INCIDENCE OF FOOD BORNE PATHOGENS IN SEAFOOD SOURCED FROM NEENDAKARA AND THANGASSERY HARBOURS IN KOLLAM, KERALA, INDIASoshina Nathan, Jaisha H.D. Cruz and Kesiya S.Abstract Seafood is a major foreign exchange earner and the microbiological quality of exported fish and shellfish is crucial for their safety and acceptance in international trade. However, seafood that is sold for local consumption in India undergoes very limited safety or quality checks. If fish are not harvested, processed and handled hygienically, they can harbour pathogenic microorganisms that can cause foodborne infections and intoxications and become a major health concern. The present work was carried out to determine the total viable bacterial count and to evaluate the presence of bacterial pathogens, such as Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Vibrio cholerae, on the surface of fish and prawns collected from Neendakara and Thangassery harbours in Kollam district during the monsoon season. The total viable aerobic plate count in the seafood ranged from 2.74-3.08 log CFU cm-2. The fish collected from both the harbours as well as the prawns collected from Thangassery harbour were contaminated with E. coli. The samples of prawns collected from Neendakara were found to contain V. cholerae, a pathogen that should be absent in 25 g of seafood as per the Food and Safety Standards Authority of India (FSSAI). Salmonella was not detected in any of the samples. Crushed ice collected from the nearby ice plants did not show any evidence of the tested pathogens, suggesting that the seafood contamination may have come from other sources such as contact with surfaces, handlers or polluted water. Therefore, proper monitoring and control measures need to be implemented by relevant authorities to ensure the quality and safety of domestic seafood and prevent seafood-associated infections. |