ASSESSMENT OF MICROBIOLOGICAL, PHYSICOCHEMICAL QUALITIES AND ANTIBIOTIC SUSCEPTIBILITY PATTERN OF COLIFORMS IN VARIOUS WELL WATERS IN IPETUMODU, OSUN STATE
Fakorede, Cecilia Nireti; Amuro, Grace Ifeoluwa; Odulana, Dorcas Sesede and Adeyemi, Oluwaseun Abayomi
Department of Biological Science
Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, P.M.B 5533, Ile-Ife, Osun State
Email: fakorede.c@oduduwauniversity.edu.ng
Corresponding author: Fakorede, C.N.
ABSTRACT
According to World Health Organization guideline standards for total and faecal coliform in drinking water, the indicator of faecal contamination must not be detectable in any 100 ml of samples. Such water is not potable and drinking or using such water in food preparation leads to wide spread of acute and chronic illnesses. This study was conducted to determine the microbiological, physicochemical qualities and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of Escherichia coli in various well waters in Ipetumodu, Osun state Southwestern Nigeria. A total of ten water samples labeled as A to J were collected from different locations in Ipetumodu city. The total bacterial count was determined by serial dilution and pour plate method, total and fecal coliform count and isolation were carried out using membrane filter technique. Identifications of isolates were done using cultural, Gram staining reaction and biochemical methods. Physicochemical parameters were analyzed using their various standard methods, the concentrations of some heavy metals were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Total bacterial count ranged from 5.7 x 103 CFU/ml to 6.7 x 103 CFU/ml with the highest count obtained in sampling station G and J, and the least count in sampling station F. The total coliform count of the waters analyzed ranged 49 to 67 MF index of coliform/100 ml of the water samples. Fecal coliforms were detected in water sample of sampling station A, B, E, H, I and J only which range from 1.0 to 3.0 CFU/ml. From the water samples, eight genera of bacteria which include Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Enterobacter sp, Salmonella sp, Citrobacter sp, Enterococcus sp, Neisseria sp, and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. All isolates were found sensitive to Ofloxacin and resistant to Augmetin, Ceftzadime, Cefuroxime and Cefixime. The results obtained indicated that well waters are not safe for consumption and they were of poor bacteriological qualities indicative of health risk to the inhabitants of the city.
