Incidence of E. coli in meat and edible offals of rabbit carcasses and their public health significances

الملخص EN

Atotal number of 40 freshly slaughter and frozen packed rabbits (20 each), including its edible offal's were collected from poultry butcher shops and different markets in Port-Said city.

Samples from muscles and edible offal's (liver, lungs, heart, and kidneys) were examined Ipbiologically for presence of Escherichia coli.

The prevalence of E.Cli in the examined unpacked fresh rabbit samples was 40, 35, 30 frozen rabbit samples was 10, 10, 15 and 20 % with mean values 3.0 x l02, 2.8 x l02, 5.2 x l02 and 2.1 x l03 CFU / gm in muscles, liver, and kidneys respectively.

The heart samples were found to be free from E.

coli in both fresh and frozen samples.

A total of 40 isolates recovered from fresh rabbit samples were identified to Serovars 055 (20 %), 026 (15 %), 0127 (12.5 %), 0119 (30 %), and 0111 (20 %), meanwhile E.

coli belonging to Serovars 0146 (10 %), 055 (23.3 %), 026 (6.7) 0127 (13.3 %), 0119 (20 %) and 0111 (26,7 %) which constituted.30 isolates were recovered from frozen samples.

The majority of E.

Coli.

serotypes recovered from the examined samples showed hemolytic activity.

Public health significant of the isolated serogroups and sanitary control of rabbit meat and edible offals for consumer safety were discussed.