Evaluation of Bacterial Contamination on Local and Imported Mutton in Meat Markets in Benghazi - Libya

ABSTRACT

The study was conducted to evaluate the bacteriological contamination (total bacteria counts (TBC), total coliform counts (TCC), total staphylococcus counts (TSC) and Salmonella) of mutton in meat shops in Benghazi city, northeast of Libya, where the city was divided into five sectors (A, B, C, D, and E). The investigation in the sector (A) showed that the highest average of TBC in local and imported meat was (7.99 and 7.19 log10CFU/g) respectively, which was a statistically non-significant difference (P = 0.05). The experiment reported that the lowest average of TCB in local meat was a non-significant difference (P = 0.05), which was in the sectors (C&D) (5.78 and 5.64 log10CFU/g) respectively. Coliform bacteria, the results showed a significant difference (P = 0.05) between local and imported sheep meat in all sectors (7.15, 6.78, 6.26, 6.48, 5.11, 4.46, 4.41, 4.43, 6.01, 6.30 log10CFU/g) respectively. On the other hand, Staphylococcus aureus was a significant difference (P = 0.05) between local and imported sheep meat in all sectors. Whereas, the sectors (A) local meat and (B) imported meat exhibited that the highest average of TSC was (6.87 and 6.97) respectively. The biochemical test showed numbers of bacterial species: E. coli, Enterobacter spp., Citrobacter spp., Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp. Salmonella bacteria have appeared in 5.7% of isolates in Sector B. Accordance with the FAO and Libyan standards, the study reported that 40% of the studied samples were below the microbial limit, while 60% of the samples exceeded the maximum limit. From the results, the researcher concludes that there is a weakness in the application of sanitary procedures in meat shops and slaughterhouses in the city of Benghazi.

FULL TEXT