Comparative study of Bacteriological Contents of Commercially Smoked Fish and Aseptically Smoked Fish sold in Awka and Environs, Anambra State Nigeria

Abstract

The study was carried out to determine the bacteriological contents of smoked fish sold in Awka markets and environs. A total number of 80 samples of smoked and frozen fishes were purchased from three different markets in Awka and environs. 60 smoked fish and 20 frozen fish of four different species of panla, sardine, mackerel and catfish 15each and 5 each respectively. The samples were collected labeled appropriately and kept in sterile polyethylene bags and were taken to the microbiology laboratory of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu for microbial analysis, biochemical and molecular characterization were used for identification of bacteria and fungi isolates. The frozen fishes were taken to fishery department of Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu for smoking; the fishes were aseptically smoked using traditional kiln and oven drying method. Nutrient agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar, Salmonella shigella agar, Eosin methylene blue agar and Mannitol egg yolk polymyxin (MYP) agar were used for isolation of organisms. The isolated organisms are Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus Saprophiticus, Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli, KlebsiellaAerogenes. Delftiatsuruhatensis, Proteus mirabilis, Comamonas thiooxydans, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Crocinitomicaceae bacterium, Klebsiella pneumonia, Micrococcus spp. the fungi isolated are Aspergillus fumigate, Aspergillusoryzae, Fusarium spp. Mucor, Rhizopus sp.Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Penicillum spp. the total viable counts (TVC inCFU/g) of smoked mackerel, sardine, panla and catfish ranges from 1.7x102to 40.3x102 , 0.6x102-66x102, 11x102-98x102, 2.5x102 -54x102respectively. TVC (CFU/g) of fungi isolates from catfish ranges from 10x102to 33x102 TVC (CFU/g). In aseptically smoked fishno organism was isolated from fish samples expect in smoked and oven dried panla fish. Their TVC ranges from 0.2x102-0.8x102.The findings indicates that smoked fish sold in Awka markets and environs are all contaminated, proper awareness should be done to educate the fish vendors on proper and hygienic methods of processing and selling their products