Determination of the microbial ecology of sardines (Sardina pilchardus) stored at different temperatures

In this thesis, microbiological analyses (total mesophilic bacteria, total psychrotrophic bacteria, Enterobactericeae, S.aureus, Coliform bacteria, Faecal coliform, yeasts-moulds and lactic acid bacteria) and bacterial identification were carried out by using API test kits to identify the microbial ecology of sardines (Sardina pilchardus, Walbaum, 1792) stored at different temperatures (4˚C ve 10˚C). As a result of this thesis, on meat; Pantoea spp. 25.4-70.5%, Morganella morganii 96.6%, in gills; Cryptococcus humicola 79.9%, Cryptococcus laurentii 99.4%, Candida guilliermondii 99.8%, Staphylococcus lentus 99.4%, on skin; Leuconostoc mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Candida ciferri 53.8-87.9% and on intestines; Candida ciferri 53.8-87.9%, Aeromonas hydrophila/caviae 97.8%, Cronobacter spp. 96.5% were identified on sardines stored at 10˚C. On sardines stored at 4˚C on meat; Acinetobacter baumannii/calcoaceticus 98.5%, Pantoea spp. 62.8%, Leuconostoc mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, in gills; Leuconostoc mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Candida ciferri 99.9%, Serratia odorifera 97.9%, on skin; Enterobacter cloacea 95.6%, Pantoea spp. %62.8, Pseudomonas luteola 99.7%, Rahnella aquatilis 78.3% and on intestines; Leuconostoc mesenteroides spp. 99.9%, Aeromonas hydrophila 65.4% were identified. It was determined that the microbial ecologychanged according to the parts of sardines and stored conditions. The whole sardines stored at 10 exceeded the limit of comsumption on the 3rd of the stroge in term of microbiological and sensorial analyses whereas the while sardines stored 4 exceeded comsumption limit of the 6th day of stroge according to microbiological and sensory analyses. It was also determined that the stroge temparatures of sardines accelerated the microbiological spoilage.