PREVALENCE OF ESCHERICHIA COLI AND SALMONELLA SPP. IN BEEF SAMPLES SOLD AT TAMALE METROPOLIS, GHANA

Abstract

This work reports for the first on the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in beef sold in the Tamale Metropolis. The conventional method was used to isolate Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. from beef samples sold at the Tamale Metropolis. Seventy beef samples were obtained from seven different locations where meat is popularly sold in the Tamale Metropolis and analyzed microbiologically for Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. by following procedures in the Bacteriological Analytical Manuel of the FDA-USA. The average prevalence of Escherichia coli was 56% and was highest in Location G (100%), followed by Location C (80%), Locations D and F (60%), Location B (50%) and Location E (40%). Escherichia coli was not isolated from Location A. The overall prevalence of Salmonella spp. in the beef samples was 31%. The location with the highest prevalence of Salmonella spp. was Location F (90%), followed by Location D (50%), Location E (30%) and Location C (20%). Locations A, B and G exhibited a prevalence of 10%. Locations with better hygienic standards exhibited low prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. The study indicated that beef samples sold in the Tamale Metropolis were contaminated by Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Thus, consumers are exposed to Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. infections from consuming beef samples in Tamale.