Effect of Egg Washing and Hen Age on Cuticle Quality and Bacterial Adherence in Table Eggs.

ABSTRACT: The cuticle covering the outer surface of an eggshell functions as both a physical and chemical barrier against invading microorganisms. Contamination of eggs by microbial pathogens progresses in four stages: bacterial attachment to the egg surface, penetration through the cuticle and eggshell, multiplication within the underlying membranes, and the final stage of contaminating the egg contents. Therefore, it is important to study bacterial count at the first point of contact, i.e., on the surface of the eggs. In this study, we have evaluated the impact of differences in cuticle quality (due to egg washing and hen age) on bacterial load. We compared bacterial adherence on the eggshell surface of white eggs which were either washed (graded) or unwashed (ungraded), collected from Lohmann lay

SUBMITTER: Kulshreshtha G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11509795 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature