Capacity building: benchmark for production of meat with low levels of bacterial contamination in local slaughterhouses in Somaliland

The objective of the study was to investigate and assess the impact of trainings on the levels of meat contamination produced from local livestock slaughter facilities in the North-West region of Somalia (Somaliland). The investigation considered slaughter facilities where workers had been trained or not. The survey was carried out in four local slaughter facilities. A pre-tested questionnaire on abattoir hygiene and food safety standards was administered to International Aid Organizations, government officials, abattoir workers and supervisors. In addition, a total of 320 surface meat swab samples were collected from randomly selected small ruminant carcasses slaughtered from four purposefully selected local slaughter facilities. The samples were analyzed at Analabs laboratories in Nairobi, Kenya, for total viable counts, total coliforms count and presence of Salmonella species. Meat contamination risk factors associated with hygiene practices based on training offered or not was identified. It was noted that slaughter facilities where abattoir workers had not received trainings on minimum meat hygiene standards and quality assurance systems of good hygiene practices and sanitary standard operating procedures produced carcasses with high levels of bacterial contamination in comparison with those where workers had received the said trainings. The laboratory results were in agreement with poor hygiene meat handling practices and lack of compliance with minimum meat hygiene and food safety standards in Berbera and Burao local livestock slaughter facilities where personnel had not been trained.     

Distribution and genetic characterization of porcine Campylobacter coli isolates

The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the slaughter process on the Campylobacter (C.) coli prevalence on pig carcasses and finally pork. To detect C. spp., faecal samples, organ samples and surfaces of slaughter pigs were sampled. Additionally, various abattoir surfaces (n=208) and 227 pork and minced meat samples were included in our study.Whereas a high C. spp. prevalence (64.0%) was detectable in the faeces of slaughter pigs (all isolates were identified as C. coli), low detection rates were observed on pig carcasses after the slaughter process before the chilling period (21.1%).The impact of chilling reduced the detection rate of C spp. on pig carcasses even further to 0.8%. Only C. jejuni strains were isolated after the chilling process. Chilling and the associated drying of the skin are responsible for that massive reduction of C. spp prevalence. Significantly more C. spp. were isolated from livers compared to the corresponding carcasses. Only 5 out of 208 swab samples from different surfaces of the abattoir were C. coli positive. Bacteriological investigation could not detect any C. spp. strains from pork and minced pork meat.The low detection rates at the end of the slaughter and processing line indicate that pork may only play a minor role in the transmission of C. coli infections to humans. By genotyping C. coli-isolates from selected animals we were able to demonstrate three possible ways of contamination of the slaughter carcass surface. Genetically highly related strains were detectable on carcass surfaces of consecutively slaughtered animals. Faecal isolates and isolates from the carcass surface showed occasional high similarities. C. coli-genotypes from tonsils and genotypes from the corresponding slaughter carcasses formed a close cluster.     

Application of European standards for health and quality control of game meat on game ranches in South Africa

The health and quality compliance of game carcasses (n = 295) intended for the South African export market and aspiring to comply with the strict hygiene requirements of the European Union were compared with game carcasses (n = 330) available for the local market and currently not subjected to meat safety legislation. Samples were collected in similar seasons and geographical areas in South Africa from 2006 to 2009. Aerobic plate counts (APC) of the heart blood verified that both groups possessed similar ante mortem bacterial status. For health compliance APC, tests for Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were performed on the carcasses. Surfaces of the local carcasses were swabbed using the European Enviro-biotrace sponge technique at 3 and 72 h post mortem. Unskinned but eviscerated export carcasses in the abattoir were skinned and sampled by incision using a corkborer 72 h post mortem. Temperature and pH readings were recorded at 3 and 72 h post mortem from the longissimus dorsi muscle and the readings at 3 h differed (P = 0.035). Temperatures at 72 h were lower for export than local carcasses (P < 0.001) because of earlier introduction and maintenance of the cold chain. The pH readings also differed between groups at 3 and 72 h (P < 0.001). APC results for the local group exceeded the maximum permissible count (< 10(5)). S. aureus results showed differences (P < 0.001), with readings from the local group being higher. The same tendency was exhibited for E. coli (P = 0.008). Imposition of hygiene guidelines for game ranchers producing meat for the local market is therefore recommended.     

A retrospective study on the prevalence of ostrich carcass and organ condemnations in Botswana

A retrospective study on the prevalence of ostrich carcass and organ condemnations in Botswana was conducted by reviewing meat inspection records available at the Botswana Ostrich Company Abattoir in Gaborone for the 3 year period that the abattoir had been in operation. The most frequently condemned organs were lung (85.1%), liver (8%), intestine (3.3%), heart (2.7%) and kidney (0.8%). The most frequently encountered macroscopic findings were contamination (80%), congestion (10%), enteritis (3%), haemorrhage (2%), pigmentation (2%), white spots on the liver (1%) and peritonitis (1%). The frequencies of the various macroscopic findings on all the organs increased over the 3 years of the study. Ninety-five percent (95%) of the findings were all abattoir associated, especially the external contamination of organs (80%). The 5% that were acquired during the lifetime of the birds included enteritis, peritonitis and white spots on the liver. No whole carcass condemnations or carcass trimmings were recorded, nor where there any zoonotic causes of condemnation.     

Effect of boiling water carcass immersion on aerobic bacteria counts of poultry skin and processed ground poultry meat

This study was conducted to determine the relationship between bacteria destruction on poultry carcass skin and bacteria in raw ground poultry meat from the same carcasses. Immersion time in boiling water of broiler chicken whole carcasses required for maximum reduction of naturally occurring aerobic bacterial count on skin was measured. Treatments for chicken carcasses consisted of immersion in boiling water (approximately 95 degrees C) for 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 min. Four skin samples taken following treatment and three taken from subsequently ground carcass meat were analyzed for total aerobic plate counts (APC). Analysis of the data indicated a linear increase in bacterial destruction on skin with increased boiling water immersion time from 0 to 4 min. Reduction of skin bacteria to less than 1 log10 occurred at 3 min carcass immersion or longer. The analysis also indicated that treatment with boiling water and removal of skin was effective in reducing bacterial counts in ground meat to similar levels at all treatment times from 0.5 to 4.0 min. Findings from this study indicated that a boiling water immersion intervention and removal of skin could reduce subsequent bacteria contamination of ground meat. This intervention could minimize the risk of pathogen-contaminated primary processed poultry carcasses used in further processing.     

Effect of Sand and Shaking Duration on the Recovery of Aerobic Bacteria,Coliforms, and Escherichia coli from Prechill Broiler Whole Carcass Rinsates

Broilers entering a processing facility can be contaminated with bacteria internally, externally, or both, and additional contamination may occur during processing. Although processing generally reduces the bacterial load on a carcass, it does not eliminate all carcass bacterial contaminants. Processing plant personnel sample carcasses daily to determine overall carcass contamination using the whole carcass rinse procedure. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential benefit of adding sand to the whole carcass rinse and extending shaking (rinsing) duration on the recovery of bacteria from broiler carcasses. Eviscerated broiler carcasses were obtained from a commercial processing plant before the prechill final wash. Carcasses were rinsed in peptone or peptone with sand for 1 and 4 min. Rinsates were analyzed for aerobic plate count, coliforms, and Escherichia coli. Bacterial levels recovered from rinsates with sand were significantly higher than levels recovered from the peptone-only rinsates, but the increase in recovery was relatively small at 0.6 log₁₀ cfu/mL of rinsate. There was no significant improvement in bacterial recovery when shaking duration was increased from 1 to 4 min for either rinse treatment.     

Simulation model for Campylobacter cross-contamination during poultry processing at slaughterhouses

Broiler meat is regarded as the most common source of Campylobacter infection and risk management measures are required to reduce broiler meat contamination. Among the quantitative risk assessments for Campylobacter in broiler meat, evaluation of the poultry processing stage is particularly important for predicting the contamination level of broiler meat and the effects of control measures. In this study, we built a simulation model for cross‐contamination during poultry processing focusing on Campylobacter contamination at the individual carcass level. Using this model, we examined changes in the prevalence of contaminated carcasses and the number of Campylobacter per carcass after processing. As a result, it was found that the prevalence and number of Campylobacter after processing were largely influenced by the number of Campylobacter on the contaminated carcasses before processing. In the baseline model, where it was assumed that the mean number of Campylobacter on contaminated carcasses before processing was 4.7 log₁₀ cfu per carcass, the prevalence after processing was less than that before processing. Although the median value of Campylobacter on contaminated carcasses was reduced after processing, the distributions after processing became wider and the upper limit of the 95% credible interval of Campylobacter on contaminated carcasses remained elevated. The individual‐based simulation model can trace individual level changes considering discrete interactions, while models tracing mean values cannot handle these interactions in detail. The individual‐based approach is considered useful for modelling cross‐contamination among individual carcasses during poultry processing.     

A pilot study on post-evisceration contamination of broiler carcasses and ready-to-sell livers and intestines (mala) with Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in a high-throughput South African poultry abattoir

To assess post-evisceration contamination of broiler carcasses, 300 samples were randomly selected during routine slaughter in the winter of 2004. The samples originated from 50 chicken carcasses, taken directly after evisceration, as well as 25 samples from ready-to-sell packages of fresh intestines (mala) and livers. The samples were taken in batches over a period of 4 weeks to allow randomised sampling from different farms of origin. Conventional culture-based detection methods of Campylobacter spp. usually need 4-6 days to produce a result. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) used for this study took less than 32 hours. The average contamination rates with Campylobacter in both the skin and liver samples were 24%, and 28% for intestines. Chicken and chicken products, especially livers and intestines, form an integral part of the traditional diet of many Black South Africans, as they are cheap and readily available in bulk and un-chilled for direct distribution, mainly through street vending and other informal retail outlets. This sudy showed that Campylobacter spp. are prevalent in poultry in South Africa. The handling of poultry meat and products contaminated with this organism in households and the potential for cross-contamination of other foods presents a high risk of infection to consumers in South Africa. The study also emphasised the need for further research in this field.     

An assessment of condemnations of broiler chicken carcasses.

An epidemiological study was conducted to assess the rates of condemnation and the diagnoses made on condemned broiler chicken carcasses in a federally-inspected abattoir. The first objective was to determine the predictive value of a positive test: the proportion of birds that were truly unfit for human consumption among condemned carcasses. The second objective was to assess the degree of agreement between diagnoses made in the abattoir and diagnoses determined by a detailed gross postmortem examination on the same condemned carcasses. A two-stage convenience sampling technique was used to obtain the birds needed. Fifteen lots of birds were selected and within each of these, approximately 45 condemned carcasses were selected for a total of 680. All the diagnoses made on these birds at the abattoir were recorded and the carcasses individually identified. The sampled carcasses were transported to the Ontario Veterinary College where a panel of three federal veterinarians independently judged whether the birds were fit for human consumption. In addition, a detailed gross postmortem examination was conducted on each carcass. An overall predictive value of a positive test of approximately 70% was found. The degree of agreement among members of the panel of examiners was also tested. The overall agreement was good (Kappa = 0.62 between examiners 1 and 2 and 0.51 between examiners 1 and 3). However, carcasses condemned for specific conditions at the abattoir, namely valgus varus deformity, mutilation, cellulitis and hepatitis showed no agreement beyond chance, while other carcasses condemned for conditions such as cyanosis and bruising showed poor agreement concerning their disposition for at least one pair of examiners.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Bioelectrical impedance: a nondestructive method to determine fat-free mass of live market swine and pork carcasses.

Ninety-two swine averaging 104 +/- 4.5 kg and 99 cold carcasses averaging 75 +/- 3.1 kg were measured with a four-terminal plethysmograph. Pigs were transported to the abattoir, fasted 4 h, weighted, and measured for body resistance (Rs, omega), body reactance (Xc, omega), and distance (L, cm) between detector terminals that were located along the dorsal axis of the animal. Pigs were slaughtered 12 h later, carcasses were chilled for 24 h, then weighted (whole carcasses and side carcasses), and cold carcass Rs, Xc, and L measurements were obtained. The right side of the carcass was ground twice, and a 1-kg sample was frozen for later analyses of fat, ash, N, and moisture. Fat-free mass (FFM, kg) was calculated from weight and percentage of fat. Regression analyses were used to develop equations for estimating FFM on a live, adjusted live, whole carcass, and half-carcass basis. Live BW, Rs, and L accounted for the majority of the variation in FFM. Adjusting live BW for head, viscera, and blood weight increased the explained variation for live BW and decreased the variation accounted by Rs. Multiple regression models involving Rs, L, Xc, and weight accounted for 82, 84, and 84% of the variation for FFM expressed on a live, adjusted live, and cold carcass basis, respectively. Results from this study indicate that bioelectrical impedance has excellent potential as a rapid, nondestructive method for estimation of FFM for market swine and pork carcasses.     

Ostrich (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Struthio camelus</Emphasis>) production in Egypt

This review discusses the historical, developmental and practices of ostrich farming in Egypt. In the early 20th century, ostrich farming was very important for production of ostrich feathers and documents were produced to perfect the art of procuring the plumes from the birds and subsequently processing them. Pharaohs used ostrich feathers for adornment. Of 43 provinces, 12 were featured in 2003-2004 as farming ostriches: Alexandria, Al-Behera, Al-Dakahlia, Al-Wadi Al-Gadid, Aswan, Cairo, El-Sharkia, Geiza, Ismailia, Kafr-El-Sheikh, Matrouh and Nubaria. Abattoirs and tanneries specialising in ostrich handling are limited to two. Egypt has numerous strengths and opportunities to develop its ostrich sector. Rising meat prices suggest that fresh ostrich meat is unaffordable to many locals. Funds may be allocated to local advertising campaigns to promote ostrich meat; provision of incentives to farmers; and improving the capacity of abattoirs.     

Pre-slaughter control of Escherichia coli O157 in beef cattle: a simulation study.

A stochastic simulation model was used to assess the benefit of measures implemented in the pre-slaughter period that are aimed at reducing the contamination of beef carcasses with Shiga-like-toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157. The scenario studied was based on an abattoir processing approximately 1000 head of lot-fed cattle per day. Input assumptions were described using probability distributions to reflect uncertainty in their true values. Control measures that were assessed were based on either a reduction in herd prevalence of infection, reduction in opportunity for cross-contamination in the processing plant by re-ordering of the slaughter queue, reduction of concentration of E. coli O157 in fresh faeces, or a reduction in the amount of faeces, mud and bedding ('tag') transferred from the hide to the carcass. Some control measures evaluated were hypothetical in nature and were included to assist with the planning of research priorities. Simulations suggested that the greatest potential impact is associated with vaccination and with an agent that reduces shedding E. coli O157 in faeces. Knowledge of herd-test results obtained by testing a sample of animals from the herd provides only a minor advantage in control programmes, although application of a rapid test to all animals in all lots might be of some benefit. Under most scenarios, there is ample opportunity for cross-contamination to occur within the slaughter plant as a result of early entry of cattle contaminated with E. coli O157. An industry-wide reduction in the amount of tag attached to hides and addition of a source of cattle having a prolonged average fasting time were not predicted to have a large impact on mean amount of carcass contamination with E. coli O157.     

Determining the sensitivity of abattoir surveillance for ovine Johne's disease

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine the sensitivity of abattoir surveillance of intestinal tract lesions for detecting ovine Johne's disease (OJD) under normal meatwork conditions. DESIGN: The design of this study was a diagnostic test validation. The three OJD inspectors were the diagnostic test and follow-up histopathological examination was used for test validation. PROCEDURE: Approximately 1200 sheep were procured from known high prevalence OJD infected farms. The sheep viscera were tagged (numbered) and then examined as they were processed on the abattoir line by three experienced meat inspectors. Their observations were independently recorded on a cassette tape. Specified sections of viscera were prepared and subjected to histopathological examination and these results were compared with the inspector diagnoses. RESULTS: The sensitivity of abattoir inspection for OJD varied between inspectors from 53 percent to 87 percent. The specificity varied from 97 to 100 percent. It appeared that the level of sensitivity for detecting disease was higher in lines of sheep where the disease was more prevalent. It also appeared that formal training was an important aspect in ensuring a high level CONCLUSION: Abattoir surveillance is a very economical and rapid method of assessing the OJD status of sheep. On the basis of these results it is reasonable to suggest that abattoir surveillance has a sensitivity of approximately 70 percent. This technique is useful as an ancillary to other testing regimes for negative assurance programs where a sheep identification system is used.     

Occurrences of thermophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter</Emphasis> in pigs slaughtered at Morogoro slaughter slabs,Tanzania

Occurrences of thermophlic Campylobacter in pigs and pig carcasses was investigated in a cross-sectional study that was carried out in three selected slaughter slabs in Morogoro municipality, Tanzania. Before sampling, the slab hygiene, slaughter, carcass dressing, and meat handling was assessed. Fecal samples were collected from 66 slaughter pigs at the kill floor. After slaughter, a 100-cm² area on medial surface of the thigh muscles of dressed carcasses was sampled using sterile cotton swabs. Thereafter, the jejunal, cecal, and colon contents were also sampled. The samples were subjected to standard bacteriological examination using Skirrows protocol. In all slaughter slabs visited, it was found that pig slaughter, dressing, and meat handling was done on the ground under unhygienic condition. All the slaughter slab environment were dirty and had neither tap water or drainage systems. Thermophilic Campylobacter prevalence in slaughtered pig was 66.7% while contamination rate of dressed carcasses was 10.6%. Of the Campylobacter-positive carcasses, five (12.2%) were from the animals which were also positive to Campylobacter. The isolation rate of Campylobacter in the cecum was higher (34.8%) compared to the small intestines (28.8%) and colon (16.7%) although the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Campylobacter jejuni was the most prevalent species as it constituted 74% of all isolates, while Campylobacter coli was isolated at 26%. This suggests possible risks of infection to people through consumption of contaminated pork or through contact with infected pigs. Cecum was found to be the major part of intestine highly colonized by Campylobacter.     

A HACCP-based approach to hygienic slaughter and dressing of lamb carcasses

AIMS: This paper compares changes in visible and microbiological contamination on lamb carcasses dressed using one system which includes process factors previously identified as potential critical control points for HACCP-based approaches to hygienic slaughter and dressing, and another system which excludes those factors. METHODS: Longitudinal changes in microbiological and visible contamination of lamb carcasses were quantified in two slaughterhouses, one utilising clean, shorn, unwashed lambs in an inverted dressing system, the other utilising dirty, woolly, washed lambs in a traditional dressing system. Excision samples (5 cm2 each) for microbiological analyses were taken from two sites on 25 carcasses per treatment group immediately after pelting, at the completion of dressing, after overnight chilling and after boning and packaging. Visible contamination on the surface of 300 carcasses per treatment group was assessed after pelting and after overnight chilling. RESULTS: Mean aerobic plate counts and Escherichia coli counts on the leg and loin in the inverted dressing system were low after pelting (log10/cm2 1.86 and 1.71; log10/cm2 0.13 and 0.05 respectively) but generally showed statistically significant increases through to final packaging. In the conventional dressing system, there were much higher counts on the leg and loin after pelting (log10/cm2 4.66 and 2.71; log10/cm2 2.21 and 0.24 respectively), but subsequent handling of the carcass by slaughter line workers had no measurable deleterious effects. The inverted dressing system resulted in final mean aerobic plate counts on meat at packaging that were 1.38% (leg) and 48.98% (loin) of those derived from the conventional dressing system. Mean E. coli counts from the inverted system were 21.37% (leg) and 67.61% (loin) of those from the conventional system. There was an inverse relationship between the prevalence of carcasses with visible faecal contamination and their microbiological status. CONCLUSION: Significant reductions in microbiological contamination of sheep carcasses can be brought about by HACCP-based systems. Possible critical control points are pre-slaughter presentation status (including avoidance of pre-slaughter washing), inverted dressing, handling by slaughter line workers and meat inspectors, and chilling. Use of levels of visual faecal contamination as an on-line monitoring parameter for slaughter hygiene can give erroneous results. Interactions between different process steps may alter the effectiveness of the HACCP plan, and successful design and application depends on a detailed knowledge of the specific process utilised in each slaughterhouse.     

Occurrences of thermophilic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Campylobacter</Emphasis> in cattle slaughtered at Morogoro municipal abattoir,Tanzania

An investigation was conducted in Morogoro municipality to assess the likelihood of slaughter cattle posing public health risk of contaminating carcasses with thermophilic Campylobacter. Butchers and meat shopkeepers were interviewed on source of slaughter cattle, method of animal and carcass transportation, carcass dressing, meat storage facilities, access to clean water and availability of food hygiene practices. Faecal samples were collected from 107 slaughter cattle and after slaughter; four different parts of dressed carcasses (i.e. from ham, neck, pelvis and thigh muscles) were also sampled. In addition 107 cattle meat samples for Campylobacter culture were collected in different meat shops. The samples were subjected to standard bacteriological examination using Skirrows protocol. It was found that cattle slaughter, dressing and meat handling in meatshops was done under unhygienic condition. Thermophilic Campylobacter prevalence in slaughter cattle was 5.6% while contamination rate of dressed carcasses and cattle meat at shops was 9.3% and 1.9%, respectively. The majority of thermophilic Campylobacter isolated were C. jejuni (88.9%) while C. coli was isolated at 11.1%. Findings of this study suggest possibility of humans acquiring zoonotic Campylobacter infections from cattle meat particularly when meat preparation and processing is not done properly. More work is required to establish the magnitude of zoonotic enteric Campylobacteriosis in humans and epidemiological role of cattle and other animals in the study area.     

Presence of Yersinia enterocolitica in tissues of orally-inoculated pigs and the tonsils and feces of pigs at slaughter.

In order to study the early events associated with infection of swine by Yersinia enterocolitica, 42 five-week-old crossbred piglets were inoculated per os with approximately 10(8) Y. enterocolitica O:3. Groups of 5 animals (and one negative control) were euthanized 30 min, 3, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h following the infection. Palatine tonsils, retropharyngeal and mesenteric lymph nodes, esophagus, duodenum, jejunum, ileum (and Peyer's patches), stomach, liver, spleen and feces (from colon) were collected and analyzed for the presence of Y. enterocolitica by standard bacteriological procedures. Natural infections were also analyzed, as a complementary study, by taking one-gram samples of fecal material and tonsils from 291 pig carcasses less than 3 h after slaughter and culturing them for Y. enterocolitica using a cold enrichment technique. Within 30 min, Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 was already present at most sites. The presence of Y. enterocolitica in the liver of 3 out of 10 animals and also in the spleen of 3 out of 10 piglets, within the first 3 h postinfection, but not at later times (with one exception), probably indicated a transient bacteremia accompanying the initial stages of infection. The tonsils were colonized in most animals (13/20) as the bacteria remained present from 12 to 72 h postinfection, while only 4 out of 20 fecal samples were found to be positive over the same period. Up to 10(4) colony-forming units of Y. enterocolitica per gram of tonsil and fecal material were recovered. Finally, among the 291 animals sampled at the abattoir, a total of 79 were found positive, 70 of the tonsils sampled were positive, and bacteria were recovered in 17 fecal samples. It is therefore suggested that palatine tonsils are the most reliable tissue for the indication of an infection/colonization by Y. enterocolitica O:3 in swine and that the removal of this tissue during the slaughter process should be considered in order to minimize the possibility of contamination of meat products.     

An investigation on the effect of transport and lairage on the faecal shedding prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of transport and lairage on the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 faecal shedding and the subsequent contamination of beef carcasses. Individual rectal faecal samples were taken from two cohorts of cattle (109 and 59) at the farm before transport and at the abattoir post-transport and lairage. The entire outer and inner surfaces of the carcass of each animal were swabbed immediately following slaughter and dressing. The prevalence of E. coli O157 shedding in cattle sampled at farm, post-transport and lairage was 18% (20), 13% (14) and 12% (13) for cohort A and 1.7% (1), 1.7% (1) and 0 for cohort B, respectively. No E. coli O157 was recovered from the 168 dressed carcasses. In total, 98% (46 of 47) of the E. coli O157 isolates from cohort A were potentially pathogenic to man. Transport and lairage do not cause an increase in the prevalence of E. coli O157 faecal shedding in cattle. This study demonstrates that even positive cohorts of cattle may be slaughtered and processed to produce clean carcasses by following good hygienic practices.     

Bovine tuberculosis: prevalence and diagnostic efficacy of routine meat inspection procedure in Woldiya municipality abattoir north Wollo zone, Ethiopia

Bovine tuberculosis (BTB) is a widespread and endemic disease of cattle in Ethiopia posing a significant threat to public health. Regular surveillance by skin test, bacteriology, and molecular methods is not feasible due to lack of resources. Thus, routine abattoir (RA) inspection will continue to play a key role for national surveillance. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Woldiya municipal abattoir from April 1, 2009 to April 5, 2010 to estimate the prevalence of BTB in slaughtered cattle on the basis of detailed abattoir inspection and to compare efficacy of RA inspection with respect to detailed abattoir inspection and isolation and identification of Mycobacterium. Diagnostic accuracies (with corresponding measures of statistical uncertainty) were determined by computing test property statistics (sensitivity and specificity). Agreement between RA and detailed abattoir inspections was measured using kappa statistics. Out of 1,029 slaughtered heads of cattle examined during the study period, 63 (6.12 %) and 15 (1.45 %) were diagnosed with gross tuberculous lesions by detailed abattoir meat inspections and RA meat inspections, respectively, making a prevalence of 6.12 % (95 % CI: 5.2–7.1) on the basis of detailed abattoir inspection. About 59.45 % of tuberculous lesions were observed in the lungs and associated lymph nodes, whereas 35.13 % lesions were from the lymph nodes of the head. From 63 cattle suspected with tuberculosis (TB) based on detailed abattoir meat inspection, nine (19.05 %) were identified as Mycobacterium bovis, while three (4.8 %) as Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sensitivity of RA meat inspection was 23.8 % in comparison to the detailed abattoir meat inspection and 25 % in comparison to culture, respectively. Poor agreement (k?=?0.37) was seen between RA meat examination and detailed abattoir meat examination methods. Similarly, poor agreement (k?=?0.013) was seen between RA meat examination and culture results. In conclusion, relatively higher prevalence (6.12 %) was recorded in Woldiya municipal abattoir on the basis of detailed Abattoir inspection and RA meat inspection protocols currently utilized in Ethiopia which are insufficient to detect the majority (76.19 %) of TB lesions at the gross level, which indicates the magnitude of meat borne zoonotic TB as an ongoing risk to public health. Detailed abattoir inspection protocols were demonstrated to improve the detection level by approximately fourfold. In conclusion, routine meat inspections have limitations in detecting BTB-suggestive lesions which indicate the magnitude of meat-borne zoonotic TB as an ongoing risk to public health.     

Streptococcus suis in slaughter pigs and abattoir workers.

The detection and identification of Streptococcus suis type 2 in 8.1% of 347 pig herds of southwestern Ontario revealed that the infection is widespread in this area. A herd suspected to be infected showed a carrier rate of 9.7% among the 62 animals sampled. These subclinical carriers represent a potential source of infection for slaughterhouse workers. From studies of contamination of hands and knives, it was concluded that eviscerators involved in removing the larynx and lungs from the carcasses have a significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.05) risk of exposure to Streptococcus suis than other abattoir workers.