Assessment on the Causes and the Effects of Microorganisms on Fresh Water Melon (A Case of Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria)

• Author(s): Ismaila Muhammed Dankogi ; Anisha Michael C. ; Ochimana Paul ; Shaibu Jessy O.
• Paper ID: 1704208
• Page: 356-366
• Published Date: 31-03-2023
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 6 Issue 9 March-2023

Abstract

In this study, samples of sliced and unsliced watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) were obtained from five different vendors in Anyigba, Kogi State Nigeria, to determine the bacteria load and identify the microorganisms present in each sample. Evaluation of the possible microorganisms on the watermelon samples was carried out based on standard microbiological methods Bacterial load of the sliced watermelon samples ranged from 239 x 10 cfu/g to 190 x 10 cfu/gand 239 x 10 cfu/g and 83 x 10 cfug to 64 x 10 cfu/g for the unsliced watermelon samples Total coliform count ranged between 39 x 10 cfu/g to 23 x 10 cfu/g for the sliced watermelon samples while no coliform contamination was recorded for the unsliced samples. Total staphylococcal count ranged between 85 x 10'efug to 65 x 10 cfu/g for the sliced samples while the unsliced samples ranged between 36 x 10'cfu/g to 20 x 10 cfu/g.Staphylococcus aureus (27.7%) was the most frequently isolated, followed by Proteus vulgaris (16.6%) and Micrococcus luteus (13.8%). Staphylococcus epidermidis (11.1%), Bacillus subtilis (11.1%), Escherichia coli (11.1%) while the least frequently isolated was Salmonella spp(8.33%). The result derived from this study shows that both the sliced and unsliced watermelon samples were contaminated with different types of microorganisms, but only the sliced were contaminated with microorganisms such as E coli which is of public health importance that could be responsible for community wide food borne infection and epidemics. Therefore, proper hygiene should be maintained while watermelon fruits are sliced in order to prevent microbial contamination.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Ismaila Muhammed Dankogi , Anisha Michael C. , Ochimana Paul , Shaibu Jessy O. "Assessment on the Causes and the Effects of Microorganisms on Fresh Water Melon (A Case of Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 6 Issue 9 2023 Page 356-366

IEEE:
Ismaila Muhammed Dankogi , Anisha Michael C. , Ochimana Paul , Shaibu Jessy O. "Assessment on the Causes and the Effects of Microorganisms on Fresh Water Melon (A Case of Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria)" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 6(9)