Blood poisonings at slaughter and their consequences.

Contamination of pig blood by Str. faecium and P. fluorescens realized either through the bleeding knife or through intravenous injection. Bacterial counts made in the organs and muscles showed a large contamination of the organs and a smaller contamination of the muscles. In the case where Str. faecium and P. fluorescens were injected into the blood circulation, only Str. faecium could be re-isolated in muscles and organs. Study of the bactericidal activity of total blood and plasma showed a marked antimicrobial activity against P. fluorescens and a slightly activity against Str. faecium.