The aim of this study was to assess the occurrence of bacterial contaminants in fingernails of food vendors in three selected markets of Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State, Nigeria. A total of thirty (30) nail samples were collected from food vendors, 10 samples from each market using new razor blade for each subject. Standard laboratory procedures were carried out on nail samples including inoculation, cultural characterization, microbial count and biochemical identification of bacteria. Data collected were analysed on the Minitab (17.0) software for appropriate descriptive and inferential statistical tools at 95% level of confidence (P≤0.05). Six species of bacterial contaminants isolated from fingernails of food vendors were: Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Bacillus spp., Staphylococcus spp., Salmonella spp. and Shigella spp. Total occurrence of contaminants (TOC) at Ortese, Gboko main and Tsekucha markets was 20 (33.3%), 26 (43.3%) and 16 (26.7%) respectively. The highest occurring bacteria were Klebsiella spp. (60%) and Bacillus spp. (60%) isolated from Gboko main market and Ortese market vendors respectively. Bacillus spp had the highest prevalence of 53.3% followed by Proteus and Klebsiella species (43.3% each). Staphylococcus and Shigella species had prevalence rates of 26.7% each while and Salmonella spp. had the lowest prevalence (13.3%). Nail contamination was significantly associated with the type of bacteria species (χ2 = 28.4, P<0.05). Gboko main market had the highest level (43.3%) of bacterial contaminants followed by Ortese market (33.3%) and Tsekucha market (26.75). Tsekucha had the highest mean TVC (Total Viable Count) of 174.2±9.63 closely followed by Ortese market (173.4±12.8) and Gboko main market (163.0±9.9). The highest TVC recorded was observed in a sample from Ortese market (261 cfu/ml). Result showed that fingernails of food vendors in three markets were highly contaminated based on all parameters reported above. The information provided is important to stakeholders in the public health sector saddled with the responsibility of disease prevention and control.
