Sources and properties of some organisms isolated in two abattoirs

A wide range of organisms was isolated and identified from a number of sites in two abattoirs. Heavily contaminated sites were the water supply to the lairage in one abattoir and animal hair, blood, rumen contents and soil and faecal material from hooves in both abattoirs. Few catalase negative organisms were isolated but other Gram positive organisms included Bacillus spp., coryneforms, M. thermosphactum and coagulase negative cocci. Gram negative organisms were widely distributed in the abattoirs, Pseudomonas spp. being present at most sites, while members of the family Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from all sites except carcass wash water and air samples in the lairages and a boning room. In pure culture 17 of 54 isolates spoiled meat in air at 4°C and 47 at 15°C but under simulated vacuum-package conditions only 7 of 28 at 4°C and 14 of 28 at 15°C gave some indication of spoilage abilities. None of the 10 isolates tested showed marked resistance to chlorine at 20 ppm.