TOXIN PRODUCTION BY CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM, TYPE E, IN VACUUM-PACKED, IRRADIATED FRESH FISH IN RELATION TO CHANGES OF THE ASSOCIATED MICROFLORA

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Abstract
Thawed herring fillets were inoculated with spores of C. botulinum, type E, and then packed in laminated polythene bags. Some samples were vacuum-packed, others not, but the bags were sealed, while a third group was packed in open bags. The samples were stored at 20 °C and examined for the presence of toxin.The vacuum-packing considerably increased the strength of toxin present after 48 hours. On further prolonged storage at 20 °, however, the concentration of the toxin became roughly equal in all three cases.Changes in the associated spoilage flora lent further support to the view that oxygen scavenging by aerobic bacteria favors the growth of Clostridia. The flora surviving after irradiation with 0.6 Mrad consisted solely of micrococci, which were, however, sensitive to antibiotics such as penicillin and oxytetracycline.

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