The prevalence of E-coli O157/O157:H7, L-monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on bovine carcasses in Turkey

Escherichia coli, O157, E. coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. are important foodborne pathogens, that some studies have demonstrated that cattle are a major reservoir of these pathogens. The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of E. coli O157/O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. on slaughtered bovine carcasses. In this study, five abattoirs in Afyonkarahisar were visited between March and August in 2005 in the center of Afyonkarahisar Province, Turkey. A total of 250 bovine carcasses were sampled by surface swabbing the carcasses at four points. The presence of E. coli O157/O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. in the samples collected from 250 cattle was determined with the application of the immunomagnetic separation method. Overall, the prevalence of E. coli O157/O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. was 3.2, 0.8, 6.8 and 10%, respectively. Our results demonstrated that bovine carcasses can also be a source for E. coli O157/O157:H7, L. monocytogenes and Salmonella spp. infections for humans. The widespread occurrence of these pathogens in slaughterhouses reinforces the need for the implementation of effective control measures.