General sponge cloths measuring 20 18 were purchased
from a local supermarket and cut in half widthwise.
Each sponge piece (swab) was folded in half and
placed in a sterile stomacher bag, with the folded edge
facing the bag opening. Each swab was moistened immediately
prior to use with maximum recovery diluent
(MRD; Oxoid; 10 ml). The bottom of each swab was
grasped through the stomacher bag, and the stomacher
bag pulled over the hand, to reveal the folded edge of the
swab. A metal template with an internal area measuring
10 10 cm was sterilised using alcohol and held onto
the area of the cattle hide to be swabbed. The folded end
of the swab was pressed onto the template area and
passed from left to right in one motion. The stomacher
bag was then pulled back over the hand, encasing the
swab inside. All swabs were kept on ice and transported
back to the laboratory within 2 h of collection