• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.406-417
• /
• 2011

Objectives: Exposure to bioaerosols in the indoor environment could be associated with a variety adverse health effects, including allergic disease such atopy. The objectives of this study were to assess children's exposure to bioaerosol in home indoor environments and to evaluate the association between atopy and bioaerosol, environmental, and social factors in Ulsan, Korea. Methods: Samples of viable airborne bacteria and fungi were collected by impaction onto agar plates using a Quick Take TM 30 and were counted as colony forming units per cubic meter of air (CFU/$m^3$). Bioaerosols were identified using standard microbial techniques by differential stains and/or microscopy. The environmental factors and possible causes of atopy based on ISAAC (International Study of Allergy and Asthma in Childhood) were collected by questionnaire. Results: The bioaerosol concentrations in indoor environments showed log-normal distribution (p < 0.01). Geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD) of airborne bacteria and fungi in homes were 189.0 (2.5), 346.1(2.0) CFU/$m^3$, respectively. Indoor fungal levels were significantly higher than those of bacteria (p < 0.001). The concentration of airborne bacteria exceeded the limit recommended by the Korean Ministry of Environment, 800 CFU/$m^3$, in three out of 92 samples (3.3%) from 52 homes. The means of indoor to outdoor ratio (I/O) for airborne bacteria and fungi were 8.15 and 1.13, respectively. The source of airborne bacteria was not outdoors but indoors. GM of airborne bacteria and fungi were 217.6, 291.8 CFU/$m^3$ in the case's home and 162.0, 415.2 CFU/$m^3$ in the control's home respectively. The difference in fungal distributions between case and control were significant (p = 0.004) and the odds ratio was 0.996 (p = 0.027). Atopy was significantly associated with type of house (odds ratio = 1.723, p = 0.047) and income (odds ratio = 1.891, p = 0.041). Some of the potential allergic fungal genera isolated in homes were Cladosporium spp., Botrytis spp., Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., and Alternatia spp. Conclusions: These results suggest that there this should be either 'was little' meaning 'basically no significant association was found' or 'was a small negative' mean that an association was found but it was minor. It's a very improtant distinction. Association between airborne fungal concentrations and atopy and certain socioeconomic factors may affect the prevalence of childhood atopy.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.216-221
• /
• 2016

This study was performed to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of a fumigation disinfectant containing 35% paraformaldehyde against Salmonella Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium). In this study, the efficacy test of a fumigant against S. Typhimurium was carried out according to French standard NF T 72-281. The S. Typhimurium working culture suspension number (N value), all bacteria numbers on the carriers exposed to the fumigant (n1, n2, and n3), the number of bacterial suspensions by the pour plate method (N1), the number of bacterial suspensions by the filter membrane method (N2), and the mean number of bacteria recovered on the control carriers (T value), were obtained from the preliminary test. In addition, the reduction number of S. Typhimurium exposed to the fumigant (d value) was calculated using the T value, the mean number of bacteria in the recovery solution (n'1) and the mean number of bacteria on carriers plated in agar (n'2). The N value was $5.5{\times}10^8$ colony forming units (CFU)/mL, and n1, n2, and n3 were higher than 0.5N1, 0.5N2 and 0.5N1, respectively. Additionally, the T value was $3.5{\times}10^6CFU/carrier$. In terms of the bactericidal effect of the fumigant, the d value was 5.25. According to the French standard for fumigants, the d value for an effective bactericidal fumigant should be greater than 5. The results indicated that the fumigant containing 35% paraformaldehyde had an efficient bactericidal activity against S. Typhimurium, and, therefore, can be used to disinfect food materials and kitchen appliances contaminated with foodborne bacteria.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
• /
• v.39 no.2
• /
• pp.109-117
• /
• 2024

This study investigated the microbial contamination of agricultural, livestock, and marine ingredients in 55 meal kits distributed across Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Of the 55 meal kits, 48 contained agricultural ingredients, 43 contained livestock ingredients, and 16 contained marine ingredients. The detection rate of the total aerobic bacteria in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products was 100%. The average numbers of the total aerobic bacteria were 6.57 log colony-forming units (CFU)/g in the agricultural products, 4.60 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 5.47 log CFU/g in the marine products. The coliform detection rates in the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 81.25%, 69.77%, and 43.75%, respectively. The average numbers of coliforms were 2.83 log CFU/g in the agricultural products, 1.34 log CFU/g in the livestock products, and 1.12 log CFU/g in the marine products. Escherichia coli was detected in 13 livestock products (30.23%), with levels ranging from 0.70 to 2.36 log CFU/g. Contrastingly, E. coli was detected in only one marine product (6.25%) and was not detected in any agricultural products. The detection rates of fungi in agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 97.92%, 93.02%, and 93.75%, respectively. The average numbers of fungi were 3.82 log CFU/g for the agricultural products, 2.92 log CFU/g for the livestock products, and 2.82 log CFU/g for the marine products. The isolation rates of foodborne pathogens from the agricultural, livestock, and marine products were 35.42%, 37.21%, and 31.25%, respectively. Forty-five foodborne pathogens of seven species, including Bacillus cereus and Salmonella spp., were isolated from the raw materials of the agricultural, livestock, and marine products in 55 meal kits. To prevent foodborne diseases caused by meal kits, it is necessary to focus on washing, heating, and preventing cross-contamination during cooking.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.88-97
• /
• 2014

Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of microbiological contamination of kitchen utensils and environments of food service operations at university located in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We collected swab samples from the surfaces of knives, chopping boards, floors, and drains, as well as drinking water and airborne bacteria samples from 20 food service operations. Three bacterial indicators and five food poisoning bacteria were measured quantitatively and qualitatively, respectively. We used selective culture media and the PCR assay targeting 16S rRNA gene for the microbiological analysis. Results: We detected bacterial indicators on knives or chopping boards in eight different food service operations and, three food service operations (I, M, and O) showed more than 3 log colony forming units $(CFU)/100cm^2$ on their knives, significantly higher than the others. The levels of bacterial indicators on the floors and drains in the cooking areas were much higher than those on the cooking utensils. S. aureus was detected on 10 floors and 8 drains. Culturable bacteria were identified in 5 drinking water samples, and food service operation B ($431.1CFU/m^3$) and C ($551.2CFU/m^3$) showed more than $400CFU/m^3$ of total airborne bacteria. Conclusions: These results suggest that some of food service operations in this study may require additional investigation to secure the microbial safety of cooking environments. In addition, further actions including hygiene education for employees and proper guidelines to maintain clean cooking environments should be prepared.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
• /
• v.40 no.3
• /
• pp.259-264
• /
• 2001

Toxicological studies of two potential biological control agents, the entomopathogenic nematode (Steinernema carpocapsae) and the symbiotic bacteria (Xenorhabdus nematophilus) were conducted against two beneficial insects and one mammal species. Two microbial agents varied in their toxicities between two insect species: an ant, Pristomyrmex pungens, and silkworm, Bombyx mori. In oral toxicity test, the symbiotic bacteria resulted in significant lethal [half lethal concentration of $1.4$\times$10^3$colony-forming units (cfu)/ml] on the ants, while they gave little lethal effect (half lethal concentration of more than $10^{8}$ cfu/ml) on the silkworms. The nematodes, however, gave significant lethal effect [half lethal concentration of 4 infected juveniles (IJs)/ml] on the silkworms, while they did little lethal effect (half lethal concentration of 150,000 IJs/ml) on the ants in topical assays. Both the nematodes and the bacteria did not give lethal effect to the albino rats, Rattus norvegicus, when they were fed orally into the rats. Also, any of these microbial agents were not detected in the internal organs of the treated rats.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.64 no.1
• /
• pp.10-22
• /
• 2022

We studied the effects of Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 (LSB) supplemented to lactating sows on reproductive traits and farrowing duration and to piglets from day 7 of life on post-weaning performance and IgG concentration. Ninety-six Landrace × Yorkshire sows started the trial 5 days before the expected farrowing date. Sows were distributed into 2 groups according to parity number and backfat thickness: control (CON: regular lactation diet) and LSB (CON + LSB at 2 × 10⁹ colony forming units [CFU]/kg of feed). Seven days after birth, litters were randomly selected from each group and supplemented creep feed with or without LSB at 2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg. At weaning, piglets from CON sows were shifted to a commercial farm and allocated to 14 pens in groups of 25 piglets/pen according to the creep feed supplemented during lactation. Piglets followed a 3-phase feeding program: creep, pre-starter and starter, with or without LSB at 2 × 10⁹ CFU/kg LSB in creep and pre-starter, and 1 × 10⁹ CFU/kg LSB in starter. The piglets were vaccinated against classical swine fever on days 41 and 72 of life. One day before each vaccination and at the end of the trial, blood samples were collected from 15 randomly selected piglets per treatment and assessed for total IgG. Supplemented sows with non-supplemented litters displayed the lowest backfat thickness loss during lactation (p < 0.05). The LSB supplementation shortened farrowing duration (p < 0.05) and increased feed intake (p < 0.05) during the first week of lactation. The LSB-fed piglets were heavier at the end of creep (p < 0.05), pre-starter (p < 0.05), and the trial (p < 0.05); grew faster during creep (p < 0.05), starter (p < 0.05), and overall (p < 0.05); and displayed an improved feed conversion ratio during creep (p < 0.05). Total IgG content was higher at days 40 (p < 0.05) and 71 (p < 0.05) in LSB-fed piglets. We conclude that supplementing sows with Saccharomyces cerevisiae boulardii CNCM I-1079 from late gestation until weaning shortens farrowing duration, increases feed intake, and minimizes backfat losses during lactation. When supplemented to piglet diet, post-weaning performance is improved. This improvement observed could be linked to a better immune status, as suggested by the higher IgG.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
• /
• v.38 no.2
• /
• pp.129-136
• /
• 2011

Microorganisms are the main causative factors of pulpal and periapical diseases, therefore successful endodontic treatment is depend on the effective elimination of intracanal bacterial populations. Many studies have been reported antimicrobial effect of Allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) which the principle ingredient of Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) root extracts. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the antimicrobial effectiveness of Horseradish root extracts against Enterococcus faecalis in root canals of extracted human teeth and compare to sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl). Extracted human mandibular premolar root canals were infected with E. faecalis for 21 days, and then irrigated with Horseradish root extracts, NaOCl solution and saline. After canal irrigation, first samples (S1) were taken. After first sampling, the canals were additionally incubated 7 days, and then second samples (S2) were taken. The samples were inoculated on EHI agar plate to determine the colony forming units (CFU). 1. Mean values of CFU in S1 were $5.815{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml at Horseradish groups, and $3.465{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml at NaOCI groups. There was no statistically significant differences (p=0.086). 2. Mean values of CFU in S2 were $3.100{\times}10^3$ CFU/ml at Horseradish groups, and $5.252{\times}10^5$ CFU/ml at NaOCI groups. There was statistically significant difference (p<.05). 3. There was no statistically significant differences (p=0.076) between S1 and S2 at Horseradish groups in the mean values of CFU. However, there was statistically significant differences (p<.05) between S1 and S2 at NaOCI groups in the mean values of CFU.

• Animal Bioscience
• /
• v.37 no.8
• /
• pp.1418-1427
• /
• 2024

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of Bacillus-based probiotics supplemented at two different levels to modulate the productive performance, egg quality, tibia traits, and specific cecal bacteria counts of Hy-Line Brown layers from 25 to 37 weeks of age. Methods: A total of 216 twenty-five-week-old hens were randomly distributed into 3 experimental diets with 12 replicates of 6 birds per cage. Diets included basal diet supplemented with 0 (CON), 3×10⁸ (PRO1), or 3×10⁹ (PRO2) colony-forming unit (CFU) of the test probiotic containing Bacillus subtilis PB6, Bacillus subtilis FXA, and Bacillus licheniformis G3 per kilogram of feed. Results: Improved egg weights and mass at 29 weeks; and feed intake at 31 weeks (p<0.10) were noticed with the probiotic-supplemented PRO1 and PRO2 diets. Considering egg quality, the shell thickness, Haugh units, and yolk color were improved; but yolk cholesterol was lowered (p<0.05) with PRO1 and PRO2 diets at 29 weeks. At both 33 and 37 weeks, the egg-breaking strength, shell color and thickness, albumen height, Haugh units, and yolk color were improved; but yolk cholesterol was similarly lowered (p<0.05) with the PRO1 and PRO2 diets. Improved tibia Ca, ash, weights, and density; and raised cecal counts of Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli (p<0.05) were noticed with PRO1 and PRO2 diets. Improved tibia P but reduced Clostridia counts (p<0.10) were also observed with the PRO1 and PRO2 diets. Conclusion: Probiotic supplementation of Bacillus subtilis PB6, Bacillus subtilis FXA, and Bacillus licheniformis G3 at 3×10⁸ CFU/kg of feed is adequate to significantly improve egg quality, lower yolk cholesterol, enhance several tibia traits, and raise the populations of beneficial cecal bacteria. Modest improvements in several productive parameters and tibia P but reduced Clostridia were also observed; and could warrant further investigation of probiotic effects beyond the current test period.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.43 no.4
• /
• pp.235-242
• /
• 2016

This study was conducted to investigate the microbiological sanitation status of raw chicken meat distributed in Korea, and potential changes in chicken breast quality during storage. The microbiological sanitation status analysis of raw chicken involved studying the results of microbiological monitoring for a 5-year period (2010~2014) by the Korean Food and Drug Administration. Furthermore, the microbiological status of raw chicken meat in meat packing centers and shops in Seoul/Gyeonggi, Kangwon, and Chungcheong Provinces was investigated from July to August 2015. The total bacterial counts of chicken meat in the packaging centers and meat shop of these Provinces were below the level specified in the Korean Meat Microbiological Guideline ($1{\times}10^7$ colony forming units [CFU]/g) and showed a similar microbiological sanitation status with results of the microbiological monitoring for the analyzed 5-year period. To evaluate the relationship between quality change and microbiological level of the meat distributed in Korea, the pH and microbiological and sensory quality characteristics of the chicken breast samples during storage at $4{\pm}2^{\circ}C$were determined. On day 4, the total bacterial count of the chicken breast was 6.76 log CFU/g, which was close to the official $1{\times}10^7CFU/g$ standard, the pH was 5.96, and the overall acceptability was reduced significantly (p<0.05). In particular, the aroma score was <5, indicating that the consumer panel expressed a negative perception even though the chicken contained a lower microbial level than that specified in the Korean microbiological guideline. These results suggest that the current Korean microbiological guideline for raw chicken meat may require a stricter level of up to $1{\times}10^6CFU/g$ to satisfy both meat safety standards and organoleptic quality for consumers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.72 no.3
• /
• pp.293-301
• /
• 2012

Background: Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) requires prompt and appropriate treatment. Since methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a frequent pathogen in VAP, rapid identification of it, is pivotal. Our aim was to evaluate the utility of quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) as a useful method for etiologic diagnoses of MRSA pneumonia. Methods: We performed qPCR for mecA, S. aureus-specific femA-SA, and S. epidermidis-specific femA-SE genes from bronchoalveolar lavage or bronchial washing samples obtained from clinically-suspected VAP. Molecular identification of MRSA was based on the presence of the mecA and femA-SA gene, with the absence of the femA-SE gene. To compensate for the experimental and clinical conditions, we spiked an internal control in the course of DNA extraction. We estimated number of colony-forming units per mL (CFU/mL) of MRSA samples through a standard curve of a serially-diluted reference MRSA strain. We compared the threshold cycle (Ct) value with the microbiologic results of MRSA. Results: We obtained the mecA gene standard curve, which showed the detection limit of the mecA gene to be 100 fg, which corresponds to a copy number of 30. We chose cut-off Ct values of 27.94 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^4$ CFU/mL) and 21.78 (equivalent to $1{\times}10^5$ CFU/mL). The sensitivity and specificity of our assay were 88.9% and 88.9% respectively, when compared with quantitative cultures. Conclusion: Our results were valuable for diagnosing and identifying pathogens involved in VAP. We believe our modified qPCR is an appropriate tool for the rapid diagnosis of clinical pathogens regarding patients in the intensive care unit.