BACTERIAL AND FUNGAL CONTAMINANTS OF FISH SOLD AT ABAKPA MAIN MARKET ABAKALIKI, NIGERIA

摘要

A survey was carried out to determine some bacterial and fungal contaminants of fish displayed for sale at Abakpa Main market Abakaliki, Nigeria. A total of 130 samples of swabbed materials from the tables where fish were displayed was collected and cultured in different media such as nutrient agar, sabouraud dextrose agar and salmonella-shigella agar. The colonies formed were examined macroscopically and. microscopically and biochemical tests carried out. The results revealed 5 species of bacteria, Staphylococcus spp, Pseudomonas spp, Bacillus spp, Salmonella spp, and Shigella spp. Similarly, 3 species of Aspergillus, Rhizopus spp and Penicillium spp. were present. The percentage occurrence of bacteria and fungi were 73.8% and 26.2% respectively indicating that most of the food contaminations were caused by bacterial followed by fungal agents. Diversity index of bacterial contaminants shows that while Staphylococcus has the highest value of 0.4. Salmonella and Shigella recorded the least diversity index (0.1). Among fungal isolates, Aspergillus has the highest diversity index (0.4) while Penicillium presented the least (0.2). Proper sanitation measures in the market to safeguard consumers from food poisoning arising from contaminated fishes are thus advocated.