The incidence of Listeria monocytogenes in slaughtered animals, in meat, and in meat products in Yugoslavia.

45% of all pigs examined harboured L. monocytogenes in the tonsils, and 3% were faecal excretors. L. monocytogenes was demonstrated in 29% of swabs from the retropharyngeal nodes of cattle and in 19% of faecal samples. The tonsillar and retropharyngeal samples did not correspond to the faecal samples. L. monocytogenes was not demonstrated in the deeper parts of the muscle tissue from 12 beef carcasses all harbouring Listeria in lymph nodes. L. monocytogenes was found in 69% of minced meat (mixed pork and beef) samples. 19% of raw dry sausages and 21% of vacuum-packaged hot smoked sausages were positive for L. monocytogenes. L. monocytogenes was not detected in the hot smoked sausages heated to an internal temperature of 70-75 degrees C, after the smoking process.