SALMONELLA CONTAMINATION RATE ALONG THE SLAUGHTER LINE IN 5 DIFFERENT BELGIAN SLAUGHTERHOUSES

摘要

Salmonella is one of the most important zoonotic pathogens and the consumption of pork is still a major source for human infection (1). In Belgium, 3693 infections in humans were registered in 2006, of which S. Typhimurium (49.5%) was the most frequently occurring serotype (2). The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella contamination along the slaughter line and to identify possible critical control points. Therefore, five Belgian slaughterhouses were visited twice and theSalmonella contamination rate in pigs and pig carcasses along the slaughter line was assessed.