BACTERIAL PROFILE OF FRESH GARDEN EGG VEGETABLE (Solanum macrocarpon) SOLD IN UMUAHIA

ABSTRACT

Twenty (20) garden egg vegetables (Solanum macrocarpon) samples were purchased from various markets in Umuahia metropolis and studied to determine their level of bacterial contamination and to identify possible pathogen associated with the samples. One gram of each sample was sliced and vigorously rinsed with 5ml of normal saline, cultured on nutrient agar, MacConkey agar and blood agar using the streak plate method. 42 bacteria isolates were obtained from 20 garden egg vegetables samples. Escherichia coli 11(26.19%), Proteus spp. 10(23.81%), Staphylococcus aureus 7(16.67%), Klebsiella spp. 5(11.90%), Bacillus spp. 1(2.38%) were the bacteria species isolated. Proteus spp. was isolated from all the sample location. Garden egg vegetable contamination with bacteria was observed in all the four markets, highest in Ubani market and least in Orieugba market. Raw garden egg vegetables from markets were considered unfit for human consumption and adequate cooking with proper handling before consumption is suggested.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgement ﾿ iv

Table of content ﾿ v

List of Tables ﾿ viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 ﾿ Introduction ﾿ 1

1.2 ﾿ Background of the study  ﾿ 2

1.3 ﾿ Aim of the study  ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 ﾿ Literature review  ﾿ 4

2.1 ﾿ Description  ﾿ 4

2.2 ﾿ Ecology  ﾿ 5

2.3 ﾿ Nutritional Importance of Solanum macrocarpon ﾿ 5

2.4 ﾿ Bacteria pathogens of concern ﾿ 7  

2.4.1. ﾿ Staphylococcus aureus ﾿ 7

2.4.2 ﾿ Escherichia coli ﾿ 7

2.4.3 ﾿ Klebsiella spp. ﾿ 8

2.4.4 ﾿ Bacillus spp. ﾿ 8

2.4.5   Proteus spp. ﾿ 9

2.5     Sources of contamination ﾿ 9

CHAPTER THREE

3.1 ﾿ Study area ﾿ 10

3.2 ﾿ Materials ﾿ 10

3.3   Sample collection ﾿ 10

3.4 ﾿ Preparation of culture media  ﾿ 11 ﾿

3.5 ﾿ Isolation and identification  ﾿ 11

3.5.1 ﾿ Determination of bacteria load ﾿ 11

3.5.1 ﾿ Gram staining  ﾿ 12

3.5.2 ﾿ Catalase test  ﾿ 12

3.5.3 ﾿ Coagulase test  ﾿ 12

3.5.4 ﾿ Oxidase test  ﾿ 13

3.5.5 ﾿ Tripple sugar Iron (TSI) test ﾿ 13

3.5.6 ﾿ Motility test ﾿ 14

3.5.7 ﾿ Indole test ﾿ 14

CHAPTER FOUR

Results ﾿ 15-20

CHAPTER FIVE

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 21

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 22

5.3 ﾿ Recommendations ﾿ 22

REFERENCES

LIST OF TABLES

Table ﾿ Title ﾿           Page

1 ﾿ Outlets of procurement of samples  ﾿ 16

2 ﾿ Types of bacterial isolates and frequency ﾿ 17

3 ﾿ Morphology characteristics of the isolates ﾿ 18

 4 ﾿ ﾿ Gram and biochemical characteristics of the bacteria isolates ﾿ 19

5 ﾿ Standard and mean bacterial load of isolates Cfu/g. ﾿ 20