2026-07-07http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/458182The purpose of research was to investigate the bacterial ecology of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) fresh fillets and some factors that can influenceits microbial quality. Samples of fish cultivation water (n = 20), tilapia tegument and gut (n = 20) and fresh fillets (n = 20) were collected in anexperimental tilapia aquaculture located in the city of Lavras, Minas Gerais, Brazil.Staphylococcusspp.,Aeromonasspp.,Enterococcusspp. andEnterobacteriaceae were quantified using selective plating. For the enumeration ofPseudomonasspp., the most probable number technique(MPN) was utilized. Bacterial colonies (n = 198) were identified by Gram strain and biochemical tests.Aeromonasspp.,Pseudomonasspp.,Enterococcusspp. and Enterobacteriaceae were found in the cultivation water (water from a fishpond cultivation), tegument, gut, and freshfillets.Staphylococcusspp. was not isolated in the cultivation water.Salmonellaspp. was not detected. The count variable of 10 to 103CFU orMPN.(g or mL)–1. Associated to freshwater tilapia fillet processing, there is a large variety of microorganisms related to foodborne illnessesand fish products deterioration.application/pdfCiência e Tecnologia de AlimentosAgrocienciasartículo científico