detection-of-foodborne-bacterial-pathogens-from-individual-filth-flies

Detection of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens from Individual Filth Flies

There is unanimous consensus that insects are important vectors of foodborne pathogens. However, linking insects as vectors of the pathogen causing a ...

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

The National Institute of Standards and Technology, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research and Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, and the National Institutes of Health, Office of Dietary Supplements, are collaborating to produce a series of Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) for dietary supplements. A suite of ephedra materials is the first in the series, and this paper describes the acquisition, preparation, and value assignment of these materials: SRMs 3240 Ephedra sinica Stapf Aerial Parts, 3241 E. sinica Stapf Native Extract, 3242 E. sinica Stapf Commercial Extract, 3243 Ephedra-Containing Solid Oral Dosage Form, and 3244 Ephedra-Containing Protein Powder. Values are assigned for ephedrine alkaloids and toxic elements in all 5 materials. Values are assigned for other analytes (e.g., caffeine, nutrient elements, proximates, etc.) in some of the materials, as appropriate. Materials in this suite of SRMs are intended for use as primary control materials when values are assigned to in-house (secondary) control materials and for validation of analytical methods for the measurement of alkaloids, toxic elements, and, in the case of SRM 3244, nutrients in similar materials.

Preparation and characterization of a suite of ephedra-containing standard reference materials.

Although flies are important vectors of food-borne pathogens, there is little information to accurately assess the food-related health risk of the presence of individual flies, especially in urban areas. This study quantifies the prevalence and the relative risk of food-borne pathogens associated with the body surfaces and guts of individual wild flies. One hundred flies were collected from the dumpsters of 10 randomly selected urban restaurants. Flies were identified using taxonomic keys before being individually dissected. Cronobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes were detected using the PCR-based BAX system Q7. Positive samples were confirmed by culture on specific media and through PCR amplification and sequencing or ribotyping. Among collected flies were the housefly, Musca domestica (47%), the blowflies, Lucilia cuprina (33%) and Lucilia sericata (14%), and others (6%). Cronobacter species were detected in 14% of flies, including C. sakazakii, C. turicensis, and C. universalis, leading to the proposal of flies as a natural reservoir of this food-borne pathogen. Six percent of flies carried Salmonella enterica, including the serovars Poona, Hadar, Schwarzengrund, Senftenberg, and Brackenridge. L. monocytogenes was detected in 3% of flies. Overall, the prevalence of food-borne pathogens was three times greater in the guts than on the body surfaces of the flies. The relative risk of flies carrying any of the three pathogens was associated with the type of pathogen, the body part of the fly, and the ambient temperature. These data enhance the ability to predict the microbiological risk associated with the presence of individual flies in food and food facilities.

Prevalence and relative risk of Cronobacter spp., Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes associated with the body surfaces and guts of individual filth flies.

Over the past 80 years, a variety of methods have been developed to detect underpasteurized or improperly pasteurized milks used in dairy products. Existing methods are hampered by duration of analysis, poor reproducibility, and in some cases the use of hazardous chemicals. To overcome these issues, two new methods have been developed using fluorogenic substrates for two marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase. In 30 min, up to 18 samples can be analyzed in triplicate by both methods on two separate 96-well plates. Sample preparation is not necessary for liquid milks when using these methods. The relative standard deviation for each assay is less than 9%, and the correlation coefficient for results of the two methods is greater than 0.98. Using the new methods, milks from four species and nine commercially available liquid milk products were tested. The new methods were also tested directly against an existing phosphatase method (Fluorophos) in spiked whole milk samples.

Fluorometric detection of active alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transferase in fluid dairy products from multiple species.

In response to increased concerns about spice safety, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) initiated research to characterize the prevalence and levels of Salmonella in imported spices. 299 imported dried capsicum shipments and 233 imported sesame seed shipments offered for entry to the United States were sampled. Observed Salmonella shipment prevalence was 3.3% (1500 g examined; 95% CI 1.6-6.1%) for capsicum and 9.9% (1500 g; 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 6.3-14%) for sesame seed. Within shipment contamination was not inconsistent with a Poisson distribution. Shipment mean Salmonella level estimates among contaminated shipments ranged from 6 × 10(-4) to 0.09 (capsicum) or 6 × 10(-4) to 0.04 (sesame seed) MPN/g. A gamma-Poisson model provided the best fit to observed data for both imported shipments of capsicum and imported shipments of sesame seed sampled in this study among the six parametric models considered. Shipment mean levels of Salmonella vary widely between shipments; many contaminated shipments contain low levels of contamination. Examination of sampling plan efficacy for identifying contaminated spice shipments from these distributions indicates that sample size of spice examined is critical. Sampling protocols examining 25 g samples are predicted to be able to identify a small fraction of contaminated shipments of imported capsicum or sesame seeds.

Prevalence, level and distribution of Salmonella in shipments of imported capsicum and sesame seed spice offered for entry to the United States: observations and modeling results.

George C. Ziobro

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U.S. Food and Drug Administration

Detection of Foodborne Bacterial Pathogens from Individual Filth Flies

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition