BACTERIAL FLORA OF CATFISH (Clarias gariepinus) FROM FISH PONDS IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Fish is a very important component of human diet. A total 64 samples Clarias gariepinus were collected from two fish ponds each in Yaba, Ijegun, Ikorodu and Epe Lagos State, Nigeria. The bacterial flora the fishes determined quantitatively qualitatively. mean viable count ranged log10 7.6 cfu/g to 7.9 cfu/g. load on skin intestine generally higher than gills. Salmonella between 7.2 it was highest intestine, followed by Coliform gills with range values cfu/g) Staphylococcal skin. bacteria isolated identified based cultural, morphological biochemical characterization using Analytical Profile Index they include Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, typhi, Citrobacter amalonaticus, Vibrio fluvialis, Serratia odorifera, Acinetobacter baumannii, Proteus penneri, Burkholderia cepacia, Enterobacter pyrinus, enteritidis, Edwardsiella tarda, Escherichia coli, putida, Bacillus megaterium, Staphylococcus aureus, mycoides, Corynebacterium pilosum, subtilis, Micrococcus roseus, cereus, polymyxa, leteus kutscheri. occurrence pathogenic may constitute public health hazard