Evaluation of the quality of commercial fish feeds in India with respect to microbiological parameters
Evaluation of the quality of commercial fish feeds in India with respect to microbiological parameters
Date
2018
Authors
Ebenezar, S.
Sankar, T.V.
Kishore, P.
Panda, S.K.
Prabu, D.L.
Chandrasekar, S.
Wilson, L.
Vijayagopal, P.
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Abstract
This paper describes the first comprehensive study of the quality of commercial fish feeds
in India with regard to microbiological indices. Quality of feed is an important parameter
that has a direct impact on the outcome of any aquaculture system. Microbiological
parameters such as total plate count (TPC), Escherichia coli (CFUg-1), coliformes
(CFUg-1), Enterobacteriaceae (CFUg-1) and yeast and mould (CFUg-1) counts were
analysed using 3M™ Petrifilm™ as per guidelines. The TPC ranged from 2.0 × 102 to3.13
× 104 CFUg-1 in different feeds. Presence of E. coli was detected in one of the feeds with
1.15×102 CFUg-1. Coliform bacteria were not detected in any of the feeds.
Enterobacteriaceae was present in three feeds in the range of 5.45 × 102 to 1.58×103
CFUg-1. Yeast and mould count ranged from <10 to 1.68 × 104 CFUg-1 in the feeds
analyzed. The results obtained from the present study indicate that the feeds were
contaminated with micro-organisms. As far as Indian scenario is concerned, there exist
several feed companies which do not comply with the quality regulations and
specifications as laid down by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). In addition,
specifications are not available for aqua feeds regarding the acceptable levels of
microbiological parameters. Hence the present study calls for a standardized code of
quality to be observed by feed manufacturing companies for quality products.
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Citation
Intl. J. Curr. Microbiol. & Appl. Sci., 7(2):1478-1483