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An investigation was carried out to evaluate the bacterial quality of chicken
carcasses collected at two steps on the dressing line of a meat processing plant.
During the study a total of 60 dressed chicken carcasses consisting of 3 0 each were
randomly collected after the removal of head and feet (ARHF) and after
evisceration (AB) from a meat processing plant located at Cochin. The bacterial
quality was evaluated by estimating the total viable count (TVC), coliforms count
(CC), Escherichia coli count (ECC) and faecal streptococcal count (FSC). All the
samples were examined for the presence of Escherichia coli, salmonellae,
Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes. Bacterial quality of
environmental samples and processing equipmerits were also evaluated.
The study revealed a significant (P<0.05) difference between the mean total
viable count of the samples taken ARHF and AB. A higher mean count (5.88 ±
0.13 10glO cfulml) was observed in the former group of carcasses. The count of the
carcasses taken after the removal of head and feet ranged between 104 and 107
cfulml while that of eviscerated carcasses vary from 104 to 106 cfulml.
A higher mean coliforms count (3.92 ± 0.12 10glO cfulml) was observed in
the samples taken from the carcasses after evisceration. The count of the carcasses
in both groups varied between 102 and 1 O~ cfulml.
Analysis of variance test of ' the mean Escherichia coli count revealed
significant (P<0.05) difference between the count of the samples taken from the
carcasses ARHF and AB. The eviscerated carcasses had higher count (2.15 ± 0.24
10glO cfulml) .. The mean Escherichia coli count of the carcasses taken ARHF was
0.89 ± 0.23 10glO cfulml. In both groups, the counts ranged from 102 to 103 cfulml.
Escherichia coli was not detected in 63.33 per cent of carcasses taken after the
removal of head and feet and 23.33 per cent of eviscerated carcasses.
All samples collected from the carcasses after the removal of head and feet
and after evisceration had faecal streptococci but the mean count of the samples

belong to both groups did not differ significantly. !\ higher mean count (3. I) I :l.:
0.07 10glO cfu/ml) was obtained in the samples collected from the eviscerated
carcasses. The samples taken after the removal of head and feet had a mean count
of3.89 ± 0.0610glO cfulml.
Correlation coefficient of the data revealed a significant (P<0.05) and
positive association between the mean TVC and FSC, CC and ECC, CC and FSC
and ECC and FSC of the samples taken from the carcasses after the removal of
head and feet. A similar relationship was observed between the mean CC and ECC
\
and ECC and FSC of the eviscerated carcasses.
Escherichia coli was isolated from 36.67 per cent of carcasses taken after
the removal of head and feet and 76.67 per cent of eviscerated carcasses. A total
of 40 Escherichia coli isolated from both the groups were serotyped and grouped
under 15 serotypes, two rough strains and one untypable. The serotypes consisted
of 02, 05, 08, 016, 021, 051, 060, 064, 069, 078, 081, 0101, 0119, 0123
and 0140.
Salmonella enteritidis was isolated from three (10 per cent) carcasses taken
after the removal of head and feet.
Eleven (36.67 per cent) samples taken from the carcasses after evisceration
revealed the presence of Staphylococcus aureus.
Listeria monocytogenes could not be isolated from both the groups of
carcasses.
The mean total viable count of air samples from the processing hall was
high (1.99 ± 0.83 10g1O cfu/min) followed by sticking and bleeding area (1.63 ±
0.98 10glO cfu/min) and scalding area (1.54 ± 0.01 10g1O cfu/min). The water
samples from the scalding tank had TVC, CC, ECC and FSC but pond and tap
water samples, defeathered carcass wash and fmal carcass wash did not reveal the
presence of Escherichia coli and faecal streptococci. Among the equipments,
samples from the eviscerating table had TVC, CC and FSC but the samples from
the defeathering machine and knife swab had only TVC and Cc.