The effect of transportation and lairage on faecal shedding and carcass contamination with Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in very young calves in New Zealand

The effect of transportation and lairage on the faecal shedding and post-slaughter contamination of carcasses with Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in young calves (4–7-day-old) was assessed in a cohort study at a regional calf-processing plant in the North Island of New Zealand, following 60 calves as...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Epidemiology and infection 2018-07, Vol.146 (9), p.1089-1100
Main Authors: Jaros, P., Cookson, A. L., Reynolds, A., Withers, H., Clemens, R., Brightwell, G., Mills, J., Marshall, J., Prattley, D. J., Campbell, D. M., Hathaway, S., French, N. P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacteria
Calves
Carcasses
Cattle
Contamination
Dairy farms
E coli
Escherichia coli
Farms
Food contamination & poisoning
Food processing industry
Gastrointestinal Infection
Hygiene
Meat processing
Mucosa
Original Paper
Pollution control
Shedding
Shiga toxin
Slaughter
Transportation
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Summary:The effect of transportation and lairage on the faecal shedding and post-slaughter contamination of carcasses with Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in young calves (4–7-day-old) was assessed in a cohort study at a regional calf-processing plant in the North Island of New Zealand, following 60 calves as cohorts from six dairy farms to slaughter. Multiple samples from each animal at pre-slaughter (recto-anal mucosal swab) and carcass at post-slaughter (sponge swab) were collected and screened using real-time PCR and culture isolation methods for the presence of E. coli O157 and O26 (Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and non-STEC). Genotype analysis of E. coli O157 and O26 isolates provided little evidence of faecal–oral transmission of infection between calves during transportation and lairage. Increased cross-contamination of hides and carcasses with E. coli O157 and O26 between co-transported calves was confirmed at pre-hide removal and post-evisceration stages but not at pre-boning (at the end of dressing prior to chilling), indicating that good hygiene practices and application of an approved intervention effectively controlled carcass contamination. This study was the first of its kind to assess the impact of transportation and lairage on the faecal carriage and post-harvest contamination of carcasses with E. coli O157 and O26 in very young calves.
ISSN:0950-2688
1469-4409
DOI:10.1017/S0950268818000973