title: Bacteriological evaluation of commercial canine and feline raw diets.
abstract: Twenty-five commercial raw diets for dogs and cats were evaluated bacteriologically. Coliforms were present in all diets, ranging from 3.5 x 10(3) to 9.4 x 10(6) CFU/g (mean 8.9 x 10(5); standard deviation 1.9 x 10(6)). Escherichia coli was identified in 15/25 (64%) diets; however, E. coli O157 was not detected. Salmonella spp. were detected in 5/25 (20%) diets; 1 each of beef-, lamb-, quail-, chicken-, and ostrich-based diets. Sporeforming bacteria were identified from 4/25 (16%) samples on direct culture and 25/25 (100%) samples using enrichment culture. Clostridium perfringens was identified in 5/25 (20%) samples. A toxigenic strain of C. difficile was isolated from one turkey-based food. Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from 1/25 (4%) diets. Campylobacter spp. were not isolated from any of the diets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1. jsweese@uoguelph.ca
authors.forename: J Scott
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Weese
authors.forename: Joyce
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rousseau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arroyo
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002415:Cats; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000032:analysis*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology