title: Microbial composition in bioaerosols of a high-throughput chicken-slaughtering facility.
abstract: The microbial composition of the air in various areas of a high-throughput chicken-slaughtering facility was investigated. Over a 4-mo period, 6 processing areas were sampled, and the influence of environmental factors was monitored. The highest counts of microorganisms were recorded in the initial stages of processing, comprising the receiving-killing and defeathering areas, whereas counts decreased toward the evisceration, air-chilling, packaging, and dispatch areas. Maximum microbial counts were as follows: coliforms, 4.9 x 10(3) cfu/m(3); Escherichia coli 3.4 x 10(3) cfu/m(3); Bacillus cereus, 5.0 x 10(4) cfu/m(3); Staphylococcus aureus, 1.6 x 10(4) cfu/m(3); Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 7.0 x 10(4) cfu/m(3); presumptive Salmonella spp., 1.5 x 10(4) cfu/m(3); Listeria monocytogenes, 1.6 x 10(4) cfu/m(3); and fungi, 1.4 x 10(4) cfu/m(3). Higher counts of airborne microorganisms found in the receiving-killing and defeathering areas indicate the importance of controlling microbial levels before processing to prevent the spread of organisms downstream. This should limit the risk of carrying over contaminants from areas known to generate high counts to areas where the final food product is exposed to air and surface contamination.
authors.affiliation: Unit for Applied Food Science and Bio-Technology, School for Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Central University of Technology, Free State, Bloemfontein 9300, South Africa.
authors.forename: J F R
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Lues
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Theron
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Venter
authors.forename: M H R
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Rasephei
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis*; D000391:Air Microbiology; D000392:Air Movements; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002645:Chickens; D005511:Food Handling; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols