The current study was conducted to evaluate the hygienic status of some local abattoirs and its impact on meat quality through determination of aerobic plate, Enterobacteriaceae, coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococci, molds, and yeasts counts. This study was conducted in 5 municipal slaughterhouses located in different provinces, Egypt. A total of 300 samples were collected as following: slaughtered meat, water, and air samples beside swabs from floor, wall, and workers hand (50 samples/each). Statistical analytical results of aerobic plate count clarified that the highest mean value was recorded in the floor swabs (8.9×105 CFU/g) followed by hand swabs of workers (7.41×105 CFU/g) then wall swabs and air samples (7.2×105 CFU/g) then water samples (5.2×105 CFU/g) and lastly meat samples (1.3×105 CFU/g). The highest mean value of Enterobacteriaceae count was recorded in the floor swabs (3.2×104 CFU/g) followed by wall swabs (9.3×103 CFU/g) then air samples (6.63×103 CFU/g) then hand swabs of workers (5.33×103 CFU/g) then water samples (3.19×103 CFU/g) and lastly meat samples (9.02×102 CFU/g). The highest mean value of coliforms count was recorded in the floor swabs (1.65×103 CFU/g) followed by hand swabs of workers (7.23×102 CFU/g) then meat samples (6.10×102 CFU/g) then water samples (4.10×102 CFU/g) then wall swabs (1.72×102 CFU/g) and lastly air samples (1.32×102 CFU/g). On comparison of various microbiological counts on the investigated meat samples with the Egyptian standards, it was clear that most of samples failed to comply with standards confirming the role of contaminated abattoir environment in the obtained result. Results of microbiological examination of the collected samples reflected a clear state of contamination in abattoirs environment that would affect the microbiological quality of the produced meat from these abattoirs that in turn would be harmful for human health.
Key words: Assessment, Hygiene, Abattoirs, Meat, Quality
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