Microbiological quality of salmon (Salmo salar) sold in cities of the state of São Paulo, Brazil

The present paper evaluated the microbiology of salmon by quantifying mesophilic heterotrophic microorganisms, total and thermotolerant coliforms, and the presence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli and Aeromonas sp. in the meat. This study can provide technical support for the suggestion of a new regulation of a Brazilian legislation through specific microbiological standards concerning the consumption of raw fish. A number of 31 (16 cooled and 15 frozen) samples of salmon were collected in the retail market network of a few cities in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Results presented populations of mesophilic heterotrophic microorganisms ranging from 1.0 x 10 and 3.9 x 10(6) CFU/g, total and thermotolerant coliforms in 32.25% and 19.35% of the samples, respectively, and Aeromonas sp. in 41.95% of the samples with a populational variation ranging from 2.0 x 10² to 8.0 x 10³ CFU/g. Staphylococcus aureus was found in one sample whereas Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Salmonella sp. and Escherichia coli were not found. These results demonstrated the presence of potencially pathogenic microorganisms in fresh fish consumed in Brazil, highlighting the necessity of control measures to avoid public health problems related to the consumption of raw fish.

Microbiological counting in lamb carcasses from an abattoir in São Paulo, Brazil / Contagens microbiológicas em carcaças ovinas de um abatedouro de São Paulo, Brasil

The consumption of lamb meat in Brazil has increased in the last years but little information about the microbiological quality of this product is available. To evaluate the hygienic-sanitary conditions of lamb carcasses, the quantification of microorganism populations indicators (mesophiles and psychrotrophs; total and thermotolerant coliforms; Escherichia coli; moulds and yeasts) and the pathogenic microorganisms indentification (Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp.) were performed. A total of 60 lamb carcasses were sampled from one abattoir in São Paulo. Swab samples were collected from three points (forequarter, back and hindquarter) on the muscle surface after carcasses final washing. Statistical analysis consisted of descriptive evaluation of the results whose counts were grouped by intervals of microorganism populations. Counts ranged from 1.0 x 10¹ to 8.0 x 10(4) colony-forming unit cm-2 (CFU cm-2) for mesophiles; 1.0 x 10(0) to 4.4 x 10(4)CFU cm-2 for psychrotrophs; < 1.0 x 10(0) to 4.4 x 10(4)CFU cm-2 for moulds and yeasts; < 0.3 to > 32.0 most probable number/cm² (MPN cm-2) for total and thermotolerant coliforms and Escherichia coli. Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp. were not found in any of the carcasses. Most carcasses presented low counts for all microorganisms. Overall results may be explained by the small size of the industry where the study was taken. Results suggest that good microbiological quality lamb meat is possible to be obtained, but improvement in hygienic-sanitary conditions is still required.

O consumo de carne ovina tem aumentado nos últimos anos, no Brasil. Entretanto, pouca informação sobre a qualidade desse produto está disponível. Com o intuito de avaliar as condições higiênico-sanitárias das carcaças ovinas, foram realizadas a quantificação das populações de microrganismos indicadores (mesófilos e psicrotróficos; coliformes totais e termotolerantes; Escherichia coli; bolores e leveduras) e a identificação de microrganismos patogênicos (Salmonella sp. and Listeria spp.). Um total de 60 carcaças foram amostradas em um frigorífico, em São Paulo, entre fevereiro e dezembro de 2006. Suabes foram coletados em três pontos (dianteiro, lombo e traseiro), na superfície muscular das carcaças, após a lavagem final destas. A análise estatística consistiu na avaliação descritiva dos resultados cujas contagens foram agrupadas em intervalos populacionais. As contagens variaram de 1,0 x 10¹ a 8,0 x 10(4)UFC cm-2 para mesófilos; de 1,0 x 10(0) a 4,4 x 10(4)UFC cm-2 para psicrotróficos; de < 1,0 x 10(0) a 4,4 x 10(4)UFC cm-2 para bolores e leveduras; de < 0,3 a > 32,0 NMP cm-2 para coliformes totais e termotolerantes; e Escherichia coli. Salmonella sp. e Listeria spp. não foram detectadas em nenhuma das amostras coletadas nas carcaças. A maioria das carcaças apresentou baixas contagens para todas as categorias de microrganismos. Os resultados encontrados podem ser explicados pelo pequeno tamanho da indústria onde o trabalho foi realizado e sugerem que carne ovina de boa qualidade microbiológica pode ser obtida. No entanto, melhorias nas condições higiênico-sanitárias ainda são necessárias.