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Clostridium perfringens as an Indicator of Hygienic Quality of Depurated Shellfish

Robert H Madden1, H Buller1, D W McDOWELL1

  • 1Department of Agriculture, Agriculture and Food Bacteriology Research Division, Newforge Lane, Belfast, BT9 5PX, United Kingdom and The Queen's University of Belfast, Department of Agricultural and Food Bacteriology, Newforge Lane, Belfast BT9 5PX, United Kingdom.

Journal of Food Protection
|April 10, 2019
PubMed

Insights

Clostridium perfringens spores persist longer in marine environments than other fecal indicators like E. coli. This makes C. perfringens a reliable indicator of fecal pollution in shellfish, even when E. coli is undetectable.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Food Safety
  • Environmental Science

Background:

  • Shellfish contamination with fecal bacteria poses a public health risk.
  • Traditional indicators like Escherichia coli (E. coli) may not always be reliable in marine environments.
  • Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a potential alternative indicator of fecal pollution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To compare the recovery rates of C. perfringens, E. coli, and Streptococcus faecalis from contaminated shellfish.
  • To evaluate the suitability of C. perfringens as an indicator of fecal pollution in marine shellfish.
  • To assess the effectiveness of depuration in removing these bacteria from oysters.

Main Methods:

  • Shellfish (mussels and oysters) were artificially and naturally contaminated.
  • Bacterial enumeration of C. perfringens, E. coli, and S. faecalis was performed.
  • Viability of bacteria under marine conditions was assessed.
  • A survey of C. perfringens and E. coli in wild mussels was conducted.
  • Oysters were subjected to a 48-hour depuration process.

Main Results:

  • C. perfringens was consistently recovered from naturally contaminated shellfish, unlike E. coli and S. faecalis.
  • C. perfringens spores demonstrated significantly longer viability in marine conditions compared to vegetative cells of other tested organisms.
  • A coastal mussel survey found C. perfringens at 23 out of 24 sites, while E. coli was found at only two.
  • Over 97% of presumptive C. perfringens colonies were confirmed as positive.
  • Standard 48-hour oyster depuration effectively reduced bacterial loads to acceptable levels.

Conclusions:

  • C. perfringens is a more reliable indicator of fecal pollution in marine shellfish than E. coli, especially when E. coli is absent.
  • Enumeration of C. perfringens may not require colony confirmation, allowing for faster detection of fecal contamination.
  • Depuration is crucial for ensuring the safety of shellfish, as bacteria can survive prolonged dry storage.

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