A. Kumar, M.P. Mothadaka, M Vaiyapuri, N. Sashi, G.K. Sivaraman, E. Nilavan, S. Visnuvinayagam, Asha, K.K. and L.N. Murthy
Abstract
The presence of these invasive pathogens in the seafood is a safety risk to handlers in the seafood production chain. However, the risk can be mitigated through hygienic handling of the fish and fishery products from pond to plate. In this study of Cronobacter sakazakii (C. sakazakii) was assessed from different seafood in different sampling sites viz., retail fish markets, supermarkets, fish landing centers, aquaculture farms of Ernakulum district, Kerala, India. One hundred and four seafood samples were collected and screened for the C. sakazakii both by microbiological and molecular methods. Overall, 8.7 % of samples harbored C. sakazakii. C. sakazakii was detected in fish products. A total of nine presumptive colonies of C. sakazakii were confirmed by PCR targeting saka, crono, and ess specific genes. The study also emphasizes that more fish products must be screened for understanding the prevalence of C. sakazakii and the survival kinetics of the pathogens in fish products.