Comparative Study Of Bacterial Load Of Frozen And Non-Frozen Seafoods

ABSTRACT

The comparative study of the bacterial load of frozen and non-frozen seafoods from Oyigbo Market, Rivers State was carried out. A total of 6 samples (duplicate sample of catfish, periwinkle and prawn) were collected and studied. Total meal counts were carried out for Escherichia coli, Salmonella species and Vibrio cholerae. Total Aerobic Plate Count was also investigated. The bacterial mean counts for frozen and non-frozen seafood's ranged as follows: total aerobic plate counts 6.4x106 ±0.5 Cfllg —7.7x106 ±O.7 Cfulg and 4.1x106 ±0.4 Cflulg — 9.3x 106 ±2.3 Cfu/g respectively. Salmonella-Shigella counts 3.3x106±0.2 Cfulg — 3.7x106±0.2Cfulg and 3.5x106 ±0.9Cfu/g -5.1x106±0.7 Cfulg respectively. Vibrio counts, 3.4x106±0.3 Cfu/g- 4.1x106 ±0.4 Cfu/g and 3.9x106 ±0.4 Cfu/g- 4.6x106 ±0,3 Cfulg respectively. Escherichia colt counts 3.4x106± 0.2 Chug — 3.9x106± 0.3 and 4.4x106± 1.7 Cfulg — 8.5x 106 ± 2.4 Cfulg. the bacteria isolated were Escherichia colt, Salmonella species, Vibrio cholerae, Stciphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa and Shi ge/la species.