Official Meat Inspection Research Articles

Expert elicitation of remote meat inspection prerequisites in Sweden using best-worst scaling (case 1)

Remote work technologies offer unprecedented flexibility to modernise official meat inspection (MI). Remote meat inspections, alongside on-site controls have a potential to make MI more sustainable when it comes to working conditions, logistic control hurdles and travel-related emissions. Nevertheless, preferences of meat control staff for features and technological set up of remote MI remain unknown.The paper investigates preferences of official Swedish MI staff for different features of remote MI. The study utilises a quantitative method, namely best-worst scaling to compare the relative importance of six aspects of remote inspections: camera location and settings, connectivity, availability of personnel at abattoirs, communication and language, security and fraud prevention, and ability to relay olfaction and haptics. The survey, administered in September–October 2023 was answered by 54.7% of the Swedish meat control staff employed by the Swedish Food Agency. The results show that respondents rate security and fraud prevention (Security) as the most important aspect for remote MI followed by connectivity and camera placement (Camera). Communication and language (Communication) and ability to relay olfaction and haptics (Senses) are considered the least important aspects. The latter findings can be explained by the fact that Official Veterinarians, which represent the majority of respondents (49%), do not routinely communicate directly with slaughter personnel who are often seasonal workers coming from outside Sweden. Moreover, olfaction and haptics could be considered naturally impractical with remote technologies. The study also finds that respondents from different administrative units and job titles have different preferences for the features of remote MI. Respondents from the headquarter generally have higher preferences for connectivity than respondents from other units. Additionally, respondents with more hands-on experience in MI, such as Official Veterinarians, tend to rate security issues higher than respondents with leading or support roles. Overall, it seems possible to meet the control staff expectations and preferences regarding the prerequisites of remote MI by legal and technical adaptations needed for this type of control flexibility.

A Quality Assurance Discrimination Tool for the Evaluation of Satellite Laboratory Practice Excellence in the Context of the European Official Meat Inspection for Trichinella spp.

Trichinellosis is a parasitic foodborne zoonotic disease transmitted by ingestion of raw or undercooked meat containing the first larval stage (L1) of the nematode. To ensure the quality and safety of food intended for human consumption, meat inspection for detection of Trichinella spp. larvae is a mandatory procedure according to EU regulations. The implementation of quality assurance practices in laboratories that are responsible for Trichinella spp. detection is essential given that the detection of this parasite is still a pivotal threat to public health, and it is included in list A of Annex I, Directive 2003/99/EC, which determines the agents to be monitored on a mandatory basis. A Quality Management System (QMS) was applied to slaughterhouses and game handling establishments conducting Trichinella spp. testing without official accreditation but under the supervision of the relevant authority. This study aims to retrospectively analyze the outcomes of implementing the QMS in slaughterhouses and game handling establishments involved in Trichinella testing in southern Spain. Canonical discriminant analyses (CDAs) were performed to design a tool enabling the classification of SLs while determining whether linear combinations of measures of quality-assurance-related traits describe within- and between-SL clustering patterns. The participation of two or more auditors improves the homogeneity of the results deriving from audits. However, when training expertise ensures that such levels of inter-/intralaboratory homogeneity are reached, auditors can perform single audits and act as potential trainers for other auditors. Additionally, technical procedure issues were the primary risk factors identified during audits, which suggests that they should be considered a critical control point within the QMS.

Type, areal extent and localization of carcass contaminations during industrial pig slaughter

The aim of the study is to provide an up-to date overall evaluation of visual contamination occurring on the slaughter line in order to provide a basis for implementing contamination control measures and to the hygienic quality of the processes. For this purpose, 627 contaminated pig carcasses in an industrial slaughterhouse in north western Germany were examined in 2021 for its distribution of type, areal extent and localization of slaughter contamination. Prior to official meat inspection, two persons visually scanned dorsal and ventral surfaces of the eviscerated but not yet split pig carcasses from cranial to caudal and recorded types, areal extent and localization of the contamination. The main contamination type were intestinal contents, bile, stomach contents, tubular rail fat and “others”, which mostly consisted of a reddish foam from the respiratory tract. 103 out of 627 contaminated animals showed more than one contamination, which leads to a total number of 754 contaminations detected. Intestinal contents accounted for almost half of all contaminations and “others” for 30%. Forelimb, back and ham together counted for 70% of the contaminated regions. The affected area was smaller than that of a one euro coin (diameter about 23 mm) in 86% of the cases.

Accidental delivery of pigs for slaughter prior to end of withdrawal period for antimicrobial treatment - Ways of handling

Withdrawal periods after treatment with antimicrobials are set to minimise the frequency and concentration of residues in meat from treated pigs. Still, by mistake, pigs can be sent for slaughter too early. How should the abattoir respond when a pig producer contacts the abattoir to inform them of such a mistake? To address this, two questionnaire surveys were undertaken during spring of 2022, targeting the competent authority (CA) and the food business operator (FBO) from countries in- and outside the European Union. The results covering answers from 78 respondents from 27 countries show that most countries have procedures in place, but also various ways of responding, between CA and FBO, as well as between countries with a large export volume versus countries with a small export volume of pig meat. We developed a best practice model for handling such events, which covers stages before and after the pig is slaughtered and is subjected to official meat inspection and resulting decisions in accordance with relevant legislation. The model involves a quantitative exposure risk assessment, which should be undertaken by the FBO and verified by the CA. The assessment produces estimates of the concentrations of residues at the time of slaughter. If higher than the maximum residue limit, the expected use of the carcasses should be considered. Hereby, the consumer exposure risk can be assessed using the acceptable daily intake (ADI) value, and a risk-based management decision about the safe handling of the meat can be made. This approach would compensate for the huge variation in withdrawal periods for the same substances in force in the European countries.

Taenia lynciscapreoli in semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus, L.) in Sweden.

We report here Taenia lynciscapreoli metacestode from the lung lobe of a semi-domesticated reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus). The specimen was detected within a development project concerning remote post mortem inspection at a reindeer abattoir in Sweden. Post mortem inspection was performed according to a routine on-site official meat inspection protocol. The species identification to T. lynciscapreoli was confirmed based on the DNA extracted from the metacestode, which was analysed by sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. Firstly, our finding shows that semi-domesticated reindeer in addition to several other cervids can act as an additional intermediate host for T. lynciscapreoli. Secondly, it further confirms that this parasite is more widely distributed on the Scandinavian peninsula than what has previously been shown. This is in line with a previous molecular finding of adult T. lynciscapreoli from the Eurasian lynx (Lynx lynx) in Sweden and demonstrates that new intermediate host can be detected. Whether the present finding can be regarded as accidental or have created opportunities for an expansion throughout the northernmost Scandinavian Peninsula remains to be seen.

A comparative analysis of meat inspection data as an information source of the health and welfare of broiler chickens based on Finnish data

The comprehensive, reliable, and comparable meat inspection (MI) data of broiler chickens (i.e. broilers) are essential for the monitoring and surveillance of broiler health and welfare at the national and European Union (EU) levels. We compared the condemnation causes issued to broiler carcasses during MI in four large Finnish broiler slaughterhouses (SHs) by investigating the similarities and differences between local MI instructions used in the SHs. The way in which MI condemnations were recorded in the Finnish Food Authority's (FFA's) MI statistics were also explored. We additionally analysed the FFA's official MI data from the 2015–2019 period. The study showed that the MI criteria used in the SHs differed from one another regarding how severe or extensive a broiler defect or disease must be to cause condemnation during MI. In Finland, the annual total condemnation prevalence of whole broilers varied between 2.6% and 4.8% in 2015–2019, and a significant difference was observed between the SHs' monthly total condemnation prevalences, except in two SH pairs. Mistakes in recording the FFA's MI statistics and differences in the SH operators' reasons to reject broilers from the food chain affect the comparability of the condemnation prevalences between the SHs. Only half of the SHs partially condemned broiler carcasses and collected data concerning these condemnations. Cellulitis (0.3–1.0%), ascites (0.3–0.4%), and body cavity disorders (0.2–0.3%) were the most common causes for condemning whole broiler carcasses in 2015–2019. The MI data can be used for monitoring and surveillance purposes only once the differences between the SH data and data reliability are known. Although the harmonization of all condemnation causes is impossible, harmonizing the condemnations of carcasses with diseases that most threaten broiler health and welfare and cause the largest economic losses would be important.

Health scores for farmed animals: Screening pig health with register data from public and private databases.

There are growing demands to ensure animal health and, from a broader perspective, animal welfare, especially for farmed animals. In addition to the newly developed welfare assessment protocols, which provide a harmonised method to measure animal health during farm visits, the question has been raised whether data from existing data collections can be used for an assessment without a prior farm visit. Here, we explore the possibilities of developing animal health scores for fattening pig herds using a) official meat inspection results, b) data on antibiotic usage and c) data from the QS (QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH) Salmonella monitoring programme in Germany. The objective is to aggregate and combine these register-like data into animal health scores that allow the comparison and benchmark of participating pig farms according to their health status. As the data combined in the scores have different units of measure and are collected in different abattoirs with possibly varying recording practices, we chose a relative scoring approach using z-transformations of different entrance variables. The final results are aggregated scores in which indicators are combined and weighted based on expert opinion according to their biological significance for animal health. Six scores have been developed to describe different focus areas, such as "Respiratory Health", "External Injuries/ Alterations", "Animal Management", "Antibiotic Usage", "Salmonella Status" and "Mortality". These "focus" area scores are finally combined into an "Overall Score". To test the scoring method, existing routine data from 1,747 pig farm units in Germany are used; these farm units are members of the QS Qualität und Sicherheit GmbH (QS) quality system. In addition, the scores are directly validated for 38 farm units. For these farm units, the farmers and their veterinarians provided their perceptions concerning the actual health status and existing health problems. This process allowed a comparison of the scoring results with actual health information using kappa coefficients as a measure of similarity. The score testing of the focus area scores using real information resulted in normalised data. The results of the validation showed satisfactory agreement between the calculated scores for the project farm units and the actual health information provided by the related farmers and veterinarians. In conclusion, the developed scoring method could become a viable benchmark and risk assessment instrument for animal health on a larger scale under the conditions of the German system.

A path towards modernisation of meat safety assurance in European abattoirs

Carcass meat safety mainly relies on official meat inspection and abattoir process hygiene. The deficiencies of the traditional meat safety system are well known. The European Food Safety Authority has proposed a modern, risk-based meat safety assurance system. The process of implementation of the new system in Europe is in the initial phase and is associated with legislation changes. Several challenges are experienced in the implementation process so far and future challenges are anticipated. Further modernisation of the meat safety assurance system and its full practical implementation need to go in tandem with intensive research and training.

High prevalence of bovine cysticercosis found during evaluation of different post-mortem detection techniques in Belgian slaughterhouses

Bovine cysticercosis (BCC), caused by the helminth Taenia saginata, is currently diagnosed solely by official meat inspection (MI) based on macroscopic detection of viable cysticerci or typical lesions of degenerated larvae. MI has a known low sensitivity (<16%), leading to a large proportion of infected cattle carcasses entering the human food chain and posing a risk to public health. Prevalence in Belgium based on MI results is estimated at around 0.22%. Due to the low sensitivity of MI, alternative techniques to detect BCC should be considered. This study evaluates MI, MI with additional incisions in the heart, specific antibody detection against excretory/secretory (E/S) in the Ab-ELISA and circulating antigens in the B158/B60 Ag-ELISA on 715 (101 MI-positive and 614 MI-negative) samples collected from carcasses at slaughterhouses in Belgium. Full dissection of the predilection sites was considered the reference test.During the study, mostly carcasses with (very) light infections were detected containing predominantly degenerated or calcified cysticerci and only few viable cysticerci. Dissection of the predilection sites detected 144 (23%) additional infections in the 614 MI-negative carcasses. When sequentially performing first the dissection of the predilection sites, followed by the Ag-ELISA and the Ab-ELISA, an additional 36% of MI-negative carcasses were found positive for BCC, resulting in a prevalence very much higher than the above mentioned 0.22%.The B158/B60 Ag-ELISA showed a sensitivity of 40% for the detection of carcasses containing viable cysticerci and a specificity of 100%, and detected 70 positive carcasses of which only 14 had been identified as positive during MI. If Ag-ELISA were implemented as a detection technique for BCC in the slaughterhouses, many infected carcasses would still not be detected due to the sensitivity of 40%. But as sensitivity increases with increasing number of cysticerci in the carcass, the infected carcasses passing inspection will be the ones containing only a few viable cysticerci and thus posing a smaller food safety problem. Ag-ELISA is preferred over the ES Ab-ELISA in this study, which had a sensitivity of 13.3% and a specificity of 91.7% in a population with overall low infection burdens.

Current food chain information provides insufficient information for modern meat inspection of pigs

Meat inspection now incorporates a more risk-based approach for protecting human health against meat-borne biological hazards. Official post-mortem meat inspection of pigs has shifted to visual meat inspection. The official veterinarian decides on additional post-mortem inspection procedures, such as incisions and palpations. The decision is based on declarations in the food chain information (FCI), ante-mortem inspection and post-mortem inspection. However, a smooth slaughter and inspection process is essential. Therefore, one should be able to assess prior to slaughter which pigs are suitable for visual meat inspection only, and which need more profound inspection procedures. This study evaluates the usability of the FCI provided by pig producers and considered the possibility for risk ranking of incoming slaughter batches according to the previous meat inspection data and the current FCI. Eighty-five slaughter batches comprising 8954 fattening pigs were randomly selected at a slaughterhouse that receives animals from across Finland. The mortality rate, the FCI and the meat inspection results for each batch were obtained. The current FCI alone provided insufficient and inaccurate information for risk ranking purposes for meat inspection. The partial condemnation rate for a batch was best predicted by the partial condemnation rate calculated for all the pigs sent for slaughter from the same holding in the previous year (p<0.001) and by prior information on cough declared in the current FCI (p=0.02) statement. Training and information to producers are needed to make the FCI reporting procedures more accurate. Historical meat inspection data on pigs slaughtered from the same holdings and well-chosen symptoms/signs for reporting, should be included in the FCI to facilitate the allocation of pigs for visual inspection. The introduced simple scoring system can be easily used for additional information for directing batches to appropriate meat inspection procedures. To control the main biological public health hazards related to pork, serological surveillance should be done and the information obtained from analyses should be used as part of the FCI.

Tumores em bovinos encontrados em abatedouros frigoríficos

Resumo: Numa pesquisa em abatedouros a procura de lesões em bovinos, realizada de janeiro de 2011 a julho de 2014, 544 foram encontradas, das quais 65 eram neoplasmas. Quarenta e dois porcento desses tumores eram de origem mesenquimal; 37% eram epiteliais; 14,5% eram derivados da crista neural; 5% eram tumores do cordão sexual; e 1,5 eram tumores originários do sistema nervoso periférico. O tumor mais frequentemente encontrado foi o linfoma (28% de todos os tumores), a maioria dos casos como parte do complexo leucose bovina enzoótica. O carcinoma de células escamosas foi o segundo tumor mais frequente (15% de todos os tumores). É chamada a atenção para a frequência desses tumores e para a sua importância no diagnóstico diferencial no abatedouro frigorífico entre eles e outras lesões importantes, incluindo as lesões granulomatosas da tuberculose. Houve uma ocorrência significativa do feocromocitoma adrenal (13% de todos os tumores). Papilomatose representou apenas 3% de todos os tumores. Como papilomas são comuns em bovinos, seu baixo número nesse estudo pode ser explicado pelo fato de que eles não são usualmente diagnosticados no exame post mortem (quando o couro já foi retirado da carcaça), mas sim no exame ante mortem, como ocorreu na maioria dos casos deste estudo. Tumores encontrados com menor frequência (cada um perfazendo entre 1.5 e 3% de todos os tumores) incluíram adenocarcinoma apócrino misto da cauda, adenocarcinoma mamário, adenocarcinoma uterino, carcinoma de células renais, fibroma interdigital, hemangiossarcoma, leiomioma uterino, lipoma, lipossarcoma, mesotelioma, neurofibroma, tumor de células da granulosa, tumor estromal gastrointestinal, tumores hepáticos, tumores melanocíticos, e tumores pulmonares primários. Pretende-se que os resultados dessa pesquisa possam ajudar na identificação das lesões na inspeção oficial em matadouros frigoríficos.

SUGGESSTED MODEL FOR MONITORING AND CONTROL OF FOODBORNE PATHOGENS IN WILD BOAR'S MEAT

Wild animal meat harvesting and processing is signifi cantly different from classical livestock meat production and represents a challenge by itself.Implementation of concept “from forest to fork” encompasses influence of hunting ground ecology, type of hunting, fi eld evisceration of hunted game, meat inspection aft er shooting or transport etc. The objective of this paper was to propose a model for monitoring and control of food born pathogens in wild boar´s meat. Hazard analysis emphasized the importance of several pathogens: Mycobacterium spp., Salmonella spp., Trichinella spp., and a fi ve-step control program were proposed. The program includes management of microbial contamination of wild boar meat, control measures for live animals, control measures during hunting and aft er shooting, guidelines for offi cial meat inspection with specific details for control of identifi ed hazardous pathogens and control measures for wild boar carcasses processing. Th e research on presence of food born pathogens in wild boar meat is still scarce, while the Trichinella spp. live cycle is well described and there are relevant data about epidemiology and natural reservoirs of the parasite in this part of Europe, little is known about tuberculosis and salmonellosis prevalence in wild boar population. Thus, implementation of control program, with strictly defi ned control measures cannot be overemphasized, and should include veterinary offi cials as well as hunters and others involved in game meat chain.

A simplified evaluation system of surface-related lung lesions of pigs for official meat inspection under industrial slaughter conditions in Germany.

BackgroundEuropean and national administrative legislation require objective evaluation systems for organ lesions at pig slaughter. These results can be used as basis for herd health improvement programs by farmers and their consulting veterinarians. Various studies have shown that the current evaluation and recording of lesions by authorized meat inspectors are not reliable and produce significant inter-rater disagreement especially for lung lesions in pigs. The objectives of this study were to increase the usability of official meat inspection data by a developed and validated scheme and to analyze potential improvements in the reliability of the proposed system under industrialized slaughter conditions.ResultsA simplified evaluation scheme for surface-related lung lesions was developed based on morphometric evaluations of unaffected lungs with quantitative relationships of each lobe to the whole lung (“Rule of Tens”). Furthermore, a theoretical as well as a hands-on training program for meat inspectors was developed and applied. Based on 5,183 lungs, the authors established a baseline of the inter-rater reliability of current routine assessments of lung lesions as documented by meat inspectors compared with the assessments of an independent veterinarian using the developed simplified evaluation scheme. Most frequent inter-rater disagreements greater than 75% were found for moderate pneumonia. Sources of the deviations most frequently included misinterpretations of technical artifacts, which were erroneously assessed by the meat inspectors as pneumonic lung lesions. Results of the post-training investigation based on 4,646 lungs showed a significantly improved reliability of lung lesion evaluation and the inter-rater agreement increased in all respects. Especially the disagreement of recording moderate cases of pneumonia decreased in total to 15% deviations from reference.ConclusionsThe presented simplified lung evaluation scheme showed its capability to standardize the evaluation of lung lesions according to administrative legislation under industrialial slaughter conditions. The reliability of official meat inspections can be significantly increased with the help of the presented scheme to assess surface-related lung lesions of slaughter pigs. Continuous standardization and optimization can be achieved by personalized training programs in the framework of quality assurance systems for meat inspectors.

Assessment of potential contribution of official meat inspection and abattoir process hygiene to biological safety assurance of final beef and pork carcasses

The performances of current official meat inspection and abattoir process hygiene in assuring biological safety of final beef and pork carcasses were assessed through risk ranking of zoonotic hazards associated with cattle and pigs that each of these risk management strategies can control. Among hazards associated with cattle, Taenia saginata cysticercus, nontyphoidal Salmonella enterica, verotoxigenic Escherichia coli and prion causing bovine spongiform encephalopathy were found as posing medium risk for public health whilst all others were found as posing low or negligible risk. Among hazards associated with pigs, Trichinella, Toxoplasma gondii in outdoor pigs and Yersinia enterocolitica were found as posing medium risk and S. enterica was found as posing high risk for public health, whilst all others as posing low or negligible risk. Analysis of the current two main risk management strategies in cattle and pigs abattoirs indicated that abattoir process hygiene has a higher public health protection potential than official meat inspection. Nevertheless, each of these strategies currently plays an important role in controlling some meat safety hazards that cannot be controlled by the other, so both have to be applied simultaneously.

Pre-slaughter mortality and post-slaughter wastage in bobby veal calves at a slaughter premises in New Zealand

AIMS: To determine the reasons for pre-slaughter mortality and post-slaughter wastage in New Zealand bobby veal calves, and to assess compliance with the national animal welfare codes at a slaughter premises in New Zealand. METHODS: The study was conducted at a single slaughter premises in Southland, New Zealand, during the 2011 bobby veal processing season. Calves that died during the pre-slaughter period underwent post-mortem examination to identify the reasons for death and notable secondary findings. Data from calves condemned at official post-mortem meat inspection were also analysed. RESULTS: The mortality risk in the pre-slaughter period was 0.7% (288/42,494) and post-slaughter condemnation losses were 0.4% (180/42,206), resulting in a total loss to food production of 1.1%. Of the calves that were examined after dying in the pre-slaughter period (n=247), digestive tract disorders (41%) and omphalitis (23%) were the most common primary diagnoses. Secondary findings in these calves included absence of curd in the abomasum (25%), immaturity (21%) and emaciation (9%). Omphalitis (54%) and septicaemia (37%) were the most common causes of post-mortem wastage. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Digestive tract disorders, omphalitis and septicaemia were the most common reasons for pre-slaughter mortality and post-mortem wastage. Further investigation of pre-transportation husbandry and feeding practices is indicated to determine compliance with animal welfare codes by farmers that supplied calves that had no curd in the abomasum, or were immature or emaciated on arrival at the slaughter premises.

Diagnostics and epidemiology of alveolar echinococcosis in slaughtered pigs from large-scale husbandries in Germany

By means of the official meat inspection of domestic pigs, exceptionally high proportions of livers affected by encapsulated nodules containing whitish to light yellow, viscous to pasty material ("microabscesses") were detected. The swine had been raised on four different farms, being located in distinct regions of Germany (Brandenburg, Thuringia, Upper Franconia). Macroscopical and histological examination of 77 samples of livers revealed granulomatous to necrotizing hepatitis with attendance of numerous eosinophils. In 61 % (n = 47) of the lesions, eosinophilic, band-like acellular structures resembling the laminated layer of Echinococcus sp. were visible. Moreover, representative samples (n = 11) showed a positive reaction of these structures with Periodic acid-Schiff. Altogether, the findings were consistent with alveolar echinococcosis. Echinococcus multilocularis DNA could be demonstrated in selected samples (n = 7) by polymerase chain reaction. Epidemiological considerations suggest contamination of the forage with fox tapeworm eggs to be the most likely source of infection on two of the farms, as some of the fodder had been stored in the open, being amenable to infected definitive hosts. On the two other farms, mainly straw litter has to be taken into account regarding the transmission route, since carnivores excreting eggs of E. multilocularis could have gained access to the straw storage. The presented cases show that adequate mechanisms of meat inspection may provide important data for the purposes of surveillance and risk assessment of human alveolar echinococcosis.

A Study of Haptoglobin Levels in Groups of Cattle and Pigs With and Without Abnormalities at Meat Inspection

A total of 96 bovines originating from 36 farms and 97 pigs from five farms were slaughtered in two multispecies abattoirs and subjected to official meat inspection and haptoglobin (Hp) testing using a single radial immunodiffusion method. No direct correlation between Hp level and specific postmortem abnormalities was found at individual cattle/pig level. However, at animal group level, the mean of Hp values (in both cattle and pigs) were statistically significantly higher in animals with abnormalities than in those without. The study indicated that the mean Hp value in groups of cattle or pigs can be useful as an overall objective indicator of the overall status of cattle/pig batches when analyzing the food chain information as a part of the antemortem inspection at abattoirs, but related specific Hp criteria are currently missing. Because of the large variability and nonspecific nature of Hp-related responses in cattle and pigs, establishing a single, reliable cutoff Hp value differentiating batches that may pose public health risks does not appear as a realistic approach presently. Rather, establishing wider, unsatisfactory/marginal/satisfactory ranges of batch-based Hp values indicating general appropriateness of the cattle/pigs source appears more promising. For that, wider Hp baseline studies are necessary at abattoir.

ESTUDO MORFOLÓGICO DE RINS DE BOVINOS ABATIDOS EM FRIGORÍFICOS INDUSTRIAIS SOB INSPEÇÃO ESTADUAL NO OESTE E PLANALTO CATARINENSE, BRASIL

Criteria for condemnation or release of organs subjected to the official meat inspection service have been controversial. A morphological study has been carried on during routine inspection in commercial slaughterhouses to establish the main causes of kidney condemnation by the state inspection service. Gross official service condemnations were, due to cysts (35.04%), light spots (23.08%), light areas (20.51%), infarct (9.40%), dark areas (5.99%), irregular surface kidney (3.42%) and diverse causes (2.56%). Microscopically, condemned kidneys showed fibrosis with inflammatory infiltrate (26.51%), interstitial nephritis (20.51%), cyst (17.09%), cyst with pericapsular infiltrate (12.82%), cyst with interstitial nephritis (8.55%), calcifications (3.42%), cyst with inflammatory infiltrate and fibrosis (2.56%), increase of glomerular cellularity (0.85%), diverse causes (4.27%) and no changes (3.42%). Among non-condemned kidneys, 65.81% did not show any changes; however, interstitial nephritis (19.66%), calcifications (4.27%), increase of glomerular cellularity (5.13%), fibrosis associated to inflammatory infiltrate (1.71%) and diverse changes (3.42%) were observed. There are flaws in the state inspection service kidney inspection routine, since microscopic changes observed in 34.19% of the non-condemned kidneys were not detected by gross inspection, thus organs with lesions were passed for food. On the other hand, 3.42% of the kidneys from the condemned group were unnecessarily rejected, leading to profit loss. KEY WORDS: Bovine, histopathology, inspection, kidney. Keywords: kidney, histopathology, inspection, bovine

Estudo morfológico de fígado de bovinos abatidos em frigoríficos industriais sob inspeção estadual no Oeste e no Planalto de Santa Catarina, Brasil

Os critérios para condenação e liberação de órgãos submetidos ao serviço oficial de inspeção de carnes têm sido controversos. Argumenta-se que órgãos que não apresentam lesões macroscópicas visíveis podem ainda assim apresentar alterações microscópicas; por outro lado, órgãos rejeitados durante exame macroscópico podem revelar-se normais ao exame histológico. Um estudo morfológico, macroscópico e microscópico foi conduzido em fígados de bovinos durante a inspeção de rotina em frigoríficos comerciais. Os fígados de bovinos foram divididos em dois grupos: condenados e não-condenados, de acordo com os padrões de Serviço de Inspeção Animal do Estado de Santa Catarina (SIE). Fragmentos de fígados foram fixados em formol neutro a 10% e processados rotineiramente para exame histológico. Os objetivos foram estabelecer as principais razões para a condenação de fígados bovinos na rotina de inspeção de carnes do SIE, avaliar os fígados de ambos os grupos por exame histológico e estabelecer possíveis etiologias associadas às lesões que levaram à condenação. De acordo com o SIE, as razões para condenação foram: telangiectasia (32,2%), fasciolose (18,5%), abscessos (18,0%), manchas claras e irregulares (12,6%), aderências entre fígado e diafragma (6,0%), fígado amarelo e friável (4,2%), pontos claros ou escuros (3,6%), nódulos (1,8%) e outras causas (3,0%). No exame microscópico, os fígados do grupo condenado mostraram telangiectasia (25,7%), abscessos (18,0%), fasciolose (16,1%), fibrose capsular (13,2%), necrose aleatória (8,4%), degeneração (3,6%), infiltrado inflamatório (2,4%), neoplasia (1,8%), ausência de alterações (7,2%) e alterações variadas (3,6%). Dentre os fígados do grupo de não-condenados, 73,0% não tinham alterações macroscópicas; no entanto, observou-se infiltrado inflamatório (12,6%), necrose aleatória (7,8%), telangiectasia (4,8%), fasciolose (0,6%) e alterações variadas (1,2%). Conclui-se que existem incongruências na rotina de inspeção de carnes do SIE, uma vez que as alterações microscópicas observadas em 27% dos fígados não-condenados não foram detectadas pelo exame macroscópico e, assim, órgãos com lesão são liberados para consumo humano. Por outro lado, vários fígados do grupo condenado foram rejeitados de forma desnecessária, causando perdas econômicas importantes.

Prevalence of porcine cysticercosis and risk factors for Taenia solium taeniosis in Funyula Division of Busia District, Kenya

The prevalence of Cysticercus cellulosae in pigs was studied by antemortem lingual examination while the risk factors for Taenia solium taeniosis were evaluated by administration of a standard questionnaire. Antemortem lingual examination and palpation of 107 pigs of various ages showed that 15 (14%) had cysticercosis. Interviews of pig farmers in 72 households revealed that 98% allow their pigs to roam (free range) while only 2% tether their pigs. The tether ropes are weak and pigs easily break loose. There was no pig housing. Those households feeding pigs entirely on pasture were 89.6%, while 10% supplemented the pigs with fish waste (Omena) and brewers\' waste. Almost all the households (98%) had between 2 – 3 mature pigs. Fried pork was preferred by 85% of these households and 33% were practicing home slaughtering of pigs with no official meat inspection. Pit latrines were present in 83.3% of these households, which were used by adults. Pit latrines were lacking in 15% of the households while one household had a latrine, which was not used. Knowledge of Taenia solium taeniosis transmission was recorded in 37.5% of the households while 89.6% had previous tapeworm experiences. Those with active tapeworm infections composed 8.3% of the households. It was concluded that porcine cysticercosis is prevalent in free-range pigs in Funyula division. There is the possibility of Taenia solium taeniosis in human beings. The Kenya Veterinarian Vol. 29 2005: pp. 37-39