STUDY THE EFFECT OF CONTAMINATION IN HEAVY METALS AND MICROBIAL LOAD IN IRAQI FISH

This study was conducted to investigation of heavy metals contamination as well as microbial load in fish samples from Baghdad's Tigris River. A 60 local carp fish samples in total were collected from different markets in Baghdad province. Bacterial isolate identification was confirmed by Viteck2, while heavy metals (HM) concentrations were detected by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. The zoonotic bacterial isolation shows (highest – lowest) E. coli, Staph aureus, Aeromonas spp, Klebsiella spp, Enterobacter spp, Citrobacter spp, Proteus spp, Yersinia enterocolitica. While, HM Lead (Pb), Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Mercury (Hg) and Nikle (Ni) average counts results for the local river, lake and marsh fish meat (ppm) were exceeding their limits according to FAO, EC, WHO. Therefore, the researchers and consumers should be aware of the risk of ingestion contaminant fresh-fish meats with zoonotic bacteria and HM as well, which will be affecting their health status as a result. Thus, further studies for other fresh-fish types are urgently needed.