title: Incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in meat production environments of a South Island (New Zealand) mutton slaughterhouse.
abstract: The results of a survey conducted at a South Island, New Zealand, abattoir are presented. Two-hundred-and-eighteen samples taken from ovine carcasses and the environment were analysed. The traditional cold enrichment, i.e. 4 degrees C for up to 16 weeks, was used. No isolations of listeriae were made from freshly dressed carcasses or from surfaces with which meat makes contact. However, seven isolates of Listeria monocytogenes were obtained from cold rooms operating at 5 degrees C and which are used to store carcasses. Also, a single isolate of L. ivanovii was obtained from a mesh screen strainer of the waste water treatment plant located near the works. The study indicates that ovine carcasses can be prepared free of L. monocytogenes, that cold rooms may be a source of these microorganisms and it also reconfirms that listeriae can be found in soil and fodder of animal paddocks adjacent to the abattoir.
authors.affiliation: MAF Quality Management, Meat Services, Invermay Agriculture Research Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand.
authors.forename: J Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Pociecha
authors.forename: K R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Manderson
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D003080:Cold Temperature; D003470:Culture Media; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D008460:Meat; D009520:New Zealand; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media