What Foodborne Bacteria Are Associated With Game?
As with any perishable meat, poultry, or fish, harmful bacteria, such as Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157:H7, can be found on raw or undercooked game. They live in the intestinal tracts of game, livestock, poultry, dogs, cats, and other warm-blooded animals, and must be eaten to cause illness. There are about 2,000 serotypes of Salmonella bacteria; they are found in all game — both warm- and cold-blooded — including birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians. E. coli (including E. coli O157:H7 and other serotypes) can colonize in the intestines of animals, which can contaminate muscle meat at slaughter. E. coli O157:H7 is a rare strain found in ruminants, including deer. The enterohemorrhagic E. coli produce a “Shiga toxin” that causes cell damage and may lead to Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS), which can cause kidney failure in the very young. A similar illness, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), may occur in adults. Bacteria multiply rapidly in the “Danger Zone” — temperatur
