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Page No. : 55-58

ABSTRACT

Lack of an efficient antibiotic treatment for enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli infection has resulted in more focus on the preventive measures against this foodborne pathogen. To determine the contaminating sources of EHEC in beef production lines, 1056 samples including dung, hide, operator hand wash, knife wash, surface swabs, beef carcass swabs, water, air and beef samples were collected from four different slaughter houses situated in Kerala, India. An overall occurrence of 7.39% of EHEC was found from slaughter houses and all the samples except air was found as contaminating sources. The study revealed a high prevalence of EHEC in slaughter houses failing to follow hygienic measures. This necessitates the urgent need of certification of slaughter houses and establishment of control measures at these identified points to prevent EHEC epidemics.

Keywords: Beef production line, critical control point, enterohaemmorrhagic E.coli, foodborne pathogens, slaughter house