Occurrence of Zoonotic Bacteria in Retail Game Meat in Japan with Special Reference to Erysipelothrix.

From December 1993 to March 1994, a total of 93 wild boar and 30 deer meat samples were purchased from 13 retail shops and examined for the presence of species of Erysipelothrix , Yersinia , Listeria , Salmonella and Campylobacter . Erysipelothrix spp. were isolated from 41 wild boar and 15 deer samples. These isolates were identified as 13 serotypes. Serotypes 6 and 2 were the most predominant. Of 17 isolates examined, 14 isolates were highly virulent for mice. The bacteria of the same serotype were isolated repeatedly from the samples purchased in 4 of the shops. Yersinia enterocolitica was isolated from 36 wild boar and 10 deer samples; however, all isolates of Y. enterocolitica did not have pathogenic properties. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from 5 wild boar samples. The isolates were identified as serotype 1/2c and 4b. Salmonella spp. were isolated from 2 wild boar samples; one isolate was identified as S. typhimurium and the other was untypable. Campylobacter spp. were not detected.