Microbiological quality and potential public health risks of export meat from springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis) in Namibia

To assess the microbiological quality and safety of export game meat; i) a total of 80 pooled meat samples for aerobic plate count (APC) and Enterobacteriaceae ii) water used in harvesting and processing for microbiological quality and iii) meat and rectal contents for Salmonella spp. and Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC) were evaluated in 2009 and 2010. No differences (p > 0.05) in the APCs were observed between the years, but the mean Enterobacteriaceae count for 2009 was 1.33 ± 0.69 log10 cfu/cm2 compared to 2.93 ± 1.50 log10 cfu/cm2 for 2010. Insignificant Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) levels were detected in 9/23 field water samples, while fecal bacterial (coliforms, Clostridium perfringens and enterococci) were absent in all samples. No Salmonella spp. was isolated and all E. coli isolates from meat were negative for STEC virulence genes (stx1, stx2, eae and hlyA), suggesting a negligible role by springbok in the epidemiology of STEC and Salmonella.

► We examined aerobic plate counts and Enterobacteriaceae of springbok meat over 2 years after encountering high coliform counts in springbok salami. ► Batches of springbok meat harboured Enterobacteriaceae levels exceeding stipulated EU limits. ► Springbok meat was not contaminated with the major food-borne pathogens, Salmonella and Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ► Rectal contents of springbok were negative for STEC.