Table 3 Effect of PAA and H₂O₂ on microbial load (log10 CFU/g) in fish muscles before and after infection.

Groups

TBC

Aeromonasspp.

Psychrotrophic bacterial count

Before infection

G1

4.63 ± 0.218^a

1.41 ± 0.091

3.63 ± 0.218^a

G2

3.07 ± 0.029^b

1.17 ± 0.173

2.53 ± 0.259^b

G3

2.53 ± 0.075^c

1.14 ± 0.086

2.03 ± 0.017^b

P value

0.027

0.413

0.050

After infection

G1

4.63 ± 0.218

1.41 ± 0.091^c

3.63 ± 0.218^a

G2

4.17 ± 0.088

3.28 ± 0.142^a

3.10 ± 0.041^b

G3

3.87 ± 0.186

2.52 ± 0.116^b

1.72 ± 0.141^c

P value

0.094

0.027

0.027