| Summary: | The aim of the present study was to evaluate the bacterial contamination of gills, skin and content of gastrointestinal tract of freshwater fish. Altogether 31 fish samples, including European eel (n=11), Silver bream (n=3) and European perch (n=17) were collected between April and July in 2014 from Usmas lake located in West part of Latvia. For evaluation of bacterial load the number of TBC (total bacterial count) and Enterobacteriaceae genera in gills, skin and intestinal tract was enumerated. Presence of Salmonella spp., L. monocytogenes and Y. enterocolitica was analyzed according to the ISO methods. Among different fish species investigated TBC in gills, skin and intestinal samples ranged from 1.89 to 7.47 log CFU.g-1, from 0.66 to 8.47 log CFU.cm-2 and from 0.30 to 8.25 log CFU.g-1 accordingly. Number of Enterobacteriaceae genera in gills, skin and intestinal tract ranged from 0.7 to 5.78 log CFU.g-1, from 4.91 to 7.12 log CFU.cm-2 and from 0.70 to 7.47 log CFU.g-1, respectively. Number of TBC and Enterobacteriaceae in European eel samples of gills, skin and intestinal tract was significantly less than in Silver bream and European perch samples (P<0.05). Salmonella and Y. enterocolitica were not found in fish, while L. monocytogenes was isolated from one perch (1/ 17/ 6). Results of study indicate that microbiological quality of eel was better than of perch and bream, which found to be extensively contaminated with TBC and Enterobacteriaceae making fish unacceptable for human consumption. Presence of L. monocytogenes in perch exhibits public health concerns, indicating that fish could be a vector for transmission of pathogen to consumers.
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