Evaluation on quality of blood cockle Anadara granosa (Linne, 1758) in Long Khanh commune, Tra Vinh province using bacteria as bio-indicators.

Abstract

The quality of blood cockle Anadara granosa (Linne, 1758) for food safety was mentioned in this paper. Results of the three investigations in 2010 at Long Khanh commune, Tra Vinh province showed that the density of pathogenic bacteria in blood cockle in the beginning of harvest season (March) and mid-season of harvesting (May) was lower than in the endseason of harvesting (August). At mid-season of harvesting, Salmonella – Shigella and Vibrio in the tissue of blood cockle were absent, the density of E. coli in tissue and gut was still in the safe level for the harvest zone of type B for bivalve (28TCN193: 2004). At harvest in August, mean total of Salmonella – Shigella in tissue and gut of blood cockle was 7,676 and 42,261 cfu/100g respectively; mean values of E. coli in tissue and gut of blood cockle were 9,267 MPN/100g and 58,914 MPN/100g respectively. The amount of Vibrio was high in the tissue and gut of commercial size blood cockle with 31,920 and 158,203 cfu/100g, respectively. Thus, the quality of commercial size blood cockle at study area was not safe for food.