Investigation on the differences of accumulating Escherichia coli in three types of shellfish species, involving in the environmental factors

•The capability of accumulating E. coli followed the order of S. constricta > M. meretrix > T. granosa.•With increasing pollution of cultured seawater, E. coli were accumulated much faster and more in S. constricta.•The populations of E. coli in S. constricta were influenced greatly by persistent rainfall.

This study investigated accumulation of Escherichia coli and aerobic colony count in three types of shellfish species. The results indicated that the capability of accumulating E. coli and aerobic colony count for Sinonovacula constricta was stronger than that for Meretrix meretrix and Tegillarca granosa, and capability of accumulating E. coli for M. meretrix was slightly stronger than that for T. granosa. However, no significant difference was observed in the capability of accumulating aerobic colony count between M. meretrix and T. granosa. Moreover, accumulation of E. coli in S. constricta is affected by contaminated seawater and E. coli were accumulated much faster and more in S. constricta when the seawater contaminated more serious. Meanwhile, the results suggested that the populations of E. coli in S. constricta changed in accordance with the weather. This is the first study to investigate the differences of accumulating E. coli in three types of shellfish species.