This article presents research on sanitary and bacteriological evaluation of the quality of semi-finished chicken meat and whole chicken carcasses sold in Kostanay. The quality of products was evaluated by organoleptic, biochemical and bacteriological indicators. A total of 32 samples were analyzed, including whole chicken carcasses of domestic poultry and industrial chicken carcasses, as well as semi-finished chicken products (shank, thigh, wings on a substrate). During organoleptic and biochemical analysis of the quality of the samples 5 samples did not meet the requirements of normative documents. Sanitary and bacteriological examination showed excess of total microbial contamination. In a sample of imported semi-finished products the presence of Bacteroidetes was detected. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes bacteria were identified in two samples of domestic chicken. In order to facilitate faster identification of pathogens in food, chromogenic selective media were used, which have a high sensitivity and facilitate their identification. Due to the presence of markers of specific enzymatic activity, the colonies of the bacteria in question are stained with a characteristic colour and the growth of extraneous microflora is inhibited. The use of modern nutrient media saves time for routine laboratory tests.

The widespread use of antimicrobial agents for pets in veterinary practice has led to the emergence and spread of drug resistance not only in pathogenic but also in opportunistic bacteria. The study aims to evaluate the profile of resistance to antibacterial agents in Escherichia coli strains isolated from domestic cats and dogs, as well as to look into the determinants of resistance responsible for the ability of microorganisms to resist the effects of antimicrobial agents. During 2021-2022, biological material from cats and dogs, taken in veterinary clinics of Kostanay, Republic of Kazakhstan, was analyzed. Identification of genes encoding antimicrobial resistance was carried out by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). As a result, it was found that all isolated strains of microorganisms showed sensitivity to the action of meropenem included in the group of beta-lactam antibiotics and showed resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, ofloxacin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin. Resistance genes were identified for all the studied groups of antibiotics in the DNA of E. coli isolated from cats and no genes encoding resistance to fluoroquinolones were detected in the DNA of strains isolated from dogs. The most common genes were genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides (43.8%), tetracyclines (35%), beta-lactams (33.5%), sulfonamides (16.1%), and fluoroquinolones (1.24%). In general, domestic cats and dogs have a high prevalence of E. coli strains resistant to beta-lactam drugs (ampicillin: 40%, amoxicillin: 36%) and tetracyclines (tetracycline: 71%, doxycycline: 47%). Resistance in most cases was explained by the presence of such resistance genes as blaTEM, OXA, tetA, and tetB.

The article presents the results of microbiological studies on samples of chicken meat and poultry offal sold at domestic trade facilities in Kaunas, Lithuania. The samples were analyzed according to standard sanitary and hygiene indicators for food safety, including total microbial content, Сoliform bacteria, and the presence of potentially harmful microorganisms such as Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes. During the study of chicken raw materials, the range of total bacterial contamination varied within 1.5*105 – 2.5*108 CFU/g. According to this criterion, the excess of the regulated values for the EU countries was noted, amounting to 27.5%. The highest contamination levels were observed in samples of chicken wings and gizzards. To assess the safety of chicken raw materials, sanitary-indicative microorganisms were monitored. The quantitative indication of Coliform bacteria in all samples remained within acceptable levels. A correlation was found between the total microbial content and the number of Coliform bacteria in different parts of the chicken carcass (r=0.43). This indicates that the probability of finding coliform bacteria is higher in meat than in offal. The results of studies on pathogenic microorganisms are presented. The data obtained indicate that chicken products sold in retail networks comply with EAEU and EU safety requirements. No Salmonella and L.monocytogenes were detected in the samples. The presence of non-pathogenic Listeria as extraneous microorganisms is not critical.

This study aimed to select lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains based on their antagonistic activity and mycotoxin mitigation capacity, develop a biocompatible multistrain consortium, and evaluate its application for the fermentation of extruded wheat bran. The selected strains were assessed for biocompatibility, and a four-strain consortium comprising Lacticaseibacillus casei, Levilactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus acidilactici, and Latilactobacillus curvatus was established. The consortium was propagated in supplemented sour whey and subsequently applied to wheat bran fermentation. Compared with the two-strain formulations, the four-strain consortium reduced the total bacterial count by 1.6-fold and the yeast and mold count by 1.75-fold after 36 h of fermentation. The consortium also produced the most pronounced acidification of the substrate, reducing the pH from 5.65 to 3.82 and increasing titratable acidity from 0.20 to 4.40 °N (22.0-fold). In contrast, fermentation with the two-strain formulations reduced the pH to 4.02 ± 0.01, while titratable acidity increased by 20.5–20.6-fold. After 36 h of fermentation, the viable LAB count in the substrate fermented with the four-strain consortium reached 7.23 ± 0.11 log₁₀ CFU/g, compared with 6.23 ± 0.02 and 6.42 ± 0.01 log₁₀ CFU/g in the substrates fermented with the two-strain formulations. These findings indicate that the developed four-strain consortium represents a promising starter culture for wheat bran fermentation and highlight its potential for the valorization of cereal by-products into value-added feed material through LAB fermentation. All experiments were conducted in vitro, and the effectiveness of the proposed approach under animal feeding conditions requires further experimental validation.

The quality of meat products depends on the sanitary and hygienic condition of the equipment and inventory of meat processing shops, since environmental conditions are directly or indirectly related to the processing and feeding of products, therefore, the main requirement for determining the quality of food products is to check sanitary conditions. In the course of sanitary and bacteriological research, the effectiveness of sanitary treatment of equipment and inventory of the sausage production shop, compliance with sanitary and hygienic requirements by employees of the enterprise were determined. The biological properties of isolated sanitary-indicative microorganisms have been determined. The results of the research showed that during the planned control of the sausage shop, no conditionally pathogenic and pathogenic microflora was detected in the flushes from the equipment and inventory of the BGCP, S.aigeis, which indicates compliance with the disinfection regime and compliance with sanitary norms and rules of food production facilities. The results of flushing from the hands of the staff and from special clothing were negative, indicating compliance with hygiene standards. During unscheduled inspection of sausage shop №2, E. coli group bacteria was detected in 22% of flushes from the total number of flushes from the equipment and opportunistic microflora (Proteus), in flushes from the boning table and cutter. The results indicate non-compliance with sanitary requirements and unsatisfactory sanitary treatment of the workshop equipment. Indicator microorganisms isolated from microbiological flushes were identified by morphological, cultural and biochemical properties as the genera Escherichia, Enterobacter and Proteus.

One of the main problems in the treatment of infectious diseases in pets is the spread of strains of microorganisms resistant to antimicrobial drugs. The aim of the study was to isolate conditionally pathogenic microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family from dogs with parvavirus enteritis and clinically healthy animals, with the determination of phenotypic and genotypic resistance to antimicrobial drugs. In the period from March 2021 to March 2023, biological material from dogs with parvavirus enteritis (n = 152) and healthy dogs (n = 196), taken in veterinary clinics of Kostanay, was analyzed. Eighty-two isolates of conditionally pathogenic microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family were isolated and studied from 348 biomaterial samples taken from dogs with enteritis. Conditionally pathogenic Enterobacteriaceae were isolated in 26.3% of cases (40 strains), among them: 65% of E.coli strains, 12% - Klebsiella, 10% - Proteus, 8% - Citrobacter, 5%- Enterobacter. Forty two microorganisms were isolated from healthy dogs: 83% are E.coli microorganisms, 5% are Klebsiella and Proteus isolates, and 2% are Citrobacter and Enterobacter microorganisms. In all isolated isolates, the resistance/sensitivity to the action of antibacterial drugs was determined by the disco-diffuse method. It was revealed that all isolated strains of microorganisms showed sensitivity to the action of streptomycin, belonging to the group of aminoglycosides, showed resistance to tetracycline, doxycycline, ofloxacin, ampicillin, amoxicillin. Resistance genes have been identified to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, and sulfonamides. The resistance gene to fluoroquinolones was isolated from 1 E. coli isolate, from a healthy animal. Resistance genes were not detected in the DNA of Citrobacter, Enterobacter and Proteus isolates isolated from clinically healthy dogs. The most common genes were genes encoding resistance to aminoglycosides - 28% of strains, to beta-lactams - 21.9%, to tetracyclines - 13.4% of animals. It was concluded that the uncontrolled and frequent use of antibacterial drugs of the beta-lactam group and tetracyclines in dogs leads to the spread of genotypic resistance among microorganisms of the Enterobacteriaceae family.