title: Simultaneous occurrence of Salmonella enterica, Campylobacter spp. and Yersinia enterocolitica along the pork production chain from farm to meat processing in five conventional fattening pig herds in Lower Saxony.
abstract: The objectives of this study were to gather data on the occurrence of Salmonella (S.) enterica, Campylobacter spp. and Yersinia (Y.) enterocolitica along the pork production chain and to further analyze detected Salmonella isolates by additionally applying MLVA (multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis). In total, 336 samples were collected at primary production, slaughter and meat processing from five conventional fattening pig farms and one common slaughterhouse. At farm level, S. enterica, Campylobacter spp. and Y. enterocolitica were detected in 19.4%, 38.9% and 11.1% of pooled fecal samples of fattening pigs. At slaughter, more than two-thirds of examined carcasses, 24% of carcass surfaces samples and about 60% of cecal content samples were positive for at least one of the examined pathogens. An amount of 4% of meat samples were positive for non-human pathogenic Y. enterocolitica. Identical MLVA patterns of Salmonella isolates from farm- and associated slaughterhouse samples demonstrated transmission across both production stages. Other MLVA patterns found at slaughter indicated possible colonization of pigs during transport or lairage and/or cross-contamination during slaughter. Identical MLVA patterns from risk tissues and the nearby carcass surface evidenced a direct contamination of carcasses as well. Overall, our data showed wide distribution ranges for all three examined pathogens within the pig production chain and underline the need for appropriate intervention strategies at pre- and postharvest.
authors.forename: Jana-Kristin
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Niemann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Alter
authors.forename: Greta
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gölz
authors.forename: Erhard
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tietze
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fruth
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rabsch
authors.forename: Christiane
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: von Münchhausen
authors.forename: Roswitha
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Merle
authors.forename: Lothar
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kreienbrock
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs / Q000592:standards; D000818:Animals; D002167:Campylobacter / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002432:Cecum / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005511:Food Handling / Q000592:standards; D005858:Germany; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D018598:Minisatellite Repeats; D019779:Salmonella enterica / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013552:Swine; D015008:Yersinia enterocolitica / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*