Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 : H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. on beef carcasses in Northern Ireland

A survey of beef carcasses was conducted in all 10 European community appro ved abattoirs in Northern Ireland to determine the incidence of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Analyses were based on excised samples of neck meat taken le ss than 48 h post-kill. Overall, 780 carcasses were sampled and all were ne gative for E. coli O157:H7. A sub-set of samples was analysed for the prese nce of Listeria monocytogenes (n = 200), Salmonella (n = 200) and Campyloba cter spp.(n = 100). L. monocytogenes was not detected but Listeria innocua was found on five carcasses and Listeria seeligeri on one. Three carcasses carried salmonellas; Salmonella Mbandaka was found on two and Salmonella Th ompson on one. Campylobacter spp. were not detected on any carcasses. The r esults indicate that very few beef carcasses in Northern Ireland appear to carry any of the four pathogens sought, and this may help explain the low i ncidence of E. coli O157:H7 in the Northern Ireland human population, relat ive to the rest of the UK. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserv ed.