Distribution of Bacteria Load in Fish Tissues, Pond Water and Sediment in Oyo State, Nigeria

Consumption of fresh fish is increasing on daily basis in Nigeria; meanwhile Fish has been reported to capable of harbouring pathogenic bacteria. The load of pathogenic bacteria may results to diseases and cause biological and economical losses. The study investigated the total bacterial and enterobacterecea count in water, pond sediment and seven fish organs from fish farms in the state. The state was zoned using Oyo State Agricultural Development Programme zonation. Farms in each zone were sub-grouped using stratified method. A total number of thirty-six (36) farms (5 Large, Medium and Small scales farms) were selected. Water, soil, and fish organs were collected aseptically and examined for bacteria load. The total viable count (TVC) and total enterobacteriacea (TEB) were expressed in mean (cfu/g) and Log10CFU/g. The mean data were compared using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results show that water samples from Ogbomosho zone had highest TVC and TEB and 5.73±0.29 Log10cfu/ml and 5.25±0.31 Log10cfu/mlrespectively. Evaluation of pond sediment shows that Ibadan/Ibarapa zone had highest TVC (5.89±0.26Log10cfu/g)and TEB and (5.53±0.25Log10cfu/g). In liver, TVC was highest in Ogbomosho zone (5.85±0.21 Log10cfu/g) and TEB was highest in Saki zone (5.45±0.31 Log10cfu/g). TVC and TEB were highest in Ogbomosho zone in kidney (5.77±0.21 Log10cfu/g) and (5.57±0.28 Log10cfu/g), intestine (5.93±0.26 Log10cfu/g) and (5.62±0.34 Log10cfu/g) and skin (6.34±0.16 Log10cfu/g) and TEB (5.94±0.34 Log10cfu/g). Saki zone had highest TVC and TEB in flesh (5.57±0.22 Log10cfu/g) and (5.26±0.26 Log10cfu/g), gill TVC (6.08±0.16 Log10cfu/g) and TEB (5.81±0.18 Log10cfu/g) respectively. In spleen TVC was highest in Ogbomosho zone (5.78±0.21 Log10cfu/g) and TEB (5.37±0.18 Log10cfu/g) were highest in Ibadan/Ibarapa zone. Fish from most of agro-ecological zone of Oyo State are contaminated with enterobacteria higher than the recommended values opining consumer health risk.