Assessment of Microbial and some Heavy Metals Concentration in Smoked Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Sold in Jega Market

Abstract

Assessment of microbial and heavy metals (pb, Zn, Cu, and Fe) concentration of smoked fish samples (Clarias gariepinus) sold in Jega market Kebbi State, Nigeria was examined. Standard aerobic pour plate techniques were used for microbial enumeration while heavy metal concentrations in fish were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). Mean bacteria count of 5.2×10³   cfu/g was observed in sample 1 while sample 2 had mean bacterial count of 4.8x10³cfu/g and sample 3 had mean bacterial count of 2.4x10³cfu/g. Sample 1 had a lead concentration of 0.25 mg/kg while sample 2 had a lead concentration of 0.025 mg/kg. Sample 3 and 4 had copper concentrations of 0.15 and 0.68 mg/kg respectively. Iron is the most accumulated metal in both samples and sample 3 and 4 (22.44 mg/kg and 20.88 mg/kg) has the highest concentration of Iron in both samples. In conclusion, caution should be exercised in consuming smoked fish shaded openly in markets as they contain bacteria and fungi, reheating may be necessary to destroy microbial cells.