Evaluation of microbial load of fresh poultry meat in relation to public health

In the present study microbial load analysis of chicken meat was performed. Thirty chicken meat samples from different retail outlets in Namakkal were studied. Total microbial count, Coliform count, yeast and mould counts were found to be log₁₀ 5.47, log₁₀ 5.19 and log₁₀ 1.90 respectively. Bacteria such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherchia coli, Clostridium spp., Bacillus spp., Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., and Salmonella spp., were isolated. The fungal isolates identified were Aspergillus and Penicillium spp. In vitro drug sensitivity test revealed Ciprofloxacin, Norfloxacin and pefloxacin to be the most effective drugs.