Microbial Load and Diversity of Bacteria in Wild Animal Carcasses Sold as Bushmeat in Ghana

The demand for wild animal meat, popularly called "bushmeat", serves as a driving force behind the emergence of infectious diseases, potentially transmitting a variety of pathogenic bacteria to humans through handling and consumption. This study investigated the microbial load and bacterial diversity in bushmeat sourced from a prominent bushmeat market in Kumasi, Ghana. Carcasses of 61 wild animals, including rodents (44), antelopes (14), and African civets (3), were sampled for microbiological analysis. These samples encompassed meat, intestines, and anal and oral swabs. The total aerobic bacteria plate count (TPC), Enterobacteriaceae count (EBC), and fungal counts were determined. Bacterial identification was conducted using MALDI-TOF biotyping. Fungal counts were the highest across all animal groups, with African civets having 11.8 ± 0.3 log₁₀ CFU/g and 11.9 ± 0.2 log₁₀ CFU/g in intestinal and meat samples, respectively. The highest total plate count (TPC) was observed in rodents, both in their intestines (10.9 ± 1.0 log₁₀ CFU/g) and meat (10.9 ± 1.9 log₁₀ CFU/g). In contrast, antelopes exhibited the lowest counts across all categories, particularly in EBC from intestinal samples (6.1 ± 1.5 log₁₀ CFU/g) and meat samples (5.6 ± 1.2 log₁₀ CFU/g). A comprehensive analysis yielded 524 bacterial isolates belonging to 20 genera, with Escherichia coli (18.1%) and Klebsiella spp. (15.5%) representing the most prevalent species. Notably, the detection of substantial microbial contamination in bushmeat underscores the imperative for a holistic One Health approach to enhance product quality and mitigate risks associated with its handling and consumption.