A study of the incidence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Malaysian shrimp undergoing processing for export

Waste loading in shrimp and fish processing effluents: potential source of hazards to the coastal and nearshore environments

On average, only 30-40% of the global fishery production is consumed fresh and the rest 60-70% is processed for human consumption and other purposes. Although the proportion of the total fishery production that are processed remained relatively stable over the last decade, the total bulk of processed fishery commodity increased due to the steady increase in the total fishery production. Processing of large bulk of fish, shrimp and other aquatic organisms produces a corresponding large bulk of by-products and wastes. Although recent trend shows that much of these wastes are made into various value added products, considerable quantities are discharged as the processing effluents with large volume of waters used in processing. Reports suggest that fish and shrimp processing effluents are very high in biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), fat-oil-grease (FOG), pathogenic and other microflora, organic matters and nutrients, etc. Fish and shrimp processing effluents are, therefore, highly likely to produce adverse effects on the receiving coastal and marine environments. Although substantial reduction of the waste loads is possible by applying available simple techniques, this is not in practice in most part of the world due to lack of proper managerial and regulatory approach. The present paper reviews the characteristics of fish and shrimp processing effluents as a potential source of coastal and marine pollution and, using the existing data, analyzes the global production and discharge of waste loads from the processing plants and discusses available options for waste treatment and management.

Microbial hazard of salted OM El-Kholoul (wedge shell Donax trunculus)

Sixty samples of salted OM El-Kholoul were collected from different localities in Giza, Alexandria and Ismailia. The samples were examined organoleptically and bacteriological examination of samples were performed for enumeration of aerobic, Enterobacteriaceae, Staph. aureus, Enterococci counts as well as isolation and identification of Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The mean counts/gm of aerobes, Enterobacteriaceae, Staph. aureus, Strept. faecalis and Strept. faecum were 4.9 x 10(5), 4.8 x 10(4), 1.9 x 10(5), 1.5 x 10(5) and 8 x 10(2), respectively. V. parahaemolyticus was isolated from all examined samples. Moreover, the weight, pH and sodium chloride percentage of ten samples were estimated. Trial was done to investigate the inhibitory effect of lemon juice (Citrus aurantifolia) on the microbial load of Om El-Kholoul, where the inhibitory effect of this juice was noticed. The public health significance of isolated microorganisms was discussed, moreover the suggestive measures for improvement of the microbial quality of the product were mentioned.

Enterotoxigenicity, hemolytic activity and antibiotic resistance of Aeromonas spp. isolated from freshwater prawn marketed in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Aeromonas spp. were isolated from gills, swimmerets, eggs, stomachs and ventral muscles of freshwater prawns (Macrobrachium malcolmsonii) available in the local fish market of Dhaka, Bangladesh. The density of Aeromonas spp. on these different body parts of the prawn samples ranged from 1.1 +/- 0.2 x 10(4) to 1.5 +/- 0.16 x 10(7) cfu per gram. The viable counts of aeromonads, fecal coliforms (FC) and Escherichia coli gradually increased in prawn samples when stored at 4 C. At -20 C, the viable counts gradually decreased and became zero on the 12th day of storage. The isolation of A. sobria (56%) was more frequent than that of A. hydrophila (31%) and A. caviae (13%). In the rabbit ileal loop (RIL) model, fluid accumulation induced by live cultures and cell-free culture filtrates of 11 strains ranged from 0.5 to 1.5 and 0.5 to 1.7 ml/cm of gut, respectively. Of 11 enterotoxigenic strains, 7 were A. sobria and 4 were A. hydrophila. Enterotoxigenicity correlated with hemolytic activity on blood agar. All enterotoxigenic strains were uniformly sensitive to chloramphenicol and gentamicin and resistant to novobiocin and vancomycin. Isolation of enterotoxigenic and antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas from these prawn samples indicates possible public health problems for their handlers as well for raw prawn consumers.

[Imported mussels as a cause of Vibrio parahaemolyticus gastroenteritis]

Two strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus were isolated from stool specimens of a patient who came down with gastroenteritis 20 hours after eating imported mussels which had not been cooked sufficiently. This is the first documented case of V. parahaemolyticus enteritis acquired in the Federal Republic of Germany.