<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><sec id="j_jvetres-2018-0040_s_005_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c16b1Aa"><h3>Introduction</h3><p>The aim of this study was examination of honey samples collected from apiaries situated in all Polish provinces for occurrence of <italic>Clostridium</italic> spp., especially <italic>C. perfringens</italic>.</p></sec><sec id="j_jvetres-2018-0040_s_006_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c16b2Aa"><h3>Material and Methods</h3><p>The study was carried out on 240 honey samples (15 samples/province). Estimation of <italic>Clostridium</italic> titre, its cultures and <italic>C. perfringens</italic> isolate characterisation were performed according to the standard PN-R-64791:1994. A multiplex PCR method for detection of genes coding <italic>cpa</italic> (α toxin), <italic>cpb</italic> (β), <italic>cpb2</italic> (β2), <italic>etx</italic> (ε), <italic>iap</italic> (ι), and <italic>cpe</italic> (enterotoxin) toxins was used.</p></sec><sec id="j_jvetres-2018-0040_s_007_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c16b3Aa"><h3>Results</h3><p><italic>Clostridium</italic> spp. was noticed in 56% (136/240) of samples, and its titres ranged between 0.1 g and 0.001 g. <italic>Clostridium perfringens</italic> occurrence was evidenced in 27.5% (66/240) of samples. All isolates were classified to toxinotype A.</p></sec><sec id="j_jvetres-2018-0040_s_008_w2aab3b7b7b1b6b1aab1c16b4Aa"><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Evidence of a high number of positive samples with occurrence of <italic>Clostridium</italic> spp. indicates a potential risk to consumers’ health. The infective number of <italic>Clostridium</italic> spp. is unknown; however, the obtained results have shown that a risk assessment on the entire honey harvesting process should be made in order to ensure microbiological safety. Moreover, a detailed study should be undertaken on the antibiotic resistance of <italic>C. perfringens</italic> isolates from honey samples.</p></sec></abstract>

IntroductionThe aim of this study was examination of honey samples collected from apiaries situated in all Polish provinces for occurrence of Clostridium spp., especially C. perfringens.Material and MethodsThe study was carried out on 240 honey samples (15 samples/province). Estimation of Clostridium titre, its cultures and C. perfringens isolate characterisation were performed according to the standard PN-R-64791:1994. A multiplex PCR method for detection of genes coding cpa (α toxin), cpb (β), cpb2 (β2), etx (ε), iap (ι), and cpe (enterotoxin) toxins was used.ResultsClostridium spp. was noticed in 56% (136/240) of samples, and its titres ranged between 0.1 g and 0.001 g. Clostridium perfringens occurrence was evidenced in 27.5% (66/240) of samples. All isolates were classified to toxinotype A.ConclusionsEvidence of a high number of positive samples with occurrence of Clostridium spp. indicates a potential risk to consumers’ health. The infective number of Clostridium spp. is unknown; however, the obtained results have shown that a risk assessment on the entire honey harvesting process should be made in order to ensure microbiological safety. Moreover, a detailed study should be undertaken on the antibiotic resistance of C. perfringens isolates from honey samples.

<italic>Clostridium perfringens</italic> spores in Polish honey samples

Journal of Veterinary Research

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

{"article-title":{"italic":"Clostridium perfringens","content":"spores in Polish honey samples"}}

IntroductionThe aim of this study was examination of honey samples collected from apiaries situated in all Polish provinces for occurrence of Clostridium spp.,...

Province	Number of samples	Clostridium spp	Clostridium perfringens
Pomeranian	15	5	2
Lubuskie	15	3	2
Kuyavian-Pomeranian	15	5	4
Łódź	15	8	6
Greater Poland	15	9	7
Lublin	15	4	1
Lower Silesian	15	2	1
Podlaskie	15	7	4
West Pomeranian	15	4	2
Warmian-Masurian	15	11	5
Subcarpathian	15	11	7
Holy Cross	15	15	8
Opole	15	9	4
Lesser Poland	15	14	6
Silesian	15	14	4
Masovian	15	15	3
Total	240	136	66 A(43) Aβ2(23)
Total %	100%	56.7%	27.5% A (17.9%) Aβ2 (9.6%)

Toxin gene	Primer	Sequence	of Length products	Literature
	CPA5L	AGTCTACGCTTGGGATGGAA
cpa	CPA5R	TTTCCTGGGTTGTCCATTTC	900
	CPBL	TCCTTTCTTGAGGGAGGATAAA
cpb	CPBR	TGAACCTCCTATTTTGTATCCCA	611
	CPEL	GGGGAACCCTCAGTAGTTTCA
cpe	CPER	ACCAGCTGGATTTGAGTTTAATG	506
				1
	CPETXL	TGGGAACTTCGATACAAGCA
etx	CPETXR	TTAACTCATCTCCCATAACTGCAC	396
	CPIL	AAACGCATTAAAGCTCACACC
iap	CPIR	CTGCATAACCTGGAATGGCT	293
	CPB2L	CAAGCAATTGGGGGAGTTTA
cpb2	CPB2R	GCAGAATCAGGATTTTGACCA	200

Clostridium perfringens spores in Polish honey samples

Published Online: Oct 23, 2018

Page range: 281 - 284

Received: May 07, 2018

Accepted: Aug 28, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2018-0040

Keywords
honey, toxins, Poland

© 2018 T. Grenda et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

Clostridium spp. and C. perfringens occurrence in honey samples from Polish apiaries

Sequences of primers used in mPCR for C. perfringens detection

Clostridium perfringens spores in Polish honey samples

Published Online: Oct 23, 2018

Page range: 281 - 284

Received: May 07, 2018

Accepted: Aug 28, 2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/jvetres-2018-0040

Keywordshoney, toxins, Poland

© 2018 T. Grenda et al. published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Fig. 1

Clostridium spp. and C. perfringens occurrence in honey samples from Polish apiaries

Sequences of primers used in mPCR for C. perfringens detection

Keywords
honey, toxins, Poland