Isolation of histamine-producing bacteria from fish-processing facilities and fishing vessels

The presence of histamine-forming bacteria in fish-processing facilities was studied. Environmental sampling was conducted in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia in fish-processing facilities that regularly handle scombroid fish or other fish which are known to potentially accumulate histamine levels greater than 50 ppm. Surfaces that come into contact with the fish were swabbed and the histamine-forming isolates from these areas were identified. One isolate each of Klebsiella ozaenae and Vibrio alginolyticus, and two isolates of Aeromonas sp. were found in the processing facilities. The study concluded that histamine-forming bacteria do not comprise a large part of the microflora associated with fish-processing facilities. Fishing vessels were also sampled and no histamine-forming bacteria were identified. © 2001 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.