Meat Inspection Research Articles

Epidemiology of Taenia saginata taeniosis/cysticercosis: a systematic review of the distribution in central and western Asia and the Caucasus

BackgroundThe zoonotic parasite Taenia saginata transmits between humans, the definitive host (causing taeniosis), and bovines as the intermediate host (causing cysticercosis). Central and western Asia and the Caucasus have large cattle populations and beef consumption is widespread. However, an overview of the extent of human T. saginata infection and bovine cysticercosis is lacking. This review aims to summarize the distribution of T. saginata in this region.MethodsA systematic review was conducted, that gathered published and grey literature, and official data concerning T. saginata taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis in central and western Asia and the Caucasus published between January 1st, 1990 and December 31st, 2018. Where no data were available for a country within this period, published data from 1985–1990 were also accessed.ResultsFrom 10,786 articles initially scanned, we retrieved 98 full-text articles from which data were extracted. In addition, two unpublished datasets were provided on the incidence of human taeniosis. Data for human taeniosis and bovine cysticercosis were found for all countries except Turkmenistan. Human taeniosis prevalence varied from undetected to over 5.3%, with regional variations. Where bovine cysticercosis was detected, prevalences varied from case reports to 25%.ConclusionsThe public health burden of T. saginata is assumed to be small as the parasite is of low pathogenicity to humans. However, this review indicates that infection continues to be widespread and this may result in a large economic burden, due to the resources utilized in meat inspection and condemnation or processing with subsequent downgrading of infected carcasses.

Prevalence and monetary loss due to cystic Echinococcosis in slaughter house livestock: A case study of Migori County, Kenya

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE/Hydatidosis) is a parasitic zoonosis of public health importance that causes considerable economic loss worldwide. The aim of this study was to assess prevalence and monetary loss of CE in livestock slaughtered in Migori County, Kenya. The study was conducted by retrieving and analyzing secondary data over a ten year period (2007–2016) from annual meat inspection reports from sub-county veterinary offices within Migori County. The data included species/number of slaughtered animals and number of organs condemned due to presence of hydatid cyst(s) recorded. The results showed CE prevalence was highest in cattle (5.3%) followed by goats (2.0%), least affected were sheep (0.1%). The overall direct monetary loss was $152,003/year. The study results confirm occurrence of CE in Migori County and demonstrate an emerging new CE focus in Kenya with a significant direct monetary loss, a phenomenon that require serious attention to control the spread of CE in Kenya.

Trichinosis revisited: Scientific interventions in the assessment of meat and animals in Imperial Germany

This article examines the interplay of science, meat, and animals through a reappraisal of the trichinosis outbreaks during a critical period in the development of a meat inspection regime in Imperial Germany. Taking a more domestic approach than previous treatments, it questions why solutions to the problems of this parasitic disease moved from the hands of physicians, who initially called for a model of private protection carried out in the home, and into the hands of veterinarians, who established a model of public inspection centered on abattoirs. Building on previous scholarship, this article reveals how contrasting frameworks of medical and veterinary expertise shaped the debate; explains why self-protection was abandoned in favor of greater state intervention; questions why public slaughterhouses initially struggled to gain favor and then won acceptance; demonstrates why concerns about animal rather than human health were crucial in the establishment of abattoirs; and reveals why the contrasting focus on pork, on the one hand, and pigs, on the other, conditioned measures of prevention. Linking humans and animals, urban and rural society, as well as consumers and producers, this article provides a holistic and complex analysis of how German meat and animal inspection developed in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Evaluation of the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of meat inspection for hepatic hydatid disease in beef cattle in an Australian abattoir

Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a widespread, endemic disease of Australian livestock, wildlife, and occasionally, humans. In the Australian beef industry, the disease is believed to have a substantial economic impact. The reference standard test (gold standard) for detection of hepatic hydatid cysts is gross identification of cysts following cutting of livers into 5–6 mm slices with histological identification in the case of equivocal cysts. This test is not feasible in abattoirs because it takes too long, destroys inspected livers which have monetary value, and could require laboratory facilities. Therefore, routine meat inspection in abattoirs comprises visualisation of the organ surface and palpation to detect hydatid cysts. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of current routine meat inspection processes in an abattoir to detect hepatic hydatid disease (the index test) in comparison to the reference standard test. Both the index and reference standard tests were performed on a systematic random sample of 636 livers from 5023 cattle slaughtered during the study period. Relative proportions of the true positives and false negatives were calculated for categories age, sex, feed-type (grass- or grain-fed), number of cysts, and size of cysts. Pearson’s Chi-squared analyses were used to assess the significance of these proportions. Relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the index test were determined whilst accounting for the sampling fraction.The relative proportion of true positives to false negatives in livers with one cyst (True Positives [TP] = 30.2%) was significantly lower than in livers with 2–5 cysts (TP = 59.2%; P < 0.05), and livers with more than ten cysts (TP = 75%; P < 0.001). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the index test was 24.9% (95% Confidence Interval [CI] 18.9–32.3) and 98.9% (95% CI 97.6–99.6), respectively. The high specificity demonstrates that truly uninfected livers are generally correctly reported. However, the low sensitivity of the index test indicates that prevalence reported by the focus abattoir is underestimated. Although the intended use of routine meat inspection for hydatid disease – to remove “unwholesome” meat from the line of human consumption – is conducted, the results of this study demonstrate that the prevalence of E. granulosus might be higher than reported in abattoir data.

Bovine Hydatid Cyst: Prevalence, Characterization, Public Health and Economic Importance at adama Abattoir, Central Ethiopia

A purposive study was conducted from November 2011 to April 2012 with the objective of determining the characteristics of hydatid cysts and to assess the current status of economic losses of hydatidosis in cattle slaughtered at Adama municipality abattoir. Hydatid cysts were characterized on the basis of their size, fertility and viability. Routine meat inspection procedure was conducted on organs namely lung, liver, kidney, heart and spleen involving visualization and palpation to detect the presence of hydatid cysts. Out of the total of 2276 hydatid cysts counted, 1126(49.5%), 913(40.1%) and 237(10.4%) were found to be small, medium and large size respectively. Out of the total of 300 cysts examined for the fertility test, 29(9.6%), 188(62.6%) and 83(27.6%) were found to be fertile, sterile and calcified respectively. The rate of cyst calcification was higher in the liver than in the lung while fertility rate was higher among the cysts of the lung. The direct financial loss during the study period was 8,749 ETB. This result was assessed from the mean retail market price of each organs multiplied by the total number of organs condemned at Adama abattoir during the study period.

Flexible distribution of tasks in meat inspection – A pilot study

The primary purpose of meat inspection is to ensure safe meat for human consumption. Moreover, meat inspection has become a key control point for animal welfare and a data collection point for baseline monitoring of the food chain, animal diseases, and meat quality. The rapid increase in herd size has increased the workload of farmers, slaughterhouses and meat inspectors. New, more cost-efficient ways of working are needed, and one option is revising the distribution of tasks during post mortem inspections. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the results of carcass assessments done by official auxiliaries (OA) to those done by official veterinarians (OV) during post mortem inspection of detained, slaughtered pigs. The comparison between OA and OV judgments focused on the full condemnation, local condemnation and approval of pig carcasses that were detained by the OA in the initial screening.The key findings were (a) a limited agreement between OVs and OAs; (b) a large intra-class variation among both OVs and OAs as groups; and (c) that the differences between OVs and OAs only affected the minor number of pig carcasses that were detained during the study period.The specific agreement between OAs and OVs was highest for total condemnation (68%), lowest for local condemnation (52%) and close to overall agreement for carcass approval (60%). While both the overall agreement and the agreement beyond chance were fair between groups, there was a large variation among OA-OV pairs. For example, four pairs had their pairwise kappa estimates not significantly different from zero.

Performance of a Sandwich Antigen-Detection ELISA for the Diagnosis of Porcine Taenia solium Cysticercosis.

The pig is the natural intermediate host of Taenia solium, a parasite causing significant burden of disease in both humans and pigs. Porcine cysticercosis is traditionally detected via tongue palpation and slaughterhouse meat inspection, both with limited sensitivity. Serum antibody detection has a better performance; however, it does not discriminate past from present infection. Serum antigen detection can demonstrate viable infection and gives a good estimate of parasitic load. This study evaluated a sandwich antigen-detection ELISA using monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) 158C11 and 60H8 for the diagnosis of viable cysticercosis in pigs. Serum samples were used from 35 naturally T. solium cysticerci-infected pigs, 31 cysticercosis-negative pigs, and 22 pigs with Taenia hydatigena infection (to assess cross-reactions). Positive cysticercosis samples were subcategorized at necropsy according to parasitic burden as mild (1-10 viable cysts, n = 10), moderate (11-100 cysts, n = 5), or severe infection (more than 100 cysts, n = 20). This Ag-ELISA showed a sensitivity of 82.9% and a specificity of 96.8% when not considering cross-reactions with T. hydatigena. Hundred percentage of severely infected, 80% of moderately infected, and 50% of mildly T. solium-infected pigs tested positive. Twenty of 22 pigs with only T. hydatigena infections were positive, with 13 reaching saturating levels in the ELISA. The Ag-ELISA revealed the presence of live cysts and is, thus, a fairly reliable test to monitor experimental infection, response to treatment, and follow-up in animal models of cysticercosis. It should, however, be carefully interpreted when used in regions where T. hydatigena is endemic in pigs.

Gastrointestinal parasites in reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) calves from Fennoscandia: An epidemiological study.

Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) host numerous parasites. Although there is a general knowledge about parasite diversity in reindeer, detailed baseline information about parasitic infections is limited. Detailed knowledge of parasite prevalence and diversity provide a pathway for more targeted parasite control, an increasing need expected in the future. The main aim of our cross-sectional study was to estimate the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in semidomesticated reindeer calves. The 480 reindeer calves included in our study were aged 6-7 months, originated from 9 reindeer herding cooperatives in Finland and 1 in Norway, and were slaughtered during September-November 2015 in 10 reindeer slaughterhouses. All the reindeer calves passed meat inspection, and the detected parasitic infections were subclinical. As the reindeer included in this study were young animals intended for slaughter, they had never been administrated any antiparasitic treatment. Assessments of gastrointestinal parasitism among these reindeer calves were based on fecal examination and morphological identification of coccidian oocysts or helminth eggs. Individual fecal samples collected from the rectum of each of the reindeer were examined using a modified McMaster method. Most (78.3%) of the reindeer calves had eggs or oocysts of at least one parasite species in their feces, and more than half (53.5%) had a mixed infection. Strongylid eggs were detected in 75.6%, Eimeria sp. oocysts in 50.6%, Moniezia sp. eggs in 28.1%, Nematodirus sp. eggs in 22.1%, Capillaria sp. eggs in 9.4%, and Trichuris sp. eggs in 0.6% of the samples. The prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites was similar or higher relative to previous estimates from the region; the proportion of reindeer calves shedding strongylid eggs and the proportion of reindeer calves shedding Moniezia sp. eggs had increased. Prevalence varied by geographical region, which may reflect different herding practices or environmental parameters. Higher reindeer density was a risk factor for testing positive for Eimeria sp. oocysts, and the odds of testing positive for Nematodirus sp. eggs were higher if a peroral route was used for antiparasitic treatment in the reindeer herding cooperative. The mean proportion of reindeer estimated to receive antiparasitic treatment in Finland was 86% in 2004-2005 and 91% in 2014-2015. During the historical time frames of current management practices, this routine annual antiparasitic treatment of breeding reindeer has not decreased the prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in reindeer calves, which can be seen as sentinels or indicators of the infection pressure.

Multi-Stakeholder Focus Groups on Potential for Meat Inspection Data to Inform Management of Pig Health and Welfare on Farm

Meat inspection (MI) findings can act as a valuable source of information on pig health and welfare. The PIG WELFare INDicators (PIGWELFIND) project (Research Stimulus Fund 11/S/107) was developed to progress the development of ante and post mortem MI as a pig health and welfare diagnostic tool in Ireland. Three multi-stakeholder focus groups were organized to explore areas of conflict and agreement between stakeholders’ vision for including pig health and welfare indicators in MI and on how to achieve this vision. Each focus group consisted of eight stakeholders: pig producers, Teagasc pig advisors, pig processors, veterinarians involved in MI, private veterinary practitioners, and personnel with backgrounds in general animal health and welfare and food safety policy. In general, stakeholders expressed positive attitudes towards the use of MI data to inform pig health and welfare when standardization of recording and feedback is improved, and the MI system provides real-time benchmarking possibilities. Most emphasis was placed on health indicators as a first priority, while it was felt that welfare-related indicators could be included after practical barriers had been addressed (i.e., line speed/feasibility, standardization and training of meat inspectors, data ownership). Recommendations are made to further progress the development of MI as a pig health and welfare diagnostic tool and address some of these barriers.

Retrospective Study on Prevalence of Human Taeniasis in Mekelle, Tigray, Ethiopia

A cross-sectional study was conducted at Mekelle from November 2013 to March 2014 on the basis of questionnaire survey with the main objective of determining the prevalence of taeniasis in human. It also estimates the cost of taeniasis treatment in Mekelle town. A retrospective data on human taeniasis was collected from health centers and inventory of Pharmacy shops in Mekelle town. Out of the total 75 respondents, 46 (61.3%) had contracted Taenia (T) saginata infection and there was significant difference (p<0.05) with religious groups and different levels of raw meat consumers (P=0.000). An-overall prevalence of human taeniasis was 0.56% (193/34, 310). An inventory of pharmacy shops revealed a total of 22,412 adult taeniacidal drug doses worth 95,700 Eth. Birr (4958.5 USD) were sold during the year 2012-2013. Based on the response of pharmacists at 48 different pharmacy shops, 40 (83.33%) were from rural areas as compared to urban dwellers(16.7%). Niclosamide and Prazequantel are the only drugs used for treatment of human taeniasis in the study area and Niclosamide was preferred over Prazequantel. Taeniasis is resulted by consumption of raw beef. Therefore, due attention is needed to spread mass awareness in public and there is strict need for routine meat inspection. Keywords : Health centers; Pharmacy shop; Prevalence; Taeniasis; Mekelle, Ethiopia.

Studies on the prevalence of fascioliasis among ruminant animals in northern Bauchi state, north-eastern Nigeria

A study of prevalence of ruminant fascioliasis was undertaken from May 2017 to April 2018. A set of 7640 stool and 7640 bile samples were collected from slaughtered cattles, sheeps and goats in seven local abattoirs located within the seven Local Government Areas making up northern Bauchi state. The Sample collection was demarcated into four sections of three months each corresponding into four local seasons. 1910 samples were collected from the beginning to the end of each of the four local seasons. Direct postmortem investigation to detect adult Fasciola spp. was employed. Stool samples were analyzed using formol-etha concentration technique. ANOVA (Analysis of variance) was conducted to examine the prevalence of fascioliasis in six communities of northern Bauchi state. The prevalence of infection was statistically different on different localities. The highest infection rates from the seven sampling sites was Jama'are (48.5%) followed by Zaki (46.9%) p = 0.05. Specie specific prevalence of fascioliasis between the host species was statistically different. Cattles were more infected than sheep and goat. Prevalence of fascioliasis on gender was statistically different, with bulls showing a higher prevalence rate and female sheep and goat recorded higher prevalence. Prevalence of fascioliasis based on estimated ages of animals sampled was statistically significant, animals above 5 years had higher prevalence of 64.5% followed by animals below the age of 1 with 41.3% (p = 0.05). Prevalence of fascioliasis among sampled ruminants based on seasonal variations was statistically significant. Higher prevalence percentages were observed during the early and late rainy season (47.2% and 58.4%) compared to early and late dry seasons (36.2% and 20.1%) p = 0.05. The study, therefore, recommends regular meat inspection alongside public awareness campaigns.

A quantitative risk assessment for human Taenia solium exposure from home slaughtered pigs in European countries

BackgroundTaenia solium, a zoonotic tapeworm, is responsible for about a third of all preventable epilepsy human cases in endemic regions. In Europe, adequate biosecurity of pig housing and meat inspection practices have decreased the incidence of T. solium taeniosis and cysticercosis. Pigs slaughtered at home may have been raised in suboptimal biosecurity conditions and slaughtered without meat inspection. As a result, consumption of undercooked pork from home slaughtered pigs could pose a risk for exposure to T. solium. The aim of this study was to quantify the risk of human T. solium exposure from meat of home slaughtered pigs, in comparison to controlled slaughtered pigs, in European countries. A quantitative microbial risk assessment model (QMRA) was developed and porcine cysticercosis prevalence data, the percentage of home slaughtered pigs, meat inspection sensitivity, the cyst distribution in pork and pork consumption in five European countries, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Romania and Spain, were included as variables in the model. This was combined with literature about cooking habits to estimate the number of infected pork portions eaten per year in a country.ResultsThe results of the model showed a 13.83 times higher prevalence of contaminated pork portions from home slaughtered pigs than controlled slaughtered pigs. This difference is brought about by the higher prevalence of cysticercosis in pigs that are home raised and slaughtered. Meat inspection did not affect the higher exposure from pork that is home slaughtered. Cooking meat effectively lowered the risk of exposure to T. solium-infected pork.ConclusionsThis QMRA showed that there is still a risk of obtaining an infection with T. solium due to consumption of pork, especially when pigs are reared and slaughtered at home, using data of five European countries that reported porcine cysticercosis cases. We propose systematic reporting of cysticercosis cases in slaughterhouses, and in addition molecularly confirming suspected cases to gain more insight into the presence of T. solium in pigs and the risk for humans in Europe. When more data become available, this QMRA model could be used to evaluate human exposure to T. solium in Europe and beyond.

Cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered cattle at Addis Ababa Abattoir enterprise, Ethiopia

Cystic echinococcosis, caused by larval stages of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus, is responsible for hydatid cysts in the lungs, liver and other organs of intermediate hosts. A cross-sectional Abattoir study was conducted from October 2015 to May 2016 at Addis Ababa Abattoir enterprise, Ethiopia. For this purpose a total of 1209 cattle were examined using the classical meat inspection procedure for the presence of hydatid cysts. An overall prevalence of 21% (254/1209) of hydatid cyst was recorded in cattle slaughtered at Addis Ababa Abattoir enterprise. The prevalence of hydatid cyst was statistically significantly higher (P<0.05) in cattle with the age group of >6 years than those cattle with all other age categories. The study showed that lungs and livers were the most affected organs of cattle. Significantly (P < 0.05) higher overall number of hydatid cysts were observed in the lungs (63.9%; 1324/2071) than in the livers (35.4%; 734/2071). The study revealed the presence of an overall of 84.1% (333/396) sterile, 12.2% (48/396) calcified and 4.3% (17/396) fertile cysts. Of the total of 17 fertile hydatid cysts tested for viability, 17.6% (3/17) viable and 82.3% (14/17) nonviable cysts were observed. Overall, findings of the present study showed the widespread occurrence of hydatid cysts in internal organs of cattle that possibly incur significant economic losses through condemnation of edible organs rendering unfit for human consumption. Molecular studies on the role of intermediate host species, genotypes of E. granulosus, zoonotic impact and economic significance of echinococcosis are needed in different parts of Ethiopia.

Sarcocistosis in cattle slaughtered in slaughterhouse with federal inspection in Santa Catarina

Human intestinal sarcocistosis is acquired by the ingestion of meat containing zoonotic cysts from mature protozoan Sarcocystis, intramuscular, bovine or porcine, evolving into an intestinal cycle after consumption of infected meat. This paper aims to identify cysts of Sarcocystis in cardiac musculature of 146 cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse under federal inspection, in the city of Santa Cecilia, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. Hearts were selected and samples of the musculature were collected. Histological sections were submitted to microscopy for cysts identification. The basophilic sarcocystis, encysted between the musculature fibers, were measured for determining the species according to criteria based on the shape and thickness of the wall. Of the 146 heart tissue samples. No samples showed macroscopic cysts, and 86.6% (122) were positive for sarcocysts, identified by morphological criteria (thin wall of less than 1μm) as S. cruzi. The difficulty of diagnosing macroscopic lesions of this parasite in meat inspection at slaughterhouses ends up allowing this muscle to be commercialized.

Prevalence and economic losses resulting from parasitic zoonosis on swine and ruminants in Ouagadougou abattoir (Burkina Faso)

Cysticercosis and fasciolosis are zoonosis with public health and economic importance. A retrospective study was conducted with the objective to determine the prevalence and economic losses associated with meat condemnation in Ouagadougou abattoir due to two parasitic zoonosis: fasciolosis and cysticercosis. The meat inspection register was sifted through to collect data on animals slaughtered in the abattoir between 2007 and 2013. Prices of carcasses and organs have been requested from stakeholders in the meat industry. The prevalence and economic losses associated with animal fasciolosis and cysticercosis were calculated. The overall prevalence of fasciolosis and cysticercosis were 0.41% and 0.17%, respectively. The highest prevalence of fasciolosis was observed in cattle (0.82%), while the highest rate of cysticercosis was observed in pigs (0.22%). For both fasciolosis and cysticercosis, the highest number of condemnation was observed during the dry season. Total economic losses due to fasciolosis stemming from seizure of liver and carcass weight loss were estimated at XOF 142 068 284 ($258,423) while losses related to cysticercosis-infected organs and carcasses was estimated at XOF 6 286 000 ($11,434 USD). This study highlights the impact of these diseases in Burkina Faso and proves that the country’s population is facing riks of contamination. Keywords : Public heath, cysticercosis, meat, swine, cattle, Burkina Faso

Tail lesions in fattening pigs: relationships with postmortem meat inspection and influence of a tail biting management tool

Tail biting is a major welfare and economic problem in intensive pig production. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine tail lesion prevalence at a German abattoir, (2) test for associations between meat inspection findings and tail lesions, (3) assess the agreement between tail necrosis recorded during meat inspection and scored from pictures and (4) test whether the tail biting management tool ‘Schwanzbeiß-Interventions-Programm’ (SchwIP) had an effect on tail lesion prevalence. A total of three observers scored tail lesions from pictures of 43 328 pigs from 32 farms where SchwIP had been applied, and of 36 626 pigs from 32 control farms. Tail lesions were classified as score 0: no visible lesion, score 1: mild lesion, score 2: severe lesion and score 3: necrosis. In addition, complete loss of tail (CL) was recorded. Tail necrosis was the only tail-related carcase finding recorded by meat inspectors. (1) Tail lesion prevalences in pigs from control farms were 23.6% for score 1, 1.02% for score 2, 0.55% for score 3 and 0.41% for CL. The combined prevalence of any lesion and/or CL was 25.4%. (2) Pleurisy, lung findings, signs of inflammation in the legs, arthritis and abscesses were the most frequent meat inspection findings (prevalences of 8.46%, 8.09%, 2.99%, 0.83% and 0.23%, respectively; n=79 954 pigs). Leg inflammation, arthritis and abscesses were more prevalent in pigs with tail lesions of any degree compared with pigs without tail lesions (3.39% v. 2.83%, 1.06% v. 0.75% and 0.39% v. 0.17%, respectively; all P<0.001, n=79 954 pigs). Pigs with severe tail lesions also had more lung findings (2.00% v. 0.17%, P<0.001). (3) Tail necrosis scored during meat inspection resulted in lower prevalence than scored from pictures (0.22% v. 0.69%; n=79 954 SchwIP and control farm pigs). (4) Although tail lesion prevalence was significantly higher in pigs from SchwIP than in pigs from control farms during the first 3 months (32.2% v. 23.8%, P=0.015), it was not significantly higher during the remainder of the year (22.6 v. 26.9, 24.4 v. 21.4 and 24.0 v. 28.0, second, third and fourth quarters, respectively). In conclusion, meat inspection results in much lower tail lesion prevalences than tail lesion assessment from pictures, even if only the category ‘necrosis’ is compared. Advising farms on tail biting using the management tool SchwIP helped to decrease the prevalence of tail lesions on problem farms.

Trichinella and trichinellosis in Europe

Background: Trichinellosis, the proper term for the human zoonotic disease is caused by nematodes of the genus Trichinella. These zoonotic parasites show a cosmopolitan distribution in all the continents but Antarctica. They circulate in nature by synanthropic-domestic and sylvatic cycles that are correlated with each other. Today, nine species and three genotypes are recognized in this genus, all of which infect mammals, including humans, while one species also infects birds, and two other species also infect reptiles. Scope and Approach: To review the recent literature on these pathogens, which are unusual among the other nematodes in that the worm undergoes a complete developmental cycle, from larva to adult to larva, in the body of a single host, which has a profound influence on the epidemiology of trichinellosis as a zoonosis. When the cycle is complete, the muscles of the infected animal contain a reservoir of larvae capable of long-term survival. Humans and other hosts become infected by ingesting muscle tissues containing viable larvae. Key Findings and Conclusions: The main source of human infection is raw or under-cooked meat products from pig, wild boar, bear, walrus, and horses, but meat products from other animals have been implicated. Both pre-slaughter prevention and post-slaughter control can be used to prevent Trichinella infections in animals. The first involves pig management control in high containment level farms as well as continuous surveillance programs. Meat inspection is a successful post-slaughter strategy. However, continuous consumer education is of great importance in countries where meat inspection is not mandatory.

Classification, bacteriological findings, and analysis of sex hormone receptors and cytokine expression in mammary lesions of abattoir sows.

Mammary lesions in sows can prevent suckling piglets from consuming colostrum that provides fundamental nutrients and protective immunity. Although mammary gross lesions are frequently found in sows at farms or slaughterhouses, with the exception of mastitis, they have received little research attention. In this study, we investigated mammary lesions observed in South Korean sows between 2015 and 2016. Mammary tissue samples of 82 sows showing gross lesions during meat inspection were histologically classified and immunohistochemical analysis was conducted to assess the expression of estrogen receptor (ER)-α, ER-β, and progesterone receptor (PR) for mammary hyperplastic lesions as well as that of cluster of differentiation (CD) 3, CD79a, interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 for mastitis. Furthermore, 20 swab samples were cultured, and the isolated bacteria were identified using polymerase chain reactions for 16S ribosomal RNA genes. The lesions were classified as hyperplasia, mastitis, or hyperplasia with mastitis. Immunohistochemistry results revealed that there was neither expression of ER-α nor of ER-β, but all examined hyperplastic samples expressed PR. In addition, there was a significant correlation between CD3 and IL-1β expressions, as well as between IL-1β and IL-6 expressions. Regarding the identity of the isolated bacteria, Pseudomonas spp. were most frequently detected. The results of this study have revealed the incidence and characteristics of porcine mammary lesions.

Abattoir as a Tool for Veterinary Extension and Communication Services: A Practical Demonstration of Its Implementation

Considering the widespread disease transmission among butchers/meat inspectors and a possible risk of exposure to diseases due to the attitude of some butchers and nature of meat inspector’s jobs. Ignorance and lack of awareness of such dangers has also been identified to be responsible for some of the problems encountered in most instances as well as the presence of some predisposing factors for diseases. In view of the above, this model is developed as a means of demonstrating the use of the abattoir and other registered related slaughter premises in the provision of the physical facility, where the primary role of extension personnel to develop the capacity and capability of target groups in the abattoir and livestock producing community, in order to enhance animal/zoonotic disease surveillance and control. The model if adopted and fully utilized will create awareness among target groups of dangers of disease transmission and ways of curtailing such problems, government through their agencies, professionals and private organizations should be involved in the implementation of this model in order to achieve the desired response.

Prevalence and Histopathological Studies on Porcine Cysticercosis in Mumbai Region Based on Abattoir Study

In the present study prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was studied in 9592 pigs slaughtered at Mumbai abattoir based on strict inspection of pork. Total prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae was found to be 1.26%. Cyst were found predominantly in shoulder muscles (100%) followed by that in neck (80.99%), masseter (68.03%), thigh (49.58%), tongue (12.39%), diaphragm (10.74%) and cardiac muscles (4.95%), thus validating the current method of incising shoulder muscle during meat inspection for detection of cysticerci in pork, adopted in Mumbai abattoir. The cysts were not encountered in the visceral organs. The intensity of Cysticercus cellulosae cysts, as expressed by number of cysts per unit area, was found to be mild in 50.41%, moderate in 39.67% and heavy in 9.91%. Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis was significantly higher in monsoon as compared to the other two seasons; in female pigs as compared to male pigs and in adult pigs as compared to young ones. Peanut sized milky white colored Cysticercus cellulosae cysts in the skeletal muscles provoked mild inflammatory reaction.