Farming pathogens

LIGHTNER, D.V. 2005. Biosecurity in shrimp farming pathogen exclusion through use of SPF stock and routine surveillance. J. World Aquaculture Soc. 36 229-248. 

Group 2 includes some 80 sesquiterpene trichothecenes, which are particularly associated with fungi belonging to the group Fusarium. Fusarium species are widely known both as plant pathogens and contaminants of stored foods snch as maize. Trichothecenes are strong inhibitors of protein synthesis in mammalian cells. There have been many incidents of poisoning of farm animals cansed by contamination of their food by these componnds. 

The recently published book on food safety related to animal products Improving the Safety of Fresh Meat edited by Sofos (Sofos, 2005) is a very valuable resource that covers different strategies of control and understanding the ecology of pathogens transmitted via meat. Another book that covers the topic of farm-to-fork food safety with relevant information on livestock... 

Given the diversity of disease-causing organisms, the interactions between farm-specific environmental factors and the types of mastitis causing pathogens found, the potential efficacy of antibiotic treatments can only be assessed accurately in the context of the specific on-farm conditions. Furthermore, many recent investigations concluded that, except for some specific infections caused by streptococci, a prophylactic and or longer-term use of antibiotics for chronic and sub-clinical mastitis should not recommended in the future (Deluyker et al., 2005). 

To improve the ability to establish best practice with respect to manure use and prevention of pathogen transfer (especially on farms which are converting to organic farm management), a hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP)-based quality assurance system has been proposed (Haward and Leifert, 1999). This proposed four main critical control points (CCPs) (see Table 19.4). 

When sufficiently high levels of expression and protein accumulation are achieved, efficient downstream processing protocols must be developed to insure product quality and the economic feasibility of production. As the demand for safe, recombinant pharmaceutical proteins continues to expand, the market potential of plant-produced recombinant proteins is considerable. Molecular farming can produce recombinant proteins at a lower cost than traditional expression systems based on microbial or animal cell culture, and without the risk of contamination with human pathogens. 

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