Occurrence of Zoonotic Bacteria in Retail Game Meat in Japan with Special Reference to Erysipelothrix

Abstract

From December 1993 to March 1994, a total of 93 wild boar and 30 deer meat samples were purchased from 13 retail shops and examined for the presence of species of Erysipelothrix, Yersinia, Listeria, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Erysipelothrix spp. were isolated from 41 wild boar and 15 deer samples. These isolates were identified as 13 serotypes. Serotypes 6 and 2 were the most predominant. Of 17 isolates examined, 14 isolates were highly virulent for mice. The bacteria of the same serotype were isolated repeatedly from the samples purchased in 4 of the shops. Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 36 wild boar and 10 deer samples; however, all isolates of Y. enterocolitica did not have pathogenic properties. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 5 wild boar samples. The isolates were identified as serotype 1/2c and 4b. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 2 wild boar samples; one isolate was identified as S. typhimurium and the other was untypable. Campylobacter spp. were not detected.