Quality of buffaloe’s meat infested with sarcocystis

الملخص EN

Although buffaloes meat is one of the most important sources of animal protein for a wide range of consumers, unfortunately there is a wide spread of Sarcocysts in their meat, such infestation often results in much economic losses in addition to it is possible zoonosis to human.

The study planned to investigate the possible additional harmful effect of such parasite on meat quality.

The obtained result revealed a noticeable increase in the total aerobic count, total enterobacteriaceae count, moisture percent, ash percent and pH value of the infested samples which were 2.21 x 106, 2.50 x 105, 81.62 %, 1.53 and 5.9, respectively, while that of normal samples were 7.41 x 105, 1.15 x 105, 77.91 %, 1.17 % and 5.31, respectively at the same time the infested samples showed a significant decreases in the protein and fat percent's which were 16.22 % and 1.5 % instead of 17.97and 2.33 % in non-infested samples.

The results also revealed that the parasitism has no significant effect on the number of Staphylococcus aureus or total mould and yeast between infested and non-infested samples such serious changes greatly lower the meat quality, lowering its grade and may render it completely unacceptable.