The aquatic ecosystem is the habitat of mussels, filtrating animals that reflect the ambient quality through microbiological analysis. In the present investigation, we evaluated the presence of emergent pathogens (Aeromonas hydrophila and Plesiomonas shigelloides) from in natura and pre-cooked mussels collected by workers at the Experimental Station Mussels Cultive situated in Jurujuba, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro. A total of 86 mussels (43 each in natura and precooked) were analyzed and the samples were submitted to enrichment in Alkaline Peptone Water (APW) added of 1 and 3% Sodium Chloride (NaCl) and Butterfield's Saline incubated at 37ºC for 24 hours. After, the samples were streaked onto Pseudomonas-Aeromonas Selective Agar (GSP), Thiossulfate Citrate Bile Sucrose Agar (TCBS) and Inositol Brilliant Green Bile Salts Agar (IBB). Aeromonas spp and Plesiomonas shigelloides were isolated from 86% in natura and precooked mussels avaliated. The biochemical characterization showed strains of Aeromonas media (37.10%), A. hydrophila (15.50%), A. caviae (14.80%), A. veronii biogroupe veronii (11.60%), Aeromonas sp. (7.36%), A. sobria (4.20%), A. trota (4.20%), A. schubertii (1.31%), A. jandaei (1.31%), A. veronii biogroupe sobria (0.52%), and Plesiomonas shigelloides (2.10%). The epidemiological relevance of these microorganisms in cases of human gastroenteritis after mussels consumption without fully cooking reveal the importance to alert the Brazilian health authorities on the presence of these pathogens in food chain and the risks for human health.
Aeromonas spp.; Plesiomonas shigelloides; mussels; Public Health
