title: Comparison of whole carcass condemnation and partial carcass condemnation data for integration in a national syndromic surveillance system: the Swiss experience.
abstract: We obtained partial carcass condemnation (PCC) data for cattle (2009-2010) from a Swiss slaughterhouse. Data on whole carcass condemnations (WCC) carried out at the same slaughterhouse over those years were extracted from the national database for meat inspection. We found that given the differences observed in the WCC and PCC time series, it is likely that both indicators respond to different health events in the population and that one cannot be substituted by the other. Because PCC recordings are promising for syndromic surveillance, the meat inspection database should be capable to record both WCC and PCC data in the future. However, a standardised list of reasons for PCC needs to be defined and used nationwide in all slaughterhouses.
authors.affiliation: Vetsuisse Faculty, Veterinary Public Health Institute, Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland. Electronic address: flavie.vial@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
authors.forename: Flavie
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vial
authors.affiliation: Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office, Schwarzenburgstrasse 155, Bern CH-3003, Switzerland. Electronic address: martin.reist@blv.admin.ch.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Reist
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D013557:Switzerland
keywords: Cattle; Condemnation; Slaughterhouse; Syndromic surveillance