Zoonoses: Abattoir Survey of Foodborne Pathogens in Cattle, Sheep & Pigs in Great Britain 2003
A Defra-funded abattoir survey was undertaken by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency to determine the prevalence of foodborne zoonotic organisms in cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter in Great Britain. The study ran for 12 months from January 2003. Any foodborne pathogens found during the survey were also analysed for their ability to resist therapeutic antimicrobial treatment (antimicrobial resistance).
Two open meetings were held to present aspects of the results of this survey. The first meeting disseminated and discussed the overall results of the survey, with the second meeting focussing on the levels of antimicrobial resistance in specific foodborne pathogens and indicator organisms found during the course of the survey. These meetings were held respectively on the 22nd November 2004 at the Veterinary Laboratories Agency at Weybridge, Surrey, and on the 20th January 2005 at the National Agricultural Centre, Stoneleigh Park, Warwickshire. At these meetings, speakers from the Veterinary Laboratories Agency and the Veterinary Medicines Directorate presented findings from the survey and speakers from the Health Protection Agency considered these in relation to human health.
The 2003 UK Zoonoses Report was also launched at the Weybridge event and provides a further source of information on the abattoir survey. This work is crucial to one of the aims of Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Strategy - to reduce the incidence and/or effects of endemic diseases and other zoonotic organisms by taking appropriate risk-based action on the basis of scientific evidence where this is justified.
The 2003 survey found levels of antimicrobial resistance in organisms isolated from cattle, sheep and pigs at slaughter to be similar to levels found in an earlier survey in 1999-2000. However, there are differences for some organisms and individual antimicrobials.
Comparison of the figures obtained for Great Britain in this abattoir
study with published figures from other countries may not be entirely
appropriate, because of differences in methodology, but where this is
attempted the GB figures usually compare equitably with those reported
from Holland, but are on the whole less favourable than those reported
from Denmark or Sweden.
Defra is taking an active role in monitoring the levels of resistance
found as part of its surveillance activities and on-going surveillance
of resistance patterns has been identified as an important element within
the Defra Action Plan to combat antimicrobial resistance. These results
will form the baseline on which repeated surveys will build to provide
trend data.
The presentations from both of these meetings are available for download:
- Antimicrobial Resistance:
From farm to fork and beyond...
(1.33 MB) - Please note this is a large file. - Foodborne Pathogens in Cattle, Sheep & pigs in Great Britain - a presentation of study results and discussion in relation to current veterinary surveillance and public health. This presentation has been split into four parts for easier download:
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Page last modified:
October 27, 2006