EVALUATION OF SHRIMPS (PENACUS MONODON) FROM SELECTED MARKETS IN CALABAR METROPOLIS FOR THE PRESENCE OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA

ABSTRACT The study evaluated shrimps sold in different markets in Calabar metropolis for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. A total of 20 samples were evaluated for the presence of pathogenic bacterial contaminants using standard bacteriological techniques, and the total bacterial plate count showed that WT1 had the highest count of 3.0×106CFU/ml, while sample AT4 had the lowest 1.1×104 CFU/ml. The percentage occurrence of the isolates showed that Salmonella spp had the highest occurrence in Watt market 5(28.4%), Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas hydrophilia had 3(33.3%) in Unicross market, Vibrio spphad the highest in Beach market 4(36.3%) and Staphylococcus aureus 3(42.8%) in Atakpa market. The findings of this study showed that pathogenic bacteria are present in shrimps sold in markets in Calabar metropolis.The high incidence of bacterial contamination encountered in this study were mainly due to the unhygienic nature of the vendors and also polluted water environment were the shrimps are harvested. Good personal hygiene by vendors should be maintained so as to minimize the pathogenic microbial load on fresh shrimps they sell. Also, people should be educated on the effects of pollution so as to reduce the risk of contamination of shrimps and other seafoods.