Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “Slaughterhouse”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed2002

Surface features and morphology of bulbar conjunctival cells of bovine eyes obtained from a slaughterhouse: a scanning electron microscope and impression cytology study.

PURPOSE: To qualitatively and quantitatively assess the surface cells of the bulbar conjunctiva of slaughterhouse-obtained bovine eyes by impression cytology (IC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). METHODS: After quality-control measures and careful surface washing of recently enucleated bovine eyes over 20 min, impression cytology samples were taken from the nasal bulbar conjunctiva with a MILLCELL filter, or the ocular surface fixed in a moist chamber by a dropwise application of buffered isotonic glutaraldehyde solution. Impression cytology samples were stained with Geimsa or haematoxylin-periodate-Schiff. Fixed samples, that included the nasal bulbar conjunctiva, were prepared for SEM. From overlays of light microscope images of IC material or SEM images, cell areas, nucleus areas and cell and nucleus dimensions were measured with a digitiser pad. RESULTS: Impression cytology routinely showed large cells with an average area of 1035 +/- 368 microm(2), and a low nucleus-to-cytoplasmic (N/C) ratio of 0.112 +/- 0.048. The cells had dimensions averaging 46 microm (long) and 29 microm (short). Similar areas and dimensions were also found using SEM, which also showed the surface cells to have a range of lighter and darker electron reflexes and to be decorated with microplicae or microvilli. Goblet cells were not evident with either method of viewing. CONCLUSIONS: The superficial cells of the bovine bulbar conjunctiva appear to routinely be of a squamous cell phenotype.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1992

A slaughterhouse survey of lung lesions in goats.

A survey of the lungs from 4284 goats killed at a slaughterhouse in the North Island of New Zealand during the winter of 1990 revealed only ten cases of non-parasitic bronchopneumonia. However, 41% of the lungs had lesions consistent with infection by Muellerius capillaris, 33% with Dictyocaulus filaria, and 8% with both species. The prevalence of parasitic lesions increased with age. The carcasses of goats with mild to severe Dictyocaulus filaria lesions were from 0.81 to 1.52 kg lighter than those without the lesions (p<0.001). The carcasses of goats with more than ten nodular (Muellerius capillaris) lesions were 0.75 kg lighter than those without the lesions (p<0.001). Twelve sets of lungs had lesions of chronic bronchiectasis. Nematode larvae were seen in the bronchial lumina of three of them. The microscopic appearance varied from a moderate dilatation of occluded bronchi which retained an intact epithelium, to large foreign-body granulomas where the remaining bronchial outlines were barely discernible. Multiple, very discrete, fibrous pleural plaques were found on the caudal lobes in two cases. Plaques of this morphology have not been described previously in the veterinary literature. Pleural adhesions were found in 350 cases (8.2%). The relatively higher frequency of pleurisy versus non-parasitic pneumonia suggests that pneumonia in goats in the North Island of New Zealand completely resolves in most cases.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1990

Sero-epidemiological screening of pig sera collected at the slaughterhouse to detect herds infected with Aujeszky's disease virus, porcine influenza virus and Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae in the framework of an integrated quality control (IQC) system.

Over a period of six months, approximately 4700 blood samples were collected from 97 pig-finishing farms in the provinces of Noord-Brabant and Gelderland and screened for antibodies with respect to Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV), porcine influenza virus (PI) and Actinobacillus (Haemophilus) pleuropneumoniae (App). There were significant differences in the percentages of seropositive pigs between the two provinces, which may be related to the difference in the density of the pig population in the two provinces. In practice, it was possible to perform a reliable sera collecting procedure at the slaughterhouse. No farms remained seronegative with respect to most of the disease agents during the sampling period. There was a high degree of variation in the percentages of seropositive pigs per farm as to most of the disease agents. Evidence was found that animals that were seropositive with respect to ADV were significantly more susceptible to becoming seropositive with respect to App. serotype 2, and vice versa. The same connection was observed for PI serotype H1N1 and PI serotype H3N2. Furthermore, evidence was found that pigs seropositive with respect to PI serotype H1Ni only, or to PI serotype H1N1 and ADV or PI serotype H3N2 show a significant decrease in average daily weight gain compared to pigs that were seronegative.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2006

Antibiotic resistance of Enterococcus spp. isolated from wastewater and sludge of poultry slaughterhouses.

Antibiotimicrobial resistance was investigated in 537 Enterococcus spp. isolates recovered from 22 samples of crude inflow, treated effluent and sludge collected in wastewater treatment plants of eight poultry slaughterhouses of Portugal. No significant differences (P > 0.05) were found in the resistance to each antimicrobial agent with regards to the origin of the sample (inflow, sludge and effluent). Many of the isolates displayed resistance to tetracycline (85.7%), erythromycin (45.7%), nitrofurantoin (34.0%) and rifampicin (17.8%). Resistance was also observed, but to a lesser extent, to ciprofloxacin (10.2%), ampicillin (8.0%), chloramphenicol (4.6%), vancomycin (0.9%) and gentamicin (0.4%). Resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes was present in 37.1% of the isolates. Wastewater treatment resulted in viable enterococci decrease between less than 1 log and 4 log; nevertheless, more than 4.4 x 10(5) colony forming units (CFU)/100 mL were present in the outflow of the plants and thus resistant enterococci are not prevented from reaching the general environment.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2004

Nitrogen and organic matter removal from slaughterhouse wastewater in a lab-scale aerobic fixed-film bioreactor.

This paper presents the behaviour of a laboratory scale Aerobic Fixed-Film Bioreactor (Ae-FFB) with arranged media including its initial start up phase. It examines the viability of the Ae-FFB to remove nitrogen and organic matter from poultry slaughterhouse wastewater. After 12 days of operation while rapid growth of nitrifying bacteria took place, nitrogen and organic loading rates were increased progressively by up to 0.2 kg TKN m(-3) day(-1) and 0.8 kg COD m(-3) day(-1) respectively, reaching nitrogen and organic matter removal efficiencies of up to 92%. Heterotrophic bacteria, mainly placed in the suspended biomass accumulated at the bottom of the reactor, were found to be competing with nitrifying bacteria for oxygen, which limited nitrification efficiency. Despite operating with dissolved oxygen concentrations of around 3.5 mg 1(-1), an important contribution of the denitrification process was observed that removed up to 50% of oxidised nitrogen, depending on the availability of biodegradable organic matter.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2004

Treatment of slaughterhouse wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor: simulation vs experimental studies.

In wastewater treatment, the objective of process optimization is primarily to obtain a good treatment efficiency of a specific pollutant. The operational objective of increased productivity has also to be met. This includes a sufficient reduction in the duration of a batch process through batch scheduling. The aim of this paper is thus to find the best cycles for simultaneous carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus (CNP) removal from slaughterhouse wastewater in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) using GPS-X software and ASM2d model. Simulations with different aeration strategies, residence time, sludge age and feed strategies were carried out to determine the best system performance. The simulation results showed best performance with a system comprised of two equal feeds operated at 48 h hydraulic retention time (HRT) and 20 d solids retention time (SRT). Simulation also showed that addition of metal salts was necessary to reduce the level of phosphorus (P) to meet the requirement (P<1 mg l(-1)). The addition of acetate was also necessary to complete the denitrification process. The simulated results were compared against the experimental results obtained from laboratory SBR. The simulated results of COD, nitrates/nitrites and ammonia removal were very close to the experimental results. A diference of 2-4% between the simulated COD and the experimental COD was observed and that could be attributed to the error in evaluation of the inert COD. For ammonia removal, the simulated (99.9%) and experimental (93-100%) results were practically identical. However, a notable difference in o-PO4 concentration was observed (38% removal by simulation against 78% removal through experiments). After metallic salts addition, P removal efficiency was 98% or 1% less than that observed through experimental results.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2002

Treatment of effluents of poultry slaughterhouse with aluminum salts and natural polyelectrolytes.

A mixture of aluminum salts and natural polyelectrolytes, extracted from the cactus Opuntia ficus indica, has been used for cleaning of wastewater from poultry slaughterhouse. The aggregation and settling properties of colloids and complex organics such as oil, grease, fats, proteins, and suspended solids, was increased if compared with conventional methods of wastewater treatment using only aluminum or iron sulfate. A mixture of aluminum salt in a concentration range of 300 to 600 mg l(-1) and natural polyelectrolytes of 0.6 to 0.8 mg l(-1) was used for flocculation and coagulation. The combination of coagulant and natural polyelectrolytes was able to remove chemical oxygen demand (86%), oil and grease (93%), turbidity (89%), and suspended solids (93%). Methanization activity was also investigated for the effluents in natura.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2005

Design strategy for a simultaneous nitrification/denitrification of a slaughterhouse wastewater in a Sequencing Batch Reactor: ASM2d modeling and verification.

Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) was used to treat slaughterhouse wastewater which contains average Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) concentration of 5000 mg l(-1) and ammonium of 360 mgN l(-1). Nitrification/denitrification process was conducted for nitrogen removal. The influent wastewater as internal carbon source and sodium acetate as an external one was used for completing denitrification to achieve the simultaneous organic matter removal (95-96%) and nitrogen removal (95-97%). In addition, the dynamic SBR simulation model for biological nitrogen removal based on the Activated Sludge Model No. 2d (ASM2d) and GPS-X software is presented. The experimental study for the calibration and validation of the model was carried out using laboratory SBR. The study showed that the model provides a powerful tool to reduce the experimental expenditure and time to find the optimum strategy.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1997

Risk factors for Raynaud's phenomenon among workers in poultry slaughterhouses and canning factories.

BACKGROUND: Apart from the use of vibrating tools, little is known about risk factors for Raynaud's phenomenon. However, it has been hypothesized that this disorder may have a multifactorial aetiology, involving potential causal or triggering factors which can be found in the workplace. The objective of the study is to identify individual and occupational risk factors of Raynaud's phenomenon in a population of workers not exposed to vibration, but exposed to cold. METHODS: The survey was carried out in 1987-1988 in 17 poultry slaughterhouses and six canning factories and included 1474 employees. Data were collected at the annual visit to the occupational health physician. Finger sensitivity to cold and Raynaud's phenomenon were identified from a list of symptoms occurring from exposure to cold. The role of potential risk factors was assessed using multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A high prevalence of symptoms of finger sensitivity to cold was observed. Raynaud's phenomenon was more common in women than in men, was related to family history of the disease but not to smoking or alcohol consumption. After controlling for non-occupational factors, the following working conditions appeared as risk factors for Raynaud's phenomenon: use of plastic gloves, less than four rest breaks, breaks in an unheated place, continual repetition of the same series of operations, exertion of the arm or hand and being able to think of something else while working. CONCLUSION: The study showed that a number of working conditions were associated with an increased risk of Raynaud's phenomenon and finger sensitivity to cold. Changes in working conditions might reduce the risk of this disorder in the food processing industry.

Adult↗
PubMed1975

Toxoplasma gondii and Coxiella burneti antibodies among Brazilian slaughterhouse employees.

Previous studies have indicated toxoplasmosis and Q fever are potential hazards to persons who handle raw meat or who work in slaughterhouses. The prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii and C. burneti was studied among 144 employees of an abattoir in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, to determine what environmental factors may be associated with the occurrence of these agents among persons who handle meat but who have not reported having toxoplasmosis or Q fever. Seventy-two per cent of the 144 employees were serologically positive to T. gondii and 29% were serologically positive for C. burneti. The highest prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii (92%) occurred among meat inspectors, who also had a geometric mean titer (GMT) of 1400. The prevalence levels of antibodies to T. gondii for employees who handled meat in the deboning and sausage departments were 80% and 79% with GMT's of 412 and 340, respectively. These levels exceeded the antibody prevalences of 60% and 65% and GMT's of 168 and 120 for employees who worked with cattle in the corrals or who worked on the killing floor, respectively. Conversely, the prevalence of antibodies to C. burneti was highest (40%) among employees working in the corrals and who were exposed to dust and hides. A similar prevalence of antibodies to C. burneti was found in employees on the killing floor (36% positive) who were exposed to hides and viscera, but employees handling meat in the deboning or sausage section had prevalence levels of 20% and 14% respectively. Serologic testing of zebu cattle processed at the abattoir indicated that 10% of 124 tested had antibodies to T. gondii and 29% of 156 tested had antibodies to C. burneti. These levels in cattle are probably adequate to expose (and infect) persons who process meat daily. Continuous daily exposures to chronically infected cattle may result in sporadic undiagnosed illnesses or seroconversions from subclinical infections.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2006

Incidence of pectoralis major turkey muscles with light and dark color in a Portuguese slaughterhouse.

Turkey meat and processed products are very popular in Portugal. However, no studies have been made to assess turkey meat quality. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of turkey breast meat in a Portuguese slaughterhouse, differentiating it to obtain better industrial management, performance, and consumer contentment. Nine hundred and seventy-seven male turkeys (from 16 to 20 wk old) from different flocks (BUT 9 and BIG 6) were evaluated to assess meat quality. Turkeys were slaughtered on different days, electrically stunned (225 V/3 s), and scalded in a vertical water bath at 81 degrees C/5 min. On the slaughter line, the pH and temperature were measured on the pectoralis muscle 15 min postmortem. The carcasses were fast-cooled in a tunnel (-2 degrees C/2 m.s(-1)/90% RH) for 2 h and kept in a refrigeration chamber (0 degree C/85% RH) until deboning (approximately 24 h postmortem). Color and pH 24 h postmortem (pH(24)) were measured on the pectoralis major muscle after carcass deboning. Pectoralis major muscles were selected according to criteria used by Barbut (1996) and drip loss, cooking loss, and total pigments analysis were performed on 67 different sliced meat samples. Muscles classified by pH decline rate, called rapid glycolytic, did not present final quality characteristics that could relate them with pale, soft, and exudative- (PSE) like meat, because there was no relationship between pH 15 h postmortem and lightness (L*), drip loss, or cooking loss. The differences, founded on physicochemical characteristics within pectoralis major muscles, allowed us to establish a criteria of turkey meat quality for dark and PSE-like meat, with L* < or = 44 and pH(24) > or = 5.8 and L* > or = 50 and pH(24) < 5.8, respectively. Based on criteria, the studied population presented 8.1% of carcasses with PSE-like muscles and 12.1% with dark muscles. The association of pH(24) and L* as criteria classification can be useful to classify turkey meat quality.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1988

Serovars and biovars of Campylobacter strains isolated from humans and slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany.

A total of 318 Campylobacter strains from sporadic cases of human enteritis (109 strains) and healthy slaughterhouse animals in northern Germany (209 strains) were bio- and serotyped according to the Lior typing schemes. Three hundred strains were typable (94.3%) and 38 serovars were identified. Among human strains 28 serovars were identified with 30% of them belonging to serovar 4. Strains from pigs were associated with 25 serovars, the most frequent being serovar 20 (21.2%). Fourteen serovars were identified in the ovine strains of which 31.1% were of serovar 49, and 22.2% of serovar 4. All of the strains from one chicken farm were of serovar 11, whereas in those from another serovar 1 was predominant (85.4%). Twenty-five of the 38 serovars identified were associated with at least two different biovars. Campylobacter jejuni biovar I was predominant in humans, sheep and chickens and Campylobacter coli biovar I in pigs. The results suggest that the combined use of bio- and serotyping according to the Lior typing schemes would be of use in studies on the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis in Germany.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Hormonal and metabolic responses to the stress of transport and slaughterhouse procedures in clenbuterol-fed pigs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate if metabolic and endocrine adaptive responses to stressful stimuli are influenced by clenbuterol treatment in pigs. Two groups of nine Goland barrows of 167 kg liveweight, fed diets containing 0 (control) or 1 ppm of clenbuterol (clenbuterol-treated) for 40 days, were used. Blood samples were collected by jugular venipuncture the day before (day 40) and at slaughter (day 41). On day 40 clenbuterol-treated pigs had lower levels of thyroxin, tri-iodothyronine, insulin, urea and higher levels of lactate and creatine phosphokinase activity. On day 41, thyroxin concentration was lower and creatine phosphokinase activity higher in clenbuterol-treated pigs than in controls. In response to transport and slaughterhouse procedures, most of the parameters considered both in clenbuterol-treated and in control pigs increased.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Teaching bovine rectal palpation with live cows in the slaughterhouse: is it worthwhile?

Bovine rectal palpation, a procedure that requires considerable practice to develop the necessary skills, is often taught during extramural activities, or even learnt in practice after graduation. However, student access to cows in extramural activities may be limited because of student numbers, animal welfare considerations and concerns over induction of embryo mortality because of inexperience of the student. To overcome some of these limitations, in our school practical classes of bovine rectal palpation are taught in a slaughterhouse, with small groups of approximately 10 students per class, over a period of 30 weeks. Number of cows palpated, type of cases found and the success rate of students in the final practical exam were recorded and analysed for 3 years, and contrasted with the pre-established goals for the course. Additionally, a questionnaire was sent to former students to assess their opinion on the usefulness of the palpation course, as well as to identify main learning difficulties and collect suggestions to improve teaching methods. Overall, the information obtained indicated that the course is useful to teach palpation skills, even if the original goals may have been very optimistic. Most (96%) of the respondents had the opinion that the course was very useful or useful. Several suggestions were offered to improve teaching methods, but there was no consensus on a single recommendation. Despite the fact that a considerable number of respondents to the questionnaire did not use bovine rectal palpation in their practice, only one considered the classes 'not useful'. It is concluded that this method of teaching rectal palpation should be continued and the teaching methods improved with the adoption of some modifications.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in swine: an 18-month survey at a slaughterhouse in Massachusetts.

Slaughterhouse pig samples were analyzed by PCR for Enterocytozoon bieneusi infection. Thirty-two percent were found to be positive, with rates being higher over the summer months. Three isolates from pigs were identical in their ribosomal internal transcribed spacer sequence to human E. bieneusi type D, two were identical to type F (from a pig), and nine were previously unreported. The viability of these spores was demonstrated by their ability to infect gnotobiotic piglets. The presence of the infection in liver was shown by in situ hybridization.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2006

Characterization of Shiga toxin gene (stx)-positive and intimin gene (eae)-positive Escherichia coli isolates from wastewater of slaughterhouses in France.

Wastewater samples from 12 slaughterhouses located in different regions in France were tested for the presence of stx-positive and eae-positive Escherichia coli isolates, and characteristics of the isolates obtained were determined. A total of 224 wastewater samples were collected in wastewater treatment plants at different stages of wastewater processing. Altogether, 5,001 E. coli isolates were obtained by colony counting and screened for the presence of stx and eae genes by multiplex PCR. stx-positive and eae-positive E. coli isolates were detected in 25% of the samples collected; they were found in 13% and 3% of the samples obtained from treated effluent and sludge, respectively, suggesting that they could be spread into the environment. Screening of the samples collected by immunomagnetic separation allowed us to isolate 31 additional E. coli serogroup O157 isolates. Four of these isolates harbored stx and eae genes. All stx-positive and eae-positive E. coli isolates were analyzed for eae and stx genetic variants, as well as for additional virulence factors and serotypes. Our results suggest that the majority of the stx- and eae-positive E. coli isolates from wastewater have low virulence for humans. However, the diversity of the enterohemorrhagic E. coli-associated virulence factors in the strains indicates that the environment may play an important role in the emergence of new pathogenic enterohemorrhagic E. coli strains.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2005

A randomised controlled intervention study on prevention of work related skin problems among gut cleaners in swine slaughterhouses.

AIMS: To evaluate the effect of an intervention to reduce work related skin problems in gut cleaning departments in Danish swine slaughterhouses. The intervention consisted of an evidence based prevention programme and a documented method for implementation. METHODS: Randomised controlled intervention study with a one year follow up. The intervention included educational activities and evidence based recommendations. The effect of the intervention was evaluated by telephone interviews using a standardised questionnaire based on the Nordic Occupational Skin Questionnaire (NOSQ-2002) with modified and additional questions on exposure, preventive measures, information, and discussions on prevention of skin problems, etc. RESULTS: A total of 644 (87.5%) responded at the baseline interview and 622 (71.6%) at the one year follow up interview. A total of 495 participated in both interviews (67.3%). In the intervention departments the frequency of eczema on hands or forearms within the past three months at follow up was reduced significantly from 56.2% at baseline to 41.0% at follow up, while a slight non-significant increase was observed in the comparison departments (from 45.9% to 50.2%). The intervention activities resulted in more frequent use of protective gloves in general and the use of cotton gloves worn underneath rubber and plastic gloves. At follow up three times as many in the intervention departments used the recommended high fat skin care products introduced as part of the intervention activities. At follow up, discussion of skin problems was increased in the intervention group while no changes were observed in the comparison group. CONCLUSIONS: A significant 27% relative reduction of occupational eczema in a high risk group was feasible through implementation of an evidence based prevention programme.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed2000

Recurring febrile illness in a slaughterhouse worker.

A slaughterhouse worker presented with fever and a pleuropericardial effusion. Conventional microbiology failed to identify the responsible organism. However, DNA sequencing definitively identified Campylobacter fetus ssp fetus, which is rare in immunocompetent individuals. Prolonged treatment was required to eradicate the infection.

Abattoirs↗