Abstract: The spatial distribution of airborne bacterial contamination (with Total aerobic bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, Coliforms, Staphylococci and Streptococci) was studied within the municipal abattoir of Constantine (North-East of Algeria).
Open plate air samples were collected at twenty sampling locations weekly during two months. At the same chosen locations, temperature and humidity of the air were measured. The spatial distribution of bacterial contamination was studied using a Geographic Information System.
The viscera processing section recorded the highest bacterial concentration and poor correlations had been recorded between bacterial counts and the environmental conditions within the abattoir. The high air bacterial loads recorded all over the slaughterhouse were consequence of the execution of all processing operations within the same section (for both bovine and ovine carcasses) associated to the absence of structural barriers, spatial separation between processing operations and uncontrolled airflow.
This study highlights the poor hygienic level of the municipal slaughterhouse of Constantine. The implementation of serious measures is needed to reduce the risk of contamination and proliferation of pathogens in meat during slaughtering processes.