Survey on the hygienic status of plastic doors of a pig abattoir.
Three pig abattoirs in northeastern Germany were visited for examination of flexible plastic doors at the access to the chilling room. Swabs were taken from the front and back of the doors and were examined for aerobic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, and Campylobacter. The aerobic plate count was within the range of 1.2 to 4.1 log CFU/cm2 on the front. On the back, between 0.9 and 3.5 log CFU/cm2 were obtained. In all three abattoirs, Enterobacteriaceae, Salmonella, and Campylobacter were detected. The highest contamination was found at the bottom of the door wings. Transfer of pathogens via contact of carcasses and doors must be considered possible. As a consequence, this contact surface should be integrated into the control program of cleaning and disinfection.
Grosspietsch
Robin
R
Scientific Panel Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Meat Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Brümmerstr. 10, 14195 Berlin, Germany. grosspietsch.robin@vetmed.fu-berlin.de
Einschütz
Kathrin
K
Jaeger
Dorothea
D
Fries
Reinhard
R
D000003:Abattoirs / Q000592:standards*; D000818:Animals; D001420:Bacteria, Aerobic / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D012475:Salmonella / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013552:Swine