With the objective of verifying the enterotoxigenic level of Aeromonas sp. strains, isolated from several products and points in the cattle slaughtering processing line, 102 strains were tested (18 from A. hydrophila, 65 from A. caviae and 19 atypical), using suckling-mouse intragastric inoculation test and rabbit bond ileal loop assay. Producers of enterotoxins were found in three (16.7%) strains of A. hydrophila, originated from meat handlers hands, before the person begin working, and from ready to consume deboned meat, and in one (1.5%) strain of A. caviae, which was also isolated from the hands. The results are worrisome based on the presence of Aeromonas enterotoxigenic strains on the hands of workers as well as in the meat sampled from an extremely hygienic processing plant. Such facilities may act as a transmitting vehicle of this important and relatively new food poisoning agent.
Aeromonas hydrophila; A. caviae; enterotoxigenicity; cattle slaughtering
