Microbial Quality of Frozen Chicken Parts from three Import Countries into the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

Denis Dekugmen Yar *

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana.

William Kwajo Jimah Kwenin

Department of Animal Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana.

Winfred Kwame Zanu

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana.

Gadafi Iddrisu Balali

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana and Department of Theoretical and Applied Biology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.

Enos Kwame Adepa

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana.

Gyapong Francis

Department of Science Education, University of Education, Winneba (Mampong Campus), Ghana.

*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.


Abstract

There is an upsurge in the consumption of chicken meat leading to a high influx of imported frozen chicken parts into the Ghanaian markets with little information on their microbial qualities. This study examined the microbial quality of imported frozen chicken parts from three major import countries (USA, the Netherlands and Brazil) into the Kumasi Metropolis. A total of 45 chicken meat parts of 15 thighs, wings and backs from wholesale cold stores market in the Kumasi Metropolis were randomly sampled for laboratory examinations. A ten-fold serial dilution was performed on each homogenized chicken parts to determine microbiological quality using Plate Count Agar [1], MacConkey Agar (MCA), Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA) and Desoxycholate Citrate Agar (DCA) for the total viable count (TVC), total coliform count (TCC), Staphylococcus and Salmonella spp counts respectively incubated at 37oC for 48 hours. Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) was used for fungal counts. We identified bacterial and fungal isolates using appropriate laboratory and biochemical tests. Descriptive data analysis was carried using SPSS-IBM version 16. Mean TVCs of 5.93, 5.98 and 6.14 log10cfu/g were recorded for frozen chicken meats from the USA, the Netherlands and Brazil respectively. Means TCCs of 6.14, 5.93 and 5.98 log10cfu/g were obtained for chicken meats from Brazil, USA and the Netherlands respectively. Staphylococcus spp. (G+) (35.4%), E. coli (G-) (26.2%), Salmonella spp. (G-) (24.6%), and Klebsiella spp. (G-) (13.8%) were isolated with Aspergillus spp (33.3%), Rhizopus spp (27.3%), Penicillin spp (24.2%), and Cladosporium spp (15.2%). Chicken thighs, backs and wings recorded 46.2%, 29.2% and 24.6% bacterial contaminants in this order. Bacterial isolates of 49.2%, 28.8% and 22.0% were recorded in frozen chicken meat products from Brazil, the Netherlands USA respectively. The results suggest that imported frozen chicken meats into the Ghanaian market have moderate quality with potential pathogens such as E. coli and Salmonella spp.

Keywords: Microbial quality, frozen chicken meat, pathogens, E. coli, Salmonella


How to Cite

Yar, D. D., Jimah Kwenin, W. K., Kwame Zanu, W., Iddrisu Balali, G., Kwame Adepa, E., & Francis, G. (2021). Microbial Quality of Frozen Chicken Parts from three Import Countries into the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Microbiology Research Journal International, 31(6), 43–53. https://doi.org/10.9734/mrji/2021/v31i630326

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