QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE STUDIES 0N THE BACTERIAL FlORA OF FRESH SARDINES.

Abstract

Plate counts at R T and 8 C on the skin with muscle and the
gut contents of absolutely fresh sardines ( Sardinella longiceps) caught
off Cochin showed a seasonal variation when sampling was done over
a period of 12 months. Th~ counts of the gut contents ran parallel
with those of the skin with muscle, but at a higher level of magnitude.
Qualitatively, the analysis of 360 strains of bacteria isohted from the
skin with muscle and 100 strains from the guts during an year's
study revealed a very high preponderance of Gram negative rods,
mainly of Ach1·omobacter, Vibrio, and Pseudomonas groups. The percentage
of Gram positive organism was very low or nil at times in the oceanfresh
sardines.