Food Safety
Authors: I. V. Wesley (United States Department of Agriculture) , S. T. Larsen (Iowa State University) , H. S. Hurd (United States Department of Agriculture) , James McKean (Iowa State University) , T. Frana (Iowa State University) , M. Cox (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) , M. G. Johnson (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) , R. Nannapaneni (University of Arkansas at Fayetteville) , A. Pinkerton-Hogness (United States Department of Agriculture) , F. Rivera (United States Department of Agriculture)
The goal of this study was to determine the distribution of Listeria monocytogenes in cull sows and their pork. Two trials were conducted at a single packing plant in 2001 (n=179 cull sows) and in 2002 (n= 160 cull sows). Fecal samples collected antemortem (trial 1) as well as animal tissues, carcass, and environmental swabs, and meat block samples collected at the abattoir (trials 1 and 2) were analyzed. When results from both trials were combined, overall L. monocytogenes was detected in five or 0.17% of the total samples (n=2,858). Specifically, L. monocytogenes was confirmed in a tonsil sample (0.55% of tonsils positive) and in a carcass swab sample (0.56% of carcasses) before the organic acid rinse. L. monocytogenes was recovered in three (1.21%) meat block samples (n=213). These data indicate that L. monocytogenes is present in the cull sow and their pork.
Keywords: ASL R1809
How to Cite: Wesley, I. V. , Larsen, S. T. , Hurd, H. S. , McKean, J. , Frana, T. , Cox, M. , Johnson, M. G. , Nannapaneni, R. , Pinkerton-Hogness, A. & Rivera, F. (2003) “The Prevalence of L. monocytogenes in Cull Sows”, Iowa State University Animal Industry Report. 1(1).