Bacteriological profile of selected areas of white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and its flesh

A bacteriological profile was established for selected areas on fresh white amur (Ctenopharyngodon idella) and its flesh. The numbers and types of bacteria occurring on white amur fed two different diets (animal or plant) were studied- Significant differences (P<0.05) between the diets were found with ARC and coliform counts of the flesh which were most likely due to cross-contamination. The types of bacteria isolated from white amur were Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Micrococcus, Moraxella, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Several storage studies on white amur flesh were conducted. A 200 ppm chlorine dip for 2 minutes reduced the coliform population from an initial log 3.5 to log 0.7 at day 2. The initial APC was also reduced, though not as dramatically. Freezing for 8 weeks at -18° caused reductions in APC, psychotrophic, and coliform counts. Storage at 4°C was more effective than 7°C in keeping the coliform population stabilized, but had little effect on APC. The use of CO^{2 was significantly (P<0.05) effective in reducing the aerobic bacterial load compared to air. In contrast, coliforms showed a small increase in CO₂ atmosphere. Results indicated that bacterial growth on white amur flesh could be controlled using the storage conditions studied.}