ABSTRACT

Freshly harvested Nigerian periwinkles (Tympanotonusfuscatus) collected from four major markets in Abia States, Nigeria were evaluated for bacteriological quality and heavy metals determination. The results showed that the periwinkle contain unacceptable levels of bacteria ranging from 2.5 x 10s - 5.9 x IQ5 cfu/g in shigella. The E. Coli count ranged from 1.6 x 105 - 4.0 x 105 cfu/g and 1.2 x 105 — 1.5 x 105 cfu/g in staphylococcus. Salmonella bacterial count ranged from 1.4xl05 - 4.0x105 and 4.0x105 - 9.0x105 for Fungi bacterial count. The microorganisms isolated from the periwinkle samples include staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella, Fungi (yeast and mould), E.Coli and shigella. Fungi (yeast and mould) and shigella from Ariam, Ubani market and Ahiaeke market respectively had the highest rate of occurrence among the isolated bacteria, while staphylococcus from Ubani market was the least. Heavy metal contents d in periwinkle sample was determined using Atomic Spectrophotometer - varian model spectral AA 220. The range of heavy metal concentrations viz Pb, Cd, Ar and Hg in periwinkle were found to be 0.00 -0.08ppm, 0.05 - 0.07ppm, 0.00 - O.Olppm and 0.00 - O.OOppm respectively. The results show that Pb and Cd were higher than other metal determined. Ar and Hg were slightly and not detected respectively in each ofthe samples. The bio-concentration ofthe heavy metals in the periwinkle were not significantly higher than the World Health standard of heavy metals in sea-food, while the periwinkle sample contain unacceptable levels of bacterial and fungi load which are significantly higher than the International Commission of Microbiological Specification for Food (ICMSF) and US Food and Drugs Administration standard of 1 x lO’cfu/g for bacteria and fungi.

Keywords: Heavy metals, Periwinkle, Spectrophotometer, Micro-organism.