Showing papers by "Ministry of Agriculture published in 2019"

Use of sourdough fermentation to reducing FODMAPs in breads

Abstract: Fermentable, oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides and polyols (FODMAPs) are a class of carbohydrates poorly digested that may trigger the symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) and Non-Celiac Gluten Sensitivity (NCGS). The effects of sourdough fermentation on FODMAPs and organic acids were studied during the sourdough propagation and bread making. The concentrations of organic acids were higher for the first steps of propagation and became stable for final steps. All FODMAPs were significantly reduced during the propagation, except polyols. Sucrose, fructose and glucose were wholly degraded for the first step of fermentation. The other carbohydrates had their concentrations reduced after the fourth backslopping step. Sourdough bread presented the higher level of organic acids and polyols, and lower content of fructans, sucrose, fructose and glucose than bread fermented by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fructan reduction was from 69 to 75%, indicating that sourdough fermentation can be applied for producing low-FODMAP wheat bakery products.

Reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR to identify the emerging vesicular virus Senecavirus A in biological samples.

Abstract: Senecavirus A (SVA) belonging to the family Picornaviridae, genus Senecavirus was incidentally isolated in 2002 from the PER.C6 (transformed foetal retinoblast) cell line. However, currently, this virus is associated with vesicular disease in swine and it has been reported in countries such as the United States of America, Canada, China, Thailand and Colombia. In Brazil, the SVA was firstly reported in 2015 in outbreaks of vesicular disease in swine, clinically indistinguishable of Foot-and-mouth disease, a contagious viral disease that generates substantial economic losses. In the present work, it was standardized a diagnostic tool for SVA based on RNA reverse transcriptase droplet digital PCR (RT-ddPCR) using one-step and two-step approaches. Analytical sensitivity and specificity were done in parallel with real-time PCR, RT-qPCR (one-step and two-step) for comparison of sensitivity and specificity of both methods. In the standardization of RT-ddPCR, the double-quenched probe and the temperature gradient were crucial to reduce background and improve amplitude between positive and negative droplets. The limit of detection and analytical specificity of techniques of one-step techniques showed superior performance than two-step methods described here. Additionally, the results showed 94.2% concordance (p < 0.001) for RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR using the one-step assay approach and biological samples from Brazilian outbreaks of Senecavirus A. However, ddRT-PCR had a better performance than RT-PCR when swine serum pools were tested. According to the results, the one-step RT-ddPCR and RT-qPCR is highlighted to be used as an auxiliary diagnostic tool for Senecavirus A and for viral RNA absolute quantification in biological samples (RT-ddPCR), being a useful tool for vesicular diseases control programs.

The impaired quality of chicken affected by the wooden breast myopathy is counteracted in emulsion-type sausages.

Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the suitability of using chicken meat affected by wooden breast (WB) myopathy in the production of chicken sausages. Compare the technological and sensory properties of such sausages were compared with those produced from normal (N) breast meat. Three types of chicken sausages were elaborated: 100% containing N chicken meat, 100% of WB chicken meat and 50% N/50% of WB meat. The WB chicken meat presented higher values for pH, L*, moisture, cooking loss, shear force, hardness, chewiness, adhesiveness and gumminess; while WHC and protein content were higher for N chicken meat. N and WB chicken sausages presented similar values of WHC, a*, b* color values, protein content and TBARS. QDA indicated no sensory differences between the three sausage formulations, so did the acceptability and purchase intention. Therefore, WB chicken meat may be used to produce chicken sausages combined or not with N chicken meat. Further studies, however, may be required to investigate the nutritional value and digestibility of WB meat and derived products.

Determination of ractopamine residue in tissues and urine from pig fed meat and bone meal

Abstract: In many countries, ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) is allowed to be used in animal production as a β-agonist, which is an energy repartitioning agent able to offer economic benefits such as increas...

Burkholderia mallei: The dynamics of networks and disease transmission.

Abstract: Glanders is a highly infectious zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei. The transmission of B. mallei occurs mainly by direct contact, and horses are the natural reservoir. Therefore, the identification of infection sources within horse populations and animal movements is critical to enhance disease control. Here, we analysed the dynamics of horse movements from 2014 to 2016 using network analysis in order to understand the flow of animals in two hierarchical levels, municipalities and farms. The municipality-level network was used to investigate both community clustering and the balance between the municipality's trades and the farm-level network associations between B. mallei outbreaks and the network centrality measurements, analysed by spatio-temporal generalized additive model (GAM). Causal paths were established for the dispersion of B. mallei outbreaks through the network. Our approach captured and established a direct relationship between movement of infected equines and predicted B. mallei outbreaks. The GAM model revealed that the parameters in degree and closeness centrality out were positively associated with B. mallei. In addition, we also detected 10 communities with high commerce among municipalities. The role of each municipality within the network was detailed, and significant changes in the structures of the network were detected over the course of 3 years. The results suggested the necessity to focus on structural changes of the networks over time to better control glanders disease. The identification of farms with a putative risk of B. mallei infection using the horse movement network provided a direct opportunity for disease control through active surveillance, thus minimizing economic losses and risks for human cases of B. mallei.

A década da nutrição, a política de segurança alimentar e nutricional e as compras públicas da agricultura familiar no Brasil

Abstract: The proclamation of the Decade of Action on Nutrition (2016-2025) by the United Nations was prompted by the realization that the causes of malnutrition are complex and multidimensional - as exemplified by situations of poverty and extreme poverty and by the lack of access to a quality, diversified diet that respects the dietary habits and cultures of different peoples and countries. In Brazil, the food and nutrition security agenda has always been guided by an integrated vision of the dietary system, expressed in the concept of "food and nutrition security." The aim of the present article is to describe how the Brazilian experience structuring a national public agenda on food and nutrition security in the past two decades relates to and converges upon the notion of nutrition and food systems covered in the Decade of Action on Nutrition framework. For that, we discuss aspects relating to the governance of food and nutrition security in Brazil and the role of public purchases from family farming, which are aimed at encouraging production, sales, and access to a healthy diet locally and promoting a healthier food system.

Aflatoxins and ochratoxin A: occurrence and contamination levels in cocoa beans from Brazil.

Abstract: In the present study, the occurrence of aflatoxins (AFs) and ochratoxin A (OTA) was evaluated in 123 samples of cocoa beans produced in five Brazilian states. The presence of these mycotoxins was d...

Usefulness of Eurasian Magpies ( Pica pica ) for West Nile virus Surveillance in Non-Endemic and Endemic Situations

Abstract: In September 2017, passive surveillance allowed the detection of West Nile virus (WNV) lineage 2 for the first time in northern Spain in a northern goshawk (Accipiter gentilis). However, a cross sectional study carried out in Eurasian magpies (Pica pica) in a nearby area evidenced that WNV had been circulating two months earlier. Therefore, active surveillance in Eurasian magpies proved its effectiveness for the early detection of WNV in a non-endemic area. Further surveys in 2018 and the beginning of 2019 using young magpies (i.e., born after 2017) showed the repeated circulation of WNV in the same region in the following transmission season. Therefore, active surveillance in Eurasian magpies as well proved to be useful for the detection of WNV circulation in areas that may be considered as endemic. In this manuscript we present the results of those studies and discuss reasons that make the Eurasian magpies an ideal species for the surveillance of WNV, both in endemic and non-endemic areas.

Carry-over and contamination of veterinary drugs in feed production lines for poultry and pigs.

Abstract: The current model of pigs and poultry production has increased stocking density and reduced downtime between lots. This scenario may favour a rise of infection and disease risk in animals. To avoid this problem, routine use of drugs has been made, intensifying the possibility of residues in animal products and antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this study was to measure carry-over and contaminants of veterinary drugs included in the feed production lines for poultry and pigs. Samples were taken from 25 production lines. LC-MS/MS was used for simultaneous analysis of 62 active ingredients. In the medicated feed, 80.4% of the samples had a concentration of active ingredients different from the stated doses. In 70% of the feed samples, there was heterogeneity in the mixture of active ingredients. In subsequent feeds, carry-over was greater than 1% of the stated dose in 63% of cases. Of the 25 analysed lines, only one showed no contamination with other active ingredients. No correlations were found between the nutritional composition of the feed and carry-over. The present study demonstrated that the current production model allows the occurrence of unwanted drugs in feed-in doses that can contaminate animal products and can select antimicrobial-resistant bacteria.

Clean-up Procedure Development and Method Validation for Pesticide Residues Analysis in Carrots

Abstract: In this work, a method was developed, validated, and applied to determination of ten pesticide residues (trifluralin, carbofuran, chlorothalonil, pendimethalin, captan, tebuconazole, pyraclostrobin, difenoconazole, deltamethrin, and azoxystrobin), from seven distinct classes, in carrot samples, employing a QuEChERS procedure for the analyte extraction and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for quantification. The dispersive clean-up step was optimized using different sorbents at different concentrations and mixings. The method proved to be efficient and robust, showing recoveries in the range 72–117%, and RSD ranging from 4.9 to 16.6% (except for chlorothalonil and captan) at fortification levels of 45, 90, 180, and 450 μg kg−1 with seven replicates analyzed for each level (n = 28). Chlorothalonil and captan could not be validated due to analyte stability problems. Detection limits were between 15 and 45 μg kg−1, and the quantification limits were between 45 and 90 μg kg−1. The method was successfully applied to real samples.

Phytophthora palmivora: agente causal da podridão da base do estipe da pupunheira no Brasil

Abstract: RESUMO A area plantada com pupunheira (Bactris gasipaes) para a producao de palmito tem aumentado nos estados da Bahia, Espirito Santo, Rio de Janeiro, Tocantins, Sao Paulo, Parana e Santa Catarina. Nestas regioes os plantios sao atacados pela podridao da base do estipe (PBE), associada ao oomiceto Phytophthora palmivora. Ha poucos trabalhos sobre a etiologia desta doenca, pairando e, as vezes, ficam duvidas sobre a especie de Phytophthora envolvida. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho foi identificar e caracterizar morfologica, fisiologica e molecularmente, os isolados de Phytophthora sp. oriundos de tres polos de plantios de pupunheira, visando elucidar a sua etiologia. Os 31 isolados de Phytophthora utilizados vieram de plantios de pupunheira dos estados de Sao Paulo (Eldorado, Cajati e Registro), Parana (Paranagua e Morretes) e Santa Catarina (Massaranduba, Garuva e Joinville). Avaliou-se o crescimento micelial dos isolados de Phytophthora sp. em oito temperaturas (8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 32 e 36 °C), o aspecto das colonias, a producao de esporângios, clamidosporos e oosporos. Foram medidas 50 estruturas de cada isolado e a analise molecular com base nas regioes ITS1 e ITS2 e Cox1 e Cox2. Os tres padroes de colonia encontrados foram: ligeiramente estrelado, estrelado e cotonoso, sendo o primeiro o mais frequente. Os isolados nao cresceram as temperaturas de 8 °C e 36 °C, e a temperatura otima foi 23,7 °C. Os esporângios formados em ontogenia simpodial apresentaram-se papilados, elipsoides em sua maioria, com 21,1 - 84,8 µm de comprimento e 17,4 – 41,7 µm de largura, caducos, com pedicelos curtos 0,4 - 6,6 µm, e relacao comprimento/largura (C/L) variando de 1,3 - 1,9. As papilas mediram entre 0,9 - 11,2 µm de profundidade e 0,5 - 11,4 µm de largura. Clamidosporos globosos, terminais e intercalares, com 20,0 - 53,6 µm de diâmetro e 0,3 - 4,4 µm de espessura de parede. Todos os isolados foram heterotalicos e do tipo compativel A1. Oosporos globosos, apleroticos e sem ornamentacoes nas paredes medindo 26,0 - 63,6 µm, com anteridios anfigenos. Com base nas caracteristicas morfofisiologicas e moleculares, os isolados de pupunheira foram enquadrados na especie Phytophthora palmivora (Butler) Butler.

Chemical Residues and Mycotoxins in Raw Milk

Abstract: The control of residues and contaminants is a hot topic on food safety issue. This relevance is due to increased evidences about emerging contaminants and possible source to access the food chain. Once milk is a high consumption product across the world, including for susceptible groups (e.g., children), it is extremely relevant in consumers safety and public health terms with impacts in health-care systems. Raw milk and dairy products could be considered an important and representative of different populations customs. When evaluated, raw milk risks are considered mainly in terms of microbiological injury and not based on chemical hazard risks. The main goal of this chapter is ranking the principal residues and contaminants with relevance in milk production and approaches to manage and control its incidence. Introduce some concepts about risk analysis and analytical methodologies to identification and quantification of these compounds in milk and dairy products.

Efficacy of a Ruminal Bacteriocin Against Pure and Mixed Cultures of Bovine Mastitis Pathogens

Abstract: Bacteriocins have been suggested as an alternative to conventional antibiotics for the prevention and treatment of mastitis infections. Predominant bacteria associated with bovine mastitis (n = 276 isolates) were evaluated for their susceptibility to bovicin HC5, a ruminal bacteriocin produced by Streptococcus equinus HC5. Bovicin HC5 inhibited most (> 80%) of the streptococcal and staphylococcal strains tested, but showed no effect against Escherichia coli strains. Susceptibility and resistance testing indicated that approximately 95% of the S. aureus strains were inhibited by concentrations of bovicin HC5 varying from 40 to 2560 AU ml−1. Bovicin HC5 (62.50 AU ml−1) also inhibited the growth of aerobic and anaerobic mixed cultures of S. aureus and S. agalactiae, but the combination with 0.25 mmol l−1 of EDTA showed even greater bactericidal activity. These results demonstrate that bovicin HC5 is effective against the most prevalent pathogens found in contagious udder infections and could complement the use antibiotics in mastitis prophylaxis and therapy.

ELISA using a recombinant chimera of ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 for Mycobacterium bovis diagnosis in naturally infected cattle.

Abstract: Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) control programs generally rely on intradermal tuberculin tests for the antemortem diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle, but these tests detect only a portion of the infected animals. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic coverage of a combination of the bTB antemortem techniques known as the comparative intradermal tuberculin test (CITT) and an ELISA based on a recombinant chimera of ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 as the antigen in cattle. The results were compared to postmortem findings based on M. bovis culturing and PCR. Paired comparisons of all data (n=92) demonstrated that ELISA and LST results compared to the culturing results did not present significant differences (P=0.27 on McNemar's test and P=0.12 on Fisher's exact test, respectively). Using culturing as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 79.5% (95% CI: 64.5-89.2%) and 75.5% (95% CI: 62.4-85.1%), respectively, whereas LST demonstrated 100% sensitivity (95% CI: 91.03-100%) and 92.5% specificity (95% CI: 82.1-97.0%). The ELISA results did not reveal significant differences in relation to the LST results (P>0.99 on Fisher's exact test). Using the latter as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of ELISA were 79.1% (95% CI: 64.8-88.6%) and 79.6% (95% CI: 66.4-88.5%), respectively. The use of ELISA with the recombinant chimera of ESAT-6/MPB70/MPB83 as the antigen complements the diagnostic coverage provided by CITT and increases the removal of infected animals from herds.

Cost-Effective and High-Reliability Analytical Approach for Multitoxin Screening in Bivalve Mollusks by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to Tandem Mass Spectrometry.

Abstract: A fast, less expensive, analytical approach with high metrologic reliability was developed to assist an official program for 21 marine biotoxins, monitoring in bivalve mollusks. The simultaneous an...

Toxoplasma gondii in invasive animals on the Island of Fernando de Noronha in Brazil: Molecular characterization and mouse virulence studies of new genotypes

Abstract: This study aimed to genetically characterize and to determine virulence from Toxoplasma gondii samples from invasive animals in the Island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 21 tegu-lizard (Salvator merianae), 12 rock-cavies (Kerodon rupestris) and 154 black-rats (Rattus rattus) from the Island and MAT (cutoff 1:25) detected anti-T. gondii antibodies in 0% of the tegus (0/21); 58.3% of the rock-cavies (7/12) and 22.7% of rats (35/154). Tissue samples (brain, heart, liver and lung) from positive animals in MAT were collected for molecular analysis and for bioassay in Swiss Webster mice. After observation period, mice were euthanized, and serological detection and tissue cyst search in the brain were performed. The brain of positive animals for serological detection or tissue cyst search was cultured in MARC-145 cells for maintenance of the T. gondii isolate. No isolate was obtained from rock cavies. Nine isolates were obtained by bioassay of 35 seropositive black rats. DNA samples were extracted from rat tissues and from parasite isolates in cell culture, and genotyped using 10 PCR-RFLP markers. ToxoDB genotypes #78 (1) from rat tissue and #146 (4), #163 (2), #260 (2) and #291 (1) from cell culture were detected. Markers of genes ROP18 and ROP5 were analyzed and in vivo virulence test was conducted in mice. Analysis revealed two allele combinations, 3/1 and 3/3, indicating non-lethal T. gondii strains, which is supported by mouse virulence test.