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Abstract
The sensory and microbial quality of commercially important retail finfish of Kolkata, India was evaluated emphasizing oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol resistant bacterial contamination. The finfish had total viable counts (TVCs) in the range of log 4.30/g in Labeo bata to log 7.93/g in Mystus tengara. The counts of oxytetracycline and chloramphenicol resistant bacteria were in the range of log 2.00–6.79/g and log 1.70–5.80/g fish, respectively. About 72% of the Kolkata market finfish harbored viable bacteria exceeding the acceptable international limit of 5.0 × 105/g. Up to 3.45 and 29.86% of TVCs were resistant to chloramphenicol and oxytetracycline, respectively. The marine fish sold in the Kolkata market were of marginal to inferior quality with the highest mean quality index point (QIP) range of 6.80–10.20. Most freshwater fish were of fresh to marginal quality and recorded QIP in the range of 3.80–8.20. Though the freshwater fish were judged fresh by the quality index method in comparison to the marine counterparts, they recorded high viable counts. The results of the present study call for the need to educate the fish handlers on appropriate hygiene and safe handling of fish and the public about fish-borne bacterial diseases and the impact of antibiotic resistant bacteria on human health. They also show the potential for fish to be a source of antibiotic bacteria for human consumers.