Abstract:
Thesis study was conducted to determine microbial contamination
of cattle carcasses at two slaughterhouses in Khartoum, capital of
the Sudan, from June to September 2011. A total of 290 swab
samples were collected for total viable counts (TVCs) of bacteria
from 20 cattle carcasses were randomly selected and sampled
from different sites. The TVC ranged from 6.90±0.99to 3.24±0.18
log10 cfu cm-2 at slaughterhouse number 1and from 8.33±0.82 to
3.23±0.11 log10 cfu cm-2 at slaughterhouse number 2. Due to
multiple contacts of carcasses with contaminated slaughtering
utensils and hands of worker, the highest level of TVC after
skinning was from the neck site at the two slaughterhouses,
(6.90±0.99 log10 cfu cm-2 and 8.33±0.82 log10 cfu cm-2 ). While
the highest level of TVC after evisceration was from brisket at the
two slaughterhouses, (5.06±0.44 log10 cfu cm-2 and 7.77±0.96
log10 cfu cm-2). After washing the highest level of TVC was from
neck at the two slaughterhouses, (4.48±0.37 log10 cfu cm-2 and
6.39±0.80log10 cfu cm-2).Eleven species of bacteria were isolated
and the highest average prevalence was Pseudomonas spp.
18.69% and the lower average is Salmonella spp.
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