Incidence of potential pathogens on raw pork, beef and chicken in Sweden, with special reference to Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae

Abstract

In total, 135 samples divided between pork, beef and chicken were examined for the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila, Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter jejuni, Clostridium perfringens, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae, Escherichia coli, Listeria monocytogenes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus spp., and Yersinia enterocolitica. No Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes or Pseudomonas aeruginosa could be detected. The following bacteria were found at various incidences from all types of meat; A. hydrophila (24-33% of the samples were positive); E. coli (62-100%); S. aureus (13-73%; only two isolates produced enterotoxin); hemolytic streptococci (7-29%; Lancefield groups C, D and G); and Y. enterocolitica (2-24%; none of the isolates was considered as virulent when tested by the magnesium oxalate inhibition test). B. cereus and C. perfringens were found only on beef and pork (7 and 11%; and 2 and 22%, respectively); and C. jejuni only on chicken. E. rhusiopathiae was found on pork (36%) and chicken (13%). In a subsequent study, 196 pork loins and 73 samples of sausage obtained from two different slaughter houses were analyzed for E. rhusiopathiae. In one plant, 54% of the loins harbored the bacterium while only 4% of the samples were positive from the other plant. None of the sausage samples contained E. rhusiopathiae. Thirty-seven isolates were tested on mice; all died within 48 h.