BACTERIOLOGICAL EXAMINATION OF SLICED PAWPAW SOLD AT ABAKPA MARKET, ENUGU
Abstract
The bacteriological examination of sliced pawpaw sold at Abakpa market, Enugu State was investigated. Serial dilution method was employed using Nutrient agar and MacConkey agar with biochemical tests to identify the bacteria isolated. The microbial load of ten samples of sliced paw-paw analyzed gave bacterial mean count of 154 × 10³ CFU/g. The highest bacterial organism isolated was Staphylococcus aureus with bacterial mean count of 49 × 10³ CFU/g (32%). This was followed by Pseudomonas species with bacterial mean count of 43 × 10³ CFU/g (28%). The next was Escherichia coli with bacterial mean count of 37 × 10³ CFU/g (24.2%). Whereas the least isolated bacterial organism was Salmonella species with bacteria mean count of 24 × 10³ CFU/g (15.8%). This study showed that sliced paw-paw fruits were heavily contaminated with bacteria organisms which included Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas, Salmonella spp and Escherichia coli. Therefore to ensure reduced bacterial load and safety, good personal hygiene and proper sanitary ways of processing fruits must be adopted by fruit vendors.
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