Bacteriological parameters of some farmed fish species marketed in Egypt

Fish is considered a valuable source of protein in Egypt. In this study ninety fish samples were collected from farmed fish marketed in Zagazig City, Egypt. The samples were Mugil cephalus, Oreochromis niloticus and Claris lazera. In each case, 30 samples were subjected to bacteriological analysis and compared with Egyptian standards for chilled fish. The mean value of aerobic plate count (APC) was 3.17×104 ± 0.42×104 , 2.41×105 ± 0.28×105 and 5.63×105 ± 0.61×105 CFU/g and the acceptability according to APC was 100%, 86.7%, and 80% of examined M. cephalus, O. niloticus and C. lazera, respectively. The total coliform counts were 1.33×102 ± 0.19×102 , 3.52×102 ± 0.46×102 and 6.10×102 ± 0.54×102 CFU/g and the acceptability were 90%, 83.3%, and 73.3% for M. cephalus, O. niloticus and C. lazera, respectively. Staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) producing S. aureus was detected in 1(3.3%) from M. cephalus as (SEA+SEC), 1(3.3%) of O. niloticus as SEB and in 3 (10%) of C. lazera as SEA, SED, (SEA+SEC). Escherichia. coli and Salmonellae were detected in 2/30 (6.7%) and 3/30(10%), 6/30(20%) and 4/30(13.3%), 7/20(23.3%) and 6/30(20%) of M. cephalus, O. niloticus and C. lazera tested, respectively. Meanwhile, Listeria monocytogenes was detected in only one sample of the examined C. lazera 1/30 (3.3%). The results obtained should point the way to the importance of implementing food safety systems from the beginning of production to the consumer's hand.