamination on whole birds and processed poultry parts. Producers with high levels of Salmonella at the processing plant should work to reduce levels on their farms. “We know that Salmonella is passed from the hen to the chick so a strong vaccination program at the breeder level is an important first step,” Hofacre said. In addition to vaccination, environmental interventions including rodent and insect control, water sanitation and dust control help to reduce Salmonella levels. Research shows that the bacteria can survive in dust and litter for several years potentially infecting new flocks of broilers. While Salmonella itself is not necessarily a bigger threat in antibiotic-free production, uneven bird size at processing — a problem often seen in ABF flocks — may contribute to higher contamination levels of processed poultry. According to Hofacre, studies show that increased variation in bird size at processing results in higher levels of Salmonella contamination. Processing machines are standardized for a particular size and weight of bird, he explains that when birds outside those parameters are processed, it is more likely to see intestinal or crop breakage allowing for Salmonella contamination of the carcass. contributed by http://poultryhealthtoday.com/

National dog day!!!

Antibiotics the cornerstone of modern and veterinary medicine .

A familiar public education campaign uses the catch phrase “Not all bugs need drugs.” It has been around for the last few years in an effort to get the public to think about the need for prescription drugs to treat minor ailments. This program has been largely brought out by our health care profession and the government agencies that administrate health care. Why is this important and how does this relate to us and our pets and our farm animals? To start, let’s look at the history of antibiotic use in medicine. Penicillin and sulfonamide antibiotics were discovered in the period between the First and Second World Wars. The first use of these drugs was at the time of the Second World War. They were miracles! Lives previously lost to infections were saved by the hundreds and thousands. A great rush to find more of these bacteria fighters was soon undertaken and new families of antibiotics came forth. Soon these wonderful medical tools were brought into the veterinary world to save our pets and our livestock animals as well. However, bacteria adapt. By chance mutation, under pressure from the antibiotics that wipe out the weaker sensitive bacteria, stronger resistant bacteria developed. In the space of one human lifetime, the infections that penicillin and sulfonamides used to easily treat have developed resistance to nearly every known antibiotic. They are now called “superbugs.” They are kind of scary. Antibiotic use has been a cornerstone of modern medicine and, secondarily, veterinary medicine. In fact, some of the largest volumes of antibiotics are used in animals to maintain health and even prevent health problems in our food production systems. First, the health of human patients is at risk and superbugs are very difficult to treat with the antibiotic tools we have. We do not want to lose the last tools that work to save lives. At the most recent Canadian Veterinary Convention, there was a full day summit about antimicrobials in animal health. One speaker compared antimicrobial resistance on the scale with the current war on ISIS. Potentially many more lives could be lost than by a war displacing millions of people from their homes as they flee to safety! continue -

Supervet Noel Fitzpatrick tearfully describes his veterinary passion on cancer centre's year anniversary

Noel Fitzpatrick, known as Channel 4's Supervet, has been speaking passionately about his work, saying my "job is to look after that hope until death do us part". Prof.Fitzpatrick was speaking to mark the one year anniversary of the opening of Fitzpatrick Referrals Oncology and Soft Tissue Centre, which has cared for more than 1,000 patients. Mr Fitzpatrick said his original aim was, and remains, for it to become the most advanced veterinary cancer centre in Europe. “When I meet patients they do for me far more than I will ever do for them,” said Mr Fitzpatrick, who runs Fitzpatrick Referrals in Eashing. “They allow me to have a reason to exist and I feel I can make a real difference in that moment in time. “That keeps me going because some days are better than others. It isn’t all joy and rapture. It is also not all despair and the reality is it is a mixture of the two. Noel said another aim of the center is, by 2017, to be the home to a linear accelerator - a machine which customizes high beams of photos to conform to a tumour’s shape and destroy cancer cells, whilst protecting surrounding healthy tissue. continue

The new 100% complete & balanced vegetarian range for pets.

If you are vegetarian, chances are, you are feeding your pet home-cooked vegetarian food. But the fact is, dogs are different from humans and have different nutritional requirements. Introducing Pedigree 100% Vegetarian. A complete and balanced pure vegetarian meal for your pet. Pedigree Vegetarian offers the goodness of high quality protein and is fortified with minerals and vitamins. Try Pedigree Vegetarian and see the 5 Signs of Good Health in just 6 weeks! - Try our new 100% complete & balanced vegetarian range | Pedigree

Agriculture industry looks to refugee population for labour shortage solution.

A pilot project aimed at matching immigrant and refugee job-seekers with agricultural employers has found some success in Alberta, though the program's partners acknowledge that longer-term solutions for the province's labour-starved farms and processing plants are needed. Since January, 29 newcomers to Canada have found employment in southern Alberta's agriculture industry as a result of a partnership between the Canadian Agricultural Human Resource Council and the Calgary Catholic Immigration Society. The program — which has worked with 155 newly arrived job-seekers in total, including 18 Syrian refugees — seeks to raise awareness among newcomers about opportunities available in an industry that consistently struggles to attract and retain workers. There are many reasons why agricultural employers report difficulties attracting labour, including the hollowing out of the rural population base as well as the seasonal nature of farm work. New restrictions on the federal government's temporary foreign worker program have also exacerbated the problem. While some agricultural employers — including JBS and Cargill, owners of the Brooks and High River plants respectively — have been successfully tapping into immigrant and refugee populations for years as a source of labour, it's a new concept for others who may not know how to go about accessing this potential work force. In addition, employment agencies and immigrant settlement organizations — who are usually based in larger cities — haven't always been aware of the opportunities that exist in agriculture and as a result, may be less likely to present farm jobs as an option to their clients. continue