Bacteriological Analysis of Deteriorated Banana (Musa Acuminata) Fruit Sold in Kubwa Market
Abstract
Fruits are a good source of dietary fibre. They contain vitamins and minerals that keep you healthy. Bananas contain a nutrient that help to manage blood pressure and boosts a person’s mood. Bananas are easily damaged and open to infection by bacteria, fungi and viruses. This study was carried out to isolate and identify bacteria associated with spoilt banana. The samples of were collected from Kubwa market in Abuja and were examined by culturing on nutrient, Mac conkey and salmonella-shigella agar. The aerobic mesophilic counts ranged from 2.4 x 10-7 cfu/ml to 3.2 x 10-6 cfu/ml from the surface wash and the total coliform counts ranged from 2.5 x 107cfu/ml. fecal coliform ranged from 3.2x 10-6 cfu/ml ad for Staphylococcus aureus were 1.8x 10-6 cfu/ml and 2.5x 10-7 cfu/ml. Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp and Staphylococcus aureus were detected in 89% of the samples. The presence of the isolates may be due to improper hygienic practices from the point of harvesting, transportation and storage by the handlers. Above all the high moisture content of the banana fruit makes it highly perishable as it supports the growth of micro organisms especially bacteria. Therefore it is recommended that the concerned authorities should introduce a supervisory and monitoring system on the sanitary condition of fruits marketing areas and the visibility of transport system.
