MICROBIOLOGICAL STATUS OF SELECTED CHICKEN CARCASSES FROM A NONAUTOMATED POULTRY-PROCESSING PLANT

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.