Foodborne diseases affect around 600 million people in the world. In Ecuador, the Ministry of Public Health
(MSP) reported 12,203 cases of food poisoning caused mainly by Salmonella species, hepatitis virus or other
pathogenic microorganisms in 2019. However, there are no reports of diseases caused by Vibrio species in
Ecuador. The present study assessed the presence of V. parahaemolyticus, mesophilic aerobics, total coliforms
and E. coli. Samples of Coryphaena hippurus (dorado fish) and Thunnus alalunga (albacore fish) in 3 different
markets in the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador. As a result, Vibrio parahaemolyticus was not found in any of the
60 samples analyzed. In contrast, the E. coli levels met the requirements established in the INEN 183 - 2013
Standard norm. All samples from Market 1 were within the acceptance range regarding mesophilic aerobic
levels. However, high mesophilic aerobic levels were obtained in 60% of the albacore samples and 50% of
the dorado samples from this market. In the same way, 40% of the albacore and 100% of Dorado samples
from market 3 were high in mesophilic microorganisms. However, the mesophilic aerobic analyses revealed
safer levels in samples from market 1 than in markets 2 and 3, according to the NTE INEN. 183:2013.
Keywords: Foodborne diseases1
, fish2
, Albacore3
, E coli4
, mesophilic aerobics5
, Dorado6