Washing water pressure and temperature on microbial population of cattle carcasses surface/Pressao e temperatura da agua de lavagem na populacao microbiana da superficie de carcacas bovinas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of washing water temperature and pressure on mesophilic and psychrotrophic aerobic bacterial populations, yeasts and molds, total coliforms and fecal coliforms population, whereas the cattle carcass surface may become contaminated during the different slaughter procedures and the final carcass washing may reduce microbial population. Samples were taken by sponge swabbing in four areas of carcass surface (flank, neck, chest and rump), from which 20 were washed with water at 25[degrees]C and without artificial pressure, 20 with water under a pressure of 3atm, 20 with water at 40[degrees]C and without artificial pressure and 20 with water at 40[degrees]C under a pressure of 3atm. For control purpose and using the same method to collect more 20 carcasses samples were taken without washing, totaling 100 samples. The results showed that the water at 25[degrees]C under 3atm pressure was more efficient to remove microorganisms from carcass surface than the heated water, although this latter promotes a more visible clean carcasses. Key words: cattle carcass, cattle carcass washing, fecal coliforms, food safety, carcass decontamination, cattle slaughter. Considerando que a superficie das carcacas bovinas pode se contaminar durante as diferentes etapas do abate e que a lavagem no final do processo tende a reduzir a populacao microbiana, o presente estudo foi realizado a fim de verificar a influencia da temperatura e da pressao da agua de lavagem sobre a populacao de microrganismos heterotroficos mesofilos, psicrotroficos, bolores e leveduras, coliformes totais e coliformes termotolerantes. Para tal, foram coletadas amostras, por suabe de esponja, em quatro pontos da superficie de 80 carcacas (flanco, pescoco, peito e alcatra). Vinte delas foram lavadas com agua a 25[degrees]C e sem pressao artificial, 20 com agua a 25[degrees]C sob pressao de 3atm, 20 com agua a 40[degrees]C e sem pressao artificial e 20 com agua a 40[degrees]C sob pressao de 3atm. Para efeito de controle, foram coletadas amostras, pelo mesmo metodo, de 20 carcacas sem lavar, totalizando 100 amostras. Os resultados evidenciaram que a agua sob pressao em temperatura de 25[degrees]C foi mais eficiente na remocao de microrganismos do que a agua aquecida, muito embora esse ultimo caso promovesse uma limpeza mais visivel das carcacas. Palavras-chave: carcaca bovina, lavagem carcaca bovina, coli;formes termotolerantes, seguranca alimentar, descontaminacao