Free endotoxin as a burdening parameter - Transport stress and endogenous contamination of slaughter carcasses of pigs

Endogenous contamination of slaughter carcasses could be a cause for microb ial problems in meat industry. Possibly triggers could be transport of anim als, but causal mechanisms for bacterial translocation esp. from the gut ar e rarely described. Further knowledge not only is a question of protection of animal, but also the protection of consumer in relation to microbial tra nslocation should be considered. The detection of free endotoxin as a new p arameter to characterise potential bacterial translocation after burdening was established. Both trials of long distance transports as well as simulat ion of extreme climatic conditions showed correlations between free endotox in concentrations in final blood and contamination rate of examined tissues .