Prevalence of Escherichia coli in Fish and Shrimps obtained from Retail Fish Markets in & around Kolkata, India

Abstract

The work was aimed to study prevalence of Escherichia coli contamination in fish and shrimp sold in retail markets at Kolkata, India in different seasons. E. coli was identified by standard microbiological, biochemical tests, and further confirmed by 16S rRNA PCR.The faecal coliform loads in fish and shrimp samples were assessed. The bacterium was detected in 138(80.70%) samples out of 171 numbers of samples collected from different retail fish market in and around Kolkata. E.coli was detected in fish (65%) and shrimps (85%).E.coli had increased remarkably in summer months than winter.