Bacteriological evaluation of retailed broiler chicken carcasses in Port-Said Province, Egypt.

Abstract

A total of 80 random samples of freshly slaughtered and chilled broiler chicken carcasses (40 of each) were collected from different private small-scale manual poultry processing shops and local retailers in Port Said Province-Egypt during the period extended from January to May 2020. All samples were subjected to bacteriological examination to evaluate the quality and safety of dressed chicken carcasses. The obtained results revealed that the incidence rates of Escherichia coli, salmonella and campylobacter in the examined freshly slaughtered broiler chicken carcasses samples were 65%, 50%, and 55%, respectively, while the aerobic colony counts ranged from 1.5 × 10 5 to1.1 × 10 6 , with a mean value of 3.2 × 10 5 ± 4.2 × 10 4 cfu/cm 2 , respectively. Meanwhile, the incidence rates of E. coli, salmonella and campylobacter in the examined air chilled broiler chicken carcasses samples were 75%, 35%, and 40%, respectively, and the aerobic colony counts were ranged from 3 × 10 6 to 1.9 × 10 8 , with a mean value of 4.1 × 10 7 ± 1.1 × 10 7 cfu/cm 2 , respectively. From the obtained results, it was concluded that dressed freshly slaughtered and air chilled broiler chicken carcasses could be contaminated with a variety of bacteria which reflected the standard of hygiene under which these carcasses were slaughtered, handled and stored in addition to the probable public health hazards.