Microbiological Characteristics of Water and Seafood (Oyster Tissue) from Trans-Amadiwoji Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Otene B. B.; Ejiko E. S.

Abstract

AbstractTrans-Amadi/Woji creek receives heavy influx of organic and inorganic matter from the surroundings which are all products of anthropogenic activities going on in the area. Assessment of microbes in water and oyster (crassotrea gasar) tissue from Trans-Amadi/Woji creek, Niger Delta were carried out for 6 months between January and June 2017. The microbial samples were collected and analyzed in the laboratory following the standard method of APHA. The total heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count in oyster tissues were significantly higher than that of water. The microbial loads in both oyster and water were higher in station 2 than stations 1 and 3. Microbial load in water showed seasonality with higher wet season value (109056±250305 cfu/ml) unlike the higher dry season value (2,378,889±850503 cfu/100 g) observed in oyster tissue. The range of bacteria load (2.1×104 and 4.9×1006 cfu/100 g) observed in oyster was higher than the specified standard limits (1×105 cfu/g) for bacteria but less than 1×106 cfu/g (<1×106 cfu/g) stipulated for fungi by ICMSF and USFDA. Also, 12 and 8 species of bacteria and fungi were isolated some of which include, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella sp., Aspergillus niger, Candida sp., and Pennicilium sp. among others. The oyster is though rich in protein and highly desired by people but contains higher bacterial load above the required range for seafood. It was therefore recommended that adequate processing facilities should be made available for the people in the area for proper and hygienic processing of seafood before consumption to reduce the menace of food-borne diseases.Keywords: Microbiological, characteristics, water, oyster, Woji Creek, Port HarcourtCite this ArticleEjiko E. S., Otene B. B. Microbiological Characteristics of Water and Seafood (Oyster Tissue) from Trans-Amadiwoji Creek, Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Research & Reviews: Journal of Ecology. 2019; 8(3): 22–31p.