BACTERIOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF PRAWN CANNERIES I. INCIDENCE OF AEROBIC SPOREFORMERS

Abstract

A detailed bacteriological survey of the prawn <;anneries of
Cochin area was carried out to study the nature and type of microorganisms
present in the factory environs and their role in causing
contaminati9n of the canned products. About 26% of the total of
1030 strains isolated were found to be gram positive spore-formers
of the Bacillus type, the cooling water being their major source.
Similar types of organisms formed the major group often met with
in defective canned prawn samples picked. up from the factories for
examinati0n, thus establlishing a correlation between bacterial
characteristics and. load. of cooling water and. can contamination.