Bacterial contaminants in Crassostrea madrasensis harvested from Muttukadu Backwaters
C. Ganga Baheerathi and K. Revathi*
Research Scholar, Deptt. of Microbiology, Sathyabama University, Chennai-600 008 (India) Email :gangabaheerathi @yahoo.in *Deptt. of Zoology, Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai-600 008 (India)
ABSTRACT
Crassostrea madrasensis are the common edible oysters that are found along the South Indian coast. Oysters are rich in Zinc, Iron, Calcium and Vitamin A, which are of good demand in Kerala and Tamilnadu coast. The filter feeding nature predisposes oysters to accumulate pathogenic bacteria and heavy metal from their immediate environment which are polluted with Industrial and sewage waste rendering the oysters unfit for consumption. The consumption of these oysters can result in various types of infectious disease in human beings. In the present study a total 100 samples were collected from Muttukadu backwaters, Chennai in different seasons, dissected and tested for the presence of pathogenic bacterial population in adductor muscles, gills, stomach, intestine and gonads. The Bacteria were isolated using non – selective and selective media and further confirmed by biochemical test. Results showed the presence of bacterial pathogens and confirmed the risk of consuming raw or semi cooked oysters.