Mycofloral of Smoke-Dried Fishes Sold in Uyo, Eastern Nigeria

This study was aimed to estimate the mycoflora and aflatoxin contamination of smoked dried fishes of Stock (Gadus morhua), Skip jack tuna (Katsuworus pelamis), Croaker (Pseudotolithus typhus), Sting ray (Dasyatis margarita), Cat (Arius hendeloti), Bonga (Ethalmosa fimbriota), Ribban fish (Triuchurius trichurius), Stark (Carchanas faunis), Thread fin (Pentanemis qumquarius), Sole (Cynoglossus browni), Spade (Drepane africana) in Uyo, eastern Nigeria. Fifty-five smoke-dried fishes samples sold at three different markets in Uyo town, located at main markets, Itam and Akpan Adem in Uyo, Akwa lbom state, Nigeria were heavily contaminated with moulds. Twelve different fungi were found associated with the smoked dried fishes samples sold in the three different markets. The associated fungi were Aspergillus flavus, A. tereus. Aspergillus fumigatus, Absidia sp., Rhizopus sp., A. niger, Mucor sp., Cladosporium sp, Penicillium Italiculum, Penicillium viridatus Candida tropicalis and Fusarium moniliformis, Aspergilus flavus and A. tereus had the highest rate of occurrence among the isolated fungi. Aflatoxin B and G were found associated 1 1 with the samples. The Aflatoxin B and G concentrations in the sample were between 1.5 – 8.1 μg/kg and 1 1 g a 1.8 4.5 μg/kg respectively. The fungal counts were between 3.0 x 10 4.8 x 10 cfu /g. The moisture content j a 2 4 and the pH were between 22.7 – 27.6% and 3.0 – 6.0 respectively. In conclusion smoked dried fishes stored for sale in Uyo markets were heavily contaminated with aflatoxigenic fungi.