摘要：Highlights•A total of 32 bacterial species grouped into 22 genera were identified from dried and smoked fish collected in some towns of Cameroon.•Common bacteria species both to dried and smoked fish independently of their specie and origin include:Kurthia gibsonii, Lysinibacillus endophyticus, Macrococcus caseolyticus, Planococcaceae bacterium, Planococcaceae bacterium, Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. Bulgaricus.•25 fish species of dried and smoked fish were identified and grouped into 15 families in the rainy season with, Mormyridae, Cichlidae and Schilbeidea families as the most represented.•Three pesticides grouped into 2 types (pyrethroids and organophosphorus) have been identified on the dried fish samples. Among them, there were Cypermethrin (15 to 3600 µg/kg), Chlorpyrifos (19 to 8800 µg/kg) and Profenophos (62 to 92 µg/kg).•Samples had generally poor microbiological and sanitary quality.AbstractThe objective of this study was to identify the dominant bacterial flora linked to the hygiene of dried and smoked fish in different geographical locations and to determine the presence of pesticide residues on the processed fish. Fish species were listed and collected. The bacterial ecology of dried and smoked fish from the northern zone of Cameroon was probed using a molecular technique employing variable regions of 16S rDNA profiles generated by PCR-DGGE (Polymerase Chain Reaction-Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis). The bacterial species were obtained by sequencing the PCR-DGGE bands and the pesticide residues by Chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS / MS), tested on 11 fish samples. Fifty three percent of the fish were smoked. Three types of pesticides have been identified on the dried fish samples. Among them, there were Cypermethrin (15 to 3600 µg/kg), Chlorpyrifos (19 to 8800 µg/kg) and Profenophos (62 to 92 µg/kg). The analysis of 16S rDNA profile and DNA sequencing revealed the presence of 32 bacterial species grouped into 22 genera. Dried fish were the most contaminated. Species such asVagococcus carniphilus, Kurthia gibsonii, Lysinibacillus endophyticus, Macrococcus caseolyticusandBacillus atrophaeuswere present in the samples from all the locations. On a general note, the fish samples are of poor microbiological and sanitary quality.Graphical abstractDisplay Omitted
