The objective of the present study was to evaluate the mycological quality of chicken
carcasses and trial for extend shelf life of fresh refrigerated chicken meat using some preservative.
A total of 50 random samples of chicken carcasses was collected from student campus of Benha University.
The samples were taken aseptically in polyethylene bags without undue delay; they were transferred to the
laboratory in ice box and mycologically examined.
The results revealed that all the examined samples were physically accepted but had
different scores vary from, excellent to good. The mean pH values of chicken carcasses were 6.0 ±
0.04, .The mean value of total fungal and yeast count (TFC /cm2
) in examined chicken carcasses
were 6.7×102 ± 1.1×102
and 2.9×102 ± 7.6×101
, respectively. In the examined samples, 8 mould and
yeast genera could be identified. The identified mould and yeast belonged to the following genera
were Aspergillus spp. (A. candidus, A.flavus, A. fumigatus, A. niger and A. ochraceus), Penicillium
spp. (P. aethiopicum, P. citrinum, P. corylophilum, P. decumbence, P. griseofulvum and P.
oxalicum), Cladosporium spp., Fusarium spp., Mucor species, candida spp., Rhodotorula spp. and
Torulopsis spp. The chicken carcasses were packed into plastic bags after sprayed with potassium
sorbate (2%& 2.5%), soaked in H2O2 (0.1% & 0.5%) and sprayed with natamycin (0.1% and 0.2%).
The samples were stored in refrigerator at 40C and examined after preparation and after 5 days. The
obtained result showed that natamycin (0.2%) cause high reduction percent in the total fungal and
yeast count in chicken carcasses than other antifungal used.