Food from animal sources continues to be a significant food safety hazard. This study determined ... more Food from animal sources continues to be a significant food safety hazard. This study determined the microbial quality and safety of beef along beef value chains with case studies in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. Raw beef samples were collected from four slaughter slabs in the Ashaiman Municipality and analyzed using standard microbiological methods to determine the quality and prevalence of specific pathogens, including Salmonella species, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), and Brucella species, as well as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis), and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Data regarding food safety knowledge and practices were collected and observed from stakeholders (cattle farmers, butchers, and beef retailers). Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from 7.5% (6/80) of the total raw beef samples. However, L. monocytogenes, Brucella spp., T. gondii, C. cayetanensis, and C. parvum were not isolated in this study. The mean l...
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Currently there a... more Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Currently there are 286 TB cases per every 100,000 people in Ghana. This figure is three times higher than the TB burden estimated by the World Health Organization. The numerical contribution of bovine TB to the general TB burden is unknown. Herdsmen, livestock workers, and veterinarians and the general public are at high risk of contracting bovine TB. Zoonotic TB caused by Mycobacterium bovis is present in animals in most developing countries including Ghana. Unfortunately, activities to check and control cattle with TB infection from entering the food chain are often inadequate or unavailable. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence of TB infection in a cohort of cattle that enters the food chain in Accra, Ghana. A cross sectional study involving five major abattoirs was conducted in the Greater Accra region between the periods of September 2012-June 2013. After routine inspection of live cattle by veterinary officials, 10 mL of blood was drawn from 94 cattle before slaughter and tested for TB infection using BOVIGAM. Six (6.4%) of the 94 cattle screened, were positive for TB infection. All except one abattoir had at least one cattle testing positive. Although the study recorded a lower prevalence of 6.4%, all animals tested were deemed fit for slaughter by veterinary officials and was to enter the food chain. The low sensitivity of routine abattoir inspection for infected organs and negative results of post-mortem examination reinforces the need for more sensitive screening tool such as BOVIGAM.
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2015
Methodology: Raw beef samples were aseptically collected from 200 cattle slaughtered for consumpt... more Methodology: Raw beef samples were aseptically collected from 200 cattle slaughtered for consumption. Total plate count, presence of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, E. coli 0157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella species were determined after culture and incubation on standard microbiological media. Both liver and kidney samples were also collected from each of the 200 carcasses and tested for antibiotic residues using Original Research Article
Food from animal sources continues to be a significant food safety hazard. This study determined ... more Food from animal sources continues to be a significant food safety hazard. This study determined the microbial quality and safety of beef along beef value chains with case studies in the Ashaiman Municipality of Ghana. Raw beef samples were collected from four slaughter slabs in the Ashaiman Municipality and analyzed using standard microbiological methods to determine the quality and prevalence of specific pathogens, including Salmonella species, Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes), and Brucella species, as well as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Cyclospora cayetanensis (C. cayetanensis), and Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum). Data regarding food safety knowledge and practices were collected and observed from stakeholders (cattle farmers, butchers, and beef retailers). Salmonella typhimurium was isolated from 7.5% (6/80) of the total raw beef samples. However, L. monocytogenes, Brucella spp., T. gondii, C. cayetanensis, and C. parvum were not isolated in this study. The mean l...
Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Currently there a... more Tuberculosis (TB) continues to be an important public health problem worldwide. Currently there are 286 TB cases per every 100,000 people in Ghana. This figure is three times higher than the TB burden estimated by the World Health Organization. The numerical contribution of bovine TB to the general TB burden is unknown. Herdsmen, livestock workers, and veterinarians and the general public are at high risk of contracting bovine TB. Zoonotic TB caused by Mycobacterium bovis is present in animals in most developing countries including Ghana. Unfortunately, activities to check and control cattle with TB infection from entering the food chain are often inadequate or unavailable. This study therefore aims to determine the prevalence of TB infection in a cohort of cattle that enters the food chain in Accra, Ghana. A cross sectional study involving five major abattoirs was conducted in the Greater Accra region between the periods of September 2012-June 2013. After routine inspection of live cattle by veterinary officials, 10 mL of blood was drawn from 94 cattle before slaughter and tested for TB infection using BOVIGAM. Six (6.4%) of the 94 cattle screened, were positive for TB infection. All except one abattoir had at least one cattle testing positive. Although the study recorded a lower prevalence of 6.4%, all animals tested were deemed fit for slaughter by veterinary officials and was to enter the food chain. The low sensitivity of routine abattoir inspection for infected organs and negative results of post-mortem examination reinforces the need for more sensitive screening tool such as BOVIGAM.
International Journal of TROPICAL DISEASE & Health, 2015
Methodology: Raw beef samples were aseptically collected from 200 cattle slaughtered for consumpt... more Methodology: Raw beef samples were aseptically collected from 200 cattle slaughtered for consumption. Total plate count, presence of foodborne pathogens such as Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, E. coli 0157:H7, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella species were determined after culture and incubation on standard microbiological media. Both liver and kidney samples were also collected from each of the 200 carcasses and tested for antibiotic residues using Original Research Article
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