Assessing the Microbial spoilage of Nile Perch (lates niloticus) bychainproducts along the value

Abstract

The research was aimed, to assess the microbial spoilage of Nile perch byproducts sold at fresh perch factory and Busega byproduct market. Samples of Nile perch byproducts were randomly collected from different layers while being loaded on the pickups truck from the fresh perch factory and while being offloaded from Busega market. The samples were placed on ice blocks in cooler boxes and transported to the Laboratory in the Department of Zoology, Entomology, and Fisheries Sciences at Makerere University for Laboratory Analysis. Samples were processed and analyzed for Aeromonas spp and Pseudomonas spp following the standard microbiological procedures. Pseudomonas ssp was significantly higher than Aeromonas ssp in both the factory (t=3.6, df=1, p=0.001) and the market (t=4.5, df=1, p< 0.05). Aeromonas spp was significantly higher in the factory than in the market (t=2.1, df=1, p =0.044). Irrespective of the location, the counts of pseudomonas spp and Aeromonas spp were not significantly different between the positions (top-bottom) sampled (ANOVA; F=1.5, df=2, p =0.24 and F =0.3, df=2, p =0.74 respectively). In conclusion, the study revealed that Nile perch byproducts offloaded from pick-ups at Busega markets had pseudomonas ssp counts beyond the maximum tolerable limits recommended for fresh byproducts to be safe for consumption before further cooking.