title: Microbial quality of frozen Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) meat samples from three selected farms in Zimbabwe.
abstract: Microbial quality of frozen Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus) meat from three farms in Zimbabwe was assessed based on 2051 samples collected for pre-export testing during 2006 to 2011. Data were perused by season and year in terms of aerobic plate (APC), coliform (CC), Escherichia coli (ECC) and Listeria monocytogenes (LMC) counts and the presence of Salmonella spp. The log10-transformed data were compared among the farms and seasons using the Kruskal-Wallis test. Microbial quality of the samples was graded based on the EC No. 2073.2005 criteria for beef. The mean APC and CC for the crocodile meat differed significantly (P=0.000) among the farms with the highest APC (3.2±0.05 log10 cfu/g) and the lowest (2.7±0.05 log10 cfu/g) recorded from farms A and C, respectively. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in ECC and LMC among the farms, while Salmonella spp. were only isolated from one farm. Although the microbial quality of frozen crocodile meat from these farms was generally within acceptable limits, the isolation of E. coli and Salmonella spp. is of public health concern. Thus, implementing of measures to control the pasteurizing process and to minimize bacterial contamination of crocodile meat after pasteurization need to be carefully considered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Tsitsi B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: Makanyanga
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Gideon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mutema
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Norman L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Mukarati
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Sylvester M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Chikerema
authors.affiliation: Central Veterinary Laboratory, P.O. Box CY 551, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Pious V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Makaya
authors.affiliation: Central Veterinary Laboratory, P.O. Box CY 551, Causeway, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: Shuvai
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Musari
authors.affiliation: Department of Paraclinical Veterinary Studies, University of Zimbabwe, P.O. Box MP 167, Mount Pleasant, Harare, Zimbabwe. Electronic address: gmatope@vet.uz.ac.zw.
authors.forename: Gift
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Matope
mesh_terms: D000489:Alligators and Crocodiles / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D058491:Bacterial Load; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D002417:Cattle; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification; D005511:Food Handling / Q000592:standards*; D005516:Food Microbiology; D005615:Freezing; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D012475:Salmonella / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012621:Seasons; D015030:Zimbabwe
keywords: Aerobic plate counts; Crocodile farms; E. coli; Salmonella