On this page
- Introduction
- Routine inspection procedures
- Enhanced inspection procedures of bovines and other susceptible species for Cysticercus bovis
- Enhanced inspection procedures of bovines and farmed game animals for bovine tuberculosis
Introduction
Presentation of carcasses and their parts is done in a consistent manner to allow for the observation of all parts described on this page. Elements of the Standards for post-mortem evaluation of food animal carcasses must also be met. Unless otherwise indicated, dressing procedures described in Dressing procedures and preparation of edible parts will be completed prior to the examination of the carcass.
Unless otherwise indicated, the examination of the parts indicated on this page consists of a visual observation. Any abnormalities detected (enlargement, lesions elsewhere, abnormal palpation) may require further palpation or incision. Abnormalities detected on lymph node examination will necessitate incision (unless it is plainly evident that the lesion is an abscess). Special enhanced post-mortem evaluation procedures may also be required in certain circumstances (that is for bovine cysticercosis, bovine tuberculosis).
These standards are deemed the minimal necessary procedures to allow for detection of pathologies or hazards that may pose a risk to human health, and thus, to complete a post-mortem examination or inspection required in the Standards to identify a meat product as edible. Partial dressing can only be entertained if this outcome can be achieved: modified evaluation may be required, such as additional palpation when visual observation may be diminished. However full inspection will be necessary if defects are detected.
Certain elements of these standards may be shared.
For harvesting of specific meat products for human consumption, other examination criteria may need to be met. Consult the dressing procedures and preparation of edible parts for more information.
Farmed game animals will receive the equivalent inspection as that for bovines (for farmed game ruminants) with the exception of dentition verification, or for porcine (for farmed wild boar).
To receive guidance on the post-mortem evaluation of wild game animals, contact cfia.meathygieneprog-proghygienedesviandes.acia@inspection.gc.ca.
Routine inspection procedures
Bovine/farmed game ruminant
Head
- Head, with the following lymph nodes exposed for evaluation as described:
- Lateral retropharyngeal lymph node
- Incised medial retropharyngeal, parotid and mandibular lymph nodes
- 2 to 3 incisions/slices right through the nodes is considered sufficient
- Dentition verification (only for species subject to specified risk materials removal requirements)
- Eyes
- Tongue: includes palpation
- Incised internal pterygoid and external masseter muscles
- Incisions should be made parallel to the mandible and right through the muscle (exposing at least 75 % of the muscle's surface), exposing predominantly the muscle tissue and to minimum extent the connective tissue (3:1 ratio)
- Bovines less than 6 weeks are exempt from these incisions
- Calves older than 6 weeks that are not suspect of being infected with Cysticercosis bovis may be exempted of masseter and internal pterygoid incisions as long as 6 incisions total are performed on the cardiac muscle through the internal surface
Viscera
- Lungs: includes palpation
- Incised right and left tracheobronchial, cranial and caudal mediastinal lymph nodes
- Liver: includes palpation
- Incised hepatic lymph nodes
- Heart: exterior and interior with musculature incised via internal surface:
- 3 shallow incisions in the musculature of the everted heart, OR
- 1 incision that passes through the interventricular septum from base to apex in order to open the heart and expose both ventricles
- Bovines less than 6 weeks are exempt from these incisions
- Gastro-intestinal tract
- Mesenteric lymph nodes
- Spleen: includes palpation
- Kidneys: enucleated (in carcass or with viscera)
Carcass
- External de-hided carcass
- Veal carcasses must be de-hided for implant detection
- Internal cavity
- Iliac lymph nodes
- Cut surface of vertebrae
Ovine, caprine
Head
- Head
- Incised retropharyngeal lymph nodes
- may be replaced by parotid lymph node incision for partially dressed carcasses
Viscera
- Lungs: includes palpation
- Heart: includes palpation
- Liver: includes palpation
- Gastro-intestinal tract
- Mesenteric lymph nodes
- Bronchial, mediastinal, hepatic lymph nodes: includes palpation
Carcass
- External
- Superficial body lymph nodes (subiliac, superficial inguinal or mammary, superficial cervical): includes palpation
- Partial dressing (skin-on) will require additional palpation of prescapular lymph nodes
Equine
Head
- Head
- Guttural pouch
- Eyes
- Tongue: includes palpation
- Incised medial retropharyngeal, lateral retropharyngeal, parotid and mandibular lymph nodes
- 2 to 3 incisions/slices right through the nodes is considered sufficient
Viscera
- Lungs: includes palpation
- Incised right and left tracheobronchial, cranial and caudal mediastinal lymph nodes
- Liver: includes palpation
- Incised hepatic lymph nodes
- Heart
- Gastro-intestinal tract
- Mesenteric lymph nodes including palpation
- Spleen: includes palpation
- Kidneys: enucleated (in carcass or with viscera)
Carcass
- External
- Internal cavity
- Iliac lymph nodes
- Cut surface of vertebrae
- Neck
- abdominal walls
- axillary and subscapular spaces
Porcine/farmed wild boar
Head
- Head
- Incised mandibular lymph nodes
Viscera
- Gastro-intestinal tract
- Mesenteric lymph nodes, left tracheobronchial lymph node, hepatic lymph node
- Spleen
- Lungs
- Liver
- Heart
- Kidneys (enucleated)
Carcass
- External
- Internal cavity
- Iliac lymph nodes
- Cut surface of vertebrae
Ostrich, rhea, emu
Head
- Head
- Eyes
- Sinus
- Neck
Viscera
- Lungs: includes palpation
- Liver: includes palpation
- Heart includes incision (through the interventricular septum) and palpation
- Kidneys includes palpation
- Gastro-intestinal tract
- Spleen: includes palpation
- Oesophagus
- Gizzard
Carcass
- External
- Internal cavity
- Abdominal and thoracic air sacs
Poultry
Carcass
- Head (when attached)
- Body (outer surfaces)
Viscera
- Lungs
- Heart
- Liver
- Spleen (mature poultry and ducks)
- Duodenum (mature poultry): palpation
Cavity
- Air sacs (interclavicular, thoracic, abdominal)
- Sex organs
- Kidneys
- Body walls (abdominal and thoracic)
Rabbit
Carcass
- Head (when attached)
- Body (outer surfaces)
Viscera
- Lungs
- Heart
- Liver
- Gastro-intestinal tract: to be presented for inspection only when instructed by the CFIA
- Spleen: to be presented for inspection only when instructed by the CFIA
- Urinary Bladder: to be presented for inspection only when instructed by the CFIA
Cavity
- Sex organs
- Kidneys
- Body walls (abdominal and thoracic)
The dressed carcass, viscera and cavity will be visually examined. Visual examination will be followed by palpation and incision as deemed necessary (for example abnormal discoloration, spots, clots, size, shape or structure).
Enhanced inspection procedures of bovines and other susceptible species for Cysticercus bovis
If on routine examination, 1 or more carcasses in a lot are found to be affected with lesions suggestive of Cysticercus bovis, all affected carcasses and their parts must be held pending laboratory confirmation. As bovine cysticercosis is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, the identity of the owner and the origin of the cattle must be established for follow up. As soon as a probable lesion is detected, the permanent identification number or, if it is missing, all pertinent information which would assist in identifying the origin of the carcass(es), for example ear tags, brands, etc., will need to recorded and reported to the inspector.
Application of enhanced inspection procedures
Carcasses of all animals that are received under a licence because they are associated to a confirmed case of C. bovis, are subjected to enhanced inspection procedures.
When at least 1 carcass from a lot of cattle subjected to routine inspection is discovered to show signs of infestation, all carcasses which originate from that lot are subjected to enhanced inspection procedures, pending laboratory confirmation.
Enhanced inspection procedures for C. bovis consist of routine inspection procedures that are heightened by detailed examination of the thoroughly sliced:
- heart
- external and internal muscles of mastication
- muscular portion of the diaphragm
- tongue and the oesophagus
- musculature exposed during the dressing operations of the carcass
Laboratory confirmation
Laboratory reports will reflect the results of histological examination of the submitted lesions and will consist of 1 of 3 possible options:
- The lesion was not caused by C. bovis. The pathologist will describe the lesion observed, adding the statement that the etiology of the lesion was not C. bovis. In this case, the carcass(es) from which the lesion originated may be considered not to be infested and should therefore be released without further treatment.
- The lesion was caused by C. bovis. The pathologist will describe the lesion observed adding a statement which indicates that the etiology of the lesion was C. bovis.
- C. bovis cannot be ruled out as a possible cause of the lesion. In this case, the pathologist will describe the lesion observed adding a statement which indicates that the lesion is consistent with that caused by C. bovis. For post-mortem judgement purposes, these carcasses must be considered infested.
Consult the Disposition manual for red meat species for disposition and treatment requirements for infested carcasses.
Enhanced inspection procedures of bovines and farmed game animals for bovine tuberculosis
During an active investigation related to a confirmed case of bovine tuberculosis, added inspection procedures are required to properly assess the spread of the disease from the original confirmed case and to enable mitigation of any further spread. These added examinations are aimed at identifying gross pathological lesions that will determine the appropriate disposition of the carcass as well as optimize sampling for laboratory diagnostic testing. Consult the Disposition manual for red meat species for more information.
CFIA hygiene inspection staff will consult the Bovine Tuberculosis Hazard Specific Plan (an internal document) to determine which carcasses, that are part of the investigation, require enhanced post-mortem inspection on top of routine inspection procedures and to obtain detailed instructions on sample collection, packaging and submission of samples for testing.
The following table is from the Bovine Tuberculosis Hazard Specific Plan and summarizes the additional procedures, when required.
| Region | Tissue to examine and sample (sample tissues in bold, regardless of presence/absence of lesions) | Tissues for collection (n) |
|---|---|---|
| Head and neck | mandibular lymph nodes | 0 |
| Head and neck | parotid lymph nodes | 2 |
| Head and neck | left and right medial retropharyngeal lymph nodes | 2 |
| Head and neck | left and right lateral retropharyngeal lymph nodes | 0 |
| Head and neck | cervical (cranial, middle, caudal left and right) lymph nodes | 0 |
| Thorax | mediastinal lymph nodes: examine the entire chain of 3 or more lymph nodes; submit the caudal mediastinal lymph node, which is usually the largest in the chain | 1 |
| Thorax | left and right tracheobronchial lymph nodesTable Note a | 2 |
| Thorax | incise lungs every few centimeters, and examine very carefully; submit the lung tissue only if a lesion is observed, selecting pieces of the tissue that include surrounding normal-appearing lung tissue | +/- |
| Abdomen | incise liver every few centimetres and examine carefully; submit any lesion observed, also include some surrounding normal-appearing liver | +/- |
| Abdomen | Hepatic portal lymph node | 1 |
| Abdomen | examine mesenteric chain carefully: submit the large lymph node at the ileocecal junction (ileocecal colic lymph node) | 1 |
| Other | superficial cervical (prescapular) lymph nodes | 2 |
| Other | medial iliac lymph nodes | 0 |
| Other | superficial inguinal (supramammary/scrotal) lymph nodes | 0 |
| Other | subiliac (prefemoral) lymph nodes and popliteal lymph nodes | 0 |
| Other | ileofemoral (deep inguinal) lymph nodes | 0 |