M. Olivier et al., MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS OF SELECTED CHICKEN CARCASSES FROM A NONAUTOMATED POULTRY-PROCESSING PLANT, Journal of basic microbiology, 36(1), 1996, pp. 41-49
The microbiological status of chicken carcases sampled at three differ
ent processing points in a South African Grade B poultry abattoir slau
ghtering ca. 750 birds per hour, was determined. Six skin samples and
two meat samples were aseptically collected from different sites on ea
ch carcase. Total bacterial counts were performed at 25 degrees C, 37
degrees C and 43 degrees C and all colonies from plates showing betwee
n 30 and 300 cfu were characterised. Bacterial counts of the skin samp
les at 37 OC were consistently the highest, followed by those at 25 de
grees C and then 43 degrees, but for the two meat samples the highest
bacterial counts were found at 37 degrees C and the lowest at 25 degre
es C. Neck skin counts were marginally higher than bacterial counts of
the other skin samples. The Gram negative genera Escherichia and Acin
etobacter were isolated most frequently at all three incubation temper
atures and from all sampling sites, while the dominant Gram positive g
enera were Staphylococcus and Enterococcus. Escherichia isolates predo
minated on the skin sampling site cranio-dorsal to the pygostyle, whil
st Staphylococcus isolates predominated on the skin sampling site caud
al to the breastbone. Microbiological contamination is a major problem
in the abattoir studied and further studies should therefore aim to d
etermine points of maximum contamination in the processing line.