Evaluation of the Bacteriological Quality of Cattle Carcasses from the Mpila Slaughter Areas (Republic of Congo) and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Isolated Staphylococcus spp. Strains

Abstract

The objective of this study was to assess the bacteriological quality of cattle carcasses slaughtered in the Mpila slaughter areas. A total of 30 samples were collected and subjected to microbiological analyses to quantify the total aerobic mesophilic flora (TAMF) and identify total coliforms, faecal coliforms, Staphylococcus spp. and Salmonella spp. The results showed a high prevalence of total coliforms (90%), faecal coliforms (56%) and staphylococci (70%). Compared to international food safety standards, 83% of samples were non-compliant for TMAF, 57% for faecal coliforms and 67% for Staphylococcus spp. No Salmonella strains were isolated, indicating a compliance rate of 100%. The antibiotic sensitivity study revealed high resistance of the isolated strains to penicillin (100%), erythromycin (95%) and doxycycline (86%). In addition, 67% of Staphylococcus were resistant to methicillin, indicating the presence of multi-resistant strains. These results highlight a worrying level of contamination in cattle carcasses and call for a strict reinforcement of hygiene measures in slaughter areas, rational management of antibiotic use in livestock farming, and the establishment of an epidemiological surveillance system to limit the spread of multi-resistant bacteria.