Association between animal welfare indicators and microbiological quality of beef carcasses, including Salmonella spp., from a slaughterhouse in Ecuador.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Pre-slaughter management and slaughter operations are considered critical factors for animal welfare and meat quality. Previous studies have found poor animal welfare management at municipal slaughterhouses in Ecuador, and little is known about how this affects the microbiological quality of the meat. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the association of the microbiological quality of beef carcasses and animal welfare indicators in a municipal slaughterhouse in Ecuador. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data for 6 months were collected from a municipal slaughterhouse in Ecuador. Five trained researchers were strategically located along the slaughter process. A total of 351 animals were observed with regard to welfare indicators, and their carcasses were sampled to evaluate microbiological quality. Antemortem (slipping, falling, and vocalization) and postmortem animal welfare indicators (bleed interval, pH, temperature, and bruises) were measured. To determine the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and Escherichia coli counts and the presence of Salmonella spp., we collected samples by swabbing four different points of each carcass. The association between microbiological quality and animal welfare indicators was studied using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions. RESULTS: The mean TAB count was 5.3 log CFU/cm2, and the mean total count of E. coli was 2.4 log CFU/cm2. Salmonella spp. were isolated in 3.1% of the carcasses. An electric goad was used in all animals, 19.1% slipped at least once, and 19.9% vocalized. The mean pH of the carcasses was 7.2, and 79.2% of carcasses had bruises. Multivariate analysis showed that Salmonella spp. and the TAB count were associated with pH and the number of bruises (p = 0.01 in both cases). CONCLUSION: Although there was non-significant association between the majority of animal welfare indicators and microbiological quality, the poor management affecting animal welfare and carcass hygiene are worrisome.

Caso Clínico: Coartación de Aorta Torácica / Case Report: Thoracic Aortic Coarctation

INTRODUCCIÓN: Las enfermedades cardíacas congénitas son relativamente frecuentes, afectando a 8 de cada 1000 recién nacidos en Ecuador. El 30% de niños que tienen anormalidades genéticas son portadores de cardiopatías congénitas que aparecen en las primeras semanas del embarazo, destacándose como causas principales los factores genéticos, infecciosos y químicos. La importancia de presentar el tema radica en el hecho de ser el primer lactante intervenido por cardiopatía congénita en el hospital “José CarrascoArteaga”, con la participación multidisciplinaria de especialistas en el tema. CASO CLÍNICO: El presente caso trata sobre un paciente lactante de 7 meses de edad, con antecedentes de distrés respiratorio luego del nacimiento; a la exploración física lossignos que más se destacaron fueron la presencia de un soplo holosistólico en barra en todos los focos de auscultación, la disminución de pulsos femorales y tensión arterial baja en miembros inferiores. EVOLUCIÓN: Se realizaron estudios complementarios concluyéndose el diagnóstico decoartación de aorta torácica descendente, se inició tratamiento a base de betabloqueantes durante cuatro meses y se decidió tratamiento quirúrgico mediante coartectomía deaorta con anastomosis término-terminal, el paciente evolucionó favorablemente despuésdel procedimiento. CONCLUSIÓN: El presente caso demuestra la necesidad de una sospecha clínica paradeterminar el diagnóstico de enfermedades congénitas graves, resalta el procedimiento diagnóstico con el apoyo de los métodos complementarios y respalda la evidencia disponible en cuanto al tratamiento de la patología con el procedimiento quirúrgico adecuado, el mismo que fue seleccionado de acuerdo a la condición clínica del paciente, con buenosresultado(AU)

BACKGROUND: Congenital cardiac diseases are relatively frequent, affecting 8 of 1000 newborns in Ecuador. 30% of children with congenital abnormalities have also any congenital cardiopathy which appear at early pregnancy stages; genetic, infectious and chemical factorsoutstand as main causes of this. Importance of this topic lies in the fact of the first surgical treatment performed in a patient diagnosed with a congenital cardiopathy by a multidisciplinaryparticipation of specialists at “José Carrasco Arteaga” hospital.CASE REPORT: This case is about a 7-months old nursing infant who had precedents of respiratory distress after birth; bar holosystolic murmur at every auscultation foci, femoral pulses decrease and low arterial tension in lower limbs were outstanding findings in physical examination. EVOLUTION: Complementary studies were performed, a descendant thoracic aortic coarctation diagnosis was concluded, a betablocker based therapy was used during 4 months and surgical treatment by aortic coarctectomy with end-to-end anastomosis was decided, the patient had a favourably evolution after procedure. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates the need of clinic suspicion to determine the diagnosisof severe congenital diseases, it highlights the diagnostic process with complementary studies and supports available evidence about the treatment of this pathology with the appropriatetreatment, which was selected according to patient’s condition and had good results(AU)