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Background Numerous studies indicate that multidrug-resistant Enterococcus bacteria are widely present on the carcasses of various food-producing animal species as well as in facilities used for their production. However, in the global literature, there is no information available regarding the prevalence, species composition or antibiotic resistance of enterococci contaminating rabbit carcasses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Enterococcus bacteria on the surface of carcasses of rabbits slaughtered in an EU-approved abattoir with particular emphasis on two species, i.e., Enterococcus faecalis ( E. faecalis ) and Enterococcus faecium ( E. faecium ). In addition, the phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antibiotics of rabbit-origin E. faecalis isolates and the relatedness of multi-drug resistance strains has been evaluated. Results The study revealed that 425 out of 496 examined rabbit carcasses were contaminated with Enterococcus spp., with a prevalence of 85.69% (95% CI: 82.60–88.77%). E. faecalis was confirmed on the surface of 237 carcasses, which constituted 55.8% of the Enterococcus- positive swabs and 47.8% of all carcasses examined. E. faecium was not detected on the surface of any of the rabbit carcasses tested. Phenotypically, 97.5% of isolates were classified as resistant to tetracycline, 92.4% to erythromycin, 65% to kanamycin, 54% to streptomycin, 40.4% to ciprofloxacin, 30% to enrofloxacin, and 0.4% to penicillin and ampicillin. Moreover, 66.40% of E. faecalis isolates showed multidrug resistance to at least three classes of antibiotics. The presence of genes determining the resistance to tetracycline ( tet M and tet L ) , erythromycin ( erm B), aminoglycosides ( aac(6’)-Ie-aph(2”)-Ia ), and streptomycin ( ant(6)-Ia ), was consistent with the phenotypic resistance pattern observed in E. faecalis isolates. Using ADSRRS fingerprinting analysis, four main clusters were visualized, with almost every branch containing multi-drug resistant isolates from rabbits bred on farms in different locations. Conclusion The high prevalence of enterococci on rabbit carcass surfaces indicates poor hygiene during the production process at rabbit abattoirs. Compared to E. faecium , E. faecalis appears better adapted to persist on the surface of rabbit carcasses and/or meat cuts in the slaughterhouse environment. This may be attributed to its stronger biofilm-forming ability, as E. faecalis was the only species detected in all Enterococcus -positive samples tested. Rabbit carcasses are also an important vector of multidrug-resistant E. faecalis . The high genetic similarity of multidrug-resistant E. faecalis isolates from rabbit carcasses raised on different farms suggests a common source of these bacteria or cross-contamination at slaughter. Our results supported E. faecalis as an indicator bacterium for antibiotic resistance under Commission Implementing Decision (EU) 2020/1729 and highlighted the need to extend monitoring to rabbit meat production at the national level.

This study investigated the eggs of Polish-bred edible snails of the genus as a food and aimed to determine the presence of microorganisms in them of the and genera and ascertain the number of coagulase-positive staphylococci. Raw material, semi-finished products, and the final product were collected during the production cycle. Testing for the presence of spp. and spp. and measuring of the pathogenic staphylococci contamination level were carried out in accordance with ISO standards. Commercial biochemical tests were used for species identification of bacteria of the family and genus. An API kit and a PCR protocol were utilised for species confirmation of the microorganisms of the genus. Neither nor coagulase-positive staphylococci were found in any of the studied material. Bacteria of the genus were found in samples taken at every stage of production; however was confirmed in samples of the final product. The absence of spp. and in samples of the final product indicates that the required hygiene standard was maintained in the production process of edible snail eggs. Nevertheless, the presence of in eggs of common garden snails may pose a potential risk to consumer health.

Snail eggs can be the raw material for the production of a caviar substitute. The substitute varies from the original in caloric value and nutrient content which determine the nutritional value of every foodstuff. The present study aimed to determine and compare the nutritional value and protein quality of eggs from two subspecies of edible snail. The chemical composition of the snail eggs and was determined in accordance with international standards. In order to evaluate the protein quality of the eggs of the two studied snail subspecies, the chemical score (CS), and a reference protein were used. Significant differences in the content of water, ash, and carbohydrates, but comparable protein and fat contents and caloric values were found. The protein in the eggs of the snails was complete by the measure of the model adopted for this study, however, meeting the daily essential amino acid requirements of an adult would require an immense supply of both species' eggs. Snail eggs of the genus were characterised by much lower nutritional value in comparison with caviar and caviar substitutes.

The objective was to determine the content of fatty acids in edible snail fat by snail species, collection site, and processing stage. The research material comprised 180 edible fat samples from the three genera of edible snails collected in Poland: free-living (HP) and two cultivated subspecies: (CAM) and (CAA). All snails came from the Greater Poland and Lower Silesian Provinces: HP from their natural habitat and CAM and CAA from heliciculture farms. The studies focused on the raw meat, cooked meat, and frozen meat processing stages. Fatty acid (FA) profiles were determined by the gas chromatography method. fat showed a higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content, whereas the fat of genus snails had a higher unsaturated fatty acid (UFA) component, monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA). Thermal processing of snail meat increased all the determined SFA and decreased all the PUFA values, and increased the content of C18:1, C20:1, and C22:1 acids in the MUFA group. The material collection site had limited impact on FA content as differences were noted only in levels of C18:1, C18:2 n6, and C20:5. The differences pertained only to the fat of farmed snails of the genus. Due to the high content of UFA and a favourable ratio of n6:n3 acids and PUFA:SFA, snail fat can be regarded as nutritionally valuable.

The aim of this study was to determine the content of fatty acids in eggs harvested from two edible subspecies of Polish-bred common garden snail from the genus, as well as this content in the retail-ready product obtained from these eggs. Material for the study consisted of eggs from two subspecies of edible snails: the small ( ), and large ( ) common garden snails. The eggs studied were in two forms, the first of which had undergone initial processing to the half-product stage and the second of which was the final product available on the Polish market under the name \"Snail Eggs\". The gas chromatography method was used to determine the content of fatty acids. More than 75% of the studied fats were saturated fatty acids, dominated by palmitic and stearic acids. The average content of polyunsaturated fatty acids was 0.37%, and it was a combination of two acids: linoleic (C18:2n6c), and its trans isomer (C18:2n6t). No significant differences were found comparing individual fatty acids content between the two species' eggs as half-products, or between the half-products and the final product. The fat in raw and processed eggs of common garden snails holds low nutritional value, and the processing did not affect the content of fatty acids.

Although the available proteomic studies have made it possible to identify and characterize Trichinella stage-specific proteins reacting with infected host-specific antibodies, the vast majority of these studies do not provide any information about changes in the global proteomic serum profile of Trichinella-infested individuals. In view of the above, the present study aimed to examine the protein expression profile of serum obtained at 13 and 60 days postinfection (d.p.i.) from three groups of pigs experimentally infected with Trichinella spiralis, Trichinella britovi, and Trichinella pseudospiralis and from uninfected, control pigs by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE) followed by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry. The comparative proteomic analysis of the T. spiralis group vs. the control group revealed 5 differently expressed spots at both 13 and 60 d.p.i. Experimental infection with T. britovi induced significant expression changes in 3 protein spots at 13 d.p.i. and in 6 protein spots at 60 d.p.i. in comparison with the control group. Paired analyses between the group infected with T. pseudospiralis and the uninfected control group revealed 6 differently changed spots at 13 d.p.i. and 2 differently changed spots at 60 d.p.i. Among these 27 spots, 15 were successfully identified. Depending on the Trichinella species triggering the infection and the time point of serum collection, they were IgM heavy-chain constant region, antithrombin III-precursor, immunoglobulin gamma-chain, clusterin, homeobox protein Mohawk, apolipoprotein E precursor, serum amyloid P-component precursor, Ig lambda chains, complement C3 isoform X1, and apolipoprotein A-I. Our results demonstrate that various Trichinella species and different phases of the invasion produce a distinct, characteristic proteomic pattern in the serum of experimentally infected pigs.

Introduction: The objective of the present research was to carry out a comparative assessment of copper, zinc, and selenium concentrations in the meat of edible land snails collected in Poland (Helix pomatia, Cornu aspersum maxima, and Cornu aspersum aspersum), as well as to determine the effect of preliminary processing of Roman snails (Helix pomatia) on the content of the aforementioned elements. Material and Methods: In the first stage, determinations were made on unprocessed snail meat. In the second stage, the study focused on Roman snails and consisted in an additional evaluation of frozen meat after full processing. Zinc and copper contents were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry and the selenium content was established by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry. Results: The selenium content differed significantly among all three species. The copper content in Roman snails differed significantly from that in farmed snails. No significant difference in the zinc level was noted among the three snail species. The selenium content in raw and processed meat of Roman snails did not show any significant difference while the copper and zinc level was significantly higher in processed meat samples. Conclusion: The present research on the meat of edible snails showed different levels of selenium, copper, and zinc, depending on the species, collection site, and subjection to processing.