Abstract
ABSTRACT
Egg is considered as a nutritionally complete food and an excellent source of protein. Contamination of eggs with microorganisms that may affect eggs quality and transmit pathogens or intoxication to consumers, causing public health hazards. This study was designed to determine the microbiological status of balady, farms hens' eggs and ducks’ eggs with isolation of some pathogens that cause public health hazard. A total of 75 balady, farms hens' eggs and ducks’ eggs samples (25 eggs of each) were randomly collected from different farmers and groceries in Alexandria province, Egypt. Eggs contents were microbiologically examined for total bacterial count, Staphylococcus aureus, coliforms count and molds count as well as for presence of Salmonellae. The obtained results were revealed that the mean values of Aerobic plate count, Staphylococcus aureus count, coliforms count and molds count in balady hens' eggs content were 1.03×102±0.4×102, 4.0×102±1.08×102, 0 and 4.3×10±0.9×10 cfu/ml, respectively. As well as, the mean populations of total bacterial count, Staphylococcus aureus, Coliforms count and molds count in farms hens' eggs content were 1.0×10±0.0, 4.8×102±1.4×102, 0.4×102±0.34×102 and 2.0×10±0.4×10 cfu/ml, respectively; while, the mean values of ducks’ eggs content were 1.6×103±0.27×103, 5.6×102±1.7×102, 1.3×102±0.57×102 and 1.2×10±0.2×10 cfu/ml, respectively. Salmonellae were not isolated from farms hens' eggs content while, they were isolated from balady hens' eggs content and ducks’ eggs content with the incidences of 4 and 8%, respectively. Isolated Coliforms were identified into Citrobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp., while, the isolated molds species were Alternaria spp., Aspergillus spp., Cladosporium spp., Mucor spp., Penicillum spp., Syncephalastrum racemosum and Trichoderma spp. It is concluded that eggs sold in Alexandria city were of relatively good quality, although occurrence of some pathogenic microorganisms. Therefore, it is recommended that hens’ and duks’ eggs should not be consumed raw.

Key words: Key words Balady eggs, Farms eggs, Duck eggs, Egg contents, Salmonella Staphylococcus aureus and Coliforms.