MICROBIAL HAZARD OF SALTED OM EL-KHOLOUL (WEDGE SHELL DONAX-TRUNCULUS)

Sixty samples of salted OM El-Kholoul were collected from different lo calities in Giza, Alexandria and Ismailia. The samp;es were examined o rganoleptically and bacteriological examination of samples were perfor med for enumeration af aerobic. Enterobacteriaceae, Staph. aureus, Ent erococci counts as well as Staph. aureus, Staph. faecalis and Staph. f arcum were 4.9 x 10(3), 4.8 x 10(4), 1.9 x 10(5), 1.5 x 10(6) and 8 x 10(7), respectively. K. parabaemalyticus was isolated form all examine d samples. Moreover, the weight, pH and sodium chloride percentage of ten samples were estimated. Trial was done to investigate the inhibito ry effect of the lemon juice (Citrus aurantijalia) on the microbial lo ad of Om El-Kholoul, where the inhibitory effect of this juice was not iced. The public health significance of isolated microorganisms was di scussed, moreover the suggestive measures for improvement of the micro bial quality of the product were mentioned.