The microbial quality of beef carcasses, sanitary conditions in butchers’
shops and possibility of the presence of human pathogens associated with food
poisoning outbreaks such as salmonella and staphylococci was investigated in
160 samples of beef carcasses, cutting blocks, knives, workers’ hands and air
(32 samples for each).
These samples were collected from butchers’ shops in four local markets in
Basrah city (Al-Jumhuriya , Al- Basrah , Al-Ashar and Khamsa mile). All
samples were tested for aerobic plate count, total coliform count,
Staphylococcus aureus count and an attempt was made for isolating and
identifying of Salmonella spp. Except samples of air were examined only for
aerobic plate count. The collection of samples were done during in January and
ended with June 2004.
There were no significant differences in aerobic plate count, total coliform
count and Staphylococcus aureus of beef carcasses among the different markets
(Al-Jumhuriya, Al-Basrah, Al-Ashar and Khamsa mile), similar findings were
observed in the cutting blocks and air samples, whereas significant differences
were appeared in aerobic plate count and total coliform count of knives sample
between Al- Basrah and Al-Ashar markets.
The aerobic plate count of workers’ hands of Al-Jumhuriya and Al-Ashar
markets showed significant differences, whereas total coliform count showed
significant differences between Al-Jumhuriya and Khamsa mile
The percentage of coagulase positive test of Staphylococcus aureus which
were isolated from the beef carcasses, cutting blocks, knives and workers’ hands
samples was 100%. |