title: Relationship between the numbers of Escherichia coli and the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 on hides of carcasses at a large beef packing plant.
abstract: Due to the expense of monitoring multiple serotypes of Escherichia coli at slaughter, a study was conducted at a beef abattoir in southern Alberta to determine relationships between E. coli and E. coli O157:H7 on hides. Swab samples were collected from carcasses immediately prior to hide removal over 8 weeks in summer (n = 591) and winter (n = 686). Detection of E. coli was highest in summer (P < 0.05), although detection of E. coli O157:H7 did not differ by season. Numbers of E. coli did not vary by season, but were affected by slaughter plant hygiene schedules. E. coli O157:H7 was more likely (P < 0.001) to be detected on hides of carcasses with the most E. coli (>3.5 log CFU/50 cm²). For E. coli < 3.5 log CFU/50 cm², the likelihood of detecting E. coli O157:H7 did not differ. Consequently, for 83% of carcasses, there was no relationship between numbers of E. coli and detection of E. coli O157:H7 on hides.
authors.affiliation: Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Agriculture Centre, 5401 1st Avenue S, Lethbridge, Alberta T1J 4V6, Canada. kim.stanford@gov.ab.ca
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Stanford
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koohmaraie
authors.forename: C O
authors.initials: CO
authors.lastname: Gill
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs / Q000592:standards; D000416:Alberta; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005506:Food Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005516:Food Microbiology; D059022:Food Safety; D006920:Hygiene; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008462:Meat-Packing Industry / Q000592:standards; D015995:Prevalence; D012621:Seasons