ABSTRACT

The isolation and characterization of bacteria species from Butcher’s table in Ubakala meat market, Umuahia, Abia state was investigated. In this study, a total of six (6) bacteria species were isolated from the Butcher’s tables using morphological characteristics, pigmentation on media, microscopy, biochemical test, Gram reactions and sugar fermentation techniques. The bacterial species isolated include; Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Shigella species, Salmonella species, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus epidemidis and Klebsiella species. The present study revealed that the percentage occurrence of the bacterial isolates from the Butcher’s table were different. In the current investigation, E. coli have been found in all swabbed table samples with a percentage value of 20.0%, followed by Shigella species 8(16.0%), while the least occurring isolates were Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus and Staphylococcus epidemidis with a percentage value of 6(12.0%) each. The presence of S. auerus and Staphylococcus epidemidis, pathogenic organisms of public health concern and significance in the table samples might have resulted from improper handling of meat and poor hygienic practices by butchers and meat vendors. This revealed that about 100% of the swabbed table samples used in Ubakala meat market was in poor hygienic condition. Therefore, it could be concluded that the presence of these organisms was due to many factors such as the low level of sophistications, poor hygienic and sanitation procedures conducted at the Butcher shops, lack of training, and low educational level of the workers. Hence, there is need to educate and advocate for good sanitation and meat handling practices in the meat shops via public awareness campaigns and to clean and sanitize the most contaminating points such as floors, walls, evisceration platforms, wooden logs and tables