Abstract

Table eggs shell were studied for their bacteriological contamination. Fifteen samples of three eggs were collected at salespersons in Rabat and were examined. The determination of the contaminating microorganisms revealed the following average values in cfu/shell : The standard plate count, 2,2 10⁷, total coliforms, 1,2 10⁶, feacal coliforms, 5,32 10⁵, Streptococcus, 8,3 10⁴, Staphylococcus, 7,12 10⁶ and spores of sulfito-reducting Clostridium, 50. Thirdten percents of samples were found to contain Salmonella. Identification showed that E.coli was the major organism in 91% and 94% of the total and feacal coliforms respectively. For Staphylococcus, within a total of 69 strains with Gram positive cells, arranged in irregular clusters and catalase positive, no strain was DNAase positive. Salmonella enteritidis was the must dominating species with a percentage of 79% against 21% for Salmonella virchow, among isolated Salmonella strains.

Corresponding author: faidmohamed@yahoo.fr