Food-borne bacterial load in fresh and frozen fish sold in Mauritius

Pohoroo A., . and Ranghoo-Sanmukhiya V. M., . Food-borne bacterial load in fresh and frozen fish sold in Mauritius. pp. 2193-2200. ISSN 2231-7546

Microbial load of fresh Lethrinus nebulosus (locally known as Capitaine) and Siganus sutor (locally known as Cordonnier) was compared during summer and winter in Mauritius. Fresh fish samples were collected from different regions of Mauritius during summer and winter. The bacterial load of the fresh fish was found to be higher (1.2x 105 CFU/g) during the hot season (p 0.05). Significant differences in staphylococcal count were also observed among the different fish species (p 0.05) though the values abided by the limits. Furthermore frozen L. nebulosus showed a significant difference in the total bacterial load by 100 fold and 10 fold for staphylococcal count compared to the fresh samples of the same fish species. Emphasis was also placed on the isolation of the probable presence of the main food pathogens encountered on fish namely Enterococcus and Vibrio species. 16S ribosomal DNA Sequencing revealed the presence of Vibrio alginolyticus and Enterococcus cloacae. Improper handling practices by the fish mongers and sellers/vendors and inadequate storage temperature affected the bacterial load of fresh fish. Both fresh and frozen fish in Mauritius have an acceptable total microbial load and can be assumed to be safe for consumption.

Full text available from: Official URL: http://www.ifrj.upm.edu.my/24%20(05)%202017/(49).p...

Abstract

Microbial load of fresh Lethrinus nebulosus (locally known as Capitaine) and Siganus sutor (locally known as Cordonnier) was compared during summer and winter in Mauritius. Fresh fish samples were collected from different regions of Mauritius during summer and winter. The bacterial load of the fresh fish was found to be higher (1.2x 105 CFU/g) during the hot season (p 0.05). Significant differences in staphylococcal count were also observed among the different fish species (p 0.05) though the values abided by the limits. Furthermore frozen L. nebulosus showed a significant difference in the total bacterial load by 100 fold and 10 fold for staphylococcal count compared to the fresh samples of the same fish species. Emphasis was also placed on the isolation of the probable presence of the main food pathogens encountered on fish namely Enterococcus and Vibrio species. 16S ribosomal DNA Sequencing revealed the presence of Vibrio alginolyticus and Enterococcus cloacae. Improper handling practices by the fish mongers and sellers/vendors and inadequate storage temperature affected the bacterial load of fresh fish. Both fresh and frozen fish in Mauritius have an acceptable total microbial load and can be assumed to be safe for consumption.

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Item Type:	Article
AGROVOC Term:	Fresh fish
AGROVOC Term:	Frozen fish
AGROVOC Term:	Lethrinus nebulosus
AGROVOC Term:	Siganus sutor
AGROVOC Term:	Identification
AGROVOC Term:	Seasons
AGROVOC Term:	Bacterial contamination
AGROVOC Term:	Staphylococcus aureus
AGROVOC Term:	Enterococcus
AGROVOC Term:	Vibrio
Depositing User:	Ms. Suzila Mohamad Kasim
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 06:28
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/23861

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