Isolation and molecular diagnosis of Citrobacter freundii in raw meat (beef, mutton and fish) in AL-Rusafa district of Baghdad city

Abstract

Citrobacte freundii one of the important foodborne contaminated bacteria in meat and fish, while in Iraq there are limited researches about this bacterium, for that, the objectives of this study include isolate, diagnosed and molecular characterization of Citrobacter freundii in raw meat (beef, mutton) and carp fish samples collected from local markets and different butcher’s shop in a AL-Rusafa district of Baghdad city. One hundred and fifty samples were collected aseptically as 50 samples from each of meats type, there were submitted to laboratory examinations, to culture on routine bacteriological media as a first step for bacterial diagnosis. Bacterial identification done by biochemical test and confirmed by Vitek-2 and Molecular assays (polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). Result showed there are 23 from 150 samples having Citrobacter freundii. Highest C. freundii percentage found in carp samples at (36%), flowed by mutton and beef (6%, 4%) respectively. We conclude that carp fish represent one of the important sources for bacterial foodborne disease where it used as a maine source of proteins and minerals in Iraq.