Contamination of pigs by Yersinia enterocolitica in the abattoir flowchart and its relation to the farm

ABSTRACT: The research intends to detect sources of contamination by Yersinia enterocolitica in the abattoir flowchart and endeavors to study its relation with the contamination in the farm. For this purpose, sixty pigs were followed up. In order to carry out the study, samples of faeces were collected from the animal farm, where the animals were originally kept and from the abattoir, directly from the animal’s rectum, after desensitization. Additionally, samples were also collected from the carcass, after passage into the hair removal machine, after evisceration, prior to entry into the cold chambre, from the jowls, and water of the scald tank, before the commencement of the abattoir as well as after the passage of the animals. Further, the isolates were obtained through microbiological analyzes, upon being identified by PCR and compared via rep-PCR. Basically, Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from three bays in the original farm (20 %) and from 20 samples (6.67 %), obtained in the abattoir flowchart. Comparison made via rep-PCR revealed that the contaminated pigs on the farm could carry the microorganism to different points in the abattoir flowchart. However, apart from the farm, other sources of the contamination were reported to be more frequent and diverse. Indeed, the chins and the carcass at the entrance of the cold chamber were identified as the most critical points. Therefore, we concluded that Y. enterocolitica present in the gastrointestinal tract of pigs on the farm, cannot be eliminated throughout theabattoir flowchart and remain in the chambers intended for the cold room.