ISSN 2756-3804
International Journal of Irrigation and Water Management ISSN 5423-5294 Vol. 3 (9), pp. 001-005, September, 2016. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Occurrence of ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 in a river used for fresh produce irrigation in Nigeria
V. N. Chigor1*, V. J. Umoh2 and S. I. Smith3
1Department of Microbiology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria.
2Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria.
3Molecular Biology and Biotechnology Division, Nigerian Institute of Medical Research, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria.
Accepted 17 February, 2016
Abstract
Concerns about the persistence of ESCHERICHIA COLI O157 in irrigation waters and its transmission to fresh produce makes investigation of irrigation waters imperative. The prevalence of this pathogen and seasonal levels of water quality parameters in Kubanni River were studied, using standard methods, over a 10-month period. Detection rate for E. COLI O157 confirmed by slide agglutination was 2.1%. Faecal coliform counts (FCC) exceeded acceptable limits and was significantly higher in the dry season than during the rainy season (p<0.05). Remarkably, nitrate level was significantly higher in the rainy season than dry season (p<0.05). A significant (p<0.05) correlation was established between FCC and each of nitrate (r = 0.25), biochemical oxygen demand (r = 0.51) and electrical conductivity (r = 0.55). It was concluded that the Kubanni River represents a potential public health risk, being unfit for fresh produce irrigation. Perhaps, this is the first report on the isolation of E. COLI O157 from water sources in Nigeria.
Key words: Escherichia coli O157, contamination, irrigation water, nitrate, fresh produce, surface waters.