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ARS Home » Plains Area » Clay Center, Nebraska » U.S. Meat Animal Research Center » Meat Safety and Quality » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #381459
Research Project: Mitigation Approaches for Foodborne Pathogens in Cattle and Swine for Use During Production and Processing

Location: Meat Safety and Quality

Title: Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the raw pork production chain: A cause for concern?

Author
item HAQUE, MANIRUL - University Of Nebraska
item Bosilevac, Joseph - Mick
item CHAVES, BYRON - University Of Nebraska

Submitted to: Journal of Food Protection
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2021
Publication Date: 7/18/2021
Citation: Haque, M., Bosilevac, J.M., Chaves, B. 2021. Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the raw pork production chain: A cause for concern?.[Abstract] Journal of Food Protection. 84(Suppl A): P. 192.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Introduction: Retail pork implicated to Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC) contamination highlight the need for increased awareness of pork as a potential source of STEC infection. However, little is known on the prevalence, ecophysiology, growth, and potential survival of STEC in raw pork products. Purpose: The objective of this review study is to contributes to our understanding of raw pork products as potential carriers for STEC into the food supply. Methods: Primary literature reporting the prevalence of STEC in the raw pork production chain were collected from several databases including Scopus, Sceilo, and PubMed published between 2001 and 2020, and summarized and critically analyzed. Results: The reported prevalence rate of stx-positive E. coli isolates in live swine, slaughtered swine, and retail pork samples around the world ranged from 4.4 (22/500) to 68.3% (82/120), 22 (309/1395) to 86.3 (69/80) %, and 0.09 (1/1167) to 80% (32/40), respectively depending upon the sample categories, detection methods, and the hygiene condition of the slaughterhouses and retail markets. In retail pork, among the regulated non-O157 serogroups, O145 were prevalent in the U.S., Europe, and Asian studies. Serogroup O26 was prevalent in the U.S., Europe, and Africa. Serogroup O121 was only reported in the U.S. Serogroup O91 was reported in the U.S., Asia, and South American retail pork samples. The most common virulence gene combinations in retail pork around the globe were as follows: the U.S.: serogroup O157+stx, six most common non-O157 serogroups+stx, unknown serogroups+stx+eae; Europe: unknown serogroups +(stx+eae, stx2+eae, or stx1+stx2+eae), Asia: O157 serogroup+stx1+stx2+hlyA, unknown+stx1+eaeA+hlyA, or only eae; and Africa: O157+stx2+eae+hlyA. Significance: STEC strains derived from retail pork fall under low to moderate risk categories capable of causing human disease. This review will contribute to understand the ecology of STEC in retail pork and aid in the development of prevention and control strategies.