Hygienic status of some poultry processing plants

ABSTRACT

120 samples were collected from two poultry processing plants and examined for their bacteriological aspect. The mean values of APC of chicken, rinse bath and water chiller of 1st abattoir were 9.7 x 10 3 +/- 2.2 x 10 3, 9.8 x 10 4 +/- 2.8 x 10 4 and 4.4 x 10 4 +/- 7.0 x 10 3 CFU/cm 2 and /or ml, respectively. While, 8.4 x 10 4 +/- 4.8 x 10 4, 1.2 x 10 5 +/- 4.6 x 10 4 and 7.5 x 10 4 +/- 2.5 x 10 4 CFU/cm 2 and /or ml, for 2nd abattoir, respectively. Also, the mean values of total coliform counts of the same samples were 4.6 x 10 2 +/- 2.8 x 10 2, 3.1 x 10 3 +/- 9.8 x 10 2 and 1.8 x 10 3 +/- 4.3 x 10 2 CFU/cm 2 and /or ml, respectively, for 1st abattoir. But, 3.5 x 10 2 +/- 1.1 x 10 2, 4.7 x 10 3 +/- 2.0 x 10 3 and 1.4 x 10 3 +/- 4.6 x 10 2 CFU/cm 2 and /or ml, respectively, for 2nd abattoir. Salmonella typhimurium, S. virchow and S. derby could be isolated and identified. On the other h and, Staphylococcus aureus as well as Cl. perfringens could be isolated in different values from only broiler carcasses slaughtered in both poultry processing plants. The hygienic and public health significance of the isolated strains was discussed