doiSerbia

Microbiological contamination of lamb carcasses at abattoirs of Istanbul

Tolga Kahraman (Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Istanbul, Turkey)
Buyukunal Kemal Serkan (Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Istanbul, Turkey)
Cetin Omer (Istanbul University, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Istanbul, Turkey)

A total of a hundred lamb carcasses were sampled over a 12 month period at abattoirs in Istanbul, Turkey. Each sample examined for total aerobic mesophilic counts (TMC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EC), Salmonella spp. Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes was obtained from 100 cm2 areas on four sides of lamb carcasses using the wet and dry cotton swab technique. The study revealed that total aerobic mesophilic counts in all carcasses ranged between 4.18 and 5.95 log/cm2; Enterobacteriaceae counts between 1.60 and 2.30 CFU/cm2. All samples were negative for Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Listeria monocytogenes. Furthermore Salmonella spp. was detected on four carcasses. The data confirms bacteriological monitoring of lamb carcasses as a useful criteria for the verification of slaughter hygiene.

Keywords: carcass hygiene, abattoir, contamination, 2001/471/EC