High-performance internal circulation anaerobic granular sludge reactor for cattle slaughterhouse wastewater treatment and simultaneous biogas production.

This research investigates the efficacy of a high-performance pilot-scale Internal Circulation Anaerobic Reactor inoculated with Granular Sludge (ICAGSR) for treating cattle slaughterhouse wastewater while concurrently generating biogas. The primary objective is to assess the efficiency and performance of ICAGSR in terms of organic pollutant removal and biogas production using granular anaerobic sludge. The research methodology entails operating the ICAGSR system under ambient conditions and systematically varying key parameters, including different Hydraulic Retention Times (HRTs) (24, 12, and 8 h) and Organic Loading Rates (OLRs) (3.3, 6.14, and 12.83 kg COD/m³. d). The study focuses on evaluating pollutants' removal and biogas production rates. Results reveal that the ICAGSR system achieves exceptional removal efficiency for organic pollutants, with Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal exceeding 74%, 67%, and 68% at HRTs of 24, 12, and 8 h, respectively. Furthermore, the system demonstrates stable and sustainable biogas production, maintaining average methane contents of 80%, 76%, and 72% throughout the experimental period. The successful operation of the ICAGSR system underscores its potential as a viable technology for treating cattle slaughterhouse wastewater and generating renewable biogas. In conclusion, this study contributes to wastewater treatment and renewable energy production by providing a comprehensive analysis of the ICAGSR system's hydrodynamic properties. The research enhances our understanding of the system's performance optimization under varying conditions, emphasizing the benefits of utilizing ICAGSR reactors with granular sludge as an effective and sustainable approach. Identifying current gaps, future research directions aim to further refine and broaden the application of ICAGSR technology in wastewater treatment and renewable energy initiatives.

Microbiome mapping in beef processing reveals safety-relevant variations in microbial diversity and genomic features.

The microbiome of surfaces along the beef processing chain represents a critical nexus where microbial ecosystems play a pivotal role in meat quality and safety of end products. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the microbiome along beef processing using whole metagenomics with a particular focus on antimicrobial resistance and virulence-associated genes distribution. Our findings highlighted that microbial communities change dynamically in the different steps along beef processing chain, influenced by the specific conditions of each micro-environment. Brochothrix thermosphacta, Carnobacterium maltaromaticum, Pseudomonas fragi, Psychrobacter cryohalolentis and Psychrobacter immobilis were identified as the key species that characterize beef processing environments. Carcass samples and slaughterhouse surfaces exhibited a high abundance of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), mainly belonging to aminoglycosides, ß-lactams, amphenicols, sulfonamides and tetracyclines antibiotic classes, also localized on mobile elements, suggesting the possibility to be transmitted to human pathogens. We also evaluated how the initial microbial contamination of raw beef changes in response to storage conditions, showing different species prevailing according to the type of packaging employed. We identified several genes leading to the production of spoilage-associated compounds, and highlighted the different genomic potential selected by the storage conditions. Our results suggested that surfaces in beef processing environments represent a hotspot for beef contamination and evidenced that mapping the resident microbiome in these environments may help in reducing meat microbial contamination, increasing shelf-life, and finally contributing to food waste restraint.

Trematode infection in ruminants and diversity of snail hosts across three agro-ecological zones in Ethiopia.

The occurrence of trematodes among ruminants and their snail vectors is a major concern across various agro-ecological regions of Ethiopia. Trematodes pose significant threats to animals, causing considerable economic losses and impacting public health. In this study, we have investigated 784 ruminant fecal samples, and 520 abattoir samples, alongside the collection and identification of snail vectors from various agro-ecological regions. Fecal examinations revealed Fasciola, Paramphistomum and Schistosoma species infected 20.5% (95% CI: 17.6, 23.8), 11.7% (95% CI: 9.6, 14.2), and 6.3% (95% CI: 4.1, 9.1) of the animals, respectively. The overall prevalence of trematodes among ruminants was 28.8% (95% CI: 25.7, 32.1%), with 6.0% (95% CI: 4.3, 7.7) showing mixed infections. Fasciola was more prevalent in Asela (26%) compared to Batu (19%) and Hawassa (11.5%), while a higher proportion of animals in Batu were infected with Paramphistomum. Schistosoma eggs were detected only in Batu (12.5%), but not in other areas. Sheep and cattle exhibited higher infection rates with Fasciola, Paramphistoma, and Schistosoma compared to goats. Significant associations were observed between trematode infections and risk factors including agro-ecology, animal species, body condition score, and deworming practices. About 20.8% and 22.7% of the slaughtered animals harbored Fasciola and Paramphistomum flukes, respectively, with a higher prevalence in Asela and Hawassa abattoirs compared to Batu abattoir. Additionally, a total of 278 snails were collected from the study areas and identified as lymnae natalensis, lymnae trancatula, Biomphalaria pffiferi, Biomphlaria sudanica, and Bulinus globosus. In conclusion, the study highlights the widespread occurrence of trematode infections, emphasizing the need for feasible control measures to mitigate their economic and public health impacts.

Detection of selected antimicrobial residues in red meat and kidney of beef cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Antibiotics are commonly used drugs in farm animals for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnosis purposes. As a result of the use of antibiotics in livestock, residues of antibiotics may be present in animal-derived foods, especially in meat. This study aimed at determining the antibiotic residues in cattle slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir and assessing the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) level of the community about antibiotic residue in food of cattle origin. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted on randomly selected kidney and muscle samples slaughtered at Nekemte municipal abattoir. The samples were collected aseptically and analysed using liquid chromatography mass spectrometer. In addition the KAP of cattle handlers, butcher men and meat users were collected using structured questionnaire. The data was analysed by SPSS and intercooled Stata version 7.0, 2001. RESULTS: Results are presented as percentages and frequency distributions in tabular and graphical form. From 120 individuals interviewed, only 25.83% knew about withdrawal time and had limited knowledge on effect of antibiotic residue on human health, whereas about 47.5% did not heard about antibiotic residue in meat. Tetracycline was detected in all the sampled meat 60 (100%), whereas oxytetracycline residues were detected in half 15 (50%) of the samples. In the current study doxycycline, sulphadiazine, penicillin G and enrofloxacin were not detected in all samples. Oxytetracycline residue levels ranged from 0.00 to 463.35 µg/kg for the kidney and 0.00 to 354.55 µg/kg for muscle samples. About 10% of kidney and 3.33% muscle samples collected had oxytetracycline residues above maximum residue limits. CONCLUSION: In general, the study revealed that oxytetracycline residues were prevalent among antimicrobial residues analysed from the study area. The study indicated the presence of high antimicrobial residue and hence exposes for antimicrobial resistance of pathogens warranting coordinated effort to mitigate its health effect on the animal and hence human being.

Assessment of characteristics and treatment processes of wastewater from slaughterhouses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil.

The state of Minas Gerais is one of Brazil's largest animal protein producers, and its slaughterhouses generate highly polluting wastewater, which needs to be treated for discharge or reuse. As a novelty, this review article focused on assessing the characteristics and methods to treat wastewater from slaughterhouses in the state of Minas Gerais, and verifying its compliance with environmental regulatory agencies. The aim was to present data that helps to better manage this residue in other Brazilian states and countries. By analyzing the literature data, it was found that raw slaughterhouse wastewater (SWW) showed a high concentration of organic matter. For most SWW, the BOD5/COD ratio was above 0.4, which implies that it can be treated biologically. Generally, treated wastewater was in accordance with legal discharge standards, considering COD and BOD5 removals above 70% and 75%, respectively. It was found that wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) consisted of some type of pretreatment (screens, grease traps) to remove coarse solids and fatty material, eventually followed by a flotation step and finally by biological processes, mostly anaerobic and/or aerated (or facultative) ponds. However, the absence of an aerobic process at the end of the treatment in some WWTPs, in addition to a system allowing better removal of biological flocs, might be the reason for ammoniacal nitrogen and suspended solids values being above the allowed maximum in treated wastewater, respectively. Besides the discharge into water bodies, it was verified that fertigation using treated SWW is very common in the state of Minas Gerais.

Molecular characterization and prevalence of ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales in livestock and poultry slaughterhouses wastewater in Iran.

Beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales bacteria cause severe hard-to-treat infections. Currently, they are spreading beyond hospitals and becoming a serious global health concern. This study investigated the prevalence and molecular characterization of extended-spectrum ß-lactamase and AmpC-type ß-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-PE, AmpC-PE) in wastewater from livestock and poultry slaughterhouses in Ardabil, Iran. A total of 80 Enterobacterales bacteria belonging to 9 species were identified. Among the isolates, Escherichia coli (n = 21/80; 26.2%) and Citrobacter spp. (n = 18/80; 22.5%) exhibited the highest frequency. Overall, 18.7% (n = 15/80) and 2.5% (n = 2/80) of Enterobacterales were found to be ESBL and AmpC producers, respectively. The most common ESBL producer isolates were E. coli (n = 9/21; 42.8%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n = 6/7; 85.7%). All AmpC-PE isolates belonged to E. coli strains (n = 2/21; 9.5%). In this study, 80% of ESBL-PE and 100% of AmpC-PE isolates were recovered from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. All ESBL-PE and AmpC-PE isolates were multidrug-resistant. In total, 93.3% of ESBL-PE isolates harbored the blaCTX-M gene, with the blaCTX-M-15 being the most common subgroup. The emergence of ESBL-PE and AmpC-PE in wastewater of food-producing animals allows for zoonotic transmission to humans through contaminated food products and contaminations of the environment.

Welfare of invertebrates: a pilot study on a new land snail stunning technique.

The almost complete absence of regulations to protect invertebrates is a common condition in legal systems, including the European one, especially when it comes to invertebrates intended for human consumption. Thus, in the vast majority of cases, edible invertebrates do not receive even the most basic protection at slaughter. Despite recent research indicating that invertebrates are capable of feeling pain and stress, the humane step of stunning is not used on them. This is also the case for land snails, which are gastropod invertebrates whose consumption has now reached significant levels, already involving tonnes and that is expected to increase significantly as edible snail farming becomes more popular as a relatively low-cost, easy-to-perform, and sustainable alternative animal husbandry, thereby making land snails an increasingly economically important species. This paper presents and investigates a proposed stunning method based on the immersion of mollusks in CO2-supplemented and refrigerated water that could be used in the snail meat production chain to reduce the slaughter suffering of millions of these invertebrates. To this end, body condition descriptors (hemolymph parameters) in snails were determined before and after CO2 treatment in cold water, while generating useful data for defining a preliminary set of reference intervals for basal values.

Food safety knowledge and practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial content of raw meat sold at Kumasi Abattoir Butchery Shops in Kumasi, Ghana.

BACKGROUND: Foodborne diseases affect nearly 600 million people each year, that is, one in every ten people, and their outbreaks are most common in low- and middle-income countries, particularly in Africa. This study investigated the food safety practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the meat from the butchery shops in Kumasi Abattoir, Ghana. METHODS: This study employed a descriptive cross-sectional study and collected quantitative data on factors associated with food safety and hygienic practices among raw meat handlers and the microbial quality of the raw meat using a structured questionnaire and standard laboratory methods, respectively. The study used all 50 beef vending shops in the butchery for questionnaire aspect and fresh beef samples were obtained from 10 vendors in the butchery shop. Appropriate methods were followed to analyse questionnaire data and meat samples. RESULTS: Most of the butchers (72%) were between the ages of 31 and 45, and they were predominantly Muslims (68%). Most of the respondents (48%) had basic education. All the respondents had food safety certificates from the local authority but needed adequate knowledge of meat safety. Most respondents (90%) handled meat and money with the same bare hands, thus contaminating the meat. The study showed that the maximum Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Staphylococcus Count (TSC), and Total Escherichia coli Count (TEC) were 5.60, 4.39 and 5.13 cfu/g, respectively. The study also revealed that all the meat samples were Salmonella species-free. CONCLUSIONS: Microorganisms in raw beef indicate a public health hazard. It gives a signal of a possible occurrence of food-borne intoxication and infection if not controlled. Environmental health officers in the Greater Kumasi area should organize food safety training and educate raw meat handlers on the importance of food safety and its consequences.

The Meat Standards Australia carcass grading site affects assessment of marbling and prediction of meat-eating quality in growing European beef cattle.

The lack of consumer feedback on beef eating quality contributes to reduced beef consumption in Europe. The Meat Standards Australia (MSA) grading scheme can assess the palatability of beef carcasses usually graded at the 10th thoracic vertebrae. However, the European beef industry relies on late-maturing breeds usually cut at the 5th vertebrae due to commercial reasons. Data from 55 young bulls and heifers of late-maturing breeds were collected in an Italian slaughterhouse following the MSA guidelines at both carcass grading sites and sides. Intramuscular fat levels were assessed through two scores and used with other variables to feed the MSA model, which predicts the MSA index, the meat-eating quality scores (MQ4) for 5 muscles and for each carcass grading site × side combination. The scores were analyzed using a mixed linear model. A correlation analysis was conducted to predict the variables measured at the 10th site using their correspondent at the 5th carcass grading site. A stepwise regression was conducted to understand the weight of each measured variable on marbling and MQ4 scores measured both at 5th and 10th carcass grading sites. Results showed significantly higher value for the studied traits at the 5th carcass grading site, while carcass side had no significant impact. The equations had high predictive capability and MSA marbling score played a key role in explaining the variability across carcass grading sites. The differences in marbling and MQ4 scores between the carcass grading sites suggest considering this factor if the MSA grading system will be applied to Europe.

Diagnosis of fasciolosis antibodies in Brazilian cattle through ELISA employing both native and recombinant antigens.

Bovine fasciolosis is a parasitic disease with a global reach. Coprological based on egg detection in fecal samples and liver inspection to evaluate the presence of the parasite is currently the gold standard for diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in cattle. However, these techniques are labor-intensive and ineffective during the acute phase of the disease. Serodiagnosis using native and recombinant antigens has become an interesting alternative in efforts to identify cattle fasciolosis. We evaluated cattle from abattoir (n = 139) and farms (n = 500) through liver inspection and coprological examination, respectively. Our laboratory team optimized and validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests based on somatic antigen, excretory/secretory proteins, and the recombinant antigen cathepsin L-1 to detect serum antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle. For animals from abattoir, 10 were positive for fasciolosis according to liver inspection. Both FhES and FhrCL-1 presented an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.80, with a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.46-0.95) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.38-0.90) and specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73-0.87) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92), respectively. For those cattle from farms, 28 were positive only for fasciolosis according to coprological examination. In this scenario, FhES gave the best performance, with an AUROC of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.60-0.90), and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89). In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of serodiagnosis for accurately screening cattle fasciolosis. The promising sensitivity and specificity values of FhES when compared to liver inspection or coprological examination enhance its importance for cattle fasciolosis diagnosis. IMPORTANCE: The aim of this article was to identify antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle in Brazil. The methodology was reproduced in our laboratory and applied for the first time to the Brazilian cattle herd. The antigens tested can be used as a screening test and thus speed up the diagnosis of bovine fascioliasis.

Virulence properties of Listeria monocytogenes isolated from meat and meat contact surfaces in a slaughterhouse.

Listeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous microorganism that is isolated from a variety of sources such as soil, water, decaying vegetation, sewage, animal feeds, silage, farm environments and food-processing environments. This study aimed to determine the prevalence, serogroups, biofilm formation, virulence factor genes, and genetic relationships of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from beef meat and meat contact surfaces obtained from a slaughterhouse in Burdur, Turkey. In this study, a total of 179 beef meat and meat contact surface samples were analyzed for the presence of L. monocytogenes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of a total of 179 beef meat and meat contact surface samples, 83 (46.37%) were found to be contaminated with L. monocytogenes, with the highest incidence (53.01%) occurring in beef meat. In the present study, most of the isolated strains belonged to serogroups IIB and IVB (lineage I). The L. monocytogenes strain also contained monoA-B, prfA, plcA, plcB, mpl, hlyA, actA, gtcA, dltA, Fri, flaA, InlA, InlC, InlJ, and iap genes. Biofilm formation was not determined in the tested samples at pH 5.5 and different temperatures (4°C, 10°C, 25°C, and 37°C). However, strong biofilm formation was observed in 6.45% (2/31) of the strains at pH 7.0 after 48 h incubation at 37°C, and in 3.22% (1/31) of the strains at pH 7.0 after 48 h incubation at 4°C and 10°C. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) results showed that L. monocytogenes isolates were clonally related, and cross-contamination was present. In addition, PFGE results also revealed that AscI had more distinguishing power than the ApaI restriction enzyme. These results indicate that L. monocytogenes detected from meat and meat contact surfaces in the slaughterhouse pose a potential risk to public health.

Investigation of the seasonal prevalence, phenotypic, and genotypic characteristics of Listeria monocytogenes in slaughterhouses in Burdur.

AIM: This study examined Listeria monocytogenes isolates from two slaughterhouses in Burdur province, southern Turkey, over four seasons for antibiotic resistance, serogroups, virulence genes, in vitro biofilm forming capacity, and genetic relatedness. METHODS AND RESULTS: Carcass (540) and environment-equipment surface (180) samples were collected from two slaughterhouses (S1, S2) for 1 year (4 samplings). Of the 89 (12.4%) positive isolates, 48 (53.9%) were from animal carcasses, and 41 (46.1%) from the environment-equipment surfaces. Autumn was the peak season for Listeria monocytogenes compared to summer and spring (P < 0.05). In addition, the most common serotype between seasons was 1/2c. Except for plcA and luxS genes, all isolates (100%) harbored inlA, inlC, inlJ, hlyA, actA, iap, flaA genes. Listeria monocytogenes isolates were identified as belonging to IIc (1/2c-3c; 68.5%), IVb (4b-4d-4e; 29.2%), and IIa (1/2a-3a; 2.2%) in the screening using multiplex polymerase chain reaction-based serogrouping test. A total of 65 pulsotypes and 13 clusters with at least 80% homology were determined by using pulsed field gel electrophoresis on samples that had been digested with ApaI. Thirty-four (38.2%) of the isolates were not resistant to any of the 14 antibiotics tested. The antibiotic to which the isolates showed the most resistance was rifampicin (44.9%). Serotype 1/2c was the most resistant serotype to antibiotics. Despite having biofilm-associated genes (inlA, inlB, actA, flaA, and luxS), a minority (11%) of isolates formed weak biofilm. CONCLUSION: This study revealed seasonal changes prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes, particularly higher in autumn, posing a greater risk of meat contamination. Notably, Serotype 1/2c showed significant prevalence and antibiotic resistance. Indistinguishable isolates indicated cross-contamination, underscoring the importance of prioritized training for slaughterhouse personnel in sanitation and hygiene protocols.

Isolation of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from the Surfaces of Beef Carcasses in Slaughterhouses in Japan.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen worldwide. It is necessary to control and prevent STEC contamination on beef carcasses in slaughterhouses because STEC infection is associated with beef consumption. However, the frequencies of STEC contamination of beef carcasses in various slaughterhouses in Japan are not well known. Herein, we investigated the contamination of beef carcasses with STEC in slaughterhouses to assess the potential risks of STEC. In total, 524 gauze samples were collected from the surfaces of beef carcasses at 12 domestic slaughterhouses from November 2020 to February 2023. The samples were measured for aerobic plate counts and tested for pathogenic genes (stx and eae) and major O-serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157) by real-time PCR screening. Subsequently, immunomagnetic separation (IMS) was performed on samples positive for stx, eae, and at least one of the seven O-serogroups of STEC. Isolation process without IMS was performed on samples positive for stx, including those subjected to IMS. STEC O157:H7 and stx-positive E. coli other than serotype O157:H7 were isolated from 0.6% and 4.6% of beef carcass surfaces, respectively. Although the STEC O157:H7 isolation rate was low and stx-positive E. coli other than serotype O157:H7 belonged to minor O-serogroups, the results mean a risk of foodborne illness. Furthermore, a moderate correlation was observed between aerobic plate counts and detection rates of stx-positive samples by real-time PCR screening. The STEC O157:H7 isolated facilities showed higher values on aerobic plate counts and detection rates of stx-positive samples than the mean values of total samples. Therefore, these results suggest that it is important to evaluate hygiene treatments against beef carcasses for the reduction of STEC contamination risk, particularly in facilities with high aerobic plate counts.

Sero-prevalence and risk factors associated with occurrence of anti-Brucella antibodies among slaughterhouse workers in Uganda.

INTRODUCTION: Brucellosis is a febrile zoonosis occurring among high-risk groups such as livestock keepers and abattoir workers and is a public health priority in Uganda. The technical complexities of bacteriological and molecular methods make serological approaches the cornerstone of diagnosis of human brucellosis in resource limited settings. Therefore, proper application and interpretation of serological tests is central to achieve a correct diagnosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study to estimate the seroprevalence and factors associated with anti-Brucella antibodies among slaughterhouse workers processing ruminants and pigs in three regions of the country with serial testing using a combination of the Rose Bengal Test (RBT) and the BrucellaCapt test. An authorized clinician collected 543 blood samples from consenting abattoir workers as well as attribute medical and social demographic data. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to determine factors associated with anti-Brucella sero-positivity. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The sero-prevalence among ruminant slaughterhouse workers ranged from 7.3% (95% CI: 4.8-10.7) using BrucellaCapt to 9.0% (95% CI: 6.3-12.7) using RBT. Slaughterhouse workers from the Eastern regions (AOR = 9.84, 95%CI 2.27-69.2, p = 0.006) and those who graze animals for alternative income (AOR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.91-6.63, p = 0.040) were at a higher risk of exposure to Brucella. Similarly, those who wore Personal Protective Equipment (AOR = 4.83, 95%CI:1.63-18.0, p = 0.009) and those who slaughter cattle (AOR = 2.12, 95%CI: 1.25-6.0, p = 0.006) were at a higher risk of exposure to Brucella. Those who slaughter small ruminants (AOR = 1.54, 95%CI: 1.32-4.01, p = 0.048) were also at a higher risk of exposure to Brucella. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS: Our study demonstrates the combined practical application of the RBT and BrucellaCapt in the diagnosis of human brucellosis in endemic settings. Both pharmaceutical (e.g., routine testing and timely therapeutic intervention), and non-pharmaceutical (e.g., higher index of suspicion of brucellosis when investigating fevers of unknown origin and observation of strict abattoir hygiene) countermeasures should be considered for control of the disease in high-risk groups.

Investigation of Salmonella, hepatitis E virus (HEV) and viral indicators of fecal contamination in four Italian pig slaughterhouses, 2021-2022.

In the pork production chain, the control at slaughterhouse aims to ensure safe food thanks to proper hygienic conditions during all steps of the slaughtering. Salmonella is one of the main foodborne pathogens in the EU causing a great number of human cases, and pigs also contribute to its spreading. Pig is the main reservoir of the zoonotic hepatitis E virus (HEV) that can be present in liver, bile, feces and even rarely in blood and muscle. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of both Salmonella and HEV in several points of the slaughtering chain, including pig trucks. Other viruses hosted in the gut flora of pigs and shed in feces were also assayed (porcine adenovirus PAdV, rotavirus, norovirus, and mammalian orthoreovirus MRV). Torque teno sus virus (TTSuV) present in both feces, liver and blood was also considered. Four Italian pig abattoirs were sampled in 12 critical points, 5 of which were the outer surface of carcasses before processing. HEV and rotavirus (RVA) were not detected. Norovirus was detected once. Salmonella was detected in two of the 4 abattoirs: in the two lairage pens, in the site of evisceration and on one carcass, indicating the presence of Salmonella if carcass is improper handled. The sampling sites positive for Salmonella were also positive for PAdV. MRV was detected in 10 swabs, from only two abattoirs, mainly in outer surface of carcasses. TTSuV was also detected in all abattoirs. Our study has revealed a diverse group of viruses, each serving as indicator of either fecal (NoV, RVA, PAdV, MRV) or blood contamination (TTSuV). TTSuV could be relevant as blood contamination indicators, crucial for viruses with a viremic stage, such as HEV. The simultaneous presence of PAdV with Salmonella is relevant, suggesting PAdV as a promising indicator for fecal contamination for both bacterial and viruses. In conclusion, even in the absence of HEV, the widespread presence of Salmonella at various points in the chain, underscores the need for vigilant monitoring and mitigation strategies which could be achieved by testing not only bacteria indicators as expected by current regulation, but also some viruses (PAdV, TTSuV, MRV) which could represent other sources of fecal contamination.

Blood parameters and parasite burden in cattle with chronic fascioliasis.

Fascioliasis is a trematodiasis that affects domestic and wild animals as well as humans worldwide. It is a well-recognized disease in livestock, were it produces serious economic losses. Yet in cattle, there is limited information about the burden of liver flukes and its relation to the eggs per gram shed to the environment. There is also lack of knowledge on the effect of parasite load in blood parameters of infected animals, which is important to evaluate the severity and progression of the disease. The objective of this work was to gain insight in these aspects. Cattle from Mendoza province, Argentina, were inspected at a farm and at the abattoir determining the presence or absence of Fasciola hepatica. Each animal was sampled for blood and feces and in the slaughterhouse the livers were inspected. Hematology and blood chemistry parameters were determined, feces were examined for F. hepatica eggs by a quantitative sedimentation technique and livers were thoroughly inspected to determine the number of flukes. Infected cattle presented a mild burden of liver flukes per animal, strongly correlated (r = 0.72) to the number of eggs per gram of feces. The total number of eggs (X̄=35,100) shed per animal to the environment and the type of livestock management techniques in the region exacerbate the role of cattle as efficient reservoirs of this disease. Statistically significant lower red blood cell, lymphocyte and neutrophil counts were observed in infected compared to uninfected animals. All hepatic parameters tested showed highly statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) as well as proteins by cause of rise of globulins in infected cattle. The correlation between the amount of flukes in the liver and the number of eggs per gram of faces indicates coprology as a reliable and cost-effective method to infer parasite burden. The impact of fascioliasis on blood parameters can be of aid for the veterinary practitioner on the assessment of this disease on cattle.

Water deprivation in poultry in connection with transport to slaughter-a review.

Poultry are deprived of water when transported to slaughter, beginning shortly prior to catching of the first bird and lasting through catching and loading, the journey on the vehicle, time spent in lairage, and up until time of death. Our aim was to review existing knowledge on variables which may be useful in determining the length of time that poultry may go without water in connection with transport before their welfare begins to deteriorate. During transport, it is likely that birds experience a motivation to drink, which may transition into the negative emotional state of thirst if water is unavailable. Determining when drinking motivation reaches a threshold where welfare is negatively impacted is challenging. In the absence of water, birds may over time experience dehydration which may be detected through physiological indicators as their body attempts to maintain homeostasis. In poultry, plasma osmolality, arginine vasotocin, and chloride have been suggested as being most suitable for assessing dehydration resulting from periods of water deprivation that correspond with typical transport durations, due to their particular sensitivity during this period. While initial dehydration may not be associated with negative emotional states, it is likely that it eventually leads to discomfort, but additional behavioral and motivational studies are necessary to infer when this begins. Impacts of thermal conditions, genetics, and the condition of the individual bird on the development of a dehydrated state were also assessed, though more information is needed to fully understand these interactions. With the available literature, this review concludes that total transport (i.e., from the initial deprivation from water until time of slaughter) durations of longer than 6 h are likely associated with measurable physiological indicators of dehydration and may potentially be associated with negative emotional states, although more research is needed to clarify this. Current available knowledge and assessment tools are not sufficient to detect the degradation of welfare derived from thirst itself, which should be further examined to protect poultry welfare during transport.