Еscherichia coli and Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning Toxins Contamination of Mussels Farmed in Bulgarian Black Sea Coast

Mussels are filter-feeding organisms that could be a potential source of food-borne diseases and poisonings. Consumption of molluscs, contaminated with bacterial contaminants or marine biotoxins, may lead to severe food-borne diseases. Considering the importance of the health problem connected with Escherichia coli and paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP) toxins and also the requirements of the European legislation, the aim of this study was: to evaluate the level of E. coli and PSP contamination in cultivated mussels produced in farms along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. The study was performed on 55 samples of live mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), from 20 aquaculture farms, during the period 2012 – 2015, in the warm season (May October) and in the cold season (November- April). The determined concentration of E. coli varied between < 20 MPN/100 g and 8.2 x 102 MPN/100 g. The level of E. coli in 5 samples tested in the warm season and in 2 samples tested in the cold season was higher than the permissible quantity. All samples met the health standards referring to the content of PSP toxins in bivalve molluscs. No connection was established between the concentration of E. coli and PSP toxins in the tested samples and the level of contamination with E. coli and PSP toxins in cultivated mussels, from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, was minimal.