Microbial Populations on Hides of Grazing Steers in a Forage-Based Production System in Uruguay

2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (9) ◽  
pp. 1919-1921
Author(s):  
PABLO J. ROVIRA ◽  
JOSÉ I. VELAZCO

The objective of the study was to evaluate the microbiological status of hides of grazing steers in a typical forage-based system in Uruguay. The study was conducted on a single farm with samples taken on 3 days during the spring of 2007. Four anatomical hide sites (perineum area, flank, back, and shoulder) of 10 steers were individually swabbed each sampling day at the farm environment (n = 120). Each sample was analyzed by the Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay for aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), and Escherichia coli counts (ECC). Mean log values for APC, TCC, and ECC on external animal hide surfaces, across all sampling sites, were 5.52, 1.89, and 1.70 log CFU/cm2, respectively. There were no significant differences among bacterial counts from the four hide surface locations. Mean log values for APC, TCC, and ECC were 1.49, 1.15, and 1.12 log CFU/cm2 lower, respectively, on sampling day 2 than on sampling day 3. Microbial populations on hides of grazing steers are highly variable and dependent on climatic and environmental conditions. To our knowledge this is the first study published evaluating the hygienic conditions of grazing livestock operations in Uruguay and their potential implications on the red meat chain.

1999 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 140-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN N. SOFOS ◽  
SHERRI L. KOCHEVAR ◽  
GINA R. BELLINGER ◽  
DENNIS R. BUEGE ◽  
DALE D. HANCOCK ◽  
...  

This study determined microbiological loads of beef carcasses at different stages during the slaughtering to chilling process in seven (four steer/heifer and three cow/bull) plants. Potential sources of contamination (feces, air, lymph nodes) were also tested. Each facility was visited twice, once in November through January (wet season) and again in May through June (dry season). Carcasses were sampled by aseptic excision of surface tissue (100 cm2) from the brisket, flank, and rump (30 samples each) after hide removal (pre-evisceration), after final carcass washing, and after 24-h carcass chilling. The samples were analyzed individually by standard procedures for aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), Escherichia coli biotype I counts (ECC), and presence of Salmonella. Incidence of Salmonella was higher on dry feces of older compared to younger animals, fresh feces of younger compared to older animals, and on cow/bull carcasses compared to steer/heifer carcasses. Most factors and their interactions had significant (P ≤ 0.05) effects on the bacterial counts obtained. Depending on plant and season, APC, TCC, and ECC were ≤104, ≤102, and ≤101 CFU/cm2 in 46.7 to 93.3, 50.0 to 100.0, and 74.7 to 100.0% of the samples, respectively. TCC exceeded 103 CFU/cm2 in 2.5% (wet season) and 1.5% (dry season) of the samples. ECC exceeded 102 CFU/cm2 in 8.7%, 0.3%, and 1.5% of the pre-evisceration, final carcass-washing, and 24-h carcass-chilling samples, respectively, during the wet season; the corresponding numbers during the dry season were 3.5%, 2.2%, and 3.0%, respectively. These data should serve as a baseline for future comparisons in measuring the microbiological status of beef carcasses, as the new inspection requirements are implemented.


2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-81
Author(s):  
OR Afolabi ◽  
AR Oloyede ◽  
TA Ibrahim

The bacterial quality of eight types of fresh produce obtained from selected markets in Abeokuta was determined. Two hundred forty (240) samples of fresh vegetables were examined for aerobic plate counts, coliform counts, and presence of Escherichia coli, toxigenic Staphylococcusaureus, Salmonella spp and Listeria spp. The aerobic plate counts ranged from 2.80 log10 cfu/g to 15.60 log10 cfu/g with the inner parts of cut- water melons having the highest value. Total coliform counts ranged from 0.0 to 11.80 log10 cfu/g. Pathogenic bacteria isolated were Escherichia coli,Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp, Listeria spp, Shigella dysenteriae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus spp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Streptococcus spp. These pathogens were mostly found at the outer leaves/ parts of the vegetables and render unsafe for human consumption. This study shows that the outer parts/ leaves of fresh produce are heavily contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and the fresh produce should be pre- treated thoroughly, so as to reduce the risk of food- borne outbreaks.Keywords · Pathogenic bacteria · Bacterial quality · Coliform counts


1992 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 104-107
Author(s):  
DEOGHWAN OH ◽  
DOUGLAS L. MARSHALL ◽  
MICHAEL W. MOODY ◽  
J. DAVID BANKSTON

Microbiological analyses were made on samples of cooked blue crab taken immediately after debacking and either forced-air cooling or static-air cooling. Forced-air cooling had significantly lower (P<0.05) total coliform and fecal coliform counts, 2.51 and 2.30 log10 MPN/100 g, compared with those of static-air cooling, 2.83 and 2.60 log10 MPN/100 g. All treatments had less than 2.30 log10 MPN/100 g Escherichia coli. Staphylococcus aureus counts in the forced-air cooled crabs were approximately 4-fold lower than counts in static-air cooled crabs. The aerobic plate counts and psychrotrophic plate counts were significantly lower (P<0.01) by 1.04 and 0.81 log10 CFU/g, respectively, by forced-air cooling compared to static-air cooling. Thermocouple temperature readings were used to determine differences in cooling rates between forced-air and static-air cooling. After 1.5 h of cooling, the initial precooled crabmeat temperature of 34°C (93°F) was reduced by forced-air cooling and static-air cooling to 4°C (40°F) and 20°C (67°F), respectively. The rates of cooling using forced-air and static-air were significantly different (P<0.01).


2006 ◽  
Vol 69 (7) ◽  
pp. 1514-1517 ◽  
Author(s):  
JAMES E. KENNEDY ◽  
SALLY K. WILLIAMS ◽  
TED BROWN ◽  
PHIL MINERICH

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, other E. coli strains, total coliforms, and aerobic organisms on the surface of subprimal beef cuts prior to enhancement. Subprimal cuts were sampled during winter (January and February 2004) and summer (August through October 2004). During each collection period, six representative subprimal cuts (chuck tenders, 0.64-cm trimmed strips, bottom round flat, rough-trimmed brisket, cap-on top rounds, and cap-off insides) were sampled. A total of 600 samples in winter (100 samples per cut) and 599 samples in summer (100 chuck tenders, 100 0.64-cm trimmed strips, 100 bottom round flats, 100 cap-off insides, 97 rough-trimmed briskets, and 102 cap-on top rounds) were collected from five plants in the Midwest, southern Midwest, northern Midwest, and Southeast and swabbed using the sponge swab method. All sponges were analyzed for E. coli O157:H7. In addition, 400 subprimal cuts from four plants were analyzed for aerobic plate counts, total coliforms, and other E. coli strains during each collection period. E. coli O157:H7 was not detected on any of the 1,199 subprimal samples; thus, incidence of E. coli O157:H7 was <0.083%. Seasonal differences between aerobic plate counts and total coliform counts for each of the same cuts were 1.0 log CFU per cut or less. E. coli strains were not detected in 82, 52, 69, and 82% of the chuck tenders, 0.64-cm trimmed strips, bottom round flats, and cap-off insides, respectively.


1999 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 1255-1259 ◽  
Author(s):  
LORENZO M. WARE ◽  
MINDY L. KAIN ◽  
JOHN N. SOFOS ◽  
KEITH E. BELK ◽  
GARY C. SMITH

Sponging and excising were evaluated as sampling procedures for microbiological analysis of beef-carcass tissue. Brisket tissue portions (10 × 10 cm) were inoculated with 2 ml of an Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 cell suspension (3 × 108 CFU/ml). After 30 min, the portions were sampled by excising (EX) or swabbing (SP) with a sterile sponge and were analyzed for aerobic plate counts on tryptic soy agar and for total coliform counts and E. coli counts on Petrifilm E. coli count plates. Another set of inoculated samples was analyzed after being spray washed, in sequence, with water (6 s, 35°C, 3.4 bar), acetic acid (2%, 6 s, 35°C, 2.1 bar), water (20 s, 42°C, 20.7 bar), and acetic acid (2%, 6 s, 35°C, 2.1 bar). Additional samples were sampled for analysis after chilling at 7°C for 24 h. Bacterial counts recovered were influenced (P ≤ 0.05) by procedure of sampling (EX versus SP), time of sampling (0.5 versus 24 h), and by their interactions. Counts recovered 0.5 h after inoculation from unwashed or spray-washed samples were similar between the two sampling procedures (EX and SP). However, counts recovered after 24 h of sample storage were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) lower for the SP compared with the EX procedure. The results indicated that as the carcass tissue was stored, recovery of bacteria by SP was less efficient than was recovery by EX.


2008 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-51 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. DEANN AKINS ◽  
MARK A. HARRISON ◽  
WILLIAM HURST

In recent years, several foodborne illness outbreaks have been associated with the consumption of cantaloupe. Cantaloupes can be contaminated with pathogens anywhere from the field to the packing line. In the United States, cantaloupes are handled and packed differently in each state. Georgia-grown cantaloupes are brought to sheds, washed, and packed, whereas California-grown cantaloupes are field packed. In this study, the microbiological status of cantaloupes produced by four Georgia growers that use various washing and packing practices was assessed to determine the influence of these different practices. The facilities were visited four times during the harvest season. Aerobic bacteria, Escherichia coli, and coliforms on these Georgia-grown cantaloupes were enumerated in transport trailers, after washing, and after packing. Samples also were analyzed for the presence of Salmonella and E. coli O157:H7. In sheds 1 and 4, a chlorinated dump tank was used to wash melons. In sheds 2 and 3, heated water with chlorine was used in the dump tanks. Although there was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the populations of the aerobic bacteria and E. coli between the transport trailer and the dump tank for sheds 1 and 4, the reduction was less than 0.5 log CFU/cm2. The temperatures of the water in the dump tanks at sheds 2 and 3 were not high enough to effectively reduce the microbial populations evaluated. Populations on the melons increased slightly (<0.5 log CFU/cm2) after the melons were removed from the dump tank, suggesting possible contamination after washing.


2007 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1393-1401 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. D. STOPFORTH ◽  
R. O'CONNOR ◽  
M. LOPES ◽  
B. KOTTAPALLI ◽  
W. E. HILL ◽  
...  

Changes in aerobic plate counts (APC), total coliform counts (TCC), Escherichia coli counts (ECC), and Salmonella incidence on poultry carcasses and parts and in poultry processing water were evaluated. Bacterial counts were estimated before and after individual interventions and after poultry carcasses were exposed to multiple-sequential interventions at various stages during the slaughter process. Individual and multiple-sequential interventions were evaluated at three processing plants: (i) plant A (New York wash, postevisceration wash, inside-outside bird washes 1 and 2, chlorine dioxide wash, chlorine dioxide wash plus chlorine chiller, chiller exit spray, and postchiller wash), (ii) plant B (New York wash, inside-outside bird washes 1 and 2, trisodium phosphate wash, and chlorine chiller), and (iii) plant C (trisodium phosphate wash and chlorine chiller). The majority of individual interventions effectively or significantly (P < 0.05) reduced microbial populations on or in carcasses, carcass parts, and processing water. Reductions in APC, TCC, and ECC due to individual interventions ranged from 0 to 1.2, 0 to 1.2, and 0 to 0.8 log CFU/ml, respectively. Individual interventions reduced Salmonella incidence by 0 to 100% depending on the type of process and product. Multiple-sequential interventions resulted in significant reductions (P < 0.05) in APC, TCC, ECC, and Salmonella incidence of 2.4, 2.8, and 2.9 log CFU/ml and 79%, respectively, at plant A; 1.8, 1.7, and 1.6 log CFU/ml and 91%, respectively, at plant B; and 0.8, 1.1, and 0.9 log CFU/ml and 40%, respectively, at plant C. These results enabled validation of in-plant poultry processing interventions and provide a source of information to help the industry in its selection of antimicrobial strategies.


2000 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1080-1086 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. T. BACON ◽  
K. E. BELK ◽  
J. N. SOFOS ◽  
R. P. CLAYTON ◽  
J. O. REAGAN ◽  
...  

Multiple-sequential interventions were applied commercially to reduce beef carcass contamination in eight packing plants. The study evaluated microbial populations on animal hides and changes in carcass microbial populations at various stages in the slaughtering process. Sponge swab samples yielded mean (log CFU/100 cm2) total plate counts (TPC), total coliform counts (TCC), and Escherichia coli counts (ECC) on the exterior hide in the ranges of 8.2 to 12.5, 6.0 to 7.9, and 5.5 to 7.5, respectively, while corresponding contamination levels on carcass surfaces, after hide removal but before application of any decontamination intervention, were in the ranges of 6.1 to 9.1, 3.0 to 6.0, and 2.6 to 5.3, respectively. Following the slaughtering process and application of multiple-sequential decontamination interventions that included steam vacuuming, pre-evisceration carcass washing, pre-evisceration organic acid solution rinsing, hot water carcass washing, postevisceration final carcass washing, and postevisceration organic acid solution rinsing, mean TPC, TCC, and ECC on carcass surfaces were 3.8 to 7.1, 1.5 to 3.7, and 1.0 to 3.0, respectively, while corresponding populations following a 24 to 36 h chilling period were 2.3 to 5.3, 0.9 to 1.3, and 0.9, respectively. The results support the concept of using sequential decontamination processes in beef packing plants as a means of improving the microbiological quality of beef carcasses.


2018 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 400-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guodong Zhang ◽  
Yi Chen ◽  
Lijun Hu ◽  
David Melka ◽  
Hua Wang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to assess the microbiological status of leafy greens, sprouts, and melons from U.S. markets. A total of 14,183 samples of leafy greens, 2,652 samples of sprouts, and 3,411 samples of melons were collected throughout the United States from 2009 to 2014. The samples were analyzed for aerobic plate counts, total coliform counts, Escherichia coli counts, and the presence and levels of Salmonella, Shigella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC), depending on the year and type of produce. Among the leafy greens, no E. coli O157:H7 or non-O157 STEC were detected from iceberg lettuce samples. The overall prevalences of Salmonella, E. coli O157:H7, non-O157 STEC, and L. monocytogenes in the 14,183 samples of leafy greens were 0.05, 0.01, 0.07, and 0.11%, respectively. Among sprout samples, no Salmonella or E. coli O157:H7 was detected, and the overall prevalences of non-O157 STEC and L. monocytogenes were 0.04 and 0.11%, respectively. Among melon samples, no Salmonella was detected from cucumbers, no L. monocytogenes was detected from cantaloupes, and the overall prevalences of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes were 0.12 and 0.23%, respectively. L. monocytogenes levels were 0.4 to 1,470 most probable number (MPN)/g in leafy greens, 0.36 to 1,100 MPN/g in sprouts, and <0.03 to 150 MPN/g in melons, and most positive samples had low levels of these pathogens. The isolates from these foods were very diverse genetically. Foodborne pathogens, including Salmonella, STEC, and L. monocytogenes, had relatively low prevalences in the produce surveyed. Because these foods are usually consumed raw, measures should be taken to significantly minimize the presence and levels of human pathogens.


2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-77
Author(s):  
Tu Lijun ◽  
Sun Hanju ◽  
He Shudong ◽  
Zhu Yongsheng ◽  
Yu Ming ◽  
...  

The aim of this study was to investigate epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) prebiotics activities systematically which was reported as a bioactive substance. Therefore, EGCG was separated by water extraction, resin purification and prep-HPLC. Then the production of EGCG was confirmed by HPLC and mass spectrometry (MS) analysis and its purify was 97.23%. EGCG extractive and green tea extract (GTE) were further incubated with Bifidobacterium infantis, B. adolescentis, B. bifidum and Lactobacillus acidophilus to study its effect on microbial populations and medium pH. Finally, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were employed as pathogenic bacteria to explore the antimicrobial activity of EGCG and GTE. The results demonstrated that EGCG extractive could be beneficial for the proliferation of Bifidobacterium and L. acidophilus and also inhibit some pathogenic bacteria. In conclusion, both EGCG extractive and GTE had prebiotics activities and the effects of EGCG extractive were superior to those of GTE.


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