PRESENCE OF C. JEJUNI IN CARCASS AND GROUND MEAT MARKETED IN BITLIS

In this study, by isolating and identifying Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) in 300 samples (50 cattle ground meat, 50 Iamb ground meat, 50 fresh cattle carcass, 50 fresh lamb carcass, 50 frozen cattle carcass and 50 frozen lamb carcass) collected from Bitlis market and meatshops between August 2002 and January 2003, it was aimed to determine potential risk factors in terms of human health. Isolation and identification method of C. jejuni were used as suggest from Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to analysis findings, while the rate of C. jejuni was 6.0 %, 4.0 %, 6.0 % and 6.0 % in the cattle and lamb ground meat, cattle and lamb fresh carcass respectively, it weren't isolated from frozen cattle and Iamb carcass.