Intestinal carriage of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157, Salmonella, thermophilic Campylobacter and Yersinia enterocolitica, in cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter in Great Britain during 2003

An abattoir survey was undertaken to determine the prevalence of foodborne zoonotic organisms colonizing cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter in Great Britain. The study ran for 12 months from January 2003. involved 93 abattoirs and collected 7703 intestinal samples. The design was similar to two previous abattoir surveys undertaken in 1999-2000 allowing comparisons. Samples were examined for VTEC 0 157, Salmonella, thermophilic Campylobacter and Yersinia enterocolitica. The prevalence of VTEC O157 faecal carriage was 4 center dot 7 % in cattle, 0 center dot 7% in sheep and 0 center dot 3 % In pigs. A significant decrease in sheep was detected from the previous Survey (1 center dot 7%). Salmonella carriage was 1 center dot 4% in cattle, a significant increase from the previous Survey of 0 center dot 2% In sheep, faecal carriage was 1 center dot 1 % a significant increase from the previous survey (0 center dot 1 %). I n pigs, carriage was 23 center dot 4%. consistent with the previous study. Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. were isolated from 54 center dot 6 % of cattle, 43 center dot 8% of sheep and 69 center dot 3 % of pigs. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from 4 center dot 5 % of cattle, 8 center dot 0 % of sheep and 10 center dot 2 % of pigs.