Incidence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus Coryphaena hippurus (dorado fish) and Thunnus alalunga (albacore fish) sold in high-demand markets in Guayaquil City

Abstract

Foodborne diseases affect around 600 million people in the world. In Ecuador, the Ministry of Public Health (MSP) reported 12,203 cases of food poisoning caused mainly by Salmonella species, hepatitis virus or other pathogenic microorganisms in 2019. However, there are no reports of diseases caused by Vibrio species in Ecuador. The present study assessed the presence of V. parahaemolyticus, mesophilic aerobics, total coliforms and E. coli. Samples of Coryphaena hippurus (dorado fish) and Thunnus alalunga (albacore fish) in 3 different markets in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. As a result, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was not found in any of the 60 samples analyzed. In contrast, the E. coli levels met the requirements established in the INEN 183 - 2013 Standard norm. All samples from Market 1 were within the acceptance range regarding mesophilic aerobic levels. However, high mesophilic aerobic levels were obtained in 60% of the albacore samples and 50% of the dorado samples from this market. In the same way, 40% of the albacore and 100% of Dorado samples from market 3 were high in mesophilic microorganisms. However, the mesophilic aerobic analyses revealed safer levels in samples from market 1 than in markets 2 and 3, according to the NTE INEN. 183:2013. Keywords: Foodborne diseases1 , fish2 , Albacore3 , E coli4 , mesophilic aerobics5 , Dorado6