Fig. 3:
Bacterial contamination of chicken meat
originated from chicken , workers, tools and
equipments as well as hygine in the slaughter
house .In the present study bacterial count of 51
(42%) samples reported were within the
acceptable microbiological limits 105 determine
by Sudanese Standard and Metrology
Organization(SSMO) of microbial specification of
frozen chickens meat .
Higher bacterial contamination was detected on 70
(57.8%) of the samples, APC range from 106 up to
1011. According to previous studies freezing and
thawing during storage of the meat lead to leakage
of fluids rich in proteins, vitamins, and minerals,
which are conductive to microbial growth [14].Count more than 1.5×106 using either rinse
technique or skin maceration techniques indicates
unsatisfactory processing control [15].
During the study unpleasant smell was observed in
samples with APC more than107Cfu/cm2 others
similar results showed that when the count of live
bacteria grow to about 107Cfu/cm2 of meat there
appear an unpleasant smell, while mucus appears
when the count grows up to 1010Cfu/cm2 [16].
Microbial count found on a carcass depends on the
site examined [17]. Chickens thighs are of main
importance in investigating the contamination
during poultry slaughtering process. In the present
study, the highest bacterial count were seen in the
thigh cuts (1011), similar results was reported by
[18].
Isolation of E.coli 63(63%) is compatible with
previous studies in Sudan[19-22] .Contamination
of broiler meat with E coli is possible at any stage
during processing particularly evisceration
[23].Salmonella spp (10%) were isolated and this
result agreed with findings of [24]. The percentage
of Staphylococcus spp was reported in this
study(19%) these isolates were among the
dominant bacteria throughout all storage conditions
of broiler chickens [25],and the enterotoxin
produced by Staphylococcus spp. at favorable
temperature is the common cause of human foodborne illnesses throughout the world[26] . current
results was considered low compared with 90.63%
isolated from chicken meat in Bangldish [27] and
disagreed with previous study in the country where
Staphylococci spp was not recovered from
chicken meat [20]. staphylococuss sciuri was
isolated during this study which is considered as
natural reservoir of the methicillin resistance gene
[8].
Interestingly lactococuss garvieae and kocuria
kristianae an emerging zoonotic pathogens are
recovered from broiler carcasses investigated in
this study. lactococuss garvieae was previously
isolated from poultry meat and duck intestine[28]
.Various human clinical infections mostly
endocarditis caused by L garviea were recently
reported [29 and 30] .kocuria kristianae a
harmless normal skin microorganism were
recently considered as a true pathogen causing
infection in premature babies and
immunocompromised patients [9 and 31].
The high APC in the cut samples examined
indicate that the contamination of the product could
be attributed to unsatisfactory sanitation during
handling and processing. Corrective action should
focus on reviewing processing including
examination of hygiene status of the birds, chilling
practise, slaughtering environment and workers.