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| Bacteriological Assessment of Pre-Cut Fruits Sold At Igbona Market, Osogbo, Osun State |
Adekanmi, Abideen Adeyinka, Ayoade, Julius Oluwatosin, Cole, Alice Temitope, Adekanmi Adeniyi S.
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Abstract:
Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins and minerals are certain essential components found in fruits which are beneficial to human health. Presently, most fruits sold to consumers in Nigeria are pre-cut and packaged by vendors and market women. However, the process involves during cutting and packaging of such fruits may introduce some microorganisms that are detrimental to human health. The present study is aimed at assessing the bacteriological quality of pre-cut fruits. Three samples (Pawpaw, Pineapple and Water Melon) were purchased from vendors at Igbona Market, Osogbo, Osun State. Isolation was carried out through serial dilution. Total plate count, Salmonella counts, Coliform count and Escherichia coli were enumerated on nutrient agar, Salmonella Shigella agar, Plate Count Agar (PCA) and Eosin methylene blue agar. Staphlococcus aureus and non E.coli coliforms were detected through Mannitol salt agar and MacConkey agar. Bacterial isolates were identified through Morphological, Biochemical and sugar fermentation tests. The total plate count ranged from 3.6×104 to 6.4×105 while total Coliform count is between 1.8×103 and 6.4×105. Watermelon had highest total plate count of 6.4 × 105, followed by pineapple, 5.2 × 104, while Pawpaw had the least, 3.6 × 104. Pineapple had the highest coliform count of 3.8 × 104, followed by watermelon, 2.7 × 104 while Pawpaw has the least coliform count of 1.8×103. The predominant genera of bacteria observed were Staphylococcus sp, Klebsiella sp, Pseudomonas sp, Enterobacter sp, Micrococcus sp, Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp and Proteus sp. Staphylococcus sp has the highest occurrence 5(25%), followed by Klebsiella sp 4(20%), Pseudomonas sp and Enterobacter sp had 3(15%) while Micrococcus sp. had 2(10%). The least occurrence 1(5%) were recorded by Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp. and Proteus sp respectively. The results recorded in this study revealed that fresh cut fruits are of poor bacteriological quality.
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