MICROBIOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF FROZEN MEATS

ABSTRACT

The study was carried out to investigate the microbiological profile of frozen meats (Fish, Turkey, and Chicken) sold in Open markets in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Standard cultural methods were used for isolation and enumeration of bacterial isolates from eight (08) frozen meat samples which were chicken (boiled and raw), turkey, and fish samples using pour plate technique. Selective and differential media were used in addition to biochemical tests for identification of Bacillus, Salmonella and Enterobacter species. Phenotypic virulence such as production of hemolysin, DNAse, gelatinase and lipase enzymes were evaluated for the identified isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out for the isolates using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion test. The results obtained revealed that the heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from log₁₀ 3.84±0.04 cfu/g (fish sample) to log₁₀ 4.61±0.13 cfu/g (boiled frozen chicken). The mean bacterial counts of the frozen meat samples (boiled and uncooked) were found to range from log₁₀ 4.04±0.05 cfu/g (chicken samples) to log₁₀ 4.61±0.13 cfu/g (frozen chicken samples). All frozen meat were found to contain varying load of bacteria. But, relative to control chicken samples, there was a 0.66, 0.29 and 0.34 log reductions for frozen fish, chicken and turkey samples respectively. The identified bacterial isolates include, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella enterica and Enterobacter cloacae. Bacillus was the most prevalent with 47.6%while Enterobacter was the least prevalent (17.65%). All isolates were found to contain at least one phenotypic virulence trait in the study with lipase enzyme being the most prevalent. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates revealed that all isolates were susceptible to ciprofloxacin and meropenem. While notable resistance was scored for sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline and erythromycin. The MAR index values were greater than 0.2 and further buttress the potential public health challenge the isolates might pose to the society.