MVSc

In the present investigation, 100 retail beef samples were collected
from retail shops located at East Fort (EF), West Fort (WF)
Sakthanthampuran Market (SM) and Mannuthy (MN) areas. From each area
25 samples were collected and were brought to the laboratory in a
thermocool container. All samples were subjected to estimate Total Viable
Count (TVC), Coliforms count (CC), Faecal streptococcal count (FSC) and
Escherichia coli count (ECC) and also for the isolation and identification of
Escherichia coli, salmonellae Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria
monocytogenes. The overall mean total viable count of the samples
belonging to four areas was 6.66 ± 0.08 10glOcfu/g. The mean total viable
count of EF, WF, MN and SM areas was 6.61 ± 0.15, 6.68 ± 0.17,
6.49 ± 0.15 and 6.84 ± 0.1910glOcfu/g respectively. One, 13 and 23 per cent
had counts at the level of 109, 108 and 107 cfu/g respectively and 46 per cent
and 17 per cent of the samples had counts at the level of 106 and 105 cfu/g.
The overall mean coliforms count was 2.73 ± 0.09 log.scfu/ g. The
mean coliforms counts obtained from the samples of EF, WF, MN and SM
areas were 2.78 ± 0.16, 2.84 ± 0.14, 2.62 ± 0.22 and 2.70 ± 0.18 10glOcfu/g
respectively. The percentage of sample that had counts at the level of 104,
103 and 102 were two, 46 and 45 respectively.
The overall mean Escherichia coli count was 3.56 ± 0.17 10glOcfu/g.
The mean Escherichia coli counts of EF, WF, MN and SM areas were
3.11 ± 0.38,4.00 ± 0.27; 3.52 ± 0.37 and 3.60 ± 0.34 10glOcfu/g respectively.

One, 19, 45 and 17 per cent of samples had counts at the level of 104, 103,
102 and 10 cfu/g respectively.
The overall faecal streptococcal count was 3.04 ± 0.09 10gIOcfu/g.
The mean faecal streptococcal counts of EF, WF, MN and SM areas were
3.06 ± 0.16, 3.16 ± 0.08, 2.77 ± 0.28 and 3.18 ± 0.17 10gIOcfu/g respectively.
Eleven, 53 and 30 per cent samples had counts at the level of 104, 103 and
102 cfu/g respectively.
There was no significant difference in all the four counts between the
four areas.
The overall correlation between the 100 samples collected from the
four areas showed a highly significant (P~O.O I) and positive correlation
between TVC and FSC, CC and ECC, CC and FSC and ECC and FSC. A
significant (P~0.05) and positive correlation was observed between TVC and
CC.
Only 18 per cent samples met the standards prescribed by
Government of India and 63 and 61 per cent samples met the standards
prescribed by ICMSF and Oregon state respectively for total viable count.
Twenty and 34 per cent samples met the standards prescribed by
Government of India .and Oregon state for Escherichia coli count
respecti vely.

None of the samples yielded Listeria monocytogenes and salmonellae,
but 82 per cent samples had Escherichia coli. The serotypes obtained were
03, 019, 022, 025, 029, 034, 036, 042, 050, 051, 053, 055, 065, 066,
073,079,0105,0109,0115,0139,0140,0147,0152,0163, 0164 and
0173. Two per cent of the samples had coagulase positive staphylococci.