The Lower Amazon region is one of the largest consumers of fish in Brazil. Acari (Pterygoplichthys
spp.) is one of the most appreciated fish among several species consumed in the region. Thus, it
is important to analyze the quality of fish from a microbiological point of view, which has great
nutritional, economic and cultural value. The present study aimed to evaluate the
microbiological quality of fresh and cooled acari (Pterygoplichthys spp.) commercialized in the
municipality of Santarém - Pará. Collection was carried out in a public fair simulating purchase,
8 specimens of Pterygoplichthys spp. were acquired; two specimens were analyzed on the day
of purchase (T0), said as fresh fish, and the others were kept under refrigeration and every 24
hours two specimens were processed for analysis until T3 (72h). The analysis result show the
presence of total coliforms and the absence of thermotolerant coliforms in all analyzed samples,
both in refrigerated and fresh samples of Pterygoplichthys spp. The biochemical identification
showed that 50% of the staphylococci are coagulase positive S. aureus (SCP), 40% as S.
epidermidis and 10% as Staphylococcus sp. Among the Pseudomonas strains, 92.5% are P.
aeruginosa, and among the Salmonella strains 9.68% are S. typhimurium and the others as
Salmonella spp. The results of this study show the importance of continuous monitoring and
control of the microbiological quality of food, especially fish. Attention should be given to the
correct handling of food, because when not properly sanitized, they can lead to bacterial
contamination and consequently problems to the consumer's health.
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