Research of Salmonella spp. and indicators microorganisms in poultry carcasses and chilling tanks water in poultry slaughterhouse

Abstract

The purpose of this work was to research the Salmonella spp. and indicators microorganisms (total coliforms-CT, thermotolerant coliforms-CTT, mesophlic aerobes-AM and psychotrophic microorganisms) in poultry carcasses and chilling tanks water in a poultry slaughterhouse in north of Paraná state. Had been analyzed 120 poultry carcasses (60 before the entrance in the chilling tank and 60 after the exit of the chilling tank) and 120 water samples (60 from pre-chiller tank and 60 from chiller tank), totalizing 20 collections. For the analyses was used the brazilian legislation and PetrifilmTMAC. Salmonella spp. was isolated in one poultry carcass before the entrance in the chilling tank and other after the exit of the chilling tank, both identified as Salmonella O8,20;z4,z23. In the water samples was recognized six serovars in pre-chiller tank, five as Salmonella O8,20;z4,z23 and one S. Tennessee. The means of TC on carcasses before the entrance and after the exit of the tanks and in the water samples from pre-chiller tank and in chiller were 3,74 MPN/g / 3,10 MPN/g and 4,00 MPN/100mL / 2,81 MPN/100mL respectively; the mean of TCC was 3,65 MPN/g / 3,00 MPN/g and 3,81 MPN/100mL / 2,73 MPN/100mL; the mean of MA was 6,40 CFU/g / 5,60 CFU/g and 4,40 CFU/mL e 4,13 CFU/mL; the mean of MP was 4,21 CFU/g /3,66 CFU/g and . It was not observed any significant difference (p>0,05) in contamination index neither in poultry carcasses nor in tank water samples. It is possible to conclude that chilling tanks were not able to remove the microorganisms from the carcasses and could contribute to cross-contamination due to elevate water contamination.