Pathogenic microbes in fish represent a serious problem and a great concern due to lack of income, reduction of global aquaculture and improvement of human-associated diseases ( Lafferty et al. 2015). Consumption of clean African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) is increasing sharply in rural and urban centers in Nigeria (FDF, 2007; Emikpe et al., 2011). However, statistics on bacterial load in African catfish sampled from ponds and natural water are lacking (Emikpe et al., 2011). The need for passive and periodic surveillance for the presence of pathogenic microbes in fish is vital. The microbial diversity of clean water may also include a complex vegetation of microorganisms, along with purely aquatic pathogens and other components from human, animal and plant sources. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essayA number of pathogenic microbes in fish are facultative (Nayak 2010) and capable of continuously existing in water for long intervals of time, consequently making their presence difficult to prevent. The examination of pathogenic microorganisms must be carried out often in order to hypothesize the occurrence of a pathogenic attack. The success of disease control, such as prevention and treatment, is greatly influenced by the accuracy of disease analysis in fish. It has been established that the scale of human activities exerts some destructive consequences on coastal waters. Considering that many fish utilize food particles from large volumes of water, if these waters are infected, the risk that enteric pathogens from infected humans may be present is excessive and such contaminants could possibly be concentrated using the filtering nature of the fish. . Fish forms an important part of the daily diet of humans in many countries and has been a major food source for humans for many centuries. Fish are a good source of animal protein, rich in minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids. Consequently, fish represent a valuable contribution to the dietary routine of malnourished populations. There is an appreciable increase in demand for fish as it represents the cheapest source of animal protein. But fish may face microbial infection of their natural habitat, and their transformation products may be a source of microbial infection and food poisoning. In the natural habitat, microorganisms are typically found all over the external surface (pores, skin and gills) and in the intestines of fish. The bacterial flora of freshly caught fish depends on the environment in which they were caught. Furthermore, it is stated that the level of contamination of a fish at the time of capture depends largely on the microbiological quality of the water and environment in which they were caught. Water bodies can be extremely polluted by animal and human waste thus containing numerous microorganisms which can also contribute to its pollutants. The presence of several microbes that may be particularly pathogenic to humans in fish is indicative, but its significance in the onset of human diseases is unknown. But the presence of potential human pathogens suggests the fish was consumed raw, undercooked and, if handled improperly, may cause illness in susceptible individuals..