# Introduction oultry meat is equally important as a microbiological safety and quality to producers, retailers, and consumers (Mead et al., 2004). Because of advantages such as easy digestibility and acceptance, poultry meat is becoming more popular in the consumer market by most people (Yashoda et al., 2001). However, chicken meat consists of high-quality protein and many other nutrients that are very important for body function (Kralik et al., 2017). Poultry meats to be optimally incorporated into the diet at all ages because of their high-biological-value protein, vitamin, and mineral content associated with a low-fat content (Marangoni et al., 2015). The consumption of poultry meat has increased worldwide as it's a highly nutritious and safe food (Gonzalez-Ortiz et al., 2013). About 90 percent of the rural families are consuming small numbers of chickens (Das et al., 2008). Poultry meat contaminated by different types of microorganisms during processing in the processing plants (Maharjan et al., 2019). During slaughtering, poultry meat contaminated because of the malpractices in handling and management with remains foodborne pathogens remains important health-hazardous issue (Javadi and Safarmashaei et al., 2011). Chicken meat products from retail markets contaminated with foodborne pathogens, namely, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, E. coli, and Listeria monocytogenes, and contamination with mold and yeasts (Khalafalla et al., 2019). Pathogenic strains of salmonella, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, shigella, enterobacter, and Citrobacter are serious health threats for a human beings (Alam et al., 2015). Foodborne pathogens are causing many diseases with significant effects on human health and the economy (Bintsis, 2017). The food-borne pathogen causes various of illness and death that loses billions of dollars for medical care, medical and social costs (Fratmico et al., 2005). Food-borne illnesses are still public health issue in both developing and developed countries despite applying many control and preventive measures (Zhou et al., 2010). The aim of this study to detect food-borne pathogens in Poultry meat of different areas in the Khulna district and to know the potential risk factor of food-borne pathogens in Khulna district. # II. # Materials and Methods # a) Study Area and Sample Collection The # b) Preparation of sample for bacteriological studies Each of the raw meat samples was macerated in a mechanical blender using a sterile diluent as per the recommendation of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO, 1995). Ten grams of the thigh meat sample was taken aseptically with sterile forceps and transferred into sterile containers containing 90 ml of 0.1% peptone water. A homogenized suspension made in a sterile blender. Thus 1:10 dilution of the samples were obtained. Later on, using a whirly mixture machine, different serial dilutions ranging from 10-2 to 10-6 were prepared according to the standard method (ISO, 1995). # c) Enumeration of TVC For total bacterial count, 0.1 ml of each ten-fold dilution transferred and spread on duplicate PCA using a fresh pipette for each dilution. Then the diluted samples spread as quickly as possible on the surface of the plate with a sterile glass spreader. One sterile spreader used for each plate. The plates then kept in an incubator at 37 0 C for 24-48 hours. Plates exhibiting 30-300 colonies following incubation. The average number of colonies in a particular dilution multiplied by the dilution factor to obtain the total viable count. The TVC calculated according to ISO (1995). The results of the total bacterial count expressed as the number of organism or colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) of meat sample. # d) Enumeration of TCC For TCC, 0.1 ml of each ten-fold dilution transferred and spread on Mac Conkey agar using a sterile pipette for each dilution. Then the diluted samples spread as quickly as possible on the surface of the plate with a sterile glass spreader. One sterile spreader used for each plate. The plates then kept in an incubator at 37 0 C for 24-48 hours. The growth of the organism confirmed by the appearance of turbidity. Results calculated from MPN tables. # e) Enumeration of TSC For total salmonella count, the procedures of sampling, dilution and streaking were similar to those followed in total viable bacterial count. Xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLDA) used only in the case of salmonella count. The calculation for TSC was similar to that of the total viable count. # f) Enumeration of TCpC For TCpC, 0.1 ml of each ten-fold dilution transferred and spread on the selective blood base agar with 5% sheep or cattle blood. The diluted samples spread as quickly as possible on a 0.45 mm filter placed on blood agar base agar no 2 with a sterile glass spreader. The plates then kept in an incubator at 42 0 C for 24-48 hours. Plates exhibiting 30-300 colonies following incubation. The average number of colonies in a particular dilution multiplied by the dilution factor to obtain the total viable count. The total viable count calculated according to ISO (1995). The results of the total bacterial count expressed as the number of organism or colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g) of meat sample. In young culture, the organism is commashaped and S-shaped. In old culture, organisms cling together. Gram (-ve) colonies were round, smooth, and translucent with a dewdrop appearance. # g) Cultural and biochemical examination of samples The cultural examination of chicken thigh meat samples for bacteriological analysis done according to the standard method (ICMSF, 1985). The examination followed a detail study of colony characteristics, including the morphological and biochemical properties. To find out different types of microorganisms in chicken thigh meat samples, different kinds of bacterial colonies isolated in pure culture from the plate count agar (PCA), Mac Conkey agar (MCA), blood agar (BA), and xylose lysine deoxycholate agar (XLDA) and subsequently identified according to the methods described by Krieg et al., 1994. The isolated organisms supporting growth characteristics on various media subjected to different biochemical tests such as sugar fermentation test, indole production test, catalase test, coagulase test, methyl-red, and Voges-Proskauer (VP) test. In all cases, standard methods as described by Cowan (1985) followed for conducting these tests. # h) Statistical analysis The data on TVC TCC, TSC, and TCpC obtained from the bacteriological examination of meat samples of the poultry carcass collected from Nirala, Table 1: List of the retail market for sample collection Dumuria, and Fultola markets of Khulna district were analyzed in a completely randomized design (CRD) using a computer package subjected to Analysis of Variance using SPSS Software (Version 16,2007). The differences between means evaluated by Duncan's Multiple Range Test (Gomez and Gomez, 1984). # III. # Results and Discussion The mean and standard deviation of the TVC in poultry meats of Nirala market, Dumuria, and Fultola markets are presented in (Tables 2, 3, and 4). The variation of TVC in meats of different poultry markets was significant (P<0.05) a 5% level of probability, as shown in (Table 5). The result of TVC in three different retail markets was differed significantly (P<0.05). The maximum and minimum range of TVC in poultry meat recorded at Nirala market, Dumuria market, and Fultola markets were log 6.5, log 6.59, log 6.8 and log 4.80, log 5.30, log 5.90, respectively (Table 6). However, the average value of TVC at three markets are log 5.65, log 5.94, and log 6.35, as shown in (Table 6). In the Nirala market the value of TVC was lower than the Dumuria market, but it is the highest in the Fultola market shown in (Tables 2, 3, and 4). The possible cause of this variation in microbial load might be thought to be due to differences in management and hygienic practices. Observation of the investigation revealed the fact that in the case of the Nirala market, the slaughter hygiene and process of poultry meat production were relatively more hygienic in respect of sanitation and handling systems. The butchers generally are skilled, and the consumers are well conscious about risk factors and hazardous elements associated with meat production and handling. On the contrary, in Fultola markets, these are not so, the butchers are unskilled and illiterate, and the consumers mostly are poor and do not hesitate to purchase poor quality meat. The results obtained were in close agreement with the findings of Mahami et al. (2019), Sultan et al. (2017), and Adu-Gyamfi et al. (2012), respectively. The mean and standard deviation of the TCC of Poultry meat processed at slaughter yards of Nirala, Dumuria, and Fultola markets are summarized in (Tables 2, 3 and 4). The result evaluated in (Table 5) revealed that the mean values of TCC in meats of Nirala market, Dumuria and Fultola market were not significant (P>0.05). Nevertheless, no significant variation demonstrated between the interactions of the three markets. The interpretation of TCC in three different retail markets was not differed significantly (Table 5). The maximum and minimum range of TCC in thigh meat recorded at Nirala market, Dumuria, and Fultola markets was log 6.40, log 4.92, log 5.25 and log 3.90, log 4.20, log 4.10, respectively (Table 6). However, the average value of TCC at three markets were log 5.16, log 4.56, and logged 4.68, as shown in (Table 6). These findings are closely related to the observations of 2, 3, and 4). The mean values of TSC in Poultry meat of three different areas like Nirala market, Dumuria market, and Fultola market were logged 3.19 ± 0.55, log3.44 ± 0.21, and log3.49 ± 0.75 CFU/g, respectively (Table 5). The variation of TSC in meats of the different market areas was not significant (P>0.05) presented in (Table 5). The interpretation of TSC in three different retail markets was not differed significantly (P>0.05). The maximum and minimum range of TSC in meat recorded at Nirala, Dumuria, and Fultola markets were log 3.8, log 3.78, log 4.00 and log 2.50, log 3.22, log 3.00 ,respectively (Table 6). However, the average value of TSC at three markets was log 3.15, log 3.50, and logged 3.50, as shown in (Table 6). The TSC value in the Nirala market was lower than the Dumuria market, but it is the highest in the Fultola market. This signifies the fact that all these meats are more or less handled in the same manner. The findings are also closely related to the findings of several other researchers (Sultan et al. 2017 and Bhandari et al., 2013). The mean values of TCpC in broiler meat of three different markets like Nirala market, Dumuria ,and Fultola markets are summarized in (Tables 2, 3 ,and 4). The mean values of TCpC in Poultry meat of three different markets like Nirala, Dumuria, and Fultola markets were logged 2.31±0.16, log 2.50 ± 0.02, and log 2.34 ±0.05 CFU/g, respectively (Table 5). The result presented in Table 5 revealed that the mean values of TCpC in meats of Nirala, Dumuria, and Fultola market were highly significant with a 1% level of probability (P<0.01). Similarly, this variation of TCpC is observed in meats of different Poultry carcass as significant (P<0.05). The value of Total Campylobacter Count in three different retail markets were differed significantly (P<0.01). The maximum and minimum range of TSC in thigh meat estimated at Nirala, Dumuria, and Fultola markets were logged 2.60, log 2.90; log 3.10 and log 2.00, log 2.20, log 2.10 respectively evaluated in (Table 6). The average value of TSC at three markets a log 2.30, log 2.55, and log 2.60 evaluated in (Table 6). The CPC value of the Nirala market is lower than the Dumuria market, but it is the highest in the Fultola market. These findings are more similar to the findings of Isohanni (2013). Bodhidatta et al. (2013) reported a higher TCpC value from fresh broiler meat and was log 2.5 to log 3.1. The value of TCpC at the Nirala market of Khulna City Corporation is the lowest (log 2.31) and the highest in the Fultola market (log 2. a) Isolation of E. coli from the selected retail market E. coli isolated and identified from the samples after cultivation on NA, EMB agar, and MC agar. E. coli detected from total of 48 samples. Among them, 30 samples were found positive for E. coli, and the prevalence of E. coli in that study was 62.20% (Table 7). b) Isolation of Salmonella spp from the selected retail market Salmonella spp. isolated and identified from the samples after cultivation on NA, MC agar, EMB agar, SS agar, BGA medium. Salmonella spp. detected from total of 48 samples 23 were found positive for Salmonella spp, and the prevalence of salmonella spp in that study was 49.91% (Table 9). The positive samples collected from the Fultola market. IV. # Conclusion The findings of this study provide valuable data about the hygienic level for retail markets. The presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp, and Campylobacter spp in meat must receive particular attention. These organisms are food-borne pathogens and highly responsible for causing a hazard to public health. It also reflects the poor hygienic quality of poultry meat. So the need for microbial assessment of fresh meats for human consumption is emphasized and recommended to reduce the possible hazards. Also, use of antibiotics should be considered as many strains get resistant to common antibiotics. The evidence suggests that efforts to improve food safety in poultry production should start at the village level with simple regulations directed towards addressing the most prominent deficiencies in the food-safety system into the food chain. breast meat samples were positive within 24 tested samples for this bacteria. On the other hand, 23 samples were found positive for Salmonella spp, and the prevalence of Salmonella spp in this study was 49.91 %. 29.16% of thigh samples were positive for Salmonella spp within 24 tested samples whereas 66.66% of litter samples were positive within 24 tested samples for this bacteria. Total Viable Count (TVC), Total Coliform Count (TCC), Total Salmonella Count (TSC) ,and Total Campylobacter Count (CPC) in meat samples of different broiler markets like Nirala market at Khulna city corporation, Dumuria, and Fultola were determined. Mean of TVC, TCC, TSC, and TCpC for the Nirala market at Khulna city corporation, Dumuria and Fultola markets were 5.61, 5.84, 6.29 log10 CFU/g, 4.72, 4.50, 4.47 log10 CFU/g, 3.19, 3.44, 3.49, log10 CFU/g and 2.31, 2.50, 2.54 log10 CFU/g, respectively. It observed that the mean values of TVC, TCC, TSC and TCpC in the case of Dumuria, and Fultola market exceeded the ICMSF recommendations, which may cause alarm to consumer's health. 2Microbial loadPlace of collectionSample no.TVCTCCTSCTCpC(CFU/g)(CFU/g)(CFU/g)(CFU/gm)14.804.503.002.2026.005.203.802.4035.706.403.502.3045.003.903.402.4054.804.003.202.3065.604.503.602.6076.505.003.402.13Nirala Market86.004.002.602.3195.854.723.002.40106.405.803.202.30115.615.203.192.40125.404.503.202.50135.703.903.302.30145.204.002.502.40155.005.003.102.10166.205.003.002.00Mean ± SD5.61± 0.274.72± 0.153.19± 0.552.31± 0.17All counts expressed in logarithms and CFU/g of meat. 3Year 2021Volume XXI Issue II Version ID D D D ) G(Medical ResearchPlace of collectionSample no. 1TVC (CFU/g) 5.80Microbial load TCC (CFU/g) TSC (CFU/g) 4.70 3.50TCpC (CFU/g) 2.50Global Journal of2 3 4 5 65.40 5.40 5.70 6.30 6.204.38 4.92 4.56 4.85 4.503.50 3.60 3.78 3.29 3.402.50 2.40 2.60 2.90 2.5075.804.403.532.45Dumuria Market86.304.553.602.7796.204.883.352.45106.594.283.402.50116.104.203.502.60125.304.203.202.45135.844.303.242.35 4Place of CollectionSample no.TVCMicrobial load TCC TSCTCpC(CFU/g)(CFU/g)(CFU/g)(CFU/g)16.504.604.002.7026.455.003.903.1036.304.553.502.6545.904.703.602.7056.805.003.703.0065.704.203.292.10Fultola Market76.704.004.202.6085.984.303.592.4096.294.503.202.60106.504.473.332.34116.005.003.492.10126.254.103.452.20136.404.003.002.30146.384.333.252.50156.104.003.002.60166.485.253.452.30Mean±SD6.29±0.124.47±0.063.49±0.752.34±0.05All counts expressed in logarithms and CFU/g of meat. 5Retail MarketTVC Mean ± SDTCC Mean ± SDTSC Mean ± SDTCpC Mean ± SDNirala Market5.61 ± 0.27 b4.72± 0.15 a3.19 ± 0.55 a2.31± 0.17 bDumuria Market5.84 ±0.44 ab4.50 ± 0.28 a3.44 ± 0.21 a2.50 ± 0.02 aFultola Market6.29 ±0.12 a4.47 ± 0.06 a3.49 ± 0.75 a2.54 ± 0.05 aLSD0.360.280.270.19Level of sig.*NSNS** 6SourceExamineTVC Max Min Av. Max Min Av. Max Min Av. Max Min Av. TCC TSC TCpCNiralaMeat6.5 4.80 5.65 6.40 3.90 5.19 3.80 2.50 3.15 2.60 2.0 2.30MarketDumuria MarketMeat6.59 5.30 5.94 4.92 4.20 4.56 3.78 3.22 3.50 2.90 2.20 2.55Fultola marketMeat6.80 5.90 6.35 5.25 4.10 4.68 4.00 3.00 3.50 3.10 2.1 2.60All counts expressed in logarithms and CFU/gm of meat; Av. = Average 7No. of retail marketType of sample No. of samples Positive for E. coli PercentageThigh meat24937.50(n=24)3Breast meat242187.50(n=24)Total483062.20(n=48) 9No. of retail marketType of sampleNo. of samplesPositive for SalmonellaPercentageThigh24729.16(n=24)3Breast241666.66(n=24)Total482349.91(n=48) © 2021 Global Journals Microbiological Evaluation of Poultry Meat Obtained from Different Retail Markets in Khulna District ## Acknowledgements We acknowledge the laboratory support from Quality Feed Lab, Khulna, Bangladesh. ## Conflict of Interest None of the authors have a conflict of interest to declare. * AAdu-Gyamfi WTorgby-Tetteh VAppiah * Microbiological Quality of Chicken Sold in Accra and Determination of D10-Value of E. coli Food and Nutrition Sciences 3 * Antibiogram of pre-processed raw chicken meat from different supershops of dhaka city STAlam HowardMb KFatema KmfHaque Bangladesh. 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