Edible oyster (Saccostera cucullata) from Indian Sundarbons: a study on its variation of nutrients-composition in relation to the microbial load

Abstract

Oysters are important delicious and nutritious seafood for coastal people in all over the world, apart from shrimp and crabs. Amount of bacterial load (total bacterial count, total coliform and fecal coliform) and the major nutrients (glycogen and protein) present in oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) tissue were measured in different seasons (pre-monsoon, monsoon and post-monsoon) from three different stations of Indian Sundarbans like Namkhana (S-I), Frazergaunge(S-II) and Sajnekhali(S-III). In pre-monsoon, both protein (6.13% at S-I, 6.44% at S-II, and 6.50% at S-III) and glycogen content (5.66 at S-I, 7.68% at S-II, and 7.55% at SIII) of the oyster found maximum in comparison to other seasons. Again the amount of glycogen and protein content in oyster are inversely varied with its microbial load. Microbial count of the oyster was found maximum in monsoon season (15×108 , 10×108 and 6.6×108 cfu gm–1 for TBC, 18×104 , 16×104 and 9.1×104 MPN 100gm–1 for TC and 18×104 , 9.1×104 and 3.5×104 MPN 100gm –1 for FC at S-I, S-II and S-III respectively) compared to other season. ANOVA results indicate there is significant (<0.001) difference in bacterial consortia nd major nutrients in oyster tissue between months and also between all the three stations. Therefore, oysters collected during pre monsoon are nutritionally more enrich and safe for consumer.