Bacteria associated with smoked catfish sold at Bida Modern market, Northcentral Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, Fish serves as the affordable source of animal protein, where most individuals consume smoke fish as a food delicacy. This study was carried out to identify and ascertain the bacteria contamination of smoked catfish sold at Bida modern market in Northcentral Nigeria. A total of Fifty (50) samples of smoked Catfish were purchased from fish traders in the market. The fish samples were analyzed using standard bacteria techniques and procedures. The result shows mean bacterial loads of 184 colonies with a population of 1.84 × 10 6 Cfu/g. A total of seven (7) species of bacteria were isolated from the sample. The bacteria species consist of four (4) gram-positive bacteria and three (3) gramnegative bacteria. The bacteria isolate encountered in this study were Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Proteus mirabilis. The study revealed that smoked catfish sold in Bida modern market are contaminated by different groups of bacteria, which could be due to the unhygienic nature of the market and the fish handlers. The presence and abundance of this groups of bacteria in smoked catfish fish could result into food poisoning, which is a matter of public health concern.