Abstract
BackgroundSalmonella and E. coli O157 are common causes of foodborne diseases. Evisceration and de-hiding steps can lead to carcass contamination during slaughter operation. In Ethiopia, information on the association between the presence of these pathogens in the rectal content and/or on the hide of cattle and their presence on the carcass is lacking.MethodsThe aim of this study was to assess the sources of beef carcass contamination with Salmonella and E. coli O157 during slaughter. Rectal contents and hide- and carcass-swabs (from three sites: foreleg, brisket and hind leg) were collected from 70 beef cattle at two small scale slaughterhouses. Isolates were genotyped by the Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis method and tested for resistance against 14 microbial drugs.ResultsSalmonella was detected at equal proportions (7.1%) in rectal content samples and hide swabs. E. coli O157 was detected in 8.6% of the rectal contents and 4.3% of the hide swabs. The proportion of contaminated carcasses was 8.6% for Salmonella and 7.1% for E. coli O157. Genetic linkage between the Salmonella and E. coli O157 isolates from the rectal contents and/or hides and carcasses were observed only in a few cases (2 and 1 carcasses, respectively) indicating the limited direct transfer of the pathogens from the feces and/or hide to the carcass during slaughter. Most carcasses became positive by cross contamination. All the S. Typhimurium isolates (n = 8) were multidrug resistant being resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole and tetracycline. The two S. Dublin isolates were resistant to colistin. All E. coli O157 isolates were susceptible to the antimicrobials tested.ConclusionThe results indicated that cross contamination may be an important source for carcass contamination.
Highlights
Foodborne diseases (FBD) are a worldwide problem
We previously identified dehiding and evisceration as two major potential sources of carcass contamination at slaughterhouses in Ethiopia (Gutema et al 2021a)
14 (20.0%) animals were positive for Salmonella, and 11 (15.7%) for E. coli O157 (Table 1)
Summary
Foodborne diseases (FBD) are a worldwide problem. Salmonella and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli are major causes of FBD (Havelaar et al 2015). The presence of Salmonella and E. coli O157 in the feces and on the hides of cattle may lead to their transfer to carcasses during hide removal and evisceration (Croxen et al 2013; Cummings et al 2010; Gutema et al 2021a). Salmonella and E. coli O157 are common causes of foodborne diseases. Evisceration and de-hiding steps can lead to carcass contamination during slaughter operation. In Ethiopia, information on the association between the presence of these pathogens in the rectal content and/or on the hide of cattle and their presence on the carcass is lacking
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