Calidad higiénica de la carne obtenida en mataderos de Manabí- Ecuador.

The hygienic - sanitary quality of carcasses obtained at five municipal slaughterhouses in the province of Manabi - Ecuador was evaluated and the results compared with the microbiological criteria set out in the regulatory documents of Latin America and the Caribbean. The selected slaughterhouses were representative of the province for both the technology used and the number of animals slaughtered. The influence of the season was considered by sampling in summer and winter in 2013. Ten carcasses were examined per season at the biggest slaughterhouses and five at the remaining units Aerobic mesophilic bacteria, total coliforms, fecal or thermotolerant coliforms, E. coli, Salmonella spp,, and Staphylococcus aureus were counted by the concentration of cfu/g in each sample. In none of the samples studied in the five slaughterhouses, S. aureus or Salmonella spp. were isolated. The counts of microorganisms used as hygiene indicators were higher than those allowed by several of the standards used as references. The highest level of microorganism contaminations (p<0,05) occurred in winter, prevailing the total coliforms and mesophilic bacteria. It was shown that the carcasses obtained at these slaughterhouses had difficulties in their sanitary conditions indicating that these facilities and their hygienic practices should be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]