Bacteria diversity of two abattoir effluents in Ikpoba Hill and Oluku, Benin City, Nigeria and their potential public health implications

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Biological Science, College of Natural and Applied Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria.

2 Department of Nursing Science, College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University, Okada, Nigeria.

Abstract

Background: Slaughterhouse or Abattoir are usually the starting point of most meat processing industry especially in communities where the stock comes directly from the market or farms to the food chain. Meat is processed fresh for consumers and traders alike in these facilities and as a critical component of the livestock industry, a major source of meat supplies and employment in Nigeria. However, the activities and processes in these abattoirs when mishandled, are often a direct or an indirect source of pollution in the environment. When improperly treated, the effluents from these Abattoirs constitute a significant environmental and health hazard. Aim: This study investigated the bacteria diversity of the effluents from the Ikpoba Hill and Oluku abattoirs and their public health implications. Methods: 1.5 liters effluents samples, were collected from the two abattoirs.  25 ml of effluents mixed with 225 ml of buffered peptone water (1 in 10 dilution) from where other dilutions were obtained and Phenotypic identification of microbes was performed according to standard methods. The organisms were isolated using the Trypticase Soy Agar (TSA) media. Results: A total of 5 distinct bacterial isolates (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus substilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Enterococcus faecalis ) were isolated from the effluents. The percentage occurrence of the organisms isolated from Abattoir A were E. coli (31.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (24.5%), Enterococcus faecalis (18.6%), Bacillus substilis (17.6%), and Klebsiella pneumonia (8.2%) while the percentage occurrence of the isolates in abattoir B were  E. coli (35.3%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.7%), Bacillus substilis (19.3%), Streptococcus faecalis (17.3%), and Klebsiella pneumonia (7.4%). Conclusion: The study concludes that some of these organisms isolated from these effluents constitute potential public health hazards. It is recommended that effluents from these abattoirs be properly treated before releasing them to the environment.

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