Assessment of microbial qualities of exported sheep and goats carcasses and the hygiene conditions of an export slaughterhouse in Khartoum state

Abstract

The total viable count (TVC) was used to evaluate the levels of contamination in the four sites of the carcasses (neck, forelimb, flank and hind limb) at different operational control points during the slaughter process (skinning, evisceration, washing, and chilling) and at Khartoum air port. Also, samples were taken from hands of the workers and contact surfaces (40 samples) from both slaughterhouse and at airport. TVCs of sheep and goats carcasses in slaughterhouse and airport were ranged between 8.39±0.10 log10 cfu/cm2 and 8.58±0.06 log10 cfu/cm2, the TVCs of the butcher’s hands and loaders in the slaughterhouse were 8.43±0.10 log10 cfu/cm2 and 8.44±0.06 log10 cfu/cm2 respectively, while the hands of the workers in the airport were 8.21 ±0.12 log10 cfu/cm2.Certain pathogenic organisms were isolated in the slaughterhouse E. coli (39.88%), Salmonella spp (19.02%) and Staphylococcus areus (41.10%).While the percentages at the air port were E. coli (38.0%), Salmonella spp (9.2%) and Staphylococcus areus (71.7%).The study showed that the levels of contamination on the exported sheep and goats carcasses were higher than the acceptable values set by the Sudanese and international standards. However, for providing hygienic meat, it is important to maintain high standards of hygiene in the slaughterhouse by continuous monitoring and imposing the hazard analysis critical control points system (HACCP).