Authors: Omaima M. Ahmed.
Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production is ranked on the top of aquaculture fish in Egypt. This study was aimed to screen bacteria associated with aquaculture fresh-water tilapia to determine the microbiological safety of these wide distributed fish in Egypt. The mean viable bacterial count from fish fillets with the skin samples revealed 5.6 ± 0.8 logs CFU/g. A total of eleven (11) bacterial species were isolated and identified including: E. coli, E. coli O157: H7, Salmonella enterica, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter cancerogenus, Hafnia alvei, Aeromonas hydrophila, Photobacterium damaselae. The frequency of occurrences of the isolated bacteria indicated that Enterobacter cloacae had the highest frequency of occurrence (12%), while one isolate (2%) of Salmonella enterica, E coli O157:H7, and Aeromonas hydrophila were detected. These bacterial species are potentially pathogenic to humans. Therefore, hygienic handling methods and proper processing are needed before consumption of this fish.
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