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Prevalence of Salmonella organisms in fresh and smoke-dried fish within parts of Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria


D.O. Esonu
B.V. Maikai
A.J. Oghumu

Abstract

Aquatic environments are the major reservoirs of Salmonella and fishery products have been recognized as major carrier of food-borne pathogens. To determine the prevalence of Salmonella in fish, 112 fresh and smoke-dried fish samples were pre-enriched and enriched with buffered peptone water and selenite broth respectively, before plating on Desoxycholate Citrate Agar. Of the 112 samples, 75% (84/112) were contaminated with non-lactose fermenters. Upon subjecting them to biochemical tests, 13.1% (11/84) of the Salmonella suspects showed reactions consistent with that of Salmonella species, Proteus 65.5% (55/84) and Citrobacter 21.4% (18/84) species. The total prevalence of Salmonella out of the 112 fish sampled was 9.8% (11/112). Salmonella species was slightly higher in the fiber tank farm 12.9% (95% CI: 5.134-28.852) than in the earthen pond 12.1% (95% CI: 4.816-27.326) but this association was not significant (Fishers exact test=1.0). Prevalence was higher in fresh fish 12.5% (95% CI: 6.472-22.775) compared to smoke-dried fish 6.25% (95% CI: 2.148-16.835), though this association was not statistically significant (Fishers exact test= 0.347). Among the dried fish, the prevalence was higher 9.5% (95% CI: 0.017-0.289) in the weight range 30-49.9g compared to the smallest weight range of 10-29.9g with prevalence of 4.0% (95% CI: 0.002-0.195). For the fresh fish, the prevalence was higher 14.04% (95% CI: 7.287-25.324) in shorter length fish of 20-39cm than the lengthier ones of 40-49cm with 0.0% (95% CI: 0.000-35.433) prevalence. This study has demonstrated the presence of Salmonella species in fresh and smoke-dried fish in parts of Kaduna metropolis, Kaduna State, Nigeria. This is of public health significance and poses a potential risk especially among immunocompromised consumers.


Keywords: Biochemical test, Earthen pond, Fresh fish, Fiber tank, Prevalence, Salmonella, Smoke-dried fish


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eISSN: 2315-6201
print ISSN: 1595-093X