Detection of Arcobacter spp in ground pork by modified plating methods

A modified cefsulodin-irgasan-novobiocin (CIN) medium was developed for the recovery of Arcobacter spp. from meats. Modified CW was compared to brain heart infusion agar supplemented with 10% bovine blood and cephalothin, vancomycin, and amphotericin B (CVA) as well as brain heart infusion agar supplemented with 10% bovine blood and no antibiotics. The three media were used to recover Arcobacter spp. in a survey of pork-processing plants. Examination of ground pork (149 samples) from one Iowa slaughter facility (Plant #1) revealed that 89 percent of the samples were positive for Arcobacter spp. In a second survey conducted 9 months later involving that same plant and four others, only 5% of the samples from the four plants were found to be positive for Arcobacter spp. Again, 90% of the samples were positive from Plant #1. It was not determined whether the sanitary practices during slaughter or the rearing of pigs on the source farms contributed to the prevalence of Arcobacter spp. in one plant versus another.