Presence of Mycobacterium avium subspecies and hepatitis E virus in raw meat products.
Meat and meat products may be the source of various pathogenic and potentially pathogenic agents for humans. We ascertained the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, subsp. avium, and subsp. hominissuis, and hepatitis E virus in retail raw meat products. The DNA of at least one of the target M. avium subspecies was detected in 26 (29.2%) of 89 analyzed samples of meat products. Fourteen (15.7%), 1 (1.1%), and 17 (19.1%) samples contained the DNA of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, subsp. avium, and subsp. hominissuis, respectively. The number of mycobacterial cells per gram of meat products determined by real-time quantitative PCR ranged from 1.15 × 10(2) to 6.97 × 10(3). Mycobacterium chitae and Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum were isolated from three (3.4%) samples. Culture examination was not positive for any M. avium subspecies. Hepatitis E virus RNA was not detected in any of the samples.
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Alena
A
Lorencova
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Petra
P
Vasickova
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic.
Jitka
J
Makovcova
Veterinary Research Institute, Hudcova 70, 621 00 Brno, Czech Republic. slana@vri.cz.
Iva
I
Slana
D000818:Animals; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D059022:Food Safety; D016752:Hepatitis E virus / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D008461:Meat Products / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000821:virology; D016927:Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial