COAGULASE-NEGATIVE STAPHYLOCOCCI AND COLIFORM BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH MECHANICAL DEFEATHERING OF POULTRY CARCASSES

Coagulase-negative staphYlococci and coliform bacteria were isolated from defeathering machines and carcasses at a commercial poultry processing plant. Initially, the predominant staphylococci on carcasses were Staphylococcus xylosus and Staph. simulans but, during defeathering, these organisms were replaced by Staph. sciuri. Since Staph. sciuri predominated in the defeathering machines, the machinery appeared to be responsible for contaminating carcasses. Among the coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli was the principal organism isolated from both carcasses and defeathering machines. However, use of a biotyping scheme revealed no clear change in the pattern of carcass contamination during defeathering and it was concluded that E. coli is unlikely to colonize the machines.