Seasonal variations of bacterial flora of fresh oil sardines [Sardinella longiceps]
Seasonal variations of bacterial flora of fresh oil sardines [Sardinella longiceps]
Date
1971
Authors
Karthiayani, T.C.
Iyer, K.M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Society of Fisheries Technologists (India)
Abstract
A study was carried out monthly for 3 yr (1965-1967) on seasonal variations in bacterial flora of oil sardines. Skin + muscle, gills, and intestines were pour-plated on sea-water agar and incubated at 30 and 37 degrees C for 48 h. Total plate counts were made and total fluorescent bacteria were counted. Individual colonies were transferred to sea-water peptone and biochemical characteristics studied. At 30 degrees C incubation, peak counts were: skin + muscle July-Oct., gills March-April and Sept.-Nov., intestines Oct.; at 37 degrees C, peak counts were: skin + muscle March and July-Aug., gills March-May and Aug.-Nov., intestines March-April and Oct. High counts during July-Oct. may be attributed to the monsoon. Counts of fluorescent bacteria indicated they were absent from skin + muscle in March-June and from gills in April-June (possibly due to loss of fluorescent character at high summer temp.); they occurred throughout the year on intestines with a peak in July-Oct. Breakdown is given of occurrence of Pseudomonas, Vibrio and Achromobacter in skin + muscle, gills, and intestines during each month of the study. In general, Pseudomonas and Vibrio predominated in summer and at the end of the monsoon, and Achromobacter occurred in large numbers during August. Detailed data are also given of biochemical reactions of isolated colonies. Main conclusions are that season determines total bacterial population, preponderance of different genera and their fluorescent and biochemical characteristics, the monsoon season generally producing higher counts.
Description
Keywords
biochemistry, sardine, vibrio, season, pseudomonas
Citation
Fishery Technology 1971:8(1), 69-79