Mycological Evaluation Of Smoked-Dried Fishes Sold In Umuahia Markets, Abia State, Nigeria:- Nweke Kingsley C

ABSTRACT vii were way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan This study was to identify the fungi commonly involved in infestation and deteriorations of smoked-dried fishes; Stock fish (Gadus morhua), Bonga fish (Ethalmosa fimbriota)^ Croaker (pseudotolithus typus), African catfish (Clarias gariepinus), mackerel (scomber scombrus) available in Umuahia metropolis, Eastern Nigeria. Sampling was randomly done and pour-plate method was used for inoculation of the sample on using Sabouraud Dextrose Agar and growth from the plates the media. The isolates were characterized were stained using lacto-phenol cotton blue to confirm their identity.A hundred smoked-dried fish sample sold at our different markets in Umuahia metropolis, located at Ubani, Ahia-eke, Isi-Gate and Ndoru in Umuahia , Abia state, Nigeria were heavily contaminated with moulds. The associated fungi where Aspergillus spp, Penicillium spp, Paecilomyces spp, Phialophora spp, Cladosporium spp, yeast spp, Saprolegnia spp, Scedosporium spp. Aspergillu spp had the highest rate of occurance followed by yeast spp, penicillium spp, saprolegnia spp, phialophora spp, paecilomyces spp and scedosporium spp respectively. Chi-square, fishers 'exact test and odds ratio where used to determine the strength of association between the type offish, location of market, where the fish was bought and the presence of fungi in the fish samples. The result and data were further analyzed statistically using one multiple range test and there was an insignificant difference for the collection sites and the fish type (p<0.05). The high level of contamination can be traceable to handlers and environment to which this fishes are exposed during smoking and storage. Thus this study recommends proper handling of fish products during processing and selling, also glass boxes should be used for display in the markets.