International Journal of Aquaculture, 2026, Vol.16, No.3, 156-165 http://www.aquapublisher.com/index.php/ija 164 within a holder placed above the tank. For depuration, 45 litres of tap water were used. The experiment was carried out at ambient temperature (29℃~30℃). Approximately, 100 medium sized clams were arranged in monolayer on a plastic mesh rack which was suspended 15 cm above, from the tank bottom to prevent re-contamination from the faecal material settled at the bottom. About 10~15 shellfish were taken out at various intervals of 0 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h and 72 h using a sterile spatula. Then total coliforms, faecal coliforms, total heterotrophic bacteria and Vibrio spp count were enumerated as described above Sections 4.3.1 to 4.3.4. Clams survived well throughout the experiment, however, any dead ones if found were removed from the system immediately. Clams were not fed during the entire period of depuration process. Author’s contributions Mohamed Hatha conceptualised the work plan, designed the depuration system, reviewed the results and reviewed the manuscript. Kavya, Raj and Suresh carried out the lab work. Kavya also involved in developing the manuscript. Acknowledgments The authors also express their sincere thanks to the Head, Department of Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry, Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) for providing laboratory facilities to carry out this study. We extend our gratitude to all the staff and colleagues who assisted during sample collection, laboratory analysis, and data processing. References Abhilash K.R., Raveendran T.V., Mol V.L., and Deepak M.P., 2012, Sediment oxygen demand in Cochin backwaters, a tropical estuarine system in the south-west coast of India, Marine Environmental Research, 79: 160-166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2012.05.005 Anil M.K., Gomathi P., Kavitha M., Raju B., Shalini O., Krishna Priya P.M., and Laxmilatha P., 2024, Recent advances in bivalve seed production in India: salient research findings, technologies and their social impact, Marine Fisheries Information Service; Technical and Extension Series, 261: 7-14. Azeredo J., Azevedo N.F., Briandet R., Cerca N., Coenye T., Costa A.R., and Sternberg C., 2017, Critical review on biofilm methods, Critical Reviews in Microbiology, 43(3): 313-351. https://doi.org/10.1080/1040841X.2016.1208146 Campbell V.M., Chouljenko A., and Hall S.G., 2022, Depuration of live oysters to reduce Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Vibrio vulnificus: a review of ecology and processing parameters, Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety, 21(4): 3480-3506. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12969 Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC), 2017, Canadian Shellfish Sanitation Program (CSSP) Manual, Government of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. Chinnadurai S., Campos C.J., Geethalakshmi V., Sharma J., Kripa V., and Mohamed K.S., 2020, Microbiological quality of shellfish harvesting areas in the Ashtamudi and Vembanad estuaries (India): environmental influences and compliance with international standards, Marine Pollution Bulletin, 156: 111255. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111255 Chinnadurai S., Elavarasan K., Geethalakshmi V., Kripa V., and Mohamed K.S., 2023, Development of a depuration protocol for commercially important edible bivalve molluscs of India: ensuring microbiological safety, Food Microbiology, 110: 104172. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2022.104172 Ciccarelli C., Leinoudi M., Semeraro A.M., Di Trani V., Ciccarelli E., and Consorti G., 2022, European legislation and live bivalve molluscs: are the criteria for microbiological safety matching with the criteria for sanitary classification of harvesting areas?, Italian Journal of Food Safety, 11(1): 9956. https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2022.9956 Desdouits M., Reynaud Y., Philippe C., and Guyader F.S.L., 2023, A comprehensive review for the surveillance of human pathogenic microorganisms in shellfish, Microorganisms, 11(9): 2218. https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms11092218 European Commission, 2019, Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/627 of 15 March 2019 laying down uniform practical arrangements for the performance of official controls on products of animal origin intended for human consumption, European Commission, Brussels, Belgium. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), 2010, Scientific opinion on marine biotoxins in shellfish - emerging toxins: brevetoxin group, EFSA Journal, 8(7): 1677 https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2010.1677 Flemming H.C., Wingender J., Szewzyk U., Steinberg P., Rice S.A., and Kjelleberg S., 2016, Biofilms: an emergent form of bacterial life, Nature Reviews Microbiology, 14(9): 563-575. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrmicro.2016.94 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 2022, The state of world fisheries and aquaculture 2022, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Rome, Italy.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjQ4ODYzNA==