Microbiological quality of fresh water prawns (Macrobrachium spp) from the Volta river and its possible health implications.

Abstract

The microbiological profile of food for human Consumption is as important as its nutritional status A knowledge 0/ the resident microflora of fresh Water prawns can help control and prevent diseases of micro-biological origin. This paper reports the microbiological quality of fresh water prawns havested from the Volta River from 1988 to early 1989. The handling and processing habits were also examined as a background information for formulating improved processing methods. The bacterial species isolated from the river water and the prawns were enteric non-spore forming ones namely Aeromonas sobria, Enterobacter aggIomerans, E. aerogenes, E. cloaca, Citrobacter freundii, K1ebsiella pneumoniae, Plesiomonas shigelloides, Serratia liquefaciens, S. marinoruba, S. fonticola and Morganella morgani. M. morgani and Pleisomonas shigelIoides are being recorded for the first time in freshwater prawns in Ghana. These are potentially pathogenic microorganisms. The public health implications of these finding tilt discussed and further work suggested.