Oduro Daniel, Offih-Kyei Winnifred, Yeboah Joanita Asirifi, Yeboah Rhoda, Danso-Coffie Caleb, Boafo Emmanuel, Adjei Vida Yirenkyiwaa, Aboagye Isaac Frimpong, Mensah Gloria Ivy
Department of Animal Biology and Conservation Science, University of Ghana, Legon/Accra P.O. Box LG 67, Ghana.
Department of Immunology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Legon/Accra P.O. Box LG 581, Ghana.
Pathogens. 2025 Jul 31;14(8):754. doi: 10.3390/pathogens14080754.
The demand for wild animal meat, popularly called "bushmeat", serves as a driving force behind the emergence of infectious diseases, potentially transmitting a variety of pathogenic bacteria to humans through handling and consumption. This study investigated the microbial load and bacterial diversity in bushmeat sourced from a prominent bushmeat market in Kumasi, Ghana. Carcasses of 61 wild animals, including rodents (44), antelopes (14), and African civets (3), were sampled for microbiological analysis. These samples encompassed meat, intestines, and anal and oral swabs. The total aerobic bacteria plate count (TPC), count (EBC), and fungal counts were determined. Bacterial identification was conducted using MALDI-TOF biotyping. Fungal counts were the highest across all animal groups, with African civets having 11.8 ± 0.3 log CFU/g and 11.9 ± 0.2 log CFU/g in intestinal and meat samples, respectively. The highest total plate count (TPC) was observed in rodents, both in their intestines (10.9 ± 1.0 log CFU/g) and meat (10.9 ± 1.9 log CFU/g). In contrast, antelopes exhibited the lowest counts across all categories, particularly in EBC from intestinal samples (6.1 ± 1.5 log CFU/g) and meat samples (5.6 ± 1.2 log CFU/g). A comprehensive analysis yielded 524 bacterial isolates belonging to 20 genera, with (18.1%) and spp. (15.5%) representing the most prevalent species. Notably, the detection of substantial microbial contamination in bushmeat underscores the imperative for a holistic One Health approach to enhance product quality and mitigate risks associated with its handling and consumption.
对通常被称为“丛林肉”的野生动物肉的需求，是传染病出现的一个驱动力，有可能通过处理和食用将多种致病细菌传播给人类。本研究调查了来自加纳库马西一个著名丛林肉市场的丛林肉中的微生物负荷和细菌多样性。对61只野生动物的尸体进行了采样，包括啮齿动物（44只）、羚羊（14只）和非洲灵猫（3只），用于微生物分析。这些样本包括肉、肠道以及肛门和口腔拭子。测定了总需氧菌平板计数（TPC）、肠杆菌科计数（EBC）和真菌计数。使用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间生物分型法进行细菌鉴定。所有动物组的真菌计数最高，非洲灵猫的肠道和肉样本中分别为11.8±0.3 log CFU/g和11.9±0.2 log CFU/g。啮齿动物的总平板计数（TPC）最高，其肠道（10.9±1.0 log CFU/g）和肉（10.9±1.9 log CFU/g）中均如此。相比之下，羚羊在所有类别中的计数最低，尤其是肠道样本（6.1±1.5 log CFU/g）和肉样本（5.6±1.2 log CFU/g）中的肠杆菌科计数。综合分析产生了属于20个属的524株细菌分离株，其中大肠埃希菌（18.1%）和金黄色葡萄球菌属（15.5%）是最常见的物种。值得注意的是，丛林肉中大量微生物污染的检测凸显了采取全面的“同一健康”方法以提高产品质量并降低与其处理和消费相关风险的必要性。
