Variability in Broiler Carcass Bacterial Load at Three Abattoirs, as Measured by a Hydrophobic Grid Membrane Filter Interpreter

1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 700-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. BRUCE MCNAB ◽  
SHANE A. RENWICK ◽  
H. RUFFNER LOWMAN ◽  
ROBERT C. CLARKE

In this observational study, the variability of broiler carcass bacterial load was investigated at three federally inspected abattoirs, using an automated hydrophobic grid membrane filter interpreter system. The measurement protocol involved: whole carcass rinses aided by a mechanical carcass shaker; filtration of rinse solutions through hydrophobic grid membrane filters (HGMF) (ISO-GRID®, QA Laboratories, Ltd., Toronto, Ont.); and use of an automated HGMF interpreter (MI-100 HGMF Interpreter System, Richard Brancker Research, Ltd., Ottawa, Ont.). Carcass and lot mean bacterial loads were measured, respectively, in units of log10 most probable number (MPN) of mesophylic aerobic colony forming units per gram of carcass (LgMPN/g), and slaughter lot mean LgMPN/g (LMLgMPN/g). Whole carcass rinses were conducted on a total of 1,917 carcasses, among 96 slaughter lots from three abattoirs. Overall, the LgMPN/g ranged from 1.054 to 4.180 with a mean of 2.585 and a variance of 0.263. These corresponded to MPN/g counts from 11 to 15,135 and a geometric mean of 385 MPN/g. Statistically significant differences were observed between abattoirs and between lots within abattoirs. The intra-abattoir correlation coefficient of LgMPN/g was r = 0.180 (p < 0.001). The within abattoir intralot correlation coefficient was r = 0.259 (p < 0.001). In this data set, approximately 56, 26, and 18% of the variability in LgMPN/g were attributed to factors operating at the individual bird, lot, and abattoir levels of organization, respectively. Factors significantly associated with LMLgMPN/g included: abattoir (p < 0.001), transportation time from farm to abattoir (p < 0.001), and waiting time from arrival at the abattoir yard to actual slaughter (p = 0.002). Analysis of a series of five repeat rinses, conducted on one bird from each of the 96 study lots, demonstrated that bacterial counts in the second to fifth sequential rinses were positively associated with the bacterial count of the first rinse. Also, after adjusting for the initial count, a pattern of decreasing counts was observed in subsequent rinses.

2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (11) ◽  
pp. 1828-1832 ◽  
Author(s):  
YI CHEN ◽  
LAUREL S. BURALL ◽  
DUMITRU MACARISIN ◽  
RÉGIS POUILLOT ◽  
ERROL STRAIN ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT A most-probable-number (MPN) method was used to enumerate Listeria monocytogenes in 2,320 commercial ice cream scoops manufactured on a production line that was implicated in a 2015 listeriosis outbreak in the United States. The analyzed samples were collected from seven lots produced in November 2014, December 2014, January 2015, and March 2015. L. monocytogenes was detected in 99% (2,307 of 2,320) of the tested samples (lower limit of detection, 0.03 MPN/g), 92% of which were contaminated at <20 MPN/g. The levels of L. monocytogenes in these samples had a geometric mean per lot of 0.15 to 7.1 MPN/g. The prevalence and enumeration data from an unprecedented large number of naturally contaminated ice cream products linked to a listeriosis outbreak provided a unique data set for further understanding the risk associated with L. monocytogenes contamination for highly susceptible populations.


1991 ◽  
Vol 54 (8) ◽  
pp. 619-622 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. BRUCE MCNAB ◽  
CHRISTINE M. FORSBERG ◽  
ROBERT C. CLARKE

The performance of a system to measure broiler carcass hygiene was investigated in the abattoir environment. The system involved: whole carcass rinses aided by a mechanical carcass shaker; filtration of rinse solutions though hydrophobic grid membrane filters (HGMF) (ISO-GRIDR, QA Laboratories Ltd.); and use of an automated HGMF interpreter. The interpreter recorded culture results in units of most probable number (MPN) of aerobic bacteria, in electronic data files (MI-100 HGMF Interpreter System, Richard Brancker Research Ltd.). Set-up and operation of the system by government inspection staff at an abattoir ran relatively smoothly with minimal interference to normal plant operation. The system demonstrated good repeatability in measuring log10 most probable number per gram of carcass (LgMPN/g), between repeat readings of the same filters (r=0.993 p<0.001), and good repeatability between repeat filters within the same carcass rinses (r=0.970 p<0.001). Overall, the LgMPN/g ranged from 0.258 to 3.955 with a mean of 2.276 and a variance of 0.324. These corresponded to MPN/g counts in the range of 2 to 9000 and a geometric mean of 188.8 MPN/g. A regression model was developed to investigate poultry supplier and abattoir effects on the variability of counts. A significant supplier effect was observed. The addition of two more carcass showers located just after the venting machine along the evisceration line was not associated with a change in carcass hygiene.


2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alok Kumar Singh ◽  
Anand Prakash Singh ◽  
Sanjay Srivastava

In India source of drinking water at Varanasi city for common people are tap water, well, hand pump, Ganga river and stored tank water collected from bore well. All water samples were studied to assess their bacteriological characteristics and suitability for potable purposes. A cross-sectional epidemiological method was adopted to investigate the drinking water of six different sites of Varanasi city. The bacteriological examination of water samples included the most probable number of presumptive coliforms, faecal coliforms, and total bacterial count. The results showed that the total coliform count was detected in all the site. In all the methods coliforms presence was indicated. Maximum number of coliform observed in all the seasons, were from river and well water followed by hand pump, tap water and stored tank. The most common group of indicator organisms used in water quality monitoring are coliforms. These organisms are representative of bacteria normally present in the intestinal tract of mammals including human. Contamination of water may occur through different way like sewage disposal in the river, seepage of bathing near sites, fecal excreta of human, bird and other animals. Improving and expanding the existing water treatment and sanitation systems are more likely to provide good, safe and sustainable sources of water in the long term.


1980 ◽  
Vol 43 (7) ◽  
pp. 563-563
Author(s):  
E. P. MERRILL

Of 658 individual water supplies tested over an 8-year period, 69% of drilled wells, 62% of driven wells, 27% of dug wells and 32% of springs were judged acceptable on the basis of a single test for total coliforms. The acceptability standard consisted of 0 to 1 coliforms/100 ml of sample by the membrane filter method or a Most Probable Number index of less than 2.2 (presumptive and confirmed tests).


1997 ◽  
Vol 60 (8) ◽  
pp. 883-890 ◽  
Author(s):  
PHYLLIS ENTIS ◽  
IRINA LERNER

Two 24-hour presumptive enumeration methods for Escherichia coli O157:H7 organisms based on the hydrophobic grid membrane filter (ISO-GRID) and using SD-39 agar, a new selective and differential culture medium, were developed and compared to a 3-tube MPN (most probable number) method using modified tryptone soy broth enrichment. The comparative study comprised 22 combinations of storage conditions and food products, including a variety of raw and cooked meats and several dairy products. The ISO-GRID direct filtration method produced counts which were equivalent to or significantly higher than the 3-tube MPN method for all food-storage combinations except for frozen pasteurized whole egg. The ISO-GRID resuscitation method produced counts equivalent to the 3-tube MPN method for the frozen egg.


1983 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 733-736 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. L. PAYNE ◽  
A. P. DURAN ◽  
J. M. LANIER ◽  
A. H. SCHWAB ◽  
R. B. READ ◽  
...  

A national survey was conducted of the microbiological quality of three dry ingredients used in beverages and one frozen non-dairy topping obtained at retail markets. Geometric mean aerobic plate counts (APCs) of units examined at 35°C were as follows: 1,313 units of cocoa powder, 6,600 CFU/g; 1,552 units of dry instant chocolate drink mix, 290 CFU/g; 1,559 units of dry non-dairy coffee creamer, 37 CFU/g; and 1,532 units of frozen non-dairy topping, 34 CFU/g. At 30°C, the geometric mean APC was 34 CFU/g for frozen nondairy topping. Geometric means for most probable number determinations of coliform bacteria and Escherichia coli were <3/g for the four products. Geometric mean values for Staphylococcus aureus in three of the products were <10/g; no S. aureus was found in cocoa powder. Geometric mean values for yeasts and molds in dry instant chocolate drink mix and dry nondairy coffee creamer were 8 and 6 CFU/g, respectively.


Ring ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-30
Author(s):  
Przemysław Busse

ABSTRACT Even though the proportion of wind farm victims compared to general bird species mortality is relatively low, there is necessity to limit direct and indirect losses to the bird populations caused by this kind of human activity. Estimation of threats to the birds resulting from building of wind farms is a very difficult task and it must take into account several constrains. The basic task is to build farms in localities that are the safest to birds. This can be achieved by pre-investment monitoring and direct observations at the spot and then evaluation of potential threats and risks. Field methods typical for the studies on bird populations are usually applied in such monitoring. The procedure described below includes four steps: screening (starts the process and sets preliminary constrains of the location), monitoring (standardised data are collected at the location), estimations of potential collision risk and evaluation of the location. The key parameters determining collision risk of bird species are: (1) the number of individuals utilising the monitored area in different seasons, (2) air space utilization (height and directions of flights), as well as (3) characteristics of the species behaviour. The starting data set contains: species name, number of individuals, height of flight (three layers - below, in, above the rotor), and distance from the observer. The final estimation of the collision index (the most probable number of collisions per turbine a year) is based on (1) estimation of the total number of individuals that use the defined area during a year and (2) estimation of probability that the individual will collide. In the latter (i.e. 2) the most important is that birds can actively avoid passing through the rotor swept (active avoidance rate) and that even birds, which crossed the rotor swept area not necessarily will be killed. Calculations are performed for each species separately and then are summarised to get the farm index as well as season indices. Some values of indices for raptors studied at 76 localities in Poland are given in the table. The final evaluation of the site is made as shown in a parametric analysis table, discussion of cumulative and barrier effects and the discussion of species specific risk to species of high conservation concern.


1993 ◽  
Vol 56 (8) ◽  
pp. 694-699 ◽  
Author(s):  
SHANE A. RENWICK ◽  
W. BRUCE MCNAB ◽  
H. RUFFNER LOWMAN ◽  
ROBERT C. CLARKE

Roaster chicken carcasses (2,928) were collected from the evisceration line of a poultry abattoir over a 5-month period and identified as to the lot (truck load) and supplier. Bacterial load was determined by mechanically rinsing each eviscerated carcass in sterile water and then using an automated hydrophobic grid membrane interpreter system to obtain the log10 most probable number of aerobic bacteria per gram of carcass. Analysis of variance demonstrated that the between-carcass, between-lots-within-supplier, and between-supplier components of variability in bacterial load represented 73.2, 14.2, and 12.6% of the total variability, respectively. There was a significant (p < 0.001) supplier and lots-within-supplier effect on bacterial load of carcasses. A regression model demonstrated that bacterial load of lots significantly (p ≤ 0.05) decreased with increasing hours of operation of the evisceration line. Factors in the model which were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) associated with increased bacterial load included longer crating and holding times, higher visible contamination scores, slaughter during winter months, higher outdoor temperatures, and slaughter of lots composed of only pullets. The model explained about 23% of the variability in bacterial load.


2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (12) ◽  
pp. 2179-2186
Author(s):  
ALAN GUTIERREZ ◽  
JAYSANKAR DE ◽  
KEITH R. SCHNEIDER

ABSTRACT For over a decade, Salmonella contamination has increasingly led to outbreaks of foodborne illness associated with fresh produce. The use of untreated animal manures, or biological soil amendments of animal origin, to amend agricultural soils holds a risk of contamination from foodborne pathogens, such as Salmonella. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence, concentration, serotypes, and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella in poultry litter from Florida farms. Litter pH, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus (P2O5), total potassium (K2O), moisture content, total solids, total ash, organic matter, and aerobic plate count (APC) were also measured. Litter samples (n = 54) were collected from 18 broiler farms across three seasons (spring, summer, and winter). Salmonella concentrations were enumerated using a most-probable-number (MPN) method, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed. The prevalence of Salmonella in litter samples was 61.1%, with a geometric mean of 0.21 ± 20.7 MPN/g. Across all seasons, Salmonella concentrations were not influenced by the chemical, physical, or microbial properties measured. Recovered Salmonella isolates (n = 290) were grouped into serogroups O:4 (43.1%), O:7 (26.9%), O:8 (11.0%), O:1,3,10,19 (7.9%), and O:9,46 (7.2%). Serotyping Salmonella isolates (n = 47) resulted in 12 serotypes, with the most common being Typhimurium (27.7%), Kentucky (17.0%), Enteritidis (14.9%), and Mbandaka (14.9%). Antimicrobial resistance to tetracycline (29.8%), sulfisoxazole (23.4%), and streptomycin (14.9%) was observed. No isolates were resistant to more than two antimicrobial agents. This study provides valuable information for future risk assessments for the use of poultry litter as an untreated biological soil amendment of animal origin. HIGHLIGHTS


2016 ◽  
Vol 79 (8) ◽  
pp. 1304-1315 ◽  
Author(s):  
LINDA J. HARRIS ◽  
VANESSA LIEBERMAN ◽  
RUPINDER P. MASHIANA ◽  
EDWARD ATWILL ◽  
MAI YANG ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT After harvest, pistachios are hulled with mechanical abrasion and then separated in a float tank containing water; the nuts that float (~15%; floaters) and those that sink (~85%; sinkers) are dried and stored separately. To determine the prevalence of Salmonella in pistachios, a total of 3,966 samples (1,032 floaters and 2,934 sinkers) were collected within 4 months of the 2010, 2011, and 2012 harvests from storage silos (12 samples from each silo, in most cases) and were stored at 4°C; 100-g subsamples were enriched for the presence of Salmonella. Twenty-one of the floater samples and 11 of the sinker samples were positive for Salmonella: 2.0% prevalence (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.3 to 3.1%) and 0.37% prevalence (95% CI, 0.21 to 0.67%), respectively, for a weighted average prevalence of 0.61%. Levels of Salmonella were determined for positive samples using a most-probable-number (MPN) method with multiple 50-g, three 5.6-g, and three 0.56-g subsamples. Geometric mean levels of Salmonella in floaters and sinkers were 0.66 MPN/100 g (0.14 to 5.3 MPN/100 g) and 0.18 MPN/100 g (0.10 to 0.62 MPN/100 g), respectively. Seven different serovars were identified among the isolates, with nine pulsed-field gel electrophoresis fingerprints; as many as four serovars were isolated from some samples. Salmonella serovars Montevideo (44%), Enteritidis (19%), Senftenberg (16%), Worthington (12%), and Liverpool (9.4%) were most commonly isolated from the initial 100-g samples. The prevalence and levels of Salmonella in pistachios are within those observed for other tree nuts, but the limited number of serovars isolated suggests a narrow and persistent contamination source.


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