Abstract Meat samples of various animal species have been obtained from Giza Governorate's butcher shops, common retail markets, veterinary faculties, Zoo and hospitals. Physical, bacteriological, and molecular analysis was carried out on the meat samples. Physical examination showed that typical and untypical meat differed. Bacteriological examination showed the highest TCC was found in horse meat while the least was in goat meat. The total count of S. aureus was the highest in donkey and dog whilst the least in pork meat. As for E.coli, donkey meat was the highest while buffalo and mutton meat were the lowest. The highest total Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Species count were in horse, donkey, rat and dog meat but zero in the other species examined. Multiplex-PCR targeting partial-length of cytochrome b (cyt b) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was used for the discovery of adulteration of beef meat with chicken, pork, dog, cat and rat tissue. It showed high specificity in differentiating the six animal species meat. The study points out the importance of taking serious steps to control species meat adulteration that may lead to transmission of severe foodborne diseases and more studies need to be implemented to apply new and easy meat adulteration detection protocols.

Abstract Two hundred broiler chicken samples, 160 laying chicken samples and 75 human stool samples were collected in Egypt. The samples were microbiologically examined, and the C. jejuni isolates were confirmed biochemically and by PCR targeting the mapA gene of C. jejuni. The prevalence of the cadF virulence gene was then determined using PCR. A total of 17.33%, 17% and 11.87% of human stool, broiler chicken and laying chicken samples, respectively, were positive for C. jejuni, with a total of 66 Campylobacter jejuni isolates (15.17%). Ten C. jejuni isolates (15.15%) carried the cadF virulence gene (7.69%, 20.58% and 10.52% of human stool samples, broiler and laying chicken samples respectively). Phylogenetic investigation demonstrated that two of the isolates from chicken had high homology with other C. jejuni isolates from human stool samples. Moreover, amino acid sequence alignment revealed a mutation in these isolates of zoonotic significance. The present results support the possible risk of transmitting highly virulent C. jejuni as a foodborne pathogen from both broiler and layer chickens to human in Egypt. Active on-farm biosecurity measures on chicken farms and more hygienic efforts in slaughter houses, in local chicken slaughter shops should be made for the effective control of this foodborne disease.

Abstract PCR was applied for the discovery of adulteration of crude and processed beef meat with horse and donkey tissue. This was performed by blending (w/w) horse or donkey meat to beef meat in an extent up to 1:10000 (0.01%). The sensitivity was resolved as high as 0.01%. All used primers showed specificity in the PCR reactions utilizing layout DNAs from three animal species. PCR application on 96 beef meat and meat product samples gathered randomly from street vendors and prominent retail markets (24 of burger, 16 of minced meat, 24 of kofta, 16 of sausage, 7 of raw meat and 9 of launcheon) uncovered 6 positive for donkey tissue (3 from sausage, 2 from minced meat and 1 from kofta) and 2 positive for horse tissue (from sausage). This basic PCR strategy effectively distinguished adulteration of raw and processed beef meat samples with horse and donkey tissue. This work also highlights on the severity of the meat adulteration problem in Egypt.