Effective methods for preventing cross-contamination of Salmonella and Y enterocolitica in pigs are necessary to maintain pork quality. However, control mechanisms to limit microbial contamination at farm level have received much less attention than later stages of pork processing. In addition, in Ireland, there is very little data relating to Y enterocolitica on farms. This means that further research is required to understand (and influence) the epidemiology of Salmonella and Y enterocolitica at farm level. This study investigated possible routes of cross contamination, from 'birth to carcass', examining samples drawn on-farm, during transport, lairage, slaughter and carcass production. The study established farm level prevalence's of 2.9% for Salmonella and 0.72% for Y enterocolitica. PFGE analysis of Salmonella identified transmission of strains from the farm into the abattoir, and confirmed lairage pens as major sources of cross-contamination. Bioserotyping identified pathogenic biotypes and 'non-pathogenic' 1A strains among isolated Y enterocolitica. Such analysis also associated 8 out of 10 regional cases of clinical human infection with biotype 1A. The study established that properly applied/monitored scald tank procedures can eliminate Y enterocolitica biotype lA, suggesting scalding as an effective control point during slaughter processes. Investigation of a farm based intervention, i.e. treatment of slurry with urea or ammonia, established this process significantly reduced bacterial numbers and increasing slurry fertiliser value.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:626856 |
| Date | January 2013 |
| Creators | Ivory, Claire |
| Publisher | University of Ulster |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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