Résumé : |
The detailed examination of the Enterobacteriaceae on salted hides and skins offers important information to assess faecal con-tamination of salted hides and skins, its roles in hide spoilage, and efficiency of hide preservation. Hence, salted cattle hide and skin samples were obtained from different countries and examined. Total counts of Gram-negative bacteria on hide and skin samples, respectively, were 104-106 and 105-106 CFU/g; of Enterobacteriaceae 104-105 and 105-106 CFU/g; of proteolytic Enter-obacteriaceae 103-105 and 105-106 CFU/g; of lipolytic Enterobacteriaceae 102-105 and 104-105 CFU/g; and of each species be-longing to Enterobacteriaceae 102-105 and 103-105 CFU/g. Moisture contents of the hide (between 17% - 29%) and skin samples (between 18% - 39%) were low, and salt saturations of most hide and skin samples were fairly high (100%), but these microor-ganisms were isolated from the samples in high numbers. Although 16 bacterial species belonging to genera of Cedecea, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Ewingella, Klebsiella, Proteus, Raoultella, Serratia and Yersinia were isolated from the hide sam-ples, 16 bacterial species belonging to genera of Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Proteus, Raoultella, Serra-tia and Yersinia were isolated from the skin samples. These species were identified using API® 20E Test Kits. Although Cede-cea lapagei, Serratia rubidaea and Yersinia enterocolitica were the most prevalent microorganisms on the hide samples, Esche-richia coli, Serratia rubidaea and Serratia plymuthica were the most prevalent bacterial isolates on the skins. The most com-mon bacterial species isolated from both hides and skins was Serratia rubidaea. The presence of the members of Enterobacteri-aceae on the hides and skin samples in high numbers was evidence of faecal contamination and inadequate preservation. Ac-cording to biochemical test results, isolates exhibited catabolic activity to break down carbohydrate, lipid and protein which may adversely affect leather quality. Hide and skin samples contain different species of Enterobacteriaceae which may cause deterioration of hides and skins; therefore, effective antibacterial applications should be applied to hides and skins to eradicate these microorganisms and prevent substantial economical losses in leather industry. |