A four-year survey of blown pack spoilage Clostridium estertheticum and Clostridium gasigenes on beef primal cuts

摘要

The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of Clostridium estertheticum and Clostridium gasigenes on beef primals taking sample type and season into account. Molecular methods using direct extraction of DNA without enrichment and based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of 16S rDNA fragments were used to test for the presence of Cl.estertheticum and Cl.gasigenes in 4826 beef primal samples (1967 drip, 1896 wet swab and 963 dry swab) provided by 10 commercial beef abattoirs over a 4-year period. Overall 15% of samples were PCR positive with the incidence of Cl.estertheticum and Cl.gasigenes being 08 and 07%, respectively. Although the highest incidence of Cl.estertheticum (40%) and Cl.gasigenes (51%) was observed in June and November, respectively, seasonal differences were not significant (P005). Drip samples yielded more positive results than swab samples. It was concluded that a low but persistent percentage of beef primal cuts are contaminated with blown pack spoilage Clostridia. There was no seasonal effect and drip may be a more effective test sample than swabs.