MICROBIAL LOAD OF GOAT CARCASSES IN SELECTED EXPORT ABATTOIRS LOCATED AT DEBRE ZEIT AND MODJO TOWNS, EAST SHOA ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE
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Date
2007-06
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Abstract
A total of 432 carcass and knives swabs and 64 water samples were collected from Selected
export abattoirs located at Debre Zeit and Modjo towns of East Shoa Zone of Oromia Regional
State to assess the microbial load of goat carcasses, knives and water. The study was conducted
from October 2006 to April 2007.Swabs were taken from brisket and peri- anal area, as well as
from knives used for ripping, and eviscerations before and after washing. Aerobic mesophlic
bacteria count was performed using standard plate count agar at 300C and incubated for 72 hours
and coliform count was assessed using MacConkey agar No 3 and by incubating samples at 350C
for 18 hours. The study indicated that dipping knives in knife sterilizer at 820C and above
reduced the Aerobic mesophilic bacterial load by 99.9% and 55.33-68.41 % for coliforms. Mean
aerobic mesophilic bacteria count at brisket and peri-anal area of carcasses decreased after
washing in all the abattoirs, except in abattoir “W” where an increased aerobic mesophilic count
was detected in the brisket area. The mean coliform count in brisket area of the carcasses
increased after washing while it decreased in peri-anal area. These results showed increment of
mean coliform count after washing in brisket area and decrement at perianal area. This indicates
the dissemination of coliforms from highly contaminated peri anal area to the less contaminated
brisket area during the washing of the carcasses in conventional carcass dressing system.
Comparison between abattoirs revealed that abattoirs “Y” and “Z” have lower mean bacteria load
than abattoirs “W” and “X”. Out of the 64 water samples tested 39.06% and 18.75% were
aerobic mesophilic and coliform bacteria positive, respectively. Antimicrobial susceptibility test
conducted on 20 isolates of E.coli strain did not show any resistant to the most commonly used
antibiotics.
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Keywords
Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, coliform