Vol. 11, Special Issue 10 (2022)

Author(s):
Vivekanandhan Rangaraju, B Sunil, C Latha, KM Vrinda, Deepa Jolly, Binsy Mathew and P Muralikrishna

Abstract:
Campylobacteriosis was estimated to cause 400 to 500 million cases of human diarrhoea every year worldwide. Poultry and pigs are the major reservoirs. The risk of Campylobacter infection through processing of meat needs to be investigated carefully as large quantities of pork meat are consumed around the globe. Samples were collected from a pork processing line in Thrissur, Kerala, to determine the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. Eighty samples were collected consisting of carcass swabs (n=20), knife swabs (n=20), cutting board surfaces (n=20) and sewage samples (n=20). Campylobacter isolates were circular, flat to slightly elevated, grey in colour with spreading tendency on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar plates. The virulence gene cad F was harboured by all the isolates in this study. These genes play critical roles in Campylobacter adherence and colonisation of human intestinal epithelial cells during infection in humans. Carcass swabs of ham region contained 25 percent of C. coli per 100 sq. cm of surface area. Campylobacter was not found in the other two carcass points, namely the belly and jowl region. Campylobacters could not be isolated from the liquid effluent. This might be due to low concentrations of often injured or stressed cells, the formation of viable but non-culturable cells, and poor cell recovery using conventional selective culture methods. Occurrence of C. coli was observed as 10 and 15 percent from knife and cutting board surfaces respectively. The presence of Campylobacters in the slaughter house environment is cause for concern since these sources can enhance the likelihood of cross-contamination across carcasses. Improved hygiene management on worker’s standard operating procedures and slaughtering equipment might lower Campylobacter pathogen levels in pork processing plants. A holistic One Health approach is essential to eliminate the transmission of Campylobacters in animals and humans.