A scanning electron microscopic, chemical and microbiological study of two types of chicken skin

• Main Author: Sahasrabudhe, Jyoti Madhu
• Language: English
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: Chickens; Skin; Electron microscopy
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/22588

Evaluation of several methods of fixing chicken skin for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) indicated standard chemical fixation using glutaraldehyde and osmium tetroxide followed by chemical dehydration with 2,2-dimethoxypropane to be the method of choice. SEM revealed that chicken skin has a convoluted surface. Two types of chicken skin, distinguishable on the basis of chemical composition and appearance were observed. Type I has a filamentous surface with 55% moisture and 25% fat, whereas Type II skin has a globular appearance, 52% fat and 33% moisture. The fatty acid profiles of Types I and II skin are the same. Bacteria have greater affinity for Type II than Type I skin. Attachment studies indicated that Salmonella typhimurium quickly attach to the skin surface and cannot be removed easily by washing with water or with water containing a surfactant. === Land and Food Systems, Faculty of === Graduate