Bio-chemical characterization of bacterial flora associated with spoilt vegetables in kaduna markets Northern Nigeria

F. M. Mahamud, D. B. Dangora, S. Mu’azu, A. U. Khan, S. Nura, Z. A. Gaiya

Department of Applied Science, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria.
Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria.
School of Basic and Remedial Studies, Ahmadu Bello University, Funtua, Nigeria.

DOI: 10.4236/abc.2013.31017                

Abstract

Some vegetables such as Capsicum annum (Pepper), Lycopersicon esculentum (Tomato), Allium cepa (Onion), Cucumis sativus (Cucumber), Solanum tubero- sum (Potato) and Daucus carrota (Carrot) which are consumed more frequently in the area were obtained from Kaduna central market and Kawo market with the aim of isolating and characterizing the different bacterial flora associated with their spoilage. Four bacteriological media: Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA), MacConkey Agar (MA), Salmonella Shigella Agar (SSA) and Blood Agar (BA) were used for the isolation of the bacterial populations. The results obtained from Kaduna central market indicated the presence of two Gram positive bacteria viz: Staphylococcus and Streptococcus strains as well as three Gram negative bacteria including Escherichia coli, Citrobacter and Klebsiella spp. Staphylococcus aureus is the most abundant (with 80% relative occurrence) with Strep-tococcus spp being the least abundant (with 10% relative occurrence). Furthermore, among the Gram negative isolates, Escherichia coli, Citrobacter and Kleb- siella spp had the highest occurrence of 30% each, while Enterobacter spp had the least. Similar results were obtained of the isolates from Kawo market except that among the Gram negatives, Edwardsiella spp was found in Kawo market but E. coli is absent. More so, S. aureus and K. spp has the highest percentage of 605 each in Kawo market. The result showed that the people consuming these vegetables are at higher risk of boils, carbuncles, impetigo, infections of wounds and burns, breast abscesses, whitlow, osteomyelitis, bronchopneumonia, septicemia, bacteremia, acute endocarditis, food poisoning and scalded skin syndrome due to these bacterial populations.

Keywords

Bacterial Flora; Characterization; Kawo Market; Kaduna Market; Vegetables

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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