Occurrence and public health importance of enterobacteriacea in giblets at consumer level

ABSTRACT

A total of 30 samples of giblets [10 of each gizzards, hearts and livers] were collected from general markets at Alexandria Province and examined bacteriologically for detection of enteric organisms. Respectively, the mean values for total coliform/g of the gizzard, heart and liver were 8.30 x 10 4 +/- 2.06 x 10 4, 3.64 x 10 2 +/- 0.67 x 10 2 and 2.79 x 10 4 +/- 0.55 x 10 4 and 7.06 x 10 4 +/- 2.23 x 10 4, 4.72 x 10 2 +/- 0.85 x 10 2 and 3.6 x 10 4 +/- 0.67 x 10 4 for total Enterobacteriaceae count. E. coli were the highest isolates from gizzards, hearts and livers [11.90%, 23.80% and 4.76%], followed by Enterobacter cloacae [2.38%, 9.52% and 4.76%] and Enterobacter aerogenes [2.38%, 9.52% and 2.38%]. Citrobacter frequndii, Hafnia alvei, Proteus rettgeri, Proteus morganii, Salmonella spp., Salmonella typhi and Shigella flexneri type 6, could be isolated in a different percentages from examined samples. Spoilage effect as well as the public health significance of isolated species have been discussed