Microbiological characterization of fresh bee pollens from the Aegean region of Turkey

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study is to characterize the microbiological safety of Turkish fresh bee pollen for the first time. Twenty-one fresh bee pollen samples were purchased from local beekeepers between September 2020 and October 2020 in Muğla, İzmir, Kütahya and Afyon provinces in the Aegean region of Turkey. The samples were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, total coliform bacteria, total psychotropic microorganism, total lactic acid bacteria, Staphyloccus aureus, sulfite-reducing clostridia spores, yeast and mold. Total ochratoxin and aflatoxin levels were measured using lateral flow kit in samples contaminated with mycotoxigenic molds. The counts of the microorganisms ranged from 3.70 to 5.42 log CFU g-1 for the aerobic mesophilic, 3.0 to 5.40 log CFU g -1 for psychrotrophs, 3.85 to 5.78 log CFU g -1 for lactic acid bacteria (LAB), 3.0 to 5.45 log CFU g-1 for yeasts-molds, and <10 to 5.0 log CFU g-1 for total coliforms in the samples. Besides, S. aureus and sulfite reducing clostridia were not detected among the samples. The predominant mold genera in samples were Aspergillus sp. Penicillium sp. and Alternaria sp. Five samples contaminated with mycotoxicogenic molds had aflatoxins in the range of 2.96-9.71 µg/kg. According to the study results, comprehensive prevention, control and surveillance strategies need to be established to reduce bacteria and mycotoxin contaminations in fresh bee pollen. Legal regulation of bee pollen as food supplement and legal limit of mycotoxins in bee pollen should be defined

Ameliorative and Disinfection Effects of Ultraviolet-C Radiation on Experimentally Induced and Infected Skin Wounds: A Mice Model Study

Only ultraviolet-C (UV-C) from UV lights, which are emitted by the sun and absorbed by the atmosphere's ozone layer, does not reach the Earth's surface. UV-C is a powerful disinfection method that is commonly used to sterilize fluids, air, and surfaces. There is a little knowledge of the effects of UV-C radiation on living bodies. The purpose of this study is to examine the ameliorative effect of UV-C on skin lesions in mice that have been experimentally created and infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Streptococcus sp. In total, 32 mice were used, and 4 mm skin defects were created and lesions infected with bacteria. Half of the mice in each group were treated with 254 nm UV-C twice a day for 4 days before being euthanatized. Blood samples were collected for hematological analysis, while skin samples were collected for microbiological, pathological, and immunohistochemical examinations. In addition, pathological examinations were performed on visceral organ samples. UV-C treatment caused rapid healing and complete or significant disinfection of skin lesions. Moreover, UV-C treatment reduced caspase-3 expressions in lesioned areas, according to immunochemistry. There were no pathological findings in visceral organs as a result of UV-C treatment. This study found that UV-C can be used to treat and disinfect infected skin lesions in short period and repeated doses. </jats:p

Otitis eksternalı köpeklerden izole edilen mikroorganizmalar ve antibiyotik duyarlılıkları

Amaç: Bu çalışmada otitis eksternalı köpeklerden alınan kulak sıvap örneklerinde mikroorganizmaların izolasyonu ve izole edilen bakterilerin antibiyotik duyarlılıklarının belirlenmesi amaçlandı. Gereç ve Yöntem: Bu çalışmada, otitis eksterna teşhisi konulmuş 41 köpekten 58 kulak sıvap örneği toplandı. Örneklerden mikroorganizmalar konvansiyonel bakteriyolojik yöntemlerle izole ve identifiye edildi. İzole edilen bakterilerin antibiyotik duyarlılıkları agar disk difüzyon testi ile belirlendi. Bulgular: Örneklerin 52 (%89.66)’sinden 64 mikroorganizma izolasyonu yapılırken, 6 (10.34)’sından patojen etken izole edilemedi. Bu mikroorganizmalar arasında en yüksek oranda Staphylococcus aureus (%31.25) izole edildi. Ayrıca, sırasıyla koagülaz negatif stafilokok (KNS) (%14.06), Streptococcus sp. (%12.5), Corynebacterium sp. (%6.25), Proteus sp. (%4.68), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (%3.13) ve Candida sp. (%28.13) izole edildi. S. aureus, Streptococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp. ve KNS izolatlarının tümü ve Proteus sp. izolatlarının %66.67'si amoksisilin-klavulanik asite duyarlı bulundu. Bu bakterilerin enrofloksasin, amoksisilin, oksitetrasiklin, gentamisin, trimetoprimsulfametoksazol ve eritromisine duyarlılıkları sırasıyla %65.22, %52.17, %47.83, %43.48, %30.43 olarak saptandı. P. aeruginosa izolatlarının tümü enrofloksasin ve gentamisine, %50’si de oksitetrasikline duyarlı bulundu. Öneri: Bakteriyel izolatların çalışmada kullanılan antibiyotiklere duyarlılıklarındaki farklılıklar, otitis eksternalı köpeklerin tedavisi için mutlaka antibiyotik duyarlılık testlerinin yapılması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, çalışmada Candida sp.’nin yüksek oranda izole edilmiş olması, köpeklerin otitis eksterna olgularında mayaların da gözardı edilmemesi gerektiğini ortaya koymaktadır.Aim: In this study, the determination of isolation of microorganisms and antibiotic susceptibility of isolated bacteria in ear swab samples collected from dogs with otitis externa were aimed. Materials and Methods: In this study, 58 ear swab samples were collected from 41 dogs with otitis externa. The microorganisms were isolated from the samples and identified by conventional bacteriological methods. The antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by agar disc diffusion method. Results: While 64 microorganisms were isolated from 52 (88.66%) of the samples, pathogen microorganism could not be isolated from 6 (10.34%) samples. S. aureus (31.25%) was the most frequently isolated agent. Also, coagulase negative staphylococci (CNS) (14.06%), Streptococcus sp. (12.5%), Corynebacterium sp. (6.25%), Proteus sp. (4.68%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.13%) and Candida sp. (28.13%) were isolated, respectively. All of the S. aureus, Streptococcus sp., Corynebacterium sp. and CNS isolates and 66.67% of Proteus sp. were susceptible to amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. This bacterial isolates were found susceptible 65.22%, 52.17%, 47.83%, 43.48%, and 30.43% to enrofloxacin, amoxicillin and oxytetracycline, gentamicin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin, respectively. All P. aeruginosa isolates to enrofloxacin and gentamicin, and 50% of this isolates were susceptible to oxytetracycline. Conclusion: The differences in antibiotic susceptibility of the bacterial isolates shows that antibiotic susceptibility tests is necessary for treatment of dogs with otitis externa and yeasts should not be overlooked, due to high rates of Candida sp. isolation

Microbiological characterization of fresh bee pollens from the Aegean region of Turkey

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study is to characterize the microbiological safety of Turkish fresh bee pollen for the first time. Twenty-one fresh bee pollen samples were purchased from local beekeepers between September 2020 and October 2020 in Muğla, İzmir, Kütahya and Afyon provinces in the Aegean region of Turkey. The samples were analyzed for total aerobic bacteria, total coliform bacteria, total psychotropic microorganism, total lactic acid bacteria, Staphyloccus aureus, sulfite-reducing clostridia spores, yeast and mold. Total ochratoxin and aflatoxin levels were measured using lateral flow kit in samples contaminated with mycotoxigenic molds. The counts of the microorganisms ranged from 3.70 to 5.42 log CFU g-1 for the aerobic mesophilic, 3.0 to 5.40 log CFU g -1 for psychrotrophs, 3.85 to 5.78 log CFU g -1 for lactic acid bacteria (LAB), 3.0 to 5.45 log CFU g-1 for yeasts-molds, and &lt;10 to 5.0 log CFU g-1 for total coliforms in the samples. Besides, S. aureus and sulfite reducing clostridia were not detected among the samples. The predominant mold genera in samples were Aspergillus sp. Penicillium sp. and Alternaria sp. Five samples contaminated with mycotoxicogenic molds had aflatoxins in the range of 2.96-9.71 µg/kg. According to the study results, comprehensive prevention, control and surveillance strategies need to be established to reduce bacteria and mycotoxin contaminations in fresh bee pollen. Legal regulation of bee pollen as food supplement and legal limit of mycotoxins in bee pollen should be defined.</jats:p