Bacterial studies on irradiated tropical fish-Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus)

Gamma irradiation (0.4 Mrad) of Bombay duck (Harpodon nehereus) fillets sealed in polyethylene bags brought about alterations in the bacterial flora during storage at 10-12° C. Micrococcus, Pseudomondas, Ackromobacter, Flavobacterium, Microbacterium, Bacillus, Alkaligenes, and Sarcina, which comprised the initial flora of Bombay duck, were predominated by Proteus, Bacillus, Aeromonas, Micro-cocci, and Neisseria in the spoiled samples after four days storage at 10-12° C. In contrast, absence of putrid odors in the irradiated samples stored at 10-12° C for 14 days may be attributed to the biochemically inactive nature of the predominating Micrococci