Contamination of Imported Frozen Meat by Enterobacteriaceae in Behera Province

A total of 100 meat samples were randomly collected from different retailed outlets in Behera Province to assess the contamination of imported frozen meat by Enterobacteriaceae. The collected samples were subjected to microbiological examination for counting and isolation of Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms. The obtained results revealed that the mean count values of Enterobacteriaceae and coliforms were 1.5×104 ± 6.4×103 and 4.2×103 ± 9.2×102 cfu/g, respectively. The frequency of isolation of members of Enterobacteriaceae from the examined samples revealed the isolation of Citrobacter diversus (20%), Enterobacter aerogenes (44%), Enterobacter diversus (20%), Enterobacter cloacae (12%), Klebsiella azanae (16%), Proteus rettgeri (12%), Proteus vulgaris (28%, Provedencia spp. (16%) and Shigella species (20%). Also, Enteropathogenic E. coli and Salmonella were isolated from the examined samples at an incidence of 32 and 9 %, respectively. Further, the recovered isolates of E. coli were serologically identified as O26:K60 (6%), O86:K61 (9%), O111:K58 (3%), O124:K72 (6%) and O128:K67 (%8) while isolated strains of Salmonella were identified as S. Enteritidis (2%), S. Typhimurium (4%) and S. Haifa (3%).On contrary, E .coli O157:H7 could not be isolated from all of the examined samples. Based on the obtained results, it was observed that imported frozen meat was contaminated with members of Enterobacteriaceae specially Enteropathogenic E. coli and Salmonella so strict hygienic measures should be considered during handling, transportation and storage of imported frozen meat till reach safe for consumers.