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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Ames, Iowa » National Animal Disease Center » Food Safety and Enteric Pathogens Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #133672
Title: DEVELOPMENT OF A SPATIALLY VALID SAMPLYING TECHNIQUE FOR THE ENUMERATION OF SALMONELLA IN THE SWINE ABATTOIR HOLDING PEN

Author
item O'CONNOR, A - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item Gailey, Jared
item Hurd, Howard

Submitted to: International Association for Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 7/3/2002
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Recent research has indicated that the holding pens of swine abattoirs may be an important source of Salmonella infection in swine entering the food chain. The risk posed by this Salmonella source is difficult to gauge because little work has been done on how to properly measure the amounts of Salmonella in this type of environment. This research was designed to provide insight into how Salmonella is spread throughout the entire pen. Samples (approximately 100 per pen) were taken at specified intervals in each of three pens using a grid system to obtain a picture of the Salmonella levels throughout the entire pen. The Salmonella at each specified sampling point were enumerated. From this information, the distribution patterns of Salmonella throughout the pen could be determined. The average number of Salmonella present in the pens was 10**3 organisms per ml of fluid collected with a range of 0 to 10**5 organisms per ml. Using this information, statistical spatial analysis was performed, to determine a sampling method that provides a good approximation of the overall amount of Salmonella in a pen as well as the amount of variability in Salmonella levels throughout the pen. This information will provide a method for properly sampling a pen that uses far fewer samples than the approximately 100 used to evaluate the test pens. This information will be used by scientists, veterinary practitioners, packing plant supervisors, and the FSIS.