Microbacterial Quality Analysis and Susceptibility Test of Raw Chicken Sold Within Oko, Anambra State

Abstract

Poultry meat products are widely consumed globally due to their high nutritional value. However, microbial contamination of chicken poses a significant public health risk. This study aimed to evaluate the microbial quality of raw chicken sold in Oko, Anambra State. Raw chicken samples were randomly purchased from different locations within Eke Oko Market and labeled as Samples A, B, C, D, and E. Microbiological analysis was carried out using the pour plate method. The samples were serially diluted and inoculated onto various culture media including Nutrient Agar, MacConkey Agar, Eosin Methylene Blue Agar, Mannitol Salt Agar, and Selenite Broth. Heterotrophic bacterial counts were conducted following standard procedures. Bacterial isolates were identified based on their morphological characteristics and standard biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the agar disk diffusion method. The heterotrophic bacterial counts for Samples A, B, C, D, and E were 1.7 × 10³, 1.1 × 10³, 1.3 × 10¹, 1.4 × 10², and 1.1 × 10¹ cfu/g, respectively. The bacterial isolates identified included Enterobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia spp, Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed high sensitivity of the isolates to ciprofloxacin and resistance to Zinnacef. The findings of this study highlight the presence of pathogenic bacteria in raw chicken sold in Oko, emphasizing the need for strict hygienic practices during processing and handling to safeguard public health.