This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Evaluating Procedure-Linked Risk Determinants in Trichinella spp. Inspection under a Quality Management System in Southern Spain
by
,
José Villegas Pérez
1,
Francisco Javier Navas González
2,*,
Salud Serrano
3
,
Fernando García Viejo
4 and
Leandro Buffoni
5,6
1
Escuela de Doctorado, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
2
Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
3
Departamento de Bromatología y Tecnología de los Alimentos, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
4
Consejería de Salud y Consumo, Junta de Andalucía, 14004 Córdoba, Spain
5
Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Área de Parasitología, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
6
UIC Zoonosis y Enfermedades Emergentes ENZOEM, Universidad de Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Animals 2024, 14(19), 2802; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani14192802 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 2 August 2024
/
Revised: 8 September 2024
/
Accepted: 22 September 2024
/
Published: 27 September 2024
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Zoonotic Diseases: Etiology, Diagnosis, Surveillance and Epidemiology)
Simple Summary
Trichinella spp. is a nematode parasite that causes Trichinellosis worldwide, a foodborne zoonotic disease. To ensure high standards in food safety, a Quality Management System (QMS) was implemented in Satellite Laboratories (SLs) for meat inspection of Trichinella spp. in southern Spain. The study analyzed how deviations from standard procedures may affect risk levels using Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA). Data were collected from audits of 18 SLs in Cordoba and Seville over six years. It was found that technical deviations, such as incorrect tests or calculations and failure to follow procedures, significantly increased risk levels. These deviations caused up to a 1.150-fold increase in risk levels, indicating their critical impact on risk determination. However, deviations related to records and documents, such as incomplete or erroneous data, did not significantly influence risk levels. The results emphasize the need to improve Trichinella spp. control strategies by addressing critical deviations in technique, trial information, and quality assurance to mitigate associated risks.
Abstract
Trichinellosis is a major foodborne zoonotic disease responsible for 41 human cases, according to the European Union One Health Zoonoses Report. In southern Spain, a quality management system (QMS) was applied to satellite laboratories (SLs) that conduct meat inspections of Trichinella spp. ensuring excellence practices. This study aimed to determine how eventual deviations from standard procedures may influence risk levels using Canonical Discriminant Analysis (CDA). Data were collected during slaughterhouses and game handling establishments’ official audits in 18 SLs located in the provinces of Cordoba and Seville during a 6-year period. Technical requirement deviations regarding technique and trial information, such as performing tests or calculations incorrectly or not following technical procedures, significantly increased risk level differences. Imminent risk levels were detected if the above-mentioned deviations arose. Quality assurance compromising deviations were responsible for 1150 times risk level differences, suggesting finding such may be critical for risk determination. A lack of significant influence of records and documents compromising deviations (incomplete forms or missing-erroneous or illegible data) was found. These results strengthen Trichinella spp. control strategies by pinpointing crucial aspects within QMS that require improvement, particularly in addressing deviations related to technique, trial information, and quality assurance procedures to mitigate associated risks effectively.
