Abstract

Daminabo V, Isun R and Agarry OO*

The level of safety associated with the consumption of ready-to-eat snack kilishi (dried beef cracker) was studied by surveying the total aerobic bioload as well as the density and antibiogram of the enterococcal content. A total of 60 random samples taken from 5 sales outlets in Abuja metropolis were tested for their total aerobic plate count by the spread plate technique on Plate Count Agar (PCA) while the total enterococcal plate count were determined using the pour plate technique on Enterococcus Selective Agar (ECSA). From the results, the TAPC ranged from 1.2 x 103 - 3.9 x 104 cfu/g while the enterococcal plate count ranged from 4.6 x 101 to 6.7 x 101 cfu/g respectively. Various sales points within the metropolis recorded different enterococci plate counts. Statistically, no significant difference (p>0.05) occurred in the mean enterococci counts of two of the sales points. Of the eight species of Enterococcus isolated in this study (E. faecium, E. solitaries, E. faecalis, E. asini, E. hirae, E. cecorum, E. casseliflavusand E. raffinosus), E. faecalis accounted for 25%.Also, the mean pH (6.2-6.4) and proximate content (moisture content, 12.8-13.7%; crude protein, 60.6-60.9%; fat, 8.3-9.0%; ash, 7.4- 7.6%) were not significantly different (p>0.05) in all the samples. The antibiotic pattern of isolates showed a significant resistance pattern (p<0.05) to 33% of commonly used antibiotics (cloxacillin, 93%; streptomycin,70%, penicillin, 98%; colistin, 98% and nalidixic acid, 95%) while 20% of these antibiotics: ofloxacin (98%), nitrofurantoin (95%) and tetracycline (85%) were active against the isolates. The resistance of the enterococci isolates to more than one antibiotic as observed in this study should be of great concern to both food scientists and health practitioners.