MYMENSINGH, March 27, 2025 (BSS) - A group of researchers from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) has claimed that they found typhoid (Salmonella) and diarrhea (E. coli) bacteria in chicken at various local markets in Sadar upazila of the district.

These germs were found because chickens are slaughtered in unhygienic conditions in most of the local poultry markets in the country, which poses a major threat to public health, said head of the research team and professor of BAU Poultry Science Department Dr Md Elias Hossain.

He said they conducted the study to monitor the condition of poultry markets in and around Mymensingh Sadar to observe the attitude of vendors towards biosecurity and poultry slaughtering, and inspect the quality of meat sold there.

The research report was presented at the '13th International Poultry Show-2025' organized by the World's Poultry Science Association, Bangladesh Branch.

Referring to the findings of the study, Dr Elias said most of the shop owners (96.15 percent) sell sick chickens instead of isolating or killing those.

But they didn't find any salmonella or coliform in the meat from the processing unit. This indicated that the meat from the processing unit is safe to eat, Dr Elias said.

The meat from the local markets contained significant amounts of harmful E. coli and Salmonella, which are not normally found in meat, he said.

The research team collected samples from poultry shops in 12 local markets in Mymensingh Sadar, including Charpara Bazar, Mintu College Bazar, Mechua Bazar, Notun Bazar, Sankipara Bazar, Kewatkhali Bazar, Sheshmor Bazar, Sutiakhali Bazar, Bhavkhali Bazar, KR Market, Shambhuganj Bazar and Gachtala.

The team interviewed workers of 24 poultry shops in these 12 markets following a specific questionnaire. The samples were tested at the Microbiology and Hygiene Lab of the BAU.

According to the study report, 84.62 percent of the poultry shops did not have adequate space to keep chickens, 92 percent of the shops did not have a sewage drainage system, and 46.15 percent of the shops did not have adequate lighting.

Besides, 30.77 percent of the shops had unhygienic meat cutting areas and did not have a planned waste disposal system.

The study suggested that such conditions create a conducive environment for bacterial growth and contamination.