Prevalence of Salmonella in two Botswana abattoir environments

• Published in: Journal of food protection Vol. 65; no. 12; pp. 1869 - 1872
• Main Authors: MOTSOELA, Cynthia, COLLISON, Ernest K, GASHE, Berhanu A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Des Moines, IA International Association of Milk, Food and Environmental Sanitarians 01.12.2002
• Subjects: Abattoirs; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Botswana - epidemiology; Cattle - microbiology; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Equipment Contamination; Feces - microbiology; Food industries; Food Microbiology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Meat and meat product industries; Prevalence; Salmonella - classification; Salmonella - isolation & purification; Serotyping; Soil Microbiology; Water Microbiology; Botswana; Africa; Hazard analysis critical control points; Salmonella; Prevalence; Surveillance; Quality control; Meat product; Bacteria; Biological contamination; Enterobacteriaceae; Slaughterhouse; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0362-028X; 1944-9097
• DOI: 10.4315/0362-028X-65.12.1869

A 1-year study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella in two abattoir environments coded "A" and "B" in Gaborone, Botswana. The total number of environmental samples collected from abattoirs A and B was 250 and 300, respectively. The samples were taken from soils in the corrals, knife blades, saw blades, cattle-drinking water, cattle feces, and feed. Preenrichment, enrichment, and selective/differential media, which enabled the favorable growth of Salmonella, were used in the study. Salmonellae were present in all sampled environments. The most common serotypes found in the environment at abattoir A were E1, C1, C2, and B. Serotypes B, C1, C2, C3, and E1 were common in abattoir B. Antigenic characterization of the salmonellae isolates showed that Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Azteca, Salmonella Saintpaul, Salmonella Cerro, and Salmonella Westhampton were predominant in abattoir A, whereas Salmonella Anatum, Salmonella Mbandaka, Salmonella Molade, Salmonella Reading, and Salmonella Oranienburg were dominant in abattoir B. Implementing hazard analysis critical control point principles in work procedures would definitely reduce the gross contamination taking place in abattoirs.