Bacterial contamination of mortadella in three palestinian factories

Abstract EN

An investigation on certain bacterial contaminants of Moraxella produced by Three Palestinian factories have been carried out.

One sample (2units) was taken monthly (June / 1999-may / 2000) from each of three local factories (A, B & C).

The lowest viable bacterial count recorded was 1x 103 CFU / g.

in sample no.

C1, while the highest count was 3x107 CFU / g.

in sample no.

B5.

Some bacterial strains were isolated during the course of this study by using specific isolation media.

They were identified and distributed as : Salmonella spp.

(40 %) (S.

tophi, 6 strains, S.

Arizona, 4 strains and S.

infants, 2 strains), Escherichia spp.

(50 %) (E.

coli, 8 strains and E.

coli O157: H7, 7 strains), anaerobic Streptococcus parvenus (3.3 %) (One strain) and Clostridium spp.

(6.7 %) (Cl.

barite, one strain and Cl.

botulin, 2 strains).

Three samples (A1, C3 and B10) were mix contaminated; two pathogenic bacterial strains were isolated from each.

All investigated samples were negative for Yersinia spp.

and Campylobacter spp.

The scientific and medical importance was discussed.