Campylobacter jejuni in poultry giblets.

A total of 200 poultry giblets, 50 each of chickens, ducks, squab and turkeys, were examined for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni. In chicken giblets, C. jejuni was isolated from gizzards, hearts, livers and spleens with incidences of 28%, 10%, 40% and 16% respectively while 24%, 6%, 36% and 10% of duck gizzards, hearts, livers and spleens were positive for the organism, respectively. C. jejuni was detected in 6% of squab gizzards, in 10% of squab livers but failed to be detected in squab hearts & spleens. In turkey giblets, 16% of gizzards, 4% of hearts, 30% of livers and 8% of spleens were positive for the organism. C. jejuni was more frequently isolated from liver samples than gizzard, spleen and heart samples, each constituting of 29%, 18.5%, 8.5% and 5%, respectively. High incidence of C. jejuni was recorded among chicken giblets (23.5%), followed by duck giblets (19%), then turkey giblets (14.5%) and finally squab giblets (4%).

Microbiological status of rabbit carcases in Egypt.

A total of 40 New Zealand white rabbits, 20 freshly slaughtered rabbits from an experimental farm and 20 processed rabbit carcases from grocery stores in Beni-Suef city, were examined bacteriologically. The mean values of aerobic plate counts at 37 degrees C and 1 degrees C, Enterobacteriaceae counts, Pseudomonas counts and Staphylococcus counts of freshly slaughtered rabbits were 10(4) +/- 2 x 10(3), 8 x 10(2) +/- 10(2), 6 x 10(2) +/- 10(2), 3 x 10(2) +/- 10(2), and 10(2) +/- 60 organisms per gram respectively, whereas the equivalent values were 8 x 10(5) +/- 3 x 10(4), 2 x 10(5) +/- 10(4), 4 x 10(4) +/- 8 x 10(3), 2 x 10(4) +/- 6 x 10(3), and 4 x 10(3) +/- 4 x 10(2) organisms per gram of processed rabbit carcases from grocery stores, respectively. The freshly slaughtered rabbits showed a low bacterial load compared with processed rabbit carcases from grocery stores. Escherichia coli and Listeria monocytogenes could be isolated from the rabbit carcases examined in addition to Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus from processed rabbit carcases. Yersinia enterocolitica could not be isolated from any sample examined. Suggested measures to reduce the microbial load in rabbit carcases are discussed.

Microbiological status of Egyptian prawn.

A total of 110 prawn individuals were collected from different markets at Cairo and Giza Governorates. The average counts of Aerobes, Psychrophiles, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Staphylococci were 5 x 10(3), 3 x 10(2), less than 2 x 10(2), less than 3 and 2 x 10(2) organisms per gram newly caught prawn sample, respectively. Such counts were significantly increased in samples collected from markets including raw prawn in shell, raw peeled samples and frozen samples either peeled or in shell. Arizona group, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter group, Proteus group, Providencia group A & B, Shigella group and Staphylococcus aureus could be isolated from examined samples with variable percentages. The public health significance of isolated organisms is discussed.

Effect of temperature on initial bacteria of prawn.

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of heat and cold on the microorganisms existing in prawn. Roasting for 5 min, boiling for 10 min and storage at -18 degrees C for 10, 20 and 30 days were applied on raw prawn to study the effect of each treatment on the bacterial load. The average counts of APC (aerobic plate count) at 25 degrees C and 0 degree C, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Staphylococci were 1.3 x 10(7), 6 x 10(4), 2 x 10(2) and 3 x 10(3) organisms per gram raw prawn sample, respectively, then reduced to 10(4), 8 x 10(2), 3 x 10(3), less than 3 and 3 x 10(2) organisms per gram roasted prawn in shell, respectively. Such counts were more reduced in roasted peeled samples. Boiling reduced the average counts of APC at 25 degrees C and 0 degrees C, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Staphylococci from 8 x 10(8), 2 x 10(5) 2 x 10(7), 3 x 10 and 3 x 10(4) organisms per gram raw prawn sample to 2 x 10(5), 3 x 10(3), 2 x 10(2), less than 3 and 4 x 10(2) organisms, respectively. Concerning freezing storage, it could be observed that the average counts of APC at 25 degrees C and 0 degree C, Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms and Staphylococci were reduced from 4 x 10(7), 5 x 10(5), 3 x 10(5), 10(3) and 3 x 10(2) organisms per gram raw sample to 5 x 10(4), 10(3), 3 x 10(2), 10 and less than 2 x 10(2) organisms per gram after freezing storage for 30 days.