Bacteria and helminth isolates from bile and faeces of zebu cattle slaughtered for human consumption in the Niger Delta areas of Nigeria.

Abstract

Random bacteriological examination of 300 bile samples aseptically drawn from the gallbladders of adult cattle at slaughter revealed the presence of Escherichia coli in 30%, Enterobacter aerogenes in 14% and Klebsiella aerogenes in 56%. Bacteriological examination of another 116 faecal samples revealed Esch. coli in 60% and Ent. aerogenes in 40%, while parasitological examination revealed 50-100 strongyle ova per gram from pre-rain samples of faeces, 100-850 strongyle eggs per gram for faeces collected during the rains, and less than 50 strongyle eggs per gram for dry season faeces. No salmonellae were recovered from either the faeces or bile, and no Clostridium or any helminth of significant public health interest were recovered from faeces but it is still suggested that indirect consumption of bile and faeces from these animals may constitute a public health hazard.