The occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium in the muscle tissue of pigs intended for consumption

The aim of this study was to determine the occurrence and quantity of Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium (M. a. avium) in lymph nodes and diaphragm pillars in samples taken from naturally infected pigs intended for consumption. A post-mortem analysis was performed on 40 pigs, and tuberculoid changes to the lymph nodes found in 17 of them. Samples of various lymph nodes and diaphragm pillars were taken from these pigs, while submandibular lymph nodes and diaphragm pillars were taken from pigs without tuberculoid lesions. A total of 107 samples were tested by quantitative real-time PCR. M. a. avium was detected in three samples of diaphragm pillars at a quantity of as much as 103 cells per gram of muscle tissue. Quantitative real-time PCR is a useful method for detecting and quantifying mycobacteria in foods.