A total of seventy fish samples of Tilapia nilotica and cat fish (Clarias garipinus) (35 of each) were collected from different fish markets at Qalyobia Governorate. In addition to hand swabs of twenty fish handlers were examined bacteriologically to determine the role played by fish in transmitting some zoonotic bacteria causing food poisoning. Clarias fish samples had
a significantly higher bacterial isolates (62.9%) than tilapia fish samples (45.7%). Among the isolated bacteria, Staph-aureus was detectable at higher percentage (25.7%) followed by E.coli (18.9%), then Salmonella spp. (7.1%) and the lowest isolates were Shigella spp. (2.9%). The highest percentage of bacterial isolates was recovered from skin surface followed by intestine, whereas muscles showed the lowest percentage in both types of examined fish. Hand swabs of fish handlers demonstrated 20% and 10% positive results for Staph-aureus and E.coli respectively. The current research indicated that fish may represent a serious threat
to public health as a result of transmission of some food poisoning pathogens. The public health importance of the isolates and suggestive hygienic measures were discussed