Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and Escherichia coli in live and dressed poultry from metropolitan Accra
Introduction
Food-borne disease is a worldwide problem. Recent developments in food production and processing techniques and the subsequent changing trends in food consumption have resulted in the emergence of new hazards. The increased contact among different nations has stimulated rapid global distribution of foods as well as food-borne pathogens. The number of individuals at risk due to these hazards may rise due to increase in life expectancy.
Data recorded in different countries have shown that the incidence of some of these food-borne diseases have increased dramatically over the past few years, but because of under-reporting, the data are of limited value and cannot be compared between countries (Notermans and Hoogenboom-Verdegaal, 1992).
The trade liberalisation program of Ghana has resulted in an influx of foreign products on the Ghanaian market. These include imported chicken, which due to its relative cheaper price is enjoying a lot of patronage from the general public.
There appears not to be adequate microbiological monitoring of these foods, given the limited number of microbiology laboratories in the country and the facilities available to them. Chicken produced locally using modern methods, also lack microbiological monitoring. This study was therefore conducted to assess the bacterial quality of chicken from some farms, wholesale and retail outlets in the Accra Metropolitan Area. The samples were tested for Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli. The findings from the study are expected to provide insight into the health hazards associated with the consumption of chicken.
Section snippets
Samples
Poultry farms were selected on the basis of the level of experience of the supervisory personnel and the demographic distribution of its products. Three farms were selected and these are coded Farms A, B and C.
Farm A (teaching/commercial) has competent managerial personnel and a wide demographic distribution of its products. It has a great variety of farm animals with free movement by some. Farm B (commercial farm) is also managed by competent managerial personnel but has a small demographic
Results
A total of 97 live birds and 87 chicken carcasses were examined. Campylobacter, Salmonella and E. coli were isolated from 38 (39.2%) live birds. Among the dressed birds 17 (19.5%) were positive for Shigella, Salmonella and E. coli (Table 1).
Fourteen (14.4%) of the 97 live birds examined for intestinal contaminants were positive for Campylobacter (Table 1). There was one isolate (1.0%) from Farm A, seven (7.2%) from Farm B and six (6.2%) from Farm C. None of the chicken carcasses was positive
Discussions
The enteropathogenic bacteria isolated from the chicken samples were Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Campylobacter spp. and enteropathogenic E. coli. All these bacteria have been isolated from clinical specimens in Ghana (Mensah et al., unpublished) and elsewhere (Lanata et al, 1992). They have also been implicated in outbreaks of food poisoning Morton, 1993, Gracey and Collins, 1994.
Campylobacter, however, was not detected in the dressed birds and carcasses. Storage time and exposure to air
Acknowledgements
We are grateful for the co-operation received from the staff of the farms, the supermarkets, the cold store and the markets. The assistance given by the staff of the Bacteriology Unit of the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research is gratefully acknowledged. Funding for the project was from the Japan International Co-operation Agency and the Government of Ghana.
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