Objective: Among seafoods mussels are the most common ones that are mostly raw consumed raw. Bacterial contamination in foods that cause food poisoning are is known to be due to mainly storage and processing conditions. Due to mussels’ dietary specifications, them filter water and take in its toxic substances and microbial contaminants. Mussel bacterial load prior to consumption is important to demonstrate pollution levels of the hunting regions.

Material and Method: In this study, black mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) hunted from seven different stations on two coasts of Dardanelles two coast (Asia: Çardak, Yapıldak, Sarıçay; Europe: Kilitbahir, Eceabat, Çamburnu, Gelibolu) were analyzed microbiologically in the months of February and June. Mussel samples were examined for total aerobic mesophilic bacteria (TAMB), coliform group bacteria, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella spp.

Results: The mean colony count from all stations was; 5.4x105±1.6x106 cfu/g TAMB, 1.0x105±2.6x105 cfu/g coliform group bacteria, 2.6x105±1.4x106 cfu/g E. coli, 2.2x105±1.3x105 cfu/g S. aureus respectively. Salmonella spp. were not detected in any mussel samples examined. Black mussels hunted in June had significantly higher microbiological contamination for all bacteria than mussels hunted in February (p<0.0001). When we investigated two coasts as Anatolia (Çardak, Yapıldak, Sarıçay) and Europe (Kilitbahir, Eceabat, Çamburnu, Gelibolu) in two different periods; contamination on Europe coast was significantly higher for TAMB at february (p=0.01), at the same time S. aureus contamination was significantly higher at Anatolia coast (p=0.02). TAMB (p=0.004) and E.coli (p=0.005) count in samples on Anatolian coast were found to be significantly higher.

Conclusion: Mussels bacterial load may vary depending on region and the hunting season. Mussels’ bacterial load of mussels is more higher especially if hunted during the summer months. In our region, when we compared the Anatolian and European coasts, the bacterial load of hunted mussels on Anatolian coast was higher. Food processing and storage conditions are important especially in food poisoning of raw consumed foods. In addition it should be kept in mind that region and the season for seafood hunting is also an important factor. In order to prevent the health risks associated with mussels, heat treatment has to be applied prior to consumption.

Mussel Microbiologic quality Dardanelles