OCORRÊNCIA DE Staphylococcus aureus EM CARCAÇAS DE FRANGO

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as condicoes microbiologicas de carcacas de frango com relacao as contagens de S. aureus. Foram analisadas 30 carcacas de frango in natura, e 31 carcacas de frango resfriadas, adquiridas em mercados publicos e supermercados, respectivamente. Em 58 (91,1%) amostras foram isolados estafilococos, sendo que 40 (65,0%) apresentaram S. aureus e 18 (31,0%) Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (SCN). As contagens de S. aureus e SCN variaram entre 10 a 106 UFC/g de carne de frango. As carcacas de frango resfriadas apresentaram contagens inferiores de S. aureus em relacao as carcacas de frango in natura, havendo correlacao direta entre a temperatura de comercializacao do produto e as contagens dessa bacteria. Foram confirmadas 78 (87,6%) colonias tipicas e 48 (40%) colonias atipicas de S. aureus em Agar Baird-Parker. Conclui-se que padroes microbiologicos para Staphylococcus aureus em carcacas de frango in natura e resfriadas precisam ser adotados para a obtencao de produtos de boa qualidade para o consumidor e que as colonias atipicas de S. aureus em Agar Baird-Parker devem ser consideradas pelos analistas de alimentos. OCCURRENCE OF Staphylococcus aureus IN CHICKEN CARCASSES Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the microbiological conditions of chicken carcasses, with regards to S. aureus count. Thirty carcasses of chicken in natura and 31 refrigerated carcasses of chicken acquired in public markets and supermarkets were analyzed, respectively. In 58 (91.1%) of the samples, Staphylococcus sp. were isolated, from which 40 (65.0%) presented Staphylococcus aureus and 18 (31.0%) coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS). Staphylococcus aureus count and CNS varied between 10 to 106 CFU/g of chicken meat. The refrigerated chicken carcasses presented lower counting of S. aureus in relation to carcasses of chicken in natura, showing a direct co-relation between the commercialization temperature of the product and the count of these bacteria. Seventy-eight (87.6%) of typical colonies and 48 (40%) atypical colonies of S. aureus were confirmed in Baird-Parker agar. It was concluded that the microbiological standards for S. aureus in chicken carcasses in natura and refrigerated needs to be adopted for the obtention of high quality products for the consumer and that the atypical colonies of S. aureus in Baird-Parker agar should be considered by food analysts.