Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing E. coli (STECNTEC) in food – Report on Zoonoses Monitoring 2017
Feb 24, 2019 - Foods
Shiga toxin/verotoxin-producing E. coli (STECNTEC) in food – Report on Zoonoses Monitoring 2017
The results show a high contamination of deer (40.2% positive fecal samples) and meat from wild ruminants (29.8% positive samples) with STEC/VTEC. STEC/VTEC are bacteria that can cause acute intestinal inflammation (EHEC), which can sometimes be severe. Particularly in children, an infection with STEC/VTEC can lead to the development of a hemolytic-uremic syndrome (H.U.S), which is associated, among other things, with acute kidney failure. In contrast, the STEC/VTEC detection rate in samples of fresh veal and young beef meat was only about 6.3%. However, a significant portion of fattening calves and young cattle are also colonized with STEC/VTEC, as shown by the results from the zoonosis monitoring of previous years (about 25% positive samples of cecal content).
The higher contamination rates of game meat compared to livestock meat are probably related to the less controllable conditions during game meat harvesting. These involve an increased risk of contamination with germs compared to the slaughtering process of livestock (e.g., due to shot-induced injuries to the digestive tract and delayed evisceration of game bodies). The results highlight that existing hygiene regulations must be more thoroughly observed to prevent the transmission of zoonotic pathogens from the intestine to the meat.
STEC/VTEC were detected in 3.5% of samples from tartare/minced beef. This makes tartare a vehicle for the transmission of STEC/VTEC to humans, which is particularly problematic because of the usual raw consumption of minced beef.
Spreadable raw sausages also pose a potential infection source for humans with STEC/VTEC: 1.7% of the tested samples were positive for STEC/VTEC.
The complete report on zoonosis monitoring 2017 is available at www.bvl.bund.de.
In our laboratory, we regularly conduct testing for STEC/VTEC. We provide you with fast and reliable results.
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Source: www.bvl.bund.de