THE CONTAMINATION WITH SALMONELLA OF BOVINE LIVERS IN AN ABATTOIR

Abstract
Fifty livers from normal slaughter cattle were examined for surface contamination with Salmonella immediately after evisceration and again after inspection. Salmonella were isolated from 32% at evisceration and from 82% after inspection. Numbers of Salmonella present were low at evisceration and rose after inspection. In only 1 liver was the parenchyma infected. Sources of Salmonella were probably the contents of the gastrointestinal tract and the mesenteric lymph nodes; both may show high prevalence of infection in cattle held before slaughter. Edible offal should be separated from the viscera at evisceration and inspected by personnel not involved with the alimentary tract.