INVESTIGATION OF THE PRESENCE OF SALMONELLA IN TWO NIGERIAN MEAT PACKING PLANTS

Abstract

Two large and very well established meat processing plants supervised by the Veterinary Public Health Department were examine d to assess the incidence of Salmonella within the premises and on the processed carcasses. T h e overall incidence was 65 out of the 252 samples or 25.9%. Salmonella was found in forty-one of 167 sample s (25% ) in o n e and twenty-four out of eighty-five sample s (29% ) in the other. The high incidence shows a high degree of probability of contamination of the products from both plants. The public health significance of the findings is emphasized and control problems are highlighted.