Bacteriological deterioration of jaraqui Semaprochilodus spp. Captured in the state of Amazon, Brazil, and conserved in ice

In this research 73 specimens of Semaprochilodus spp. (locally called 'jaraqui') were analyzed and conserved in polystyrene boxes among layers of ice. The following measurements and analyses were performed: sensorial evaluation using the modified Torry table and the quality index for demerits; determination of pH and total volatile bases (TVB); count totals of aerobic microorganisms including psychrophilics at 20 C for 4 days, psychrotrophilics at 7 C for 10 days, and mesophilics at 37 C for 2 days; and count totals, isolation and identification of the bacteria genera Aeromonas, Bacillus, and Pseudomonas at 20 C for 24 hours and of Plesiomonas at 37 C for 2 days. The jaraqui were maintained in fresh condition for the sensorial evaluation of 18 to 21 days. However; pH and total volatile base measurements were not good indicators of quality in relation to the sensorial evaluation in both experiments. As well; count totals of the aerobic microorganisms didn't demonstrate any significant differences, and the bacterias didn't show any signs of deterioration in relation to lack of H sub(2)S production.