Publications

Title: MICROBIOLOGICAL QUALITY OF READY -TO-EAT SLICED WATERMELON (Citrullus Lanatus) SOLD INLOKOJA MARKETS AND THE BACTERIAL ISOLATES ANTIBIOGRAM
Author(s): Adegoke, S.A and Okolo, E
Year 2019
Publisher: Confluence Journal of Pure and Applied Sciences (CJPAS)
URI: https://publications.fulokoja.edu.ng/publication-page.php?i=microbiological-quality-of-ready-to-eat-sliced-watermelon-citrullus-lanatus-sold-inlokoja-markets-and-the-bacterial-isolates-antibiogram
File: PDF
Keywords: Microbial load Percentage of occurrence Bacterial Isolates Fungal Isolates and Biochemical test.
Microbiological assessment of two hundred and forty samples of ready-to-eat sliced watermelon
fruits sold in Lokoja markets, Kogi State was carried out to determine their microbiological quality.
Potato Dextrose Agar and Nutrient Agar were used for culturing and isolation of microorganisms
from sliced watermelon using pour plate technique. Bacterial isolates were identified by
biochemical test while fungal isolates were identified based on their colonial and microscopic
morphology. Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes, Pseudomonas
aeruginosa and Proteus sp are the bacteria isolated while the fungi isolated are: Aspergillus niger,
Alternaria sp, Mucor sp and Rhizopus sp. The bacterial load was in the range of 2.97-6.60x105
while the fungal load was in the range of 3.33-4.92x104. Results of the antibiotic sensitivity test
showed that the Gram positive isolate; S.aureus was most sensitive to pefloxacin while the Gram
negative isolates were most sensitive to ciprofloxacin. The result of the microbiological assessment
of sliced watermelon sold in Lokoja markets suggest that they are of poor microbiological quality as
such it is recommended that sliced watermelon fruits are processed, packed and sold under hygienic
condition.