Occurrence of Salmonella in Chicken Carcasses and Giblets in Meknès-Morocco

3 Abstract: A study was conducted to estimate the occurrence and distribution of Salmonella in raw chicken meat and giblets (liver and gizzard) on the Moroccan market. From November 2005 to November 2006, a total of 576 samples were collected from retailers. Of these, 144 samples were from popular market, 144 from artisanal slaughterhouses, 144 from poulterers' shops and 144 from a supermarket at Meknes (centre-south Morocco). Of the total 576 samples examined, Salmonella was detected in 57 (9.90%) of the samples analyzed. Among the chicken samples examined high proportion of gizzard (13.88 %), liver (11.11 %), leg (8.33 %) and breast (6.25 %) were contaminated with Salmonella. In summary 30 (20.83 %) of the popular market samples, 24 (16.66 %) of the traditional slaughterhouses samples and 3 (2.08%) of the poulterers' shops were positive for one or more Salmonella. Out of the total 57 Salmonella isolates, 4 different serotypes were identified of which S. Typhimurium (40.35%) was the most frequent followed by S. Newport (26.31%). S. Montevideo (17.54 %) and S. Heidelberg (15.78 %). Results of the present study indicated that there was a high level of Salmonella contamination of chicken meat and giblets in popular market and artisanal slaughterhouses, which could be considered as one of the major potential source of human salmonellosis in Morocco.