<i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia
Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease transmitted to humans, predominantly by the consumption of contaminated raw milk and dairy products. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. in 200 raw milk, ricotta, and artisan fresh cheese samples, collected fr...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-07-01
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| Series: | Foods |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/15/2269 |
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| author | Awatef Béjaoui Ibtihel Ben Abdallah Abderrazak Maaroufi |
| author_facet | Awatef Béjaoui Ibtihel Ben Abdallah Abderrazak Maaroufi |
| author_sort | Awatef Béjaoui |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Brucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease transmitted to humans, predominantly by the consumption of contaminated raw milk and dairy products. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. in 200 raw milk, ricotta, and artisan fresh cheese samples, collected from individual marketing points in four districts in Tunisia. Samples were analyzed for the presence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. by IS711-based real-time PCR assay. Positive samples were further analyzed by qPCR for <i>B. melitensis</i> and <i>B. abortus</i> species differentiation. The DNA of <i>Brucella</i> spp. was detected in 75% of the samples, <i>B. abortus</i> was detected in 31.3%, and <i>B. melitensis</i> was detected in 5.3% of positive samples. A percentage of 49.3% of samples co-harbored both species, while 14% of the <i>Brucella</i> spp. positive samples were not identified either as <i>B. abortus</i> or <i>B. melitensis</i>. High contamination rates were found in ricotta (86.2%), cheese (69.6%), and raw milk (72.5%) samples. The study is the first in Tunisia to assess the occurrence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. contamination in artisanal unpasteurized dairy products and showed high contamination rates. The detection of both <i>B. abortus</i> and <i>B. melitensis</i> highlights that zoonotic high-pathogen agent control remains a challenge for food safety and consumer health protection and could represent a serious emerging foodborne disease in Tunisia. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:25:28Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-952113ff6ed94862af10c76e335bec6e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2304-8158 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T05:25:28Z |
| publishDate | 2022-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Foods |
| spelling | doaj.art-952113ff6ed94862af10c76e335bec6e2023-12-03T12:37:27ZengMDPI AGFoods2304-81582022-07-011115226910.3390/foods11152269<i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in TunisiaAwatef Béjaoui0Ibtihel Ben Abdallah1Abderrazak Maaroufi2Group of Bacteriology and Biotechnology Development, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, TunisiaGroup of Bacteriology and Biotechnology Development, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, TunisiaGroup of Bacteriology and Biotechnology Development, Laboratory of Epidemiology and Veterinary Microbiology, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), Tunis 1002, TunisiaBrucellosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease transmitted to humans, predominantly by the consumption of contaminated raw milk and dairy products. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. in 200 raw milk, ricotta, and artisan fresh cheese samples, collected from individual marketing points in four districts in Tunisia. Samples were analyzed for the presence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. by IS711-based real-time PCR assay. Positive samples were further analyzed by qPCR for <i>B. melitensis</i> and <i>B. abortus</i> species differentiation. The DNA of <i>Brucella</i> spp. was detected in 75% of the samples, <i>B. abortus</i> was detected in 31.3%, and <i>B. melitensis</i> was detected in 5.3% of positive samples. A percentage of 49.3% of samples co-harbored both species, while 14% of the <i>Brucella</i> spp. positive samples were not identified either as <i>B. abortus</i> or <i>B. melitensis</i>. High contamination rates were found in ricotta (86.2%), cheese (69.6%), and raw milk (72.5%) samples. The study is the first in Tunisia to assess the occurrence of <i>Brucella</i> spp. contamination in artisanal unpasteurized dairy products and showed high contamination rates. The detection of both <i>B. abortus</i> and <i>B. melitensis</i> highlights that zoonotic high-pathogen agent control remains a challenge for food safety and consumer health protection and could represent a serious emerging foodborne disease in Tunisia.https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/15/2269<i>Brucella</i> spp.<i>B. abortus</i><i>B. melitensis</i>raw milkdairy productsfoodborne pathogen |
| spellingShingle | Awatef Béjaoui Ibtihel Ben Abdallah Abderrazak Maaroufi <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia Foods <i>Brucella</i> spp. <i>B. abortus</i> <i>B. melitensis</i> raw milk dairy products foodborne pathogen |
| title | <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia |
| title_full | <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia |
| title_fullStr | <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia |
| title_full_unstemmed | <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia |
| title_short | <i>Brucella</i> spp. Contamination in Artisanal Unpasteurized Dairy Products: An Emerging Foodborne Threat in Tunisia |
| title_sort | i brucella i spp contamination in artisanal unpasteurized dairy products an emerging foodborne threat in tunisia |
| topic | <i>Brucella</i> spp. <i>B. abortus</i> <i>B. melitensis</i> raw milk dairy products foodborne pathogen |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2304-8158/11/15/2269 |
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