Influencia del sorbato potásico y del benzoato sódico sobre la estabilidad de las aceitunas de mesa en salmuera

The results of a study on the effects of potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate on the chemical, microbiological and organoleptic characteristics of green table olives during the preservations, are presented. The olives stored in glass vessels at room temperature and at 28°C, in aerobic conditions, to promote the growth of surface yeasts and moulds, are added of fungistatics at two concentration levels, calculated by weight on the basis of the total content of the vessel; that is the weight of olives plus the weight of the water in the brine. The results showed that these additives were effective to preserve the product a period of two months, without affecting the olive flavour. However a certain darkening of some samples was observed. To increase such period higher initial concentrations must be used, although their residual values should be within the limits permitted by the C.O.I.Se estudian los efectos del sorbato potásico y del benzoato sódico sobre las características físico-químicas, microbio lógicas y organolépticas de conservas de aceitunas verdes de mesa. Las aceitunas conservadas en frascos de vidrio a temperatura ambiente y en cámara termostática a +28°C, en condiciones aeróbicas para facilitar el crecimiento de levaduras y mohos superficiales, se tratan con fungistáticos en dos niveles de concentración calculados sobre la masa total de aceitunas y salmuera, respecto a los contenidos relativos. Los resultados indican que los aditivos empleados son efectivos para la conservación del producto durante los dos primeros meses, sin que afecten al sabor de las aceitunas, mientras que se ha apreciado un cierto oscurecimiento en algunas muestras. Para aumentar el período anterior serían necesarias cantidades iniciales más altas, que den unos valores residuales del orden de los límites establecidos por el C.O.I

Molecular Survey on Kobuviruses in Domestic and Wild Ungulates From Northwestern Italian Alps

Since the first identification in 1989 in humans, kobuviruses (KoVs) have been identified from a wide range of animal species including carnivores, rodents, birds, ungulates, rabbits, and bats. Several studies have described the identification of genetically related KoVs in the fecal virome of domestic and wild animals suggesting a mutual exchange of viruses. By screening a total of 231 fecal samples from wild and domestic ungulates, KoVs RNA was detected in wild boars (3.2%; 2/63), chamois (4.6%; 2/43), and goats (2.6%; 2/77). On phylogenetic analysis of the partial RdRp sequence, the wild boar strains clustered within the species Aichivirus C whilst the strains identified in domestic and wild ruminants grouped into the species Aichivirus B. The complete VP1 gene was obtained for chamois and goat KoVs. Interestingly, upon phylogenetic analysis the strains grouped together with a KoV of ovine origin within a distinct genetic type (B3) of the species Aichivirus B

Molecular identification and characterization of a genotype 3 hepatitis e virus (HEV) strain detected in a wolf faecal sample, Italy

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is a major health problem worldwide. In developed countries, zoonotic transmission of HEV genotypes (Gt) 3 and 4 is caused by the ingestion of raw or undercooked meat of infected pigs and wild boars, the main reservoirs of HEV. However, additional animals may harbour HEV or HEV-related strains, including carnivores. In this study, we investigated the molecular epidemiology of orthohepeviruses in wild canids by screening a total of 136 archival faecal samples, collected from wolves (42) and red foxes (94) in Northwestern Italy. Orthohepevirus RNA was identified in a faecal specimen, collected from a wolf carcass in the province of La Spezia (Liguria Region, Italy). The nearly full-length (7212 nucleotides) genome of the strain HEV/81236/Wolf/2019/ITA (GenBank accession no. MZ463196) was determined by combining a sequence-independent single-primer amplification (SISPA) approach with the Oxford Nanopore Technologies sequencing platform. Upon phylogenetic analysis, the HEV detected in wolf was segregated into clade HEV-3.1, displaying the highest nucleotide (nt) identity (89.0–93.3%) to Gt3 strains belonging to subtype c. Interestingly, the wolf faecal sample also contained porcine astrovirus sequences, endorsing the hypothesis of a dietary origin of the HEV strain due to preying habits

Molecular detection of canine bufaviruses in wild canids

Novel protoparvoviruses genetically related to human and non-human primate bufaviruses (BuVs) have been detected recently in respiratory and enteric specimens collected from dogs and cats. In this study, by molecular screening of archival collections of faecal samples from wolves and foxes, we detected BuVs with a rate of 17.1% (7/41) and 10.5% (9/86), respectively. Sequence analysis of a portion of the ORF2 gene region of nine positive samples showed that the viruses in these samples were closely related to BuVs (97.5–99.0% nucleotide sequence identity) found in domestic carnivores

Surveillance study of hepatitis E virus (HEV) in domestic and wild ruminants in northwestern Italy

In industrialized countries, increasing autochthonous infections of hepatitis E virus (HEV) are caused by zoonotic transmission of genotypes (Gts) 3 and 4, mainly through consumption of contaminated raw or undercooked pork meat. Although swine and wild boar are recognized as the main reservoir for Gt3 and Gt4, accumulating evidence indicates that other animal species, including domestic and wild ruminants, may harbor HEV. Herein, we screened molecularly and serologically serum and fecal samples from two domestic and four wild ruminant species collected in Valle d’Aosta and Piemonte regions (northwestern Italy. HEV antibodies were found in sheep (21.6%), goats (11.4%), red deer (2.6%), roe deer (3.1%), and in Alpine ibex (6.3%). Molecular screening was performed using different primer sets targeting highly conserved regions of hepeviruses and HEV RNA, although at low viral loads, was detected in four fecal specimens (3.0%, 4/134) collected from two HEV seropositive sheep herds. Taken together, the data obtained document the circulation of HEV in the geographical area assessed both in wild and domestic ruminants, but with the highest seroprevalence in sheep and goats. Consistently with results from other studies conducted in southern Italy, circulation of HEV among small domestic ruminants seems to occur more frequently than expected

Effect of drying, chemical and natural processing methods on black <i>Biancolilla</i> olives

In the present work, the effects of different drying and brining treatments on pigmented Biancolilla olives were evaluated. The olive cultivar considered is typical of Sicily and was harvested at pigmented state. The carpological data revealed its good quality as table olives. A preliminary fermentation in brine was applied to the samples. Half of the samples were dried whereas the remaining olives were subjected to three different lye treatments and oxidation steps. After washing, the olives were stored according to a natural fermentation or drying process with or without a pretreatment of iron gluconate. The fermentation and oxidation steps conditioned the hygienic characteristics of the final product affecting the pH value of the brine. The use of iron salt for improving the darkening rate of processed olives influenced the color parameters as expected. The oxidation and the addition of iron salt affected the texture of dried olives making them softer than those directly dried. The results suggest that the Biancolilla cultivar is suitable for fermentation in brine without any previous treatment such as oxidation.<br><br>En el presente trabajo se han evaluado los efectos de los diferentes tratamientos de secado y salado para aceitunas pigmentadas <i>Biancolilla</i>. La variedad de aceituna seleccionada es considerada la típica de Sicilia y fue cosechada en el estadío de pigmentación. Los datos morfolóficos revelan su buena calidad como aceituna de mesa. Se ha aplicado a las muestras una fermentación preliminar. La mitad de ellas se secaron, mientras que las restantes fueron sometidas a tres tratamientos diferentes con lejía y procesos oxidantes. Después del lavado, las aceitunas se almacenan mediante una fermentación natural o proceso de secado, con o sin un pretratamiento de gluconato de hierro. Los pasos de fermentación y oxidación condicionan las características higiénicas del producto final afectando al valor del pH de la salmuera. El uso de la sal de hierro para mejorar la velocidad de oscurecimiento de las aceitunas procesadas influyó sobre los parámetros del color como se esperaba. La oxidación y la adición de la sal de hierro afectó a la textura de las aceitunas secas haciéndolas más blandas que las secadas directamente. Los resultados sugieren que la variedad <i>Biancolilla</i> es adecuada para la fermentación en salmuera, sin ningún tratamiento, tal como la oxidación

Antibiotic treatment-induced dysbiosis differently affects BDNF and TrkB expression in the brain and in the gut of juvenile mice

Antibiotic use during adolescence may result in dysbiosis-induced neuronal vulnerability both in the enteric nervous system (ENS) and central nervous system (CNS) contributing to the onset of chronic gastrointestinal disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), showing significant psychiatric comorbidity. Intestinal microbiota alterations during adolescence influence the expression of molecular factors involved in neuronal development in both the ENS and CNS. In this study, we have evaluated the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and its high-affinity receptor tropomyosin-related kinase B (TrkB) in juvenile mice ENS and CNS, after a 2-week antibiotic (ABX) treatment. In both mucosa and mucosa-deprived whole-wall small intestine segments of ABX-treated animals, BDNF and TrKB mRNA and protein levels significantly increased. In longitudinal muscle-myenteric plexus preparations of ABX-treated mice the percentage of myenteric neurons staining for BDNF and TrkB was significantly higher than in controls. After ABX treatment, a consistent population of BDNF-and TrkB-immunoreactive neurons costained with SP and CGRP, suggesting up-regulation of BDNF signaling in both motor and sensory myenteric neurons. BDNF and TrkB protein levels were downregulated in the hippocampus and remained unchanged in the prefrontal cortex of ABX-treated animals. Immunostaining for BDNF and TrkB decreased in the hippocampus CA3 and dentate gyrus subregions, respectively, and remained unchanged in the prefrontal cortex. These data suggest that dysbiosis differentially influences the expression of BDNF-TrkB in the juvenile mice ENS and CNS. Such changes may potentially contribute later to the development of functional gut disorders, such as IBS, showing psychiatric comorbidity