Bacteriological evaluation of pre-cut fruits sold in Kano metropolis, Kano State, Nigeria. 2009

O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
Molecular Biology Department, Federal College of Veterinary and Medical Laboratory Technology, Vom, Nigeria. chyooks@yahoo.com

One hundred and fifty (150) pre-cut fruit samples comprising of Pineapples (50), Paw-paw (50) and Watermelon (50) at the point of stand retail outlets were tested by standard bacteriological methods to determine bacterial contamination of the fruits. Out of these 150 examined 136 (90.67%) were contaminated with bacteria. The bacterial distribution were; Escherichia coli 69 (46.00%), Staphylococcus aureus 29 (19.33%), Salmonella species 13 (8.67%), Proteus species 18 (12.00%), Enterobacter aerogenes 3 (2.00%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 2 (1.33%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (1.33%). Among the 50 Pineapple pre-cuts, Escherichia coli 26 (17.33%), Staphylococcus aureus 6 (4.00%), Salmonella species 7 (4.67%), Proteus species 9 (6.00%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 2 (1.33%); the 50 Watermelon had Escherchia coli 22 (14.67%), Staphylococcus aureus 13 (8.67%), Salmonella species 3 (2.00%), Proteus species 5 (3.33%), Enterobacter aerogenes 2 (1.33%), Klebsiella species 2 (1.33%). Of the 50 Paw-paw pre-cuts were: Escherichia coli 21 (14.00%), Staphylococcus aureus 10 (6.67%), Salmonella species 3 (2.00%), Proteus species 4 (2.67%), Enterobacter aerogenes 1 (0.67%) were isolated. The findings in this study have shown that the food vendors failed to adopt adequate hygiene for food handling and thus, suggest that the quality of all the pre-cut fruits sold at the retail outlets were not bacteriologically satisfactory. The public health risks associated with these pre-cut fruits may suggest that these fruits could serve as the vehicles for foodborne illnesses. This study has shown the need to educate the vendors on how to protect utensils and fruits to avoid contamination and spoilage.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009549 Nigeria A republic in western Africa, south of NIGER between BENIN and CAMEROON. Its capital is Abuja. Federal Republic of Nigeria
D011634 Public Health Branch of medicine concerned with the prevention and control of disease and disability, and the promotion of physical and mental health of the population on the international, national, state, or municipal level. Community Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine & Public Health,Environment, Preventive Medicine and Public Health,Health, Community,Health, Public
D005506 Food Contamination The presence in food of harmful, unpalatable, or otherwise objectionable foreign substances, e.g. chemicals, microorganisms or diluents, before, during, or after processing or storage. Food Adulteration,Adulteration, Food,Adulterations, Food,Contamination, Food,Contaminations, Food,Food Adulterations,Food Contaminations
D005511 Food Handling Any aspect of the operations in the preparation, processing, transport, storage, packaging, wrapping, exposure for sale, service, or delivery of food. Food Processing,Handling, Food,Processing, Food
D005638 Fruit The fleshy or dry ripened ovary of a plant, enclosing the seed or seeds. Berries,Legume Pod,Plant Aril,Plant Capsule,Aril, Plant,Arils, Plant,Berry,Capsule, Plant,Capsules, Plant,Fruits,Legume Pods,Plant Arils,Plant Capsules,Pod, Legume,Pods, Legume
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D001419 Bacteria One of the three domains of life (the others being Eukarya and ARCHAEA), also called Eubacteria. They are unicellular prokaryotic microorganisms which generally possess rigid cell walls, multiply by cell division, and exhibit three principal forms: round or coccal, rodlike or bacillary, and spiral or spirochetal. Bacteria can be classified by their response to OXYGEN: aerobic, anaerobic, or facultatively anaerobic; by the mode by which they obtain their energy: chemotrophy (via chemical reaction) or PHOTOTROPHY (via light reaction); for chemotrophs by their source of chemical energy: CHEMOLITHOTROPHY (from inorganic compounds) or chemoorganotrophy (from organic compounds); and by their source for CARBON; NITROGEN; etc.; HETEROTROPHY (from organic sources) or AUTOTROPHY (from CARBON DIOXIDE). They can also be classified by whether or not they stain (based on the structure of their CELL WALLS) with CRYSTAL VIOLET dye: gram-negative or gram-positive. Eubacteria
D029441 Carica A plant genus of the family Caricaceae, order Violales, subclass Dilleniidae, class Magnoliopsida. It is the source of edible fruit and PAPAIN. Papaya,Carica papaya,Carica papayas,Caricas,Papayas,papaya, Carica
D029773 Citrullus A plant genus of the family CUCURBITACEAE known for the edible fruit. Watermelon,Watermelons
D031230 Ananas A plant genus of the family BROMELIACEAE known for the edible fruit that is the source of BROMELAINS. Pineapple,Anana,Pineapples

Related Publications

O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
January 2016, Toxicology reports,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
December 2020, African health sciences,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
September 2010, The Nigerian postgraduate medical journal,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
January 2011, International journal of occupational safety and ergonomics : JOSE,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
January 2017, Toxicology reports,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
September 1974, Bulletin of epizootic diseases of Africa. Bulletin des epizooties en Afrique,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
March 2023, World journal of otorhinolaryngology - head and neck surgery,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
February 2020, Infectious diseases of poverty,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
September 2016, Safety and health at work,
O O C Chukwu, and O A Olabode, and A A Chukwuedo, and E G Umoh, and M K Esiekpe
December 2008, Waste management (New York, N.Y.),
Copied contents to your clipboard!