Förekomst av specifika bakterier i färskfoder till hund : en undersökning av färskfoder innehållande kött och slaktbiprodukter från idisslare tillgängligt på den svenska marknaden

Sammanfattning: Raw food diets, a type of animal feed that have not been preserved prior to freezing or cooling, have increased in popularity. The advocates mean that it is more natural to feed dogs diets containing raw ingredients only, compared with heat treated dog food. It has been claimed that this feeding regimen comes with a lot of positive effects, but the opinions in the subject differ. Previous studies have detected potential pathogenic bacteria in different raw food diets and they have also shown that the presence of these bacteria is greater in raw food diets compared to heat treated dog food. A raw food diet is also a risk factor for the dog to shed zoonotic bacteria in its feces. The aim of this studie was to investigate presence of selected bacteria in raw food diets for dogs, containing meat and offal from ruminants. The more specific aim was thus to investigate presence of Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Clostridium perfringens and Enterobacteriaceae to estimate the hygienic quality of raw dog food and the risk for the food to be a source of zoonotic bacteria. Raw dog foods were bought from seven shops in the area of Uppsala and Stockholm, Sweden, and were produced by nine differente manufacturers. Fresh, frozen feed containing meat and/or offal from ruminants intended for dogs were included in the study. The meat in the feed originated from Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, Finland and Germany. A total of 30 samples were analysed regarding the presence of Enterobacteriaceae, C. perfringens, Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. according to the standardized methods Nordisk Metodkommitté för Livsmedel (NMKL) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Enterobacteriaceae was present in all samples in number of log 1,6 Colony Forming Units (CFU)/gram up to log 6,4 CFU/gram, with the mean value of 3,8 CFU/gram. Clostridium perfringens was found in eight specimens (27 %). The quantity of C. perfringens ranged from log 0,8 CFU/gram to log 4,0 CFU/gram, with the average of log 2,1 CFU/gram. Salmonella spp. was found in three samples (10 %) with the origin of Sweden and Germany. They were identified as Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Rissen, Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium var. monophasic and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Leeuwarden. Campylobacter coli was identified in one sample with the origin of Finland. The result in this studie has confirmed the microbiological risk that previously has been established with raw food diets. It is important to be aware of the risks to be able to minimize them. The benefits that has been proposed with this type of dog food has not been investigated in this studie, but scientific studies that confirm these positive effects are limited. Further studies in the subject are needed to be able to judge wether or not the benefits outweigh the risks.