| Summary: | Bivalve molluscs are sold without any sanitary control in Costa Rica, which represents a public health risk due to the possible accumulation of pathogenic bacteria. Small scale bacterial depuration treatments were preliminarily evaluated on Crassostrea gigas and Anadara spp. from the Gulf of Nicoya, Costa Rica, through the use of a recirculating system with UV irradiation. The levels of Escherichia coli in the water were determined using the MPN method. The MPN of E. coli and the presence of Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus and V. cholerae were determined in molluscs. Results confirm the effectiveness of the E. coli depuration system design in C. gigas and Anadara spp. The MPN of E. coli in the molluscs was reduced between 79% and 100% after 24 h. None of the other types of bacteria were found in the samples analyzed. This is the first C. gigas depuration study in Costa Rica and the first report concerning UV depuration for bacterial indicators of fecal contamination in Anadara spp. This research serves as a basis for the implementation and improvement of mollusc purification conditions in the country. It is recommended to monitor extraction and harvesting areas, as well as to implement the depuration of bivalve molluscs so that traditional producers can offer an innocuous product with added value. Los moluscos bivalvos son comercializados sin ningún control sanitario en Costa Rica; por tanto, representan un riesgo para la salud pública, debido a que pueden acumular bacterias patógenas. Se evaluaron preliminarmente tratamientos para la depuración bacteriana a pequeña escala de Crassostrea gigas y Anadara spp. en el Golfo de Nicoya, Costa Rica, utilizando un sistema recirculado e irradiado con luz UV. Los niveles de Escherichia coli en el agua se determinaron mediante el método del NMP. A los moluscos se les determinó el NMP de E. coli y la presencia de Salmonella spp., Vibrio parahaemolyticus y V. cholerae. Los resultados confirman la efectividad del diseño del sistema para la depuración de E. coli en ...
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