I IntroductionFishery products are significant for human nutrition worldwide [1], but may also serve as a source of foodborne pathogens [2]. Chemicals, metals, marine toxins, and infectious agents, .i.e. bacteria, viruses, and parasites, have been detected in seafood, and may be associated with mild gastroenteritis to life-threatening diseases [3]. Microbial contamination of fish tissues may reflect the presence of pollutants in the aquatic environment [4]. This contamination by pathogens poses a potential risk to human health [5]. Specifically, the consumption of raw or undercooked seafood is especially problematic to human health. Filter feeders, such as mussels, and oysters, are particularly troublesome in terms of microbial contamination insofar as the animals collect bacteria in their filtering systems. Thus, they entrap pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria and viruses that occur in the aquatic environment [6].The presence of putative pathogens, such as Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium perfringens and Edwardsiella tarda,have been documented in conger eel, swordfish, sole, grouper, and whiting [2]. This study attempts has focused on potential pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms isolated from seafood in Central Scotland.
II Materials And Methods
Sample collectionThe seafood samples were obtained from Edinburgh and Stirling, Scotland, UK from March to April, 2010. Thus, fresh salmon and haddock fillets, chosen from within the middle of stacks of fillets in chilled display cabinets within fishmongers, were collected by use of disposable plastic gloves and packed in sealed aluminium foil packs. Enquiries of the fishmongers confirmed that in all cases the fish had been landed from fishing boats within the previous 24 h, although it was unknown how long the fish had been on the boats after capture. Filleting of the whole fish occurred in the shops within the same day as purchase, and the fillets were immediately displayed in refrigerated cabinets. Smoked haddock fillets were obtained by the fishmongers from a commercial smoke house in Leith, Edinburgh. The smoked salmon was pre-packed, and was sourced from farmed Atlantic salmon that had been smoked in the Highlands of Scotland. There was a lack of clarity about the origin of bags of live mussels and oysters, which were obtained by the fishmongers from wholesalers. All animals were sourced from Scotland. There was not any stated shelf life for any of the fresh fish or shellfish purchases.Samples from fishmongers in Stirling were packed in polyethylene wraps, and stated to be fresh with a 24 h use-by date. The samples from Edinburgh were transported to the laboratory within one hour of collection, and were maintained in a cold box at 4 o C. The samples from Stirling were transported at room temperature, and were processed microbiologically within 20 min of collection. In total, 4 samples of cold smoked salmon, 4 samples of fresh salmon, 4 bags of mussels, one sample of cold smoked haddock, one sample of fresh ...