Assessment of Mycological Quality of Smoked African Catfish (Clariasgariepinus) Sold at Sabon-Gari Market, Kano Nigeria

Smoked African catfish (Clariasgariepinus) fish is one of the most popular types of fish products sold in Sabon gari market, Kano, Nigeria. A research is conducted on the mycological quality of the smoked fish vended in the market with the aim of providing first-hand information on the safety issues associated with the consumption of this fish. A total of thirty (30) samples were collected from 3smoked fish hawkers in the market. The samples were analyzed microbiologically using pour plate method on Potato Dextrose Agarto determine fungal isolates. The isolates were characterized by cultural characteristics and microscopy. The results from this study revealed a highest fungal count of 2.50 x 103 CFU/g from smoked fish obtained from retailer B. The least fungal count of 1.85x 103 CFU/g was found from the smoked fish of retailer C. The result also revealed the presence of eight different fungal species associated with the smoked fish samples with difference degree of prevalence as follows; R. stolonifer was the most predominant with 23%, followed by A. niger (19.7%), Mucor 18%, Saccharomyces 11.5%,Aspergillus fumigates9.8% and Penicillium notatum 8.2%.Alternaria and Fusarium were the least abundant fungal species on the smoked fish accounted for 4.9% each. The present level of fungal contamination of the smoked fish can probably be either due to the level of moisture in the smoked fish or unhygienic handling. Attention of the health care providers and the authorities concerned is therefore needed towards orienting the retailers and the consumers towards proper methods of storing such smoked fish and that the consumers have to properly boil the fish before consumption.

Keywords: Assessment, Cat-fish, Fungi, Sabon-Gari Market, Smoked fish.