Micro-organisms associated with the "Bombay Duck"or Bombil (Harpodon nehereus Buch.)

Abstract

The fresh 'Bombay Duck' (Harpodon nehereus) has a normal bacterial flora of its own, among which Bacterium phosphoreum and Sarcina littoralis or their variants predominate. The latter species also persists in the dehydrated variety of the fish, which otherwise presents a microbial picture, totally different from that of fresh fish. Besides the species mentioned, the fresh fish is also associated with an adventitious flora, in which the following genera are represented: Escherichia, Aerobacter, Micrococcus, Gaffkya, Achromobacter, Flavobacterium, Bacillus and Pseudomonas. The occurrence of a large number and variety of micrococci in the dehydrated fish has a probable epidemiological significance.