ABSTRACT
Fish and fishery products have been documented as a major source of food-borne pathogens of which bacteria and fungi play major roles. This present study was conducted to ascertain the presence of bacteria and fungi in fish samples harvested from Useh flood reservoir. A total of 15 samples of harvested fishes over a period of 3 months, were properly collected and well transported with a clean polythene bag to the laboratory for microbiological quality analysis. Isolation of bacteria was done by pour plate method. All the samples of fish harbored bacteria and fungi up to 106 cfu/g. The total viable count of bacteria in the gills was 4.39 x 105 cfu/g, the colon was 4.41 x 105 cfu/g and the skin was 4.37 x 105 cfu/g. The total viable count of fungi in the gills was 5.17 x 104 cfu/g, the colon was 3.33 x 104 cfu/g and the skin was 4.67 x 104 cfu/g. Escherichia coli were found in all samples as a specific bacteria pathogen. The bacteria isolates identified were Klebsiella Spp., Escherichia coli, Bacillus Spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus Spp., Micrococcus Spp., Pseudomonas Spp., Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermis and Pseudomonas aerogenosa. The fungi isolates identified in fish sample during the period of this study using pour plate method were identified were Cladosporium Spp., Saccharomyces Spp., Cryptomonas Spp., Aspergillus nidulans, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium Spp., Trichoderma viridi, Cryptomonas Spp., Mucor mucido, Mucor Spp., Botrydiplodia Spp., Aspergillus tamarii, Neurospora Spp., Cryptomonas neoformis and Helminthosporium Spp. From this study, it was observed that bacteria and fungi were present in fishes harvested from Useh flood reservoir, therefore, so as to reduce pathogenic bacteria from infecting the people living around there, proper washing and cooking of fishes before consumption is encouraged.
