Bacterial flora associated with diseased fish and their antibiogram

Bacterial flora associated with tail rot/fin rot of Carassius auratus, Xiphophorus helleri and hemorrhagic ulcers of Clarias spp were studied. Sensitivity pattern of 33 isolates comprising Aeromonas spp, Pseudomonas spp and Gram-positive rods from diseased C. auratus, X. helleri and Clarias spp were screened against six broad-spectrum antibiotics viz. ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole, gentamycin, nitro-furantoin and oxytetracycline. Ciprofloxacin was the most effective in inhibiting bacteria at 0.05-0.10 µg/ml level. About 44% of Pseudomonas spp. was resistant to nitrofurantoin. Resistance to oxytetracycline was seen in 27% of Aeromonas spp Gram-positive rods were comparatively more resistant to antibiotics. The multiple antibiotic resistances were seen in 21% of the bacterial isolates of diseased fish.

Bacterial load in pond water and different organs of a Indian major carp Cirrhinus mrigala Ham.

During the study period (August, 1993 to July,l994) the mean bacterial load in surface water was found to vary from 1.39 xl05 (July'94) to 3.llxl07CFU/ml (September'93), while that of botrom water ranged from l.Olxl06 (May'94) to 5.90xl07CFU/ml (October '93). The mean total number of bacterial load in body slime, liver and kidney was found to vary from 0.58xl03 (July'94) to 2.37xl07CFU/g (March'94),from 0.22xl03(July'94)to 9.64xl06 CFU/g (March'94) from O.l5xl03 (July'94) to 9.36xl06 CFU/g (March'94), respectively. Bacterial load in slime was significantly correlated with bacterial load in liver, bacterial load in slime was significantly correlated with bacterial load in kidney and bacterial load in liver was significantly correlated with bacterial load in kidney.

Studies on the chemical control of psychrophilic bacterial spoilage of fish. 2 - The effect of antibiotics on the growth of psycrophilic bacteria isolated from marine fish

Among the various antibiotics tried, tetracyclines particularly chlorotetracycline (CTC), chloramphenicol and chlorostrep were found to be fairly effective at 8 and 10 p.p.m. levels. The order of sensitivity to CTC among the six genera studied was found to be Achromobacter

Studies on the chemical control of psychrophilic bacterial spoilage of fish. 4 - The effect of chemical preservatives on the growth of psychrophilic bacteria isolated from marine fish

Dehydroacetic acid and ammonia were found to be very effective in checking the growth of all the cultures at all concentrations tried. The two nitrofuran derivatives namely, semicarbazone and AF-2 were fairly effective, semicarbazone being more effective than AF-2. Sodium nitrite was found to be totally ineffective against the cultures at all concentrations tried.

Seasonal variations of bacterial flora of fresh oil sardines (Sardinella longiceps)

An elaborate study was made on the qualitative and quantitative seasonal variations in the bacterial flora of fresh oil sardines and their biochemical reactions. It was observed that the total bacterial loads and their phosphorescent and biochemical characters were influenced by changes in seasons. During monsoon season total bacterial count was high. Mesophiles predominated during summer, but phosphorescent bacteria were less. Winter favoured the selection of biochemically less active groups of bacteria.

Bacterial aspects of quality of phosphate treated frozen prawns

Changes in physical, organoleptic and biochemical characteristics of phosphate treated prawns and frog legs during storage have been studied in detail by Mathen and Pillai, (1970). Adoption of the recommended method by the industry in the freezing of prawns made it necessary to assess the influence of such treatment on the bacterial quality. This aspect assumes more importance in view of the proposed compulsory bacterial standards for raw frozen prawns. This note gives an account of the results on the influence of phosphate treatment on bacterial quality of raw frozen shrimp meat.

Bacterial flora of fresh and iced Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and its response to chlortetracycline (CTC) treatment

Quantitative and qualitative studies on the bacterial flora of fresh Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) have been made. The total native flora as well as 5 ppm CTC insensitive flora of the fish showed variations with season. About 90% of the fresh fish flora was sensitive to 5 ppm CTC. The natural flora of the fresh fish consisted of Vibrios, Pseudomonas, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Corynebacteria, Micrococci, Bacillus and yeasts. In the CTC insensitive flora, Vibrios predominated followed by yeasts. The selection of bacterial genera during storage of the fish in ice and in 5 ppm CTC incorporated ice has also been investigated. At the time of spoilage, Pseudomonas was found to be the dominant flora of the fish stored in both types of ice.

An analytical study of the sea water slime with reference to bacterial flora

A detailed study of the primary film of slime with reference to the bacterial flora, its quality and quantity, as observed on different material surfaces exposed to sea water is carried out. A correlation has been established between bacteria and slime deposited on different surfaces.

Chemical control of psychrophilic bacterial spoilage of fish 1. Isolation and identification of psychrophilic bacteria from marine fish

Making use of the streak plate technique and low temperature incubation, 28 cultures belonging to six genera namely, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Pseudomonas, Micrococcus, Vibrio and Alcaligenes were isolated from different varieties of marine fish. The growth studies indicated that all of them were able to grow between -5 and +5°C within a week's time and none of them showed growth at 37°C. The optimum temperature of growth for all these cultures was in the range 25-28°C. Among these only one, i.e., a Vibrio sp., was found to be an obligate psychrophile.

The influence of plating technique and incubation temperature on bacterial count from fish and fishery products

For bacterial sampling of raw unprocessed fish and frozen fishery products, spread plate method is preferable to pour plate method; incubation of plates at 30°C gives a higher count than incubation at 37°C. Analysis of variance of the data shows that sample variation between different types of fishes is highly significant whereas the variations between triplicate plates are not significant at 5 % level.

Selection of bacterial flora in the Chlortetracycline treated oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps), Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and prawn (Metapenaeus dobsoni) during ice storage

The native flora of oil sardine and mackerel consisting of Pseudomonas spp; Moraxella spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Vibrio spp. underwent significant changes during ice storage. At the time of spoilage, Pseudomonas spp. were predominant. CTC treatment significantly reduced the Pseudomonas spp. in the initial stages of storage; but later Pseudomonas spp. reasserted and constituted the bulk of the spoilage flora. In prawn, the native flora was comprised of Pseudomonas spp., Acinetobacter spp., Moraxella spp. and Vibrio spp. At the time of spoilage a heterogeneous flora, consisting of Pseudomonas spp; Moraxella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. predominated. CTC treatment significantly changed the flora of prawns. During spoilage, Pseudomonas predominated in CTC treated prawns.

Bacterial flora of EDTA treated oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps), Indian mackerel (Rastrelliger kanagurta) and prawn (Metapenaeus dobsoni) in ice storage

The native flora of fresh oil sardine and mackerel consisted mainly of Pseudomonas spp., Moraxella spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Vibrio spp. During spoilage in ice, nearly 75% of their bacterial flora belonged to Pseudomonas spp. alone. But Na sub(2) EDTA treatment reduced the proportion of Pseudomonas spp. considerably and the major bacterial groups at the time of spoilage were Moraxella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. In the case of fresh prawn, the native flora was constituted by Pseudomonas spp., Moraxella spp., Acinetobacter spp. and Vibrio spp. At the time of spoilage of prawn in ice, Moraxella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. predominated, together constituting 74% of the total population. Na sub(2) EDTA treatment did not alter significantly the spoilage flora of prawns. Moraxella spp. and Acinetobacter spp. accounted for 86% of the spoilage flora in ice storage of Na sub(2) EDTA treated prawns.

Succession of bacterial genera during iced storage of three species of tropical prawns, Penaeus indicus, Matapenaeus dobsoni and M. affinis

The native bacterial flora of ocean fresh tropical prawns, Penaeus indicus, Metapenaeus dobsoni and M. affinis was more or less similar, mainly consisting of Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Moraxella and Arthrobacter. A definite succession of bacterial genera during iced storage was observed in these prawns. As the day of ice storage increased, the proportion of Acinetobacter and Moraxella also increased considerably and constituted 70-78% of the flora at the time of spoilage. Spoilage by Pseudomonas was very not significant in prawns under iced storage.

Preservation of Sardinella longiceps in iced and chilled seawater. Part 1 - Changes during storage with particular reference to bacterial load and nitrogenous compounds

Oil sardines in prime condition were subjected to onboard chilling. Two lots were chilled in CSW (samples C and CI), a third lot was chilled in crushed ice (sample I) and a fourth lot left not iced on deck (Sample AI). Upon landing sample AI was iced and sample CI was removed from the CSW and iced. All the four samples were kept in a chilled room for storage studies. The fish chilled and stored in CSW recorded the least, and the fish subjected to delayed icing, the highest values for all the indices of spoilage namely, free amino nitrogen, trimethylamine (TMA) and total volatile base nitrogen (TVBN). The total psychrophilic bacterial number also showed a similar trend. The organoleptic assessment of the cooked samples revealed C I, CI, AI to be the order of preference throughout the storage. This assessment was found to hold good for the rest of the parameters as well. The CSW held fishes were found to be distinctly superior to the iced ones for the first five days of storage. Such a marked prevalence in quality for five days would suffice for the fish to fetch a premium in the market over other landings of the same fish whether chilled or not chilled. Chilling on board in CSW and icing the same after landings, did not show encouraging results.