Bacteriological quality and multi-drug resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolated from smoked dried catfish (<i>Clarias gariepinus</i>) in Kaduna Metropolis, Nigeria

Abstract

Smoked dried catfish is a major source of protein in resource-poor countries. Unhygienic processing and handling of fish are a source of foodborne pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus. This study aimed to determine the bacteriological quality of ready to eat smoked dried catfish and the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of S. aureus from catfish in Kaduna, Metropolis, Nigeria. Three hundred smoked catfish specimens were collected from 4 markets (Central, Mando, Kawo and Tudun wada) and processed. The smoked dried catfish were subjected to total aerobic and coliform count, isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of S. aureus. The results were analysed with descriptive statistics and presented in tables. The overall mean total aerobic and coliform counts were 3.01 × 10⁶ CFU/g and 1.41 × 10⁶ CFU/g, respectively. The Central market had the highest aerobic count (5.63 × 10⁶ CFU/g), and Mando market had the highest coliform count (2.7 × 10⁶ CFU/g). The overall isolation rate of S. aureus from smoked catfish was 276 (92.0%). Mando market had the highest isolation of S. aureus 74 (98.7%), while Kawo and Tudun Wada markets had 67 (89.3%). Of the 276 S. aureus isolates, 225 (75.0%) were identified as coagulase positive. The isolate showed the lowest resistance to Ciprofloxacin 21 (9.3%), Gentamycin 21 (9.3%) and Chloramphenicol 39 (17.3%). Resistance to Ampicillin and Penicillin was 100%. Multi drug resistant S. aureus contamination of ready to eat smoked dried
catfish pose a severe public health hazard to the consumers