Cattle Slaughterhouse Research Articles

Seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis among slaughtered indigenous cattle, abattoir personnel and pregnant women in Ngaound\xe9r\xe9, Cameroon

BackgroundBrucellosis is a neglected debilitating zoonosis with a high prevalence in many developing countries. Bovine brucellosis is widespread in Cameroon but the epidemiological situation of human brucellosis is not known. A cross sectional study was carried to determine the seroprevalence and factors associated with bovine and human Brucellosis among abattoir personnel and pregnant women in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon.MethodsSerum sample from 590 abattoir cattle and 816 plausible occupational risk and vulnerable humans to brucellosis (107 abattoir personnel and 709 pregnant women) were collected and screened for anti-brucella antibodies using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and ELISA tests. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on socio-demographics and risk-factors. The differences in proportions between seropositive and seronegative reactors were tested using odds-ratio and χ2tests.ResultsBovine brucellosis seroprevalence was at 3.40% (n = 590; 3.4% for RBPT, 5.93% for i-ELISA). Human Brucella seroprevalence was at 5.6% among abattoir personnel (n = 107; 5.6% for RBPT, 12.15% for Brucella IgG ELISA) and 0.28% in pregnant women (n = 709; both tests). Breed (P < 0.00001) was associated with increased risk of brucellosis in cattle and the seroprevalence was highest among the Djafoun (OR = 16.67, 95%CI: 4.49–28.85) and Akou (OR = 16.96, 95% CI: 0.10–23.91) cattle compared to the other breeds. There was a moderate positive correlation (R2 = 0.5025) of Brucella IgG concentrations (> 200 U/ml) and clinical data for Brucella IgG ELISA seropositive humans. Several potential factors were associated (P > 0.05) with increased risk of human brucellosis seroprevalence among the abattoir personnel. The abattoir personnel were essentially males; the seropositive respondents were male and did not use protective equipment at work. Handling of foetus and uterine contents (OR = 13.00, 95%CI: 1.51–111.88) was associated with increased risk of human brucellosis.ConclusionsAntibrucella antibodies are prevalent in cattle (3.40%), among abattoir personnel (5.60%) and in pregnant women (0.28%) in Ngaoundéré, Cameroon. The study reports the first evidence of human brucellosis in Cameroon and therefore, an indication of a real public health problem. Public awareness campaigns and health education especially among livestock professional and in agropastoral communities should be highlighted to disseminate knowledge, associated risk factors and control measures of brucellosis.

Seroreactivity and Risk Factors Associated with Human Brucellosis among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea

The prevalence rate of human brucellosis in high-risk populations, as well as their risk factors, have not been well understood in South Korea. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the seroreactivity and risk factors associated with human brucellosis among South Korean cattle slaughterhouse workers. We enrolled 922 subjects working in 71 slaughterhouses across the country in 2012. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain data from the subjects, following which blood samples were collected and tested using the microagglutination test; serum titers ≥ 1:20 were considered reactive. Independent risk factors were identified using multivariate logistic regression analysis with backward elimination. Overall, 62 of 922 participants (6.7%) exhibited seroreactivity for brucellosis, and 0.4% had a seroprevalence at a dilution of 1:160. Multivariate analysis revealed that the risk factors for human brucellosis seroreactivity included large-scale slaughtering (≥100 cattle per day; odds ratio (OR), 5.41; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.95–9.91) and medium-scale slaughtering (50–99 cattle per day; OR, 2.53; 95% CI, 1.16–5.51). Moreover, the risk of brucellosis infection was significantly lower among slaughterhouse workers who always wear protective glasses (OR, 0.27; 95% CI, 0.11–0.69) than in those who sometimes or rarely wore such glasses. Regular and consistent use of personal protective equipment, especially protective glasses, should be encouraged among cattle slaughterhouse workers to reduce brucellosis infection.

Escherichia coli Content Test and Total Bacteria on Meat and Organ in Cattle Slaughterhouses of Denpasar City and Badung Regency

Penelitian ini ditujukan untuk menguji kandungan E. coli dan cemaran total bakteri daging sapi bagian punggung, daging bagian paha, usus, hati, limfa dan paru di Rumah Potong Hewan (RPH) di Kota Denpasar dan kabupaten Badung, Bali. Hasil kandungan E. coli yang diperoleh dari Rumah Potong Hewan (RPH) Pesanggaran pada sampel paha sebesar 70 APM/100g dan RPH Mambal pada sampel usus sebesar 70 APM/100g. Sampel limfa dari kedua RPH memiliki nilai yang paling rendah yaitu 30 APM/100g. Nilai yang telah dijabarkan dapat dikatakan melebihi ambang batas yang diperbolehkan oleh BPOM (2009) yaitu batas maksimum cemaran E. coli 1 x 101 APM/100g. Hasil penelitian total bakteri yang diperoleh dari sampel yang diambil di RPH Pesanggaran pada sampel limfa menunujukkan hasil yang paling besar yaitu 14x104 CFU/g, sedangkan nilai yang terkecil berasal dari sampel usus yaitu 2x104 CFU/g. Hasil total bakteri yang berasal dari RPH Mambal nilai sampel yang terbesar dimiliki oleh sampel limfa sebesar 13x104 CFU/g, sedangkan nilai hasil terkecil dimiliki oleh sampel paha 1x104 CFU/g diperbolehkan BPOM (2009) yaitu 1x104 CFU/g. Kesimpulan dari penelitian ini menunjukkan sampel daging paha, daging punggung, usus, hati, paru dan limfa memiliki nilai total cemaran E. coli dan cemaran bakteri yang melebihi batas standar yang diperbolehkan oleh BPOM Bali.

Seroreactivity and Risk Factors Associated with Coxiella burnetii Infection among Cattle Slaughterhouse Workers in South Korea.

Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, is a zoonotic disease that is an occupational hazard to people who work in close contact with animals or their carcasses. A nationwide serologic study among cattle slaughterhouse workers who were presumed to be at risk of having C. burnetii infection in South Korea was performed to investigate the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and identify related risk factors. Out of 1017 cattle slaughterhouse workers in South Korea, 923 (90.8%) participated in this cross-sectional study. Samples were tested for immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM) antibodies against phase II C. burnetii via indirect immunofluorescence assay. The overall seroreactivity, defined as IgG or IgM antibody titer cutoffs ≥1:16, was 9.1% (84/923). Additionally, a significant association was found between the seroreactivity of C. burnetii infection and performing carcass evisceration work (odds ratio, 2.36; 95% confidence interval, 1.39–4.03) in multivariate analysis. To diminish C. burnetii infection, cattle slaughterhouse workers need to take precautions during the evisceration process.

Effect of Organic Loading Rate on Anaerobic Digestion Performance of Mesophilic (UASB) Reactor Using Cattle Slaughterhouse Wastewater as Substrate.

In this study, the performance of a laboratory scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor operating at mesophilic temperature (35 °C) was examined. Cattle slaughterhouse wastewater (CSWW) was used as the main substrate. The total and effective volumes of the reactor were 8 L and 6 L, respectively. Twelve different organic loading rates (OLR) were applied and the performance was evaluated. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was more than 90% during batch study. In the continuous study, COD removal was also approximately 90% at OLR 0.4 g/L d−1 which subsequently dropped to below 50% when the loading rate increased to 15 g/L d−1. Approximately 5 L/d of biogas was obtained with high methane concentration at stages VI and XI corresponding to OLR of 2 and 10 g/L d−1, respectively. It was observed that the concentration of volatile fatty acids was low and that the alkalinity of the wastewater was sufficient to avoid acidification. Specific methane yields of 0.36 and 0.38 LCH4/g COD added were achieved at OLR 7 and 10 g/L d−1. A hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 day was sufficient to remove greater than 70% of COD which correspond to 89% methane concentration. Parameters like soluble COD, NH3-N, pH, alkalinity, total suspended solid (TSS), fats, oil, and grease were also investigated. The results show that the UASB reactor could serve as a good alternative for anaerobic treatment of CSWW and methane production.

Haematological status and blood parasite infection in slaughtered cattle in abattoirs in Minna, Niger State

Blood parasites of animals reduce livestock productivity and could lead to high mortality. This study aims at determining the haematological status and prevalence of blood parasites in cattle slaughtered in abattoirs in Minna. Blood samples were obtained from 300 apparently healthy cattle from both male and female cattle from three abattoirs (Taye, Chanchaga and Maikunkele), using standard field and laboratory techniques. The blood samples were examined for blood parasites by making thin blood smear and staining with Giemsa stain. . Three genera of blood parasites Trypanosoma species Babesia species and Anaplasma species were observed. An overall parasitaemia of 47.67% accounting for 143 positive cattle out of 300 cattle examined. Abattoir-specific prevalence indicated 16.33%, 16.00% and 15.33% for Taye, Maikunkele and Chanchaga abattoirs respectively. The three species of parasites identified showed prevalence of 26.67%, 13.67% and 3.67% for Trypanosoma brucei, Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale respectively. Sex-related parasitaemia revealed that females had higher prevalence 91(33.55%) than males 51(23.11%) which was not statistically significant (p>0.05). The haematological parameters showed anaemia with significant decreases in the female RBC (3.00 + / - 0.69), PCV (14.20 + / - 3.85) and Hb (7.38 + / - 2.44) compared to male RBC (4.69 + / - 1.23), PCV (25.80 + / - 4.15) and Hb (12.13 + / - 5.23) respectively which is statistically significant (p 0.05) between MCV, MCH and MCHC of the two sexes. This study provides information on the blood parasites status of cattle which calls for more control and preventive measures against the diseases in Minna metropolis. Keywords : Blood; parasites; trypanosomes; Babesia; Anaplasma ; anaemia.

Characterization of Wastewater in Two U.S. Cattle Slaughterhouses.

Recent changes related to antimicrobial intervention technologies and reduction in product loss have affected cattle slaughterhouse wastewater streams. In this study, wastewater samples were collected from two cattle slaughterhouses located in the Midwest of the United States, focusing on the overall wastewater, antimicrobial interventions, and viscera and offal processing. The wastewater concentrations were affected by the water use, dilution, processes, and wastewater pretreatment that occurs within the slaughterhouse. Even though there were differences in the wastewater concentrations, the overall wastewater loads for both slaughterhouses were similar. The overall mean total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS), 5-day biological chemical demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) wastewater loads for the two slaughterhouses were 16.8, 10.0, 4.7, and 12.5 kg/1000 kg live weight killed, respectively. Wastewater streams from antimicrobial interventions have low pH and are potential sources of shock loadings. Wastewater from viscera and offal processing has high nutrient concentration; therefore, any improvement in this process could enhance the sustainability the industry.

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Characterisation of pH decline and meat color development of beef carcasses during the early postmortem period in a Chinese beef cattle abattoir

This study investigated the pH/temperature decline of beef carcasses in a typical Chinese abattoir and color development as pH declined during rigor onset. A natural cubic spline model was used to model the pH/temperature decline for those carcasses which passed through pH 6.0. Six of the 97 carcasses that exhibited a high (≥6.10) ultimate pH (pHu) (dark-cutting) in the M. longissimus lumborum (LL) were sampled, along with the same numbers of normal pHu and intermediate pHu carcasses (5.40–5.79; 5.80–6.10, respectively), to examine color development within 24 h postmortem. It was shown that 66.7% of the modeled carcasses were outside the ideal pH/temperature window with a temperature@pH6.0 lower than ideal, suggesting the need for acceleration of the pH decline. The stable and low a*, b* and chroma values of high pHu beef within the first 12 h indicated dark-cutting beef might be detected earlier than expected.

Detección de Neospora caninum en ganado lechero sacrificado en Aguascalientes, México

Con el objetivo de detectar la presencia de Neospora caninum en tejidos, suero y sangre periférica de ganado lechero sacrificado en rastros de Aguascalientes, México, se colectaron muestras de médula espinal, corazón, hígado, sangre y suero sanguíneo de 71 animales adultos. Las muestras de suero se procesaron mediante la prueba de ELISA para detectar anticuerpos anti-N. caninum, mientras que las otras se sometieron a la prueba de PCR anidado para determinar la frecuencia de ADN del parásito en los diferentes tejidos, así como en sangre. La frecuencia general de animales seropositivos fue de 41 % (29/71; IC 95% 29-53) con un rango de 33 a 57 %. La frecuencia de detección de ADN de N. caninum en sangre fue 44 % (31/71; IC 95% 32-55), con un rango entre 38 y 50 %; en las muestras de médula espinal de 32 % (27/71; IC 95% 27-50), con un rango de 2 a 38 %; en las muestras de corazón, 22 % (16/71; IC 95% 13-34), con un rango de 4 a 33 %; y en las de hígado, 32 % (23/71; IC 95% 22-44), con un rango de 28 a 57 %. La concordancia entre la prueba de ELISA y la de PCR en sangre fue k= 0.36, de ELISA y PCR en tejidos k= 0.07 y de PCR en sangre y PCR en tejidos k= 0.61. Únicamente 11 vacas fueron positivas a las tres pruebas.

Identification of Clostridium spp. derived from a sheep and cattle slaughterhouse by matrix-assisted laser desorption and ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rDNA sequencing.

Using acut-off score of 1.7 was sufficient for accurate identification of Clostridium species. MALDI-TOF MS identification scores for Clostridium spp. decreased with longer incubation time. Clostridium species predominantly were isolated from carcasses after skinning and evisceration steps in the slaughterhouse. MALDI-TOF MS could be an accurate way to identify Clostridium species. Moreover, continuous improvement of the database and MALDI-TOF MS instrument enhance its performance in food control laboratories.

Biofertigation of Forage With Effluents From a Cattle Slaughterhouse Green Line: Impacts on Physical-Chemical Indicators of Soil Quality and on Production Biomass

Cattle slaughterhouses are potential causes the environmental impacts, as it require a large volume of water in meat processing, generate large effluents amount, and promote the Cerrado deforestation for animal husbandry. Therefore, we aim was carried out to assess the effects of the soil application of a green line wastewater from a cattle slaughterhouse in the Brachiaria brizantha growth. The M1 and M2 managements did not contain wastewater of slaughterhouse. The wastewater from the 3rd stabilization pond (M3 to M5), from reception box (M6 to M8), and manure (M9 and M10) were used in the biofertigation managements. The physical-chemical indicators levels did not show significant differences (p &lt; 0.05) before soil preparation and after managements. However, biofertigation in the Cerrado soil can provide a mitigation of the leaching of fine soil particles and cations. In addition, maximum nitrogen dose of wastewater provided a higher leaf biomass productivity than commercial nitrogen. Thus, the fertigation with wastewater can reduce the use of water bodies to crops irrigation and the incorporation of new areas with native vegetation to the agricultural production systems.

Biofertigation of Forage With Effluents of Green Line of a Cattle Slaughterhouse: Microbial Diversity and Leaf Dry Mass Productivity

The wastewater has been an environmental problem, but your used as fertilizers could reduce or eliminate the application of commercial fertilizers in soil. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and nitrogen fixing bacteria (NFB) are a good parameter to analyze the impacts of this fertigationon soil. We aimed to evaluate the distribution and diversity of AMF and NFB before and after applications of wastewater or manure from green line of a cattle slaughterhouse in the irrigation of B. brizantha cv Marandu in Cerrado soil and leaf biomass productivity. The experimental design was performed in completely randomized blocks with ten biofertigation managements. The seeds of the forage were distributed in grooves with spacing of 5 cm. This seeds were covered with a soil layer. NFB and AMF diversity was performed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The leaf biomass productivity in the biofertigation managements was higher than in the managements without the use wastewater/manure. After biofertigation managements, changes in the DGGE profile of the NFB and AMF communities were observed. These changes may be due to the difference in the sample collection period and in the soil humidification. Thus, these DGGE profiles was a good parameter to diagnose the efficacy of wastewater/manure as an alternative biotechnological irrigation.

STUDY ON THE GROWTH OF BACILLUS VELEZENSIS M2 AND APPLYING IT FOR TREATMENT OF THE CATTLE SLAUGHTERHOUSE WASTEWATER

Wastewater from cattle slaughterhouse usually contains high COD and total nitrogen concentration, which required to be treated properly in order to prevent pollution. Strain Bacillus velezensis M2 isolated from Thinh An slaughterhouse, has high ability to degrade organic pollutants rapidly and, therefore, it can be used to produce biological product for slaughterhouse wastewater treatment in large scale, thus reduce setting-up time of operation. In this study, we showed that the best conditions for Bacillus velezensis M2 to grow are NA medium, initial pH of 6.5, inoculum of 3 % (v/v), shaking of 200 rpm. For test in laboratory-scale of 500 ml flask, Bacillus velezensis M2 was induced in the cattle slaughterhouse water containing COD of 1260 mg/L and total nitrogen of 137 mg/L, shaking at 200 rpm, inoculum 3 %, after 12 hours the removal efficiency in COD and total nitrogen were 93.2 % and 83.5 %, respectively.

The existence of Listeria monocytogenes in a cattle slaughterhouse and identification of serotypes by mPCR

This study was carried out to investigate the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in samples obtained from a slaughterhouse in Samsun, Turkey. A total of 300 samples (25 samples per month) analyzed by Immunomagnetic Separation (IMS) based on conventional culture method. Then isolates were verified and serotyped by PCR using specific primers. According to the analysis, a total of 18 isolates were identified as L. monocytogenes. Distribution of these isolates were as; 5 isolates (serotype 1/2b or 3b) from 1 cattle carcass, 5 isolates (serotype 1/2b or 3b) from 1 knife, 2 isolates (serotype 4b or 4d, 4e) from 1 knife sharpener, 5 isolates (serotype 1/2a or 3a) from 1 floor sample, 1 isolate (serotype 1/2a or 3a) from 1 cowhide, respectively. As a result, carcasses are considered to pose a hazard to public health due to L. monocytogenes contamination. The development of slaughterhouse conditions and production technology, improving the education level of employees in food safety issues, prevention of contamination of foodborne pathogens to carcasses in slaughterhouses and implementation of effective sanitation methods should be provided

&lt;b&gt;Effect of hydraulic retention time on hydrodynamic behavior of anaerobic-aerobic fixed bed reactor treating cattle slaughterhouse effluent

The study of the hydrodynamic behavior in reactors provides characteristics of the flow regime and its anomalies that can reduce biological processes efficiency due to the decrease of the useful volume and the hydraulic retention time required for the performance of microbial activity. In this study, the hydrodynamic behavior of an anaerobic-aerobic fixed bed reactor, operated with HRT (hydraulic retention time) of 24, 18 and 12 hours, was evaluated in the treatment of raw cattle slaughterhouse wastewater. Polyurethane foam and expanded clay were used as support media for biomass immobilization. Experimental data of pulse type stimulus-response assays were performed with eosin Y and bromophenol blue, and adjusted to the single-parameter theoretical models of dispersion and N-continuous stirred tank reactors in series (N-CSTR). N-CSTR model presented the best adjustment for the HRT and tracers evaluated. RDT (residence time distribution) curves obtained with N-CSTR model in the assays with bromophenol blue resulted in better adjustment compared to the eosin Y. The predominant flow regime in AAFBR (anaerobic aerobic fixed bed reactor) is the N-CSTR in series, as well as the existence of preferential paths and hydraulic short-circuiting.

Isolation and characterization of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from beef carcasses, cuts and trimmings of abattoirs in Argentina.

Several foods contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are associated with human diseases. Some countries have established microbiological criteria for non-O157 STEC, thus, the absence of serogroups O26, O45, O103, O104, O111, O121, and O145 in sprouts from the European Union or ground beef and beef trimmings from the United States is mandatory. While in Argentina screening for O26, O103, O111, O145 and O121 in ground beef, ready-to-eat food, sausages and vegetables is mandatory, other countries have zero-tolerance for all STEC in chilled beef. The aim of this study was to provide data on the prevalence of non-O157 STEC isolated from beef processed in eight Argentinean cattle slaughterhouses producing beef for export and local markets, and to know the non-O157 STEC profiles through strain characterization and genotypic analysis. Samples (n = 15,965) from 3,205 beef carcasses, 9,570 cuts and 3,190 trimmings collected between March and September 2014 were processed in pools of five samples each. Pools of samples (n = 3,193) from 641 carcasses, 1,914 cuts and 638 trimming were analyzed for non-O157 STEC isolation according to ISO/CEN 13136:2012. Of these, 37 pools of carcasses (5.8%), 111 pools of cuts (5.8%) and 45 pools of trimmings (7.0%) were positive for non-O157 STEC. STEC strains (n = 200) were isolated from 193 pools of samples. The most prevalent serotypes were O174:H21, O185:H7, O8:H19, O178:H19 and O130:H11, and the most prevalent genotypes were stx2c(vh-b) and stx2a/saa/ehxA. O103:H21 strain was eae-positive and one O178:H19 strain was aggR/aaiC-positive. The prevalence of non-O157 STEC in beef carcasses reported here was low. None of the non-O157 STEC strains isolated corresponded to the non-O157 STEC serotypes and virulence profiles isolated from human cases in Argentina in the same study period. The application of microbiological criteria for each foodstuff should be determined by risk analysis in order to have a stringent monitoring system. Likewise, zero-tolerance intervention measures should be applied in beef, together with GMP and HACCP. Further, collaborative efforts for risk assessment, management and communication are extremely important to improve the safety of foodstuffs.

Livestock drivers' knowledge about dairy cow fitness for transport – A Danish questionnaire survey

Dairy cows are transported by road to slaughter after their productive life. Cull cows are vulnerable to transport stress, and can only be transported when fit for the intended journey. However, the decision, as to whether a cow is fit is rather subjective and relies on the farmer and the livestock driver. Using a questionnaire survey, we aimed to describe knowledge about, and experiences with, dairy cow fitness for transport among Danish livestock drivers. During nine days of data collection at the three largest Danish cattle slaughterhouses, 66 drivers (55% of the national population of cattle drivers) answered a questionnaire (response rate: 97%). They were Danish males (mean age: 49years), of which 94% stated that they knew the rules regarding fitness for transport. More than half of the respondents said that physical conditions (light, space) before loading animals allowed proper assessment of fitness for transport, and 85% answered that time constraints were not a challenge for this. Thirty-five percent reported to be in doubt regarding fitness for transport of specific cows at least frequently, and given two specific questions on legislation concerning fitness for transport, only 52% of the respondents answered both correctly. The results add new knowledge about livestock drivers' approach to animal welfare. As drivers are held partly responsible for fitness for transport of animals sent to slaughter, and descriptions of fit/unfit are rather vague, livestock drivers seem to need additional education, training, assessment tools or feedback in order to optimize the welfare of animals to be transported.

Occurrence and Antibiotic Susceptibility ofListeriaSpecies andStaphylococcus aureusin Cattle Slaughterhouses of Kerala, South India

A total of 765 samples were collected from beef carcasses, knives, cutting table surfaces, beef, hands, air, and water from four cattle slaughterhouses of Kerala, South India, to determine the occurrence and antibiotic susceptibility of Listeria species and Staphylococcus aureus. Listeria spp. were isolated from beef carcasses (2.0%), knives (3.7%), cutting table surfaces (1.9%), beef (0.7%), and water (1.3%). The identified species were Listeria monocytogenes (0.1%), Listeria innocua (0.9%), and Listeria ivanovii (0.4%). Most of the Listeria spp. were susceptible to majority of the antibiotics tested. The virulence genes were not detected in Listeria spp. However, all the L. innocua isolates were found to harbor the iap gene. The overall occurrence of S. aureus in slaughterhouses was 50.8%. The highest occurrence was observed on hands of abattoir workers (79.6%) and beef carcasses (59.9%). The isolates were commonly resistant to penicillin (38.0%), followed by ceftriaxone (31.9%), ampicillin (29.0%), amoxicillin (28.8%), tetracycline (24.4%), and chloramphenicol (23.9%). Overall, 53.0% of S. aureus isolates were resistant to three or more antibiotics. Vancomycin and methicillin resistance were observed in 8.5% and 5.4% of S. aureus isolates, respectively. Eight methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates were found to harbor the mecA gene. In conclusion, Listeria spp. was only rarely found in the slaughterhouse environment and on beef. Nevertheless, the recovery of L. monocytogenes from a water reservoir containing sea water that was used to wash carcasses indicates the potential risk of contamination of the carcasses with L. monocytogenes when using sea water. S. aureus was frequently isolated from abattoir workers and beef carcasses, and the occurrence of S. aureus differed significantly between slaughterhouses. The high occurrence of S. aureus, which were often resistant toward different antibiotics, represents a significant public health concern.

Prevalence of Tritrichomonas foetus in tennessee bulls

The prevalence of bovine trichomonosis (BT) in TN bulls was estimated through both active screening of bulls and review of previous laboratory records. During the active bull screening, preputial smegma specimens were collected from 458 TN beef bulls at 2 cattle slaughterhouses and 2 stockyards, which serve most beef bulls in TN, between March 2014 and June 2015. Each specimen was cultured for Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus) as well as evaluated microscopically every other day for seven days for any protozoa resembling T. foetus. An aliquot of the culture media from each specimen was used for DNA extraction and subsequent qPCR testing. Two specimens were considered suspect on microscopic evaluation, but all specimens were negative for T. foetus on qPCR. This suggests that the 2 specimens were most likely contaminated by fecal trichomonads. Retrospectively, 1979 T. foetus test records from 2 major TN diagnostic laboratories were reviewed between October 2013 and September 2016. True prevalence of BT in TN beef bulls was estimated at <0.01% from the laboratory records, although the county prevalence differed in 2 TN counties (Marshal: 0.09% and Bedford: 0.5%). Overall, the prevalence of BT in TN is low, and the current screening efforts to help control BT disease in TN are acceptable. Future efforts should focus on educating cattle stakeholders on the importance of optimal specimen collection and handling as well as routine testing for BT before cattle movement. In addition, cattle producers should be reminded of leading risk factors associated with BT in cattle.