Prevalence and profile of Salmonella from samples along the production line in Chinese beef processing plants

- Salmonella prevalence in Chinese beef processing plants was first reported.
- Salmonella isolated from the four beef plants were not highly infective.
- Prevalence of Salmonella on hide was relatively low.
- Hide removal was correlated with sharp decrease in microbial contamination.
- Additional intervention strategies should be applied prior to evisceration.

This work investigated the prevalence of Salmonella, the serotypes and antibiotic resistance of the isolated strains from four beef processing plants of China. The prevalence of Salmonella in hide (n = 70), feces (n = 70), pre-evisceration carcass (n = 70), post-evisceration carcass (n = 70), post-washing carcass (n = 70), chilled carcass (n = 80), and raw meat (n = 80) samples was 20.0%, 18.6%, 1.4%, 1.4%, 2.9%, 1.3%, and 1.3%, respectively. Among the four plants, there were significant differences in the prevalence of Salmonella on hides and in feces. During the processing, Salmonella was significantly reduced after hide removal. Seven serotypes of Salmonella were identified among the eighty-three isolates. Salmonella Agona was the dominant serotype (p < 0.05, 53.0%), followed by Salmonella Senftenberg (16.9%), Salmonella Meleagridis (10.8%), and Salmonella Derby (9.6%). None of the isolated strains were found to be resistant to sixteen commonly used antimicrobial agents. The results of this study indicate that Salmonella contamination is common in samples along the production line, with S. Agona as dominant serotype. Specific measures should be taken to prevent and/or treat Salmonella contamination in corresponding products in Chinese beef processing plants. Furthermore, the current research might provide baseline information of Salmonella prevalence profile in Chinese beef processing plant, which could be used for the future study.