Biosensors for animal health and meat safety monitoring: farm-to-slaughterhouse continuum

Abstract

The meat supply chain needs to be managed for sufficient levels of consumer protection. Healthy animals are an essential precondition for a safe food supply, since zoonotic diseases, including meatborne pathogens, are a major threat to public health. Information about the livestock’s general health, animal welfare and prevalence of major meatborne hazards such as Salmonella, Campylobacter, STEC and Listeria monocytogenes is of utmost importance for effective biosecurity control on farm. Early detection of these hazards in faecal samples, monitoring blood levels of metabolites relevant for animal welfare (hormones) and animal health (acute phase proteins) can provide high-level control in the animal farming industry. Multiplex biosensors for pathogens and metabolites in the farm-to-slaughterhouse continuum constitute a practical and cost-efficient tool for early detection of signs related to meat safety. Point-of-care multiplex biosensors are an advantage versus commonly used methods ELISA and RT-PCR, since they provide possibilities for early detection and do not require expensive equipment, trained personnel or significant time for sample transfer and analyses. Biosensors can improve meat inspection and meat safety controls, and can serve as a primary tool for monitoring food safety parameters and contribute to the modernization of veterinary inspection and risk-based meat safety assurance system.