Contamination of boneless beef with organisms potentially pathogenic to man

Abstract

Ninety-two beef samples from a North Queensland abattoir were examined for the presence of a number of potential human pathogens using culture and guinea pig inoculation. Salmonellas isolated from 16 samples included S. bredeney, S. chester, S. anatum, S. adelaide and S. give. Coagulase positive staphylococci were isolated from 80 samples. Phage patterns of some of the typable strains suggested human contamination. No E. coli strains belonging to types 026/B6, 055/B5, 0111/B4, 0119/B14, 0125/B15, 0126/B16, 0127 /BS and 0126/B12 were isolated. Brucella abortus, Mycobacterium bovis, Pseudomonas pseudomallei, Leptospira, Q-fever and psittacosis organisms were not detected.