COMMON MICROFLORA INVOLVED IN SPOILAGE OF CANNED PRAWNS

Abstract

An elaborate survey was carried out to ascertain the common
types of micro-organisms responsible for spoilage in canned prawns.
Among nearly 1,500 strains isolated from bacteriologically defective
cans, 60% were Gram positive sporeformers of the Bacillus type.
Other types ·'solated belonged to Gram positive cocci, Gram negative
rods, Gram positive non:::sporeforming rods, Gram negative cocci and
coccoids. No anaerobe could be isolated. The predominant. Gram
positive sporeformers were identified as Bacillus pantothenlicus,
B. {lrmusJ B. brevis and B. Pumilus species.