Bacteriological assessment of three fish species from the Red Sea Coast of Sudan

Abstract EN

The The present study was conducted for bacteriological assessment of marine fish for the indicted fish quality.

A total of 144 samples of three fish species (Plectropomusareolatus, Caranx mate and Sphyraena barracuda), each of small and large size groups were collected from Port Sudan and Sawakin during winter and summer seasons.

The samples were examined for total viable count and bacteriological contamination with Salmonella, E.

coli, Staphylococcus and Vibrio species The bacterial viable count individual samples varied widely between species.

The highest total viable count (4x103) was recorded for S.

barracuda.

The highest viable count was also recorded for the small size group (2.5 x 103 - 3.1 x 103) during winter season (2.0 x 103- 4.0 x 103) for the samples collected from Sawakin (2.5 x 103 - 4 x 103).

On the other hand the results indicated no contamination by Salmonella, Staphylococcus, andVibrio speies in all samples, but E.

coli was detected in small size group during winter season.

However, there was no contamination by it in the species P.

areolatus.

In conclusion, the species of fish under study were within the acceptable ranges of the specified bacterial limits recommended for fish.