Abstract:
Eggs are highly demanded due to the fact that eggs are nutritious and readily available as cheap source of proteins, Contamination of table eggs with pathogenic bacteria is a major problem worldwide resulting into foodborne illnesses and intoxication. Although there is knowledge about bacterial contamination of cracked and un cracked table eggs worldwide, virtually nothing is known about bacterial contamination of cracked and un-cracked table eggs in Soroti municipality. Therefore, the aim of this research was to determine the microbial quality of cracked and un-cracked table eggs sold in Soroti municipal. 1ML of egg content sample was serially diluted, 1ml of the 3rd dilution poured on nutrient agar and cultured by incubating at temperatures of 37=20c for 24 hrs in hot air oven, bacteria colonies were counted and bacteria concentration calculated, different bacteria colonies were extracted, gram stained and observed under the light microscope using 100x magnification objective for characterization according to cell morphology.
The mean bacterial concentrations (load) were 40177.8 and 61089 colony forming units and colony forming-unit per ml of cracked and un-cracked egg content respectively, there was a significant difference in the level of contamination between the cracked and un-cracked table eggs (p-value: =O.008). There were six identified bacterial species; salmonellae pseudomonas, bacillus, coliform, streptococci and staphylococci, All these bacteria. were, isolated from both cracked and un-cracked table eggs although there was, significant difference in species prevalence between cracked and un-cracked egg samples (p-value=O,0024). Cracked table eggs sold in Soroti municipal are more contaminated than un-cracked eggs. Both having pathogenic bacteria such as salmonella and coli-forms; therefore, pose a risk of causing foodborne infection and intoxication to the public. The public should boil their eggs before eating them and be educated on the dangers of eating raw and undercooked cracked eggs
