Estimation of Bacterial Contamination of Indogenious Bovine Carcasses in Slaughterhouses in Khartoum State

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. 7