Fecal Pollution and Salmonella spp. in Sandwiches of Meat Products vended in Great-Cairo

Moustafa A El-Shenawy

Abstract

A total of seventy Sandwiches of meat and meat products were randomly collected randomly from the street-vendors and food shops located in different places in Cairo. All samples were examined for the presence of Salmonella spp. and fecal pollution indicators using the conventional examination methods (classic selective media), chromogenic media, and rapid food-system kits. Results indicated that 20-70% of the examined samples were fecal contaminated with populations ranged from 17x102 to 36x102 cfu/g. Moreover, 20-40% of the examined samples, depended on the type of sandwich and the method used for analysis, were found to be contaminated with Salmonella spp. with counts ranged from 7x102 to 26x102 cfu/g. Confirmation of Sixty-eight predominant isolates of Salmonella spp picked up from classic media and other ninety-six isolates picked up from the chromogenic media was done using the biochemical tests, rapid kits, Hi Salmonella identification kit and Hi Salmonella latex test kit. Results of the identification/confirmation demonstrated that chromogenic medium was the most efficient for isolation of Salmonella spp from the examined samples.