ANALYSIS AND ANTIBIOGRAM STUDY OF MICROORGANISMS ASSOCIATED WITH FISH AND MEAT RETAIL SURFACES IN EBELLE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Education and regulations of hygienic practices are poorly carried out in the informal sector of food supply chain in developing countries, especially rural communities. Therefore, this study was carried out to investigate microbiological status of fish and meat retail surfaces in Ebelle market. Four swab samples of fish and meat retail surfaces were collected and examined for microbiological load and profile. Safety of selected isolates was assessed by haemolytic analysis and antibiotic susceptibility profile tests. The total bacterial counts from the surfaces were within the range of 5.06 - 6.40 Log₁₀ CFU/cm². Coliforms were detected only in fish retail surface swab samples; EF1 (3.96 Log₁₀ CFU/cm²) and EF2 (5.58 Log₁₀ CFU/cm²). EF2 had a total E. coli count of 4.78 Log₁₀ CFU/cm². The identified species include Bacillus sp. (23.08%), Escherichia coli (7.69%), Proteus sp. (15.38%), Pseudomonas sp. (7.69%), Salmonella sp. (97.69%), Staphylococcus aureus (15.38%) and Streptococcus sp. (23.08%). The total heterotrophic fungal counts were between 2.27 and 3.29 Log₁₀ cfu/cm². β-, α- and γ-haemolysis was exhibited by 9, 2 and 2 isolates respectively. Antibiotic susceptibility test showed that some isolates were multidrug resistant. The results obtained in this study indicate the retail surfaces are potential sources of food contamination. Therefore it is pertinent for regulatory and public health authorities to establish cleaning and sanitation guidelines and train rural food vendor and retailers on the steps and importance of cleaning and sanitation.