A total of 75 random swab samples collected from cattle, camel and sheep carcasses at Cairo and Kalyobia abattoirs to determine the contamination level of such carcasses with Enterobacteriaceae either quantitatively or qualitatively. The obtained results indicated that the mean values of these bacterial counts in the examined swab samples of sheep, cattle and camel were 2.54×103±.44×103, 1.33×103±0.26×103 and 5.91×102±1.02×102/cm2 for the total Enterobacteriaceae count and 2.97×103±0.51×103 ,8.54×102±1.67×102 and 2.28×102±0.75×102/cm2 for the total coliform count, respectively. The differences associated with the examined swab samples as a result of total Enterobacteriaceae and coliform counts were significant. On the other hand, Salmonella, E.coli, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Klebsiella and Proteus species were isolated from the examined swab samples with varying percentages. Accurately, 16%, 4% and 16% of sheep, cattle and camel swab samples were contaminated with E.coli, however, the identified serovars were O86:k61(B7), O124:k72(B17), O55:k59(B5),O128:k67(B12) and O26:k60(B6). Regarding to Salmonellae, S. enteritidis and S. typhimurium were detected only in cattle surface swab samples (4% of each). The significance of the isolated Enterobacteria and the various sources of contamination as well as the suggestive hygienic measures for the production of clean and safe carcasses were discussed. |
