Pathogenic bacteria load and safety of retail marine fish.

This study was conducted to determine the pathogenic bacteria load of 14 species of marine fish obtained from two suppliers (in Bitlis city, Turkey), which provide fish for fish markets, and to reveal the safety of the marine fish in terms of microbiological quality. The counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were determined in anchovy, horse mackerel, salmon, red mullet, gilthead seabream, bonito, pilchard, common sole, sand smelt, axillary seabream, seabass, Mediterranean horse mackerel, bluefish, and garpike. It was determined that common sole, axillary seabream, seabass, bluefish and Mediterranean horse mackerel obtained from both suppliers were unacceptable in terms of the counts of TMAB. Twenty-four samples exceeded the critical limit of S. aureus and all the samples were unacceptable according to the critical limit of E. coli. While L. monocytogenes was isolated from 50.0% of the samples, Salmonella spp. was isolated from 39.3% of the samples. These results showed that the pathogenic bacteria load of the analyzed marine fish was quite high and they were unsafe in terms of microbiological quality.

Pathogenic bacteria load and safety of retail marine fish / Carga de bactérias patogênicas e segurança de peixes marinhos de varejo

This study was conducted to determine the pathogenic bacteria load of 14 species of marine fish obtained from two suppliers (in Bitlis city, Turkey), which provide fish for fish markets, and to reveal the safety of the marine fish in terms of microbiological quality. The counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria (TMAB), Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli, the presence of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes were determined in anchovy, horse mackerel, salmon, red mullet, gilthead seabream, bonito, pilchard, common sole, sand smelt, axillary seabream, seabass, Mediterranean horse mackerel, bluefish, and garpike. It was determined that common sole, axillary seabream, seabass, bluefish and Mediterranean horse mackerel obtained from both suppliers were unacceptable in terms of the counts of TMAB. Twenty-four samples exceeded the critical limit of S. aureus and all the samples were unacceptable according to the critical limit of E. coli. While L. monocytogenes was isolated from 50.0% of the samples, Salmonella spp. was isolated from 39.3% of the samples. These results showed that the pathogenic bacteria load of the analyzed marine fish was quite high and they were unsafe in terms of microbiological quality.

Este estudo foi realizado para determinar a carga de bactérias patogênicas de 14 espécies de peixes marinhos obtidos de dois fornecedores (na cidade de Bitlis, Turquia), que fornecem peixes para mercados de peixes, e para revelar a segurança do peixe marinho em termos de qualidade microbiológica. As contagens de bactérias aeróbias mesófilas totais (TMAB), Staphylococcus aureus e Escherichia coli, a presença de Salmonella spp. e Listeria monocytogenes foram determinados em anchova, carapau, salmão, salmonete, dourada, bonito, sardinha, linguado, cheirado, dourada-axilar, robalo, carapau-do-mediterrâneo, anchova e garpike. Foi determinado que o linguado, o dourada-axilar, o robalo, a anchova e o carapau-do-mediterrâneo obtidos de ambos os fornecedores eram inaceitáveis nas contagens do TMAB. Vinte e quatro amostras excederam o limite crítico de S. aureus, e todas as amostras foram inaceitáveis de acordo com o limite crítico de E. coli. Enquanto L. monocytogenes foi isolada em 50.0% das amostras, Salmonella spp. foi isolado de 39.3% das amostras. Esses resultados mostraram que a carga de bactérias patogênicas dos peixes marinhos analisados era bastante alta e eles eram inseguros em termos de qualidade microbiológica.