Isolation and Identification of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae from Abattoirs in Shanghai Area

In order to comprehend the status of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae carried in swinery in Shanghai area, samples of pigs were collected from some standard abattoirs in Shanghai area, including nasal swab, lung, tonsil and mandibular lymph nodes. Strains were isolated from these samples for detecting the Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae. Several kinds of methods were used, such as VITEK 2 Compact system and VITEK MS system. A pair of primers was designed to amplify the 16S rRNA gene. 16 PCR products selected randomly were sequenced and 16S rRNA homology analysis was conducted. As a result, strains were isolated from 49.07% (105/214) samples and were identified as Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae.16S rRNA homology in strains of isolation and reference were 99.6% to 100.0%. The result indicated that the situation was very severe for so many carriers of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in health group in nursery.     

Concentration and prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella serotypes in sheep during slaughter at two Australian abattoirs

Objective This study aimed to determine the presence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella spp. on fleece, faeces and carcases of sheep during slaughter. Procedure Faeces, fleece and pre-chill carcase samples were collected from 164 sheep slaughtered at two Australian abattoirs. The presence of E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were determined by use of automated immunomagnetic separation (AIMS) with enumeration by use of the ‘most probable number’ (MPN) method. Results Escherichia coli O157 was isolated from 5% of faeces, 3% of fleeces and 0.6% of pre-chill carcases. The mean log₁₀ count of E. coli O157 positive faecal samples was 2.32 MPN/g, but counts on fleeces and carcases were below the countable limit (−1 log₁₀ MPN/cm²). Salmonella spp. were isolated from 20% of faeces, 13% of fleeces and 1.3% of pre-chill carcases. The mean log₁₀ count of Salmonella spp. in faeces was 1.43 MPN/g and on fleece was −0.24 MPN/cm², but counts on carcases were below the countable limit (−1 log₁₀ MPN/cm²). Conclusion The prevalence and concentration of pathogens were low in the sheep tested in this study, indicating a low risk of human infection from products derived from these animals.     

An outbreak of granulomatous peritonitis caused by injectable selenium in a flock of Merino sheep

During meat inspection, unusual pigmented lesions were found in the abdomens of 411 sheep from a flock raised in the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales. In each affected sheep there were multiple discrete, soft, yellow homogeneous plaques beneath the parietal peritoneum and extending into marginating facial planes of the diaphragm and body wall. Microscopically, the lesions consisted of focal granulomatous peritonitis with intracellular acicular refractile golden-brown crystals. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy revealed intralesional barium and selenium, two components of an injectable selenium compound administered to the sheep 6-8 months prior, which contains the yellow pigment, iron oxide. The mechanism of subperitoneal deposition of the compound could not be confirmed, but is presumed to have involved intraperitoneal injection of barium selenate. Meat inspectors and diagnosticians should consider barium selenate injection-site granulomas as a possible explanation for yellow pigmented lesions, especially in livestock from selenium-deficient areas. Animal care providers should be aware that incorrect administration of barium selenate can result in losses from condemnation or downgrading of meat product.     

High Incidence of Respiratory Involvement in a Cluster of Brucella suis‐Infected Workers from a Pork Processing Plant in Argentina

Epidemiological and clinical aspects of Brucella suis infection in 17 workers from a pork processing plant in Argentina occurring between January 2014 and July 2015 are presented. All patients reported working 9 h daily without adequate personal protection garment. Blood cultures were positive for Brucella spp. in 14 of the 17 patients (82.3%). All isolates were identified as B. suis biovar 1. Although fever, sweats, asthenia, myalgia and hepatic involvement were the most frequent clinical manifestations, an unusually high incidence of respiratory involvement was found. From 13 patients in which chest radiography was performed, four (30%) had radiological abnormalities, including lobar pneumonia in two cases (one with pleural effusion) and interstitial involvement in other two. The high frequency of respiratory involvement in our series makes necessary to consider brucellosis in the differential diagnosis of respiratory diseases in pork processing plant employees.     

Assessment of current disease surveillance activities for pigs post-farmgate in New South Wales

Objectives Evaluate current disease surveillance activities at saleyards and abattoirs in New South Wales (NSW) in order to establish the prevalence of clinical anomalies in pigs at different sites and to compare the sensitivity of detecting anomalies inside versus outside of pens. Procedure Routine inspections of pigs by staff and government inspectors were observed at two saleyards and two abattoirs in NSW during three visits over a 2-month period (January 2008–March 2008). All pigs presented for sale or slaughter were examined for 19 clinical anomalies from either the side of the pen or while animals were moving outside the pen, with data being combined to give an assumed ‘gold standard’. We compared the prevalence of anomalies among animals at the four sites using logistic regression, as well as the sensitivity of detection of the two inspection methods. Results Frequency and methodology of routine inspection varied among sites. Of the 7747 pigs inspected, 822 (10.6%) showed at least one clinical anomaly. There was moderate agreement between detecting anomalies in penned pigs versus while being moved. Pigs at one abattoir exhibited significantly fewer anomalies than pigs at the other sites. Conclusion The prevalence of anomalies among pigs at saleyards and abattoirs in NSW was relatively high (≈10%). Weaknesses in current disease surveillance activities for pigs post-farmgate have been identified. Increased regulation, surveillance training and modification of standard operational procedures for inspection have the potential to improve the current system.     

A technique for spaying cats

Extract

The following is an account of a quick of spaying cats which may be of interest to practitioners who have developed no set procedure. The method requires no special instruments and is simple.     

Evaluation of the implementation of new traceability and food safety requirements in the pig industry in eastern Australia

Objectives   To evaluate the implementation and barriers to adoption, among pig producers, of a newly introduced traceability and food safety system in Australia.
Procedure   Implementation of the PigPass national vendor declaration (NVD) linked to an on-farm quality assurance (QA) program was evaluated in May and December 2007 at saleyards and abattoirs in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland. Four focus group discussions with saleyard producers were held between April and July 2007.
Results   Implementation of the PigPass system in terms of accurate completion of the form and QA accreditation was higher at the export abattoir than at the regional saleyard at the first audit (P < 0.01). Implementation increased at the second audit at the abattoirs, but little change with time was observed at saleyards. Approximately half of the producers at saleyards used photocopied PigPass forms, made at least one error (>64%), and many vendors did not appear to be QA-accredited. During focus groups, producers expressed the view that PigPass implementation improved animal and product traceability. They identified the associated costs and a perceived lack of support by information providers as obstacles for adoption.
Conclusion   Improvement in the implementation of PigPass among producers marketing pigs at export abattoirs was observed during the 8-month period of the study. There is a need for a more uniform message to producers from government agencies on the importance of the PigPass NVD and QA and extension and education targeted toward producers supplying pigs to saleyards and domestic abattoirs to ensure compliance with the traceability requirements.     

上海地区屠宰场猪红斑丹毒丝菌的分离鉴定

为了解上海地区猪红斑丹毒丝菌在健康猪群中的带菌状况,本试验选择上海地区标准化屠宰场的上市猪为研究对象,采集鼻拭子、肺脏、扁桃体和下颌淋巴结等样本,进行猪红斑丹毒丝菌的分离,采用VITEK 2 Compact系统和VITEK MS快速鉴定系统进行鉴定,并设计1对16S rRNA基因引物,对分离菌株进行PCR扩增,随机选取16株分离菌进行测序及16S rRNA同源性分析。结果显示,49.07%（105/214）的样本中分离到猪红斑丹毒丝菌,分离菌株同参考菌株及疫苗株之间16S rRNA同源性为99.6%~100.0%。本试验结果表明上海地区猪群中确实存在猪红斑丹毒丝菌的健康带菌状况。