LISTERIA-INNOCUA AND SALMONELLA-PANAMA IN MUSSELS - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY

Bivalve molluscs are exposed to a wide range of contamination by patho genic bacteria and viruses. Therefore, the behavior of bacterial patho gens in bivalves after harvesting is important in terms of food safety . Mussels were artificially contaminated with Listeria innocua and Sal monella panama, held under different conditions, and then examined for Listeria and Salmonella viable counts. In a simplified depuration sys tem, L. innocua levels were lower than those observed for S. panama in mussels during the same period and under the same conditions. This re sult may be related to the rapid die-off reported for Listeria in seaw ater. In mussels stored in air, the two pathogens presented similar be haviors: levels of both pathogens remained constant in mussels during the storage period in air. However, in shucked mussels Listeria innocu a counts increased with the duration of storage, whereas Salmonella pa nama showed a slight decrease.