title: Microbiological and Chemical Evaluation ofHelixSpp. Snails from Local and Non-EU Markets, Utilised as Food in Sardinia.
abstract: With this study, 28 pools of snails of the genusHelix, respectivelyHelix aspersa(n=24) andHelix vermiculata(n=4) were analysed. They were taken from snail farming and stores. The snails were from Sardinia, other regions of Italy, and from abroad. All the samples were examined as pool looking for these microbiological target:Salmonellaspp.,Listeria monocytogenes,Escherichia coliO157,Clostridium perfringens, Norovirus and Hepatitis A Virus (HAV). In the same pools, the concentration of cadmium and lead by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was also determined. The levels of these heavy metals were quite high, especially for cadmium. Two samples were positive forSalmonellaspp., while no sample was positive forEscherichia coliO157, HAV and Norovirus. Two samples were positive forClostridium perfringensand 8 forListeria monocytogenes. The microrganisms related toListeria monocytogeneswere identified using biochemical techniques, then serotyped and gene sequenced by multiple loci sequence typing technique. Furthermore, antimicrobial restistence was tested on the same samples.
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Cagliari , Italy.
authors: Arianna
authors: A
authors: Corda
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Sassari , Italy.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Mara
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Sassari , Italy.
authors: Sebastiano
authors: S
authors: Virgilio
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Sassari , Italy.
authors: Margherita
authors: M
authors: Pisanu
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Sassari , Italy.
authors: Giannina
authors: G
authors: Chessa
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Puglia e Basilicata-Putignano , Italy.
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Parisi
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna-Cagliari , Italy.
authors: Maria Paola
authors: MP
authors: Cogoni
keywords: Food snails; Listeria monocytogenes; Microbiological evaluation; Multilocus sequence typing; Toxic metals