Animal food-borne microbes are pathogens that jeopardize food safety and cause illness in humans via natural infection or contamination. Most of those microbes are bacteria that have considerable impacts on public health. Their survival and pathogenicity are due to toxin production, biofilm development, spore formation, disinfection resistance, and other traits. However, detailed information about them is scattered across scientific literature. We aimed to compile information about major zoonotic bacteria linked with human food of livestock origin and describe their typical features, transmission modes, detection, and preventative approaches. In particular, we addressed the following pathogens that cause food-borne disease worldwide: Campylobacter, Salmonella, Listeria, Staphylococcus, Brucella, Clostridium, Mycobacterium, Colibacilus, and some others. Many of those bacteria have substantial reservoirs in food animals, and food products of animal origin are the primary vehicles of their transmission. Human beings become affected by food-borne zoonotic bacteria if they consume raw animal products or foods produced by using unstandardized slaughtering methods or unsanitary preparation and handling procedures. These zoonotic bacteria and their toxins can be detected in food by culturing, serological, and molecular diagnostic methods. They are effectively controlled and prevented by good hygiene, good management practices, cooking, and pasteurization protocols. In addition, there is a need for a centralized surveillance and monitoring system, as well as higher awareness in society of the occurrence, prevention, and control of bacterial pathogens related to food animals.

Beresa TG, et al. J Vet Sci. 2024 May;25:e46. https://doi.org/10.4142/jvs.23301

Background: Hydatid disease is a zoonotic disease caused by the intermediate stage of dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus.Objectives: The study investigated the prevalence of hydatid cysts and the risk factors in cattle slaughtered at the Bishoftu municipal abattoir. It also analyzed the economic loss and community’s awareness of this matter.Animals: 480 cattle brought for slaughtering were included in the study.Methods: A cross‐sectional study was conducted from December 2022 to April 2023 in Bishoftu municipal abattoir involving antemortem examination of cattle and postmortem hydatid cyst investigation, assessment of associated economic loss, and community awareness survey. Animals were selected systematically and cysts were investigated using standard meat inspection procedures.Results: 10.4% of the slaughtered cattle were found positive for hydatid cysts, with no statistically significant association with the considered risk factors. From 85 collected cysts, the lungs accounted for 55.3%, the liver for 29.4%, and the remaining 15.3% were from the spleen, kidney, and heart. About 47.1% of the cysts were fertile and 52.9% were infertile, of which, 37.5% were nonviable. In a survey of 100 individuals, 33.0% were unaware of hydatid disease, and 61.0% were unaware that the disease is zoonotic. Annual economic loss due to the case was estimated at 5,444,564.4 ($97,224.4).Conclusion: This study identified hydatid disease as a significant issue in cattle in Bishoftu, indicating the need for preventative and control measurements. Strategies such as deworming, controlling street dogs, establishing standardized abattoirs, and raising public awareness should be applied to alleviate the problem in Bishoftu and nationwide.

Edwardsiella species are reassigned under the family Hafniaceae following phylogenomic revisions of the order Enterobacterales , a primary pathogenic strain of fish, while Escherichia coli are members of the Enterobacteriaceae family that are frequently reported as contaminants with rare causes of illness in fish but severely affect other mammals. A cross‐sectional study was conducted from April to November 2022 with the objectives of estimating the prevalence of Edwardsiella tarda , Edwardsiella ictaluri , and E. coli O157:H7 in fish and determining the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of the isolates. A total of 768 tissue samples comprising intestine, liver, and kidney were collected from 256 apparently healthy fish. Bacterial isolation was performed using selective and differential culture media, including MacConkey agar, xylose lysine deoxycholate (XLD) agar, Edwardsiella isolation medium, eosin methylene blue (EMB) agar, and sorbitol MacConkey agar. Further identification was performed using biochemical tests and latex agglutination assays, particularly for the targeted strain of E. coli . The disk diffusion test was employed to determine the susceptibility pattern of isolates against seven standard antimicrobial disks. The findings were presented using descriptive statistics, while the association of categorical variables with the occurrence of bacterial species was computed using chi‐square and logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of E. tarda, E. ictaluri, and E. coli O157:H7 among fish was 8.6%, 4.7%, and 14.1%, respectively, and among organs (intestine, liver, and kidney) was 4.01%, 1.95%, and 5.34%, respectively. The maturity of fish and lake showed a significant association ( p < 0.05) with the occurrence of E. tarda . Resistance to tetracycline was noted in all of the isolates. The results of this study concluded that the intestines of fish harbor E. tarda, E. ictaluri, as primary inhabitant pathogens, and E. coli O157:H7, which may be a transient microorganism mostly associated with fault handling practice.