Microbiological Quality of Farmed Grass Carp, Bighead Carp, Siberian Sturgeon, and Wels Catfish from Eastern Poland.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to determine the microbiological quality of food fish and its safety for consumers.

Material And Methods: The study included 24 fish representing grass carp, bighead carp, Siberian sturgeon, and wels catfish. Specimens were collected in winter. Aerobic bacteria, psychrophilic, , spp., and counts were made, and the presence of spp., , , and other coagulase-positive staphylococci was investigated.

Results: The microbiological analysis showed a similar level of aerobic, psychrophilic, and spp. contamination of the four fish species. The count was higher in the muscles of grass carp and bighead carp than S. sturgeon and wels catfish. No pathogenic bacteria such as spp., , , or other coagulase positive staphylococci were found in samples of the examined fish species.

Conclusion: The fresh fish examined in this study were of good microbiological quality and there was no health risk for consumers.