دراسة التلوث البكتيري في النوع السمكي السلطان ابراهيم Mullus barbatus المصاد من الساحل السوري

Abstract

The marine environment plays an essential role in providing food resources, yet it is highly vulnerable to Bacterial contamination. This study aimed to evaluate the total bacterial load in the muscle tissue of Mullus barbatus collected from two coastal sites in Tartous coast, and to identify the dominant bacterial species.

 Fish samples were collected seasonally from September 2023 to August 2024. Total bacterial count and selective culture media were used for microbial identification. Results showed that the bacterial load, ranged between (0.5 – 2.22) ×10² cfu/g. It was higher at Tartous Corniche site, with the highest values recorded during summer. Detected microorganisms included Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Shigella sp., and Pseudomonas spp., all within the permissible limits of the Syrian Standard (10⁵–10⁶ cfu/g). These findings indicate that the fish are generally safe for human consumption, although continuous monitoring is recommended.