Identification and quantification of microbes in chicken eggs (unfertilised) soiled with feacal droppings

Abstract

The effect of poultry feacal soilage on the microbial counts in the yolk and albumen of table eggs was studied alongside the antibiotic resistance pattern of Staphylococcus aureus and Shigella Species obtained from the internal egg contents. Fresh table eggs were soaked in feacal poultry droppings for 0 hour (Control- no soaking), 12 hours,24 hours, 48 hours and 72 hours, respectively and microbial counts in the internal contents of the eggs enumerated on nutrient agar for aerobic bacterial count, Bairl Parker Agar for Staphylococcus aureus count, Eosin Methylene Blue agar for Enterobacteriaceae counts, Salmonella – Shigella agar for Salmonella- Shigella counts, and Potato Dextrose agar for Fungal and Mould counts. Generally, a highly significant (P<0.001) increase in aerobic plate counts, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacteriaceae count, Salmonella-Shigella count and fungal soiling. Suggesting increased microbial penetration through the shell membrane into the internal content of the table eggs. Identified microorganisms associated with soiled internal content of table eggs included Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia species, Klebsiella species, Bacillus brevis, Shigella species Edwardsiella tarda, Salmonella species, Bacillis pumitus, Citrobacter species and Kluyvera species, Edwardsiella species, Cedecea species, Escherichia coli. Multiple antibiotics resistance to ceftazidin, cloxacillin and erythromycin was observed to occur in S. aureus at 48 hours while shigella species were resistant to Gentamicin at 48 hours and therefore table eggs should be collected frequently from the cage and kept cool always to prevent bacterial growth and further studies should be carried out on the detrimental effect of these organism on human health.