Microbiological quality of trahira fish (Hoplias malabaricus) from Baixada Maranhense, municipality of São Bento, MA

Lucélia Guimarães,Elka Ferreira,Ana Clara Dos Santos,Francisca Costa,Débora Pereira

doi:10.1590/1808-165700x142015

Lucélia Guimarães, Elka Ferreira + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1590/1808-165700x142015

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Abstract

ABSTRACT: Fish are considered rich sources of nutrients. Health care throughout its production chain aims to ensure quality, minimizing the risks of transmission of foodborne diseases. In order to evaluate the microbiological quality of trahira fish (H. malabaricus), 40 samples were analysed for Most Probable Number (MPN) of coliforms at 45ºC, counts of aerobic mesophilic bacteria and Staphylococcus spp., identification of E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Aeromonas spp.. Analyses were conducted according to official methods, procedures, and recommendations. Microbiological results showed coliform values at 45 °C ranging from <3 to > 1.1 × 103 MPN/g, presence of E. coli in 14 (35%) samples, counts of mesophilic aerobic bacteria from 9 × 102 to 109 CFU/g and absence of coagulase positive Staphylococcus aureus. Salmonella spp. was detected in 2 (5%) samples, which is in disagreement with the standards required by the RDC Nº 12 of January, 2001 (ANVISA) regarding Aeromonas spp. In total, 36 (90%) samples were contaminated, 7 (19.4%) by A. cavie and 29 (80.6%) by A. hidrophila. The results of this research showed unsatisfactory hygienic and sanitary conditions of fish from the municipality of São Bento (MA), exposing consumers to the risk of foodborne diseases.

Highlights

MATERIAL AND METHODSAmong the native species from the wetlands of Baixada Maranhense, Hoplias malabaricus, Bloch, 1794, stands out; popularly known as “trahira”, this is a neotropical fish belonging to the Erythrinidae family, which is world-wide distributed (FOWLER, 1950; NELSON, 1994)
For the control and prevention of these diseases, indicators of environmental and fecal contamination, through enumeration of coliforms and research of pathogens such as Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, are of great importance for public health, and such investigation is essential to determine the quality of the product (LIMA; REIS, 2002)
Regarding E. coli identification, 14 (36.9%) samples were contaminated by this pathogen, which is concerning from the sanitary point of view

Summary

Introduction

MATERIAL AND METHODSAmong the native species from the wetlands of Baixada Maranhense, Hoplias malabaricus, Bloch, 1794, stands out; popularly known as “trahira”, this is a neotropical fish belonging to the Erythrinidae family, which is world-wide distributed (FOWLER, 1950; NELSON, 1994). For the control and prevention of these diseases, indicators of environmental and fecal contamination, through enumeration of coliforms and research of pathogens such as Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus, are of great importance for public health, and such investigation is essential to determine the quality of the product (LIMA; REIS, 2002). The presence of these microorganisms in the raw material may be related to their environment of development, contamination during landing, processing or storage, which contributes to a poor-quality product (DIAS et al, 2010). The most common types are Aeromonas, Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli, S. aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens and Clostridium botulinum (MURATORI, 2000; VIEIRA, 2004)

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