Evaluation and isolation of Clostridium botulinum type E from fresh and smoked Cyprinus carpio, Rutilus frisii kutum and Hypophtalmicthys molitrix

In this study experiments were conducted to evaluate Clostridium botulinum type E in fresh and smoked Cyprinus carpio (60 samples) Rutilus frisii kutum (60 samples) and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix (60 samples). One hundred and eighty samples of fish were collected from different smoking plants, beach sein and breeding center in Mazandaran province, were sorted in order to quality and kind of fish. Two methods (Toxicology and Bacteriology) were used for recognition of toxin and bacterium C. botulinum type E. Bacterium was identified using cooked meat broth, egg yolk agar and biochemical tests. Toxin was recognized using antitoxin type E. The results indicated that 7 (3.8%), 4 (2.2%) and 2 (1.1%) samples of fresh and smoked Cyprinus carpio, Rutilus frisii kutum and Hypophthalmichthys molitrix were contaminated to C. botulinum type E respectively, (10 samples of smoked fish, 3 samples of fresh fish in total). In a conclusion, a serious consideration on handling and processing of fish in these plants are recommended.