MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF BROILER CHICKEN CARCASSES PROCESSED HYGIENICALLY IN A SMALL SCALE POULTRY PROCESSING UNIT

Molecular detection of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in broiler meat from retail meat shop

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a major bacterial pathogen responsible for the most widespread form of colibacillosis, resulting in substantial economic losses within the poultry sector and posing a potential public health risk. From July to September 2021, our study investigated the antibiotic resistance pattern of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and the presence of virulence-associated genes (iucD, iutA, iss, and ompT) linked to APEC using 105 broiler meat samples comprising liver, thigh, and breast muscle, in Chitwan, Nepal. E. coli was isolated and identified by culturing samples on MacConkey's agar, Eosin-methylene blue (EMB) agar and performing different biochemical tests. Antibiotic resistance patterns of E. coli were determined by the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method. Following the isolation of E. coli, the molecular detection of APEC was performed using conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Out of the 105 samples analyzed, 61 (58.1 %) tested positive for E. coli. In antibiotic susceptibility test (AST), gentamicin and tetracycline exhibited the highest resistance rates, with 90.2 % and 67.2 %, respectively and 29.5 % of the E. coli isolates displayed multidrug-drug resistance. Out of 61 confirmed E. coli isolates, iutA was detected in 47 (77.0 %) samples, iucD in 46 (75.4 %), iss in 53 (86.8 %), and ompT in 39 (63.9 %) samples. This study reports the occurrence of MDR E. coli in meat samples, together with virulence genes associated with APEC which poses a public health threat. Continuous surveillance is vital for monitoring APEC transmission within poultry farms, coupled with efforts to raise awareness of food safety among consumers of broiler meat.

Application of PET/Sepiolite Nanocomposite Trays to Improve Food Quality

New PET and nanosepiolite materials are produced for its application in innovative packaging with better performance. In our previous work, we demonstrate that the use of different percentages of sepiolite modified with different organosilanes improved mechanical and barrier properties of PET. Nanocomposites permeability can decrease up to 30% compared to that of pure PET and the mechanical analyses show that, although PET nanocomposites are more brittle than virgin PET, they are also harder. In the present work, we are going to study the properties of this innovative packaging with real food analyzing mechanical properties related to the product transport together with permeability and microbiological characteristics. At the same time, it has been seen that it is possible to lighten trays, which is very important both industrially and environmentally. On the other hand, a good quality packaging for food needs to ensure that organoleptic and physico-chemical characteristics of the product inside are not modified due to migration of any of the packaging material to the food itself. Results obtained in this work also show lower count of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Enterobacteriaceae (EB), reducing the incidence of food contaminations by microorganisms.

Evaluation of the effect of neutral electrolyzed water and peroxyacetic acid alone and in combination on microbiological, chemical, and sensory characteristics of poultry meat during refrigeration storage

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the efficacy of near-neutral electrolyzed water (NEW) (100 and 200 µg/ml), peroxyacetic acid (PAA) (200 and 400 µg/ml), and their combination (NEW 100 µg/ml + PAA 200 µg/ml) on microbial quality, pH, TBARS value, and sensory quality of fresh chicken breast meat dipped into the solutions for 10 min at room temperature. Meat samples were tested immediately after treatments and on days 2, 4, and 6 of storage at 4℃. All treatments were effective in reducing microbial populations throughout the storage (P < 0.05), with combined treatment showing the strongest antimicrobial activity. On the sixth day of storage, the aerobic plate counts, psychrophilic plate count, Enterobacteriaceae, lactic acid bacteria, and Pseudomonas counts in the NEW 100 µg/ml + PAA 200 µg/ml group were 1.33, 1.40, 1.45, 1.01, and 1.45 log CFU/g, respectively, which was lower than the control group (P < 0.05). In all treatments, the pH value of meat samples increased with storage time. During 6 days of storage, PAA400 group had the lowest increase in pH value (P < 0.05). On day 6, the combined treatment and PAA 400 µg/ml had the lowest lipid oxidation (P < 0.05). On day 6, the NEW100 + PAA200 group obtained the highest score in sensory attributes compared to other treatment groups (P < 0.05). According to the microbial and chemical analysis, the combined treatment of NEW and PAA can be a promising method to extend the shelf life of chicken by about 2 days at 4℃. Also, these compounds do not contain any harmful residues in chicken breast meat and their use is recommended in decontamination of poultry meat.

Microbiological Analysis of Dried Goose Carcasses

Microbiological studies on chicken meat and carcasses are well documented, but very few studies exist on goose meat and carcasses. Therefore, in this study, dried goose carcass samples were collected from the local households in Kars/Turkey and microbiologically analyzed in terms of public health risks. The total mesophilic viable count was found to be 6.58 (mean log10 CFU g−1) (100%). The number of Enterobacteriaceae was 4.85 (92.8%). Coliform bacteria was counted at the numbers of 2.98 (67.8%), while it was 3.95 (91.1%) for the enterococci, 0.42 (26.7%) for the clostridia, 0.04 (3.5%) for the Clostridium perfringens, and 0.41 (12.5%) for the coagulase positive staphylococci. The numbers of mould and yeast were 0.93 (25%) and 4.81 (94.6%), respectively. Salmonellae and Bacillus cereus could not be isolated in the samples. The results indicate that the dried goose meat samples had poor hygienic quality, contained some of the pathogen microorganisms that are likely to pose a potential health risk.

Avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis: a closer look at epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control and public health concerns

Avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis are considered to be the major bacterial diseases in the poultry industry world-wide. Colibacillosis and salmonellosis are the most common avian diseases that are communicable to humans. This article provides the vital information on the epidemiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, control and public health concerns of avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis. A better understanding of the information addressed in this review article will assist the poultry researchers and the poultry industry in continuing to make progress in reducing and eliminating avian colibacillosis and salmonellosis from the poultry flocks, thereby reducing potential hazards to the public health posed by these bacterial diseases.