A rapid procedure for the approximation of bacterial load in fishery products

The production of colour by homogenised fish material in a simplified sugar medium containing and acid indicator has been made use of for the rapid approximation of bacterial load in such products. The medium thus developed contains poptone, tryptone, yeast extract, sodium chloride and beef extract besides dextrose. The time of colour production is influenced to some extent by the level of sodium chloride in the medium and is almost always inversely proportional to the bacterial load in the homogenate.

Factors influencing colour production from the sugar medium used for the rapid approximation of bacterial counts in fishery products

Results of the studies carried out to elucidate the factors influencing colour production from the sugar medium used for the rapid approximation of bacterial counts in fishery products are reported. The effect of particle size, trace elements, salt soluble protein and non-protein fractions, rate of multiplication of bacteria, in the medium, surface bacteria and the rate of colour production by individual strains of bacteria were studied. It is observed that the best results are obtained when a sea-water homogenate is used.

Bacterial flora of marine fish doma (Sciaenoids) (Small spp.) from Bombay coast

Marine fish doma (Sciaenoids) (Small spp.) from Bombay coast was studied for total bacterial counts on the surface and gut. Large number of Micrococcus species (77.4%) was found whereas few species from Achromobacter, Bacillus, Bacterium, Flavobacter, Pseudomonas and Sarcina were noted.

The bacterial flora and their possible association with spoilage in a variety of fresh-water fish: Cyprinus carpio. var. communis

The bacteria from a variety of fresh-water fish, Cyprinus carpio. var. communis, showed the presence of micrococci, Gram positive and Gram negative rods. These have been characterized as far as was possible. Of thirty-eight strains of bacteria used, only six strains were considered as causing spoilage of fish flesh in experiments where flesh was incubated with individual cultures of the bacteria. These six strains had been found on the surface and/or intestine of the fish and support the suggestions that, after death, invasion of flesh by bacteria from the surface and intestine could be the cause of bacterial spoilage of fish.

Quantitative and qualitative studies on the bacterial flora of fresh sardines

Plate counts at R T and 8 C on the skin with muscle and the gut contents of absolutely fresh sardines (Sardinella longiceps) caught off Cochin showed a seasonal variation when sampling was done over a period of 12 months. The counts of the gut contents ran parallel with those of the skin with muscle, but at a higher level of magnitude. Qualitatively, the analysis of 360 strains of bacteria isolated from the skin with muscle and 100 strains from the guts during a year's study revealed a very high preponderance of Gram negative rods, mainly of Achromobacter, Vibrio, and Pseudomonas groups. The percentage of Gram positive organism was very low or nil at times in the ocean fresh sardines.

Manipulation of chromosomes in fish: review of various techniques and their implications in aquaculture

Human ingenuity has made it possible to advent the chromosome manipulation techniques to produce individuals with differing genomic status in a number of fish using various causal agents such as physical shocks (temperature or hydrostatic pressure), chemical (endomitotics) and anesthetic treatments either to suppress the second meiotic division shortly after fertilization of eggs or to prevent the first mitotic division shortly prior to mitotic cleavage formation. This results in the induction of polyploidy (triploidy and tetraploidy), gynogenesis (both meiotic and mitotic leading to clonal lines) and androgenesis in fish population. The rationale for the induction of such ploidy in fish has been its potential for generating sterile individuals, rapidly inbred lines and masculinized fish, which could be of benefit to fish farming and aquaculture. In this paper, these are critically reviewed and the implication of recently developed chromosome manipulation techniques to various fin fishes is discussed.