The contamination of E. coli in pork and slaughterhouses’ environment at some slaughterhouses in Thua Thien Hue province

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the level of E. coli contamination in pork and slaughterhouses’ environment at three slaughterhouses in Thua Thien Hue province. The level of E. coli contamination in the slaughterhouses’ environment at Bai Dau, Phu Duong and Thuy Chau slaughterhouses was 0.31x102, 0.94x102 and 0.41x102 CFU/ml of water; 5.7x102, 1.9x102 and 1.5x102 CFU/m3 of air; 2.7x104, 0.4x104 and 0.2x104 CFU/100cm2 of slaughtering floor; 7.3x104, 1.4x104 and 4.1x104 CFU/100cm2 of stable floor, respectively. The level of E. coli contamination on carcasses at Bai Dau slaughterhouse was 2.7x104 CFU/100cm2, at Phu Duong slaughterhouse was 0.17x104 CFU/100cm2 and at Thuy Chau slaughterhouse was 0.18x104 CFU/100cm2. Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) strains were not found in slaughterhouses’ environment and carcass samples, but the E. coli strains carrying astA gene encoded heat-stable-enterotoxin (EAST1) were detecte.