Published in Scientific Works. C Series. Veterinary Medicine, Vol. LVIII ISSUE 3
Written by Lăpuşan Alexandra, Mihaiu Liora, Mihaiu Marian, Dan Sorin, Romolica Mihaiu, Ionuţ Cordiş, Dorina Dragomir
Although the tonsils removal at pigs is mandatory in conformity with the European Union Regulation 854/2004, there are slaughtering units that do not respect this rule. The importance of their complete removal is shown in this study through a thorough assessment of the bacteria load found in tonsils and afterwards in the carcasses where the tonsils have not been removed. For the isolation of these bacteria the classical method was used and the confirmation being performed through biochemical microtest systems (API) and molecular methods (simplex PCR). Also, there were two other automatic ways of bacteria identification: the microscan WALKAWEY system and the Trek system. The results revealed a polymorphic microflora, with a predominance of Gram negative bacteria in the majority of the tonsil samples examined. The bacteria prevalence in the pharyngeal tonsils was represented by: Gram negative bacilli (32.1%), diplococcic (19.75%), streptococci (16.05%), Gram positive bacilli (13.58%), polymorphic non spore forming Gram positive bacilli (8.64%), spore forming Gram positive bacilli (1.24%) and Candida (8.64%). Following the bacteriological exam, a large variety of bacteria species were revealed at the carcasses also, worth mentioning are Staphylococcus, Proteus, Streptococcus, Listeria and Salmonella and the prevalence of these species was significantly higher (p<0.05) during the warm season than the cold one in both units studied. The pharyngeal tonsils at pig represent a deposit area for some pathogen bacteria (Yersinia enterocolitica, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp.), that can contaminate the carcasses during slaughtering and can jeopardize the consumers’ health.
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