The microbial air quality of a Secondary School in Port Harcourt was investigated between 9- 9:30am and 2-2:30am employing plate exposure and count method for bacteria and fungi estimation. Results obtained from the study showed that bacteria counts from the school for morning session ranged from 4.8 x 103 cfu/m3 (Library) to 4.07 x 104 cfu/m3 (Staffroom) and for the afternoon 9.8 x 103 cfu/m3 (Library) to 4.66 x 104 cfu/m3(SS1A Classroom). Fungal counts ranged from 5.68 x 103 cfu/m3 (Library) to 2.07 x 104 cfu/m3 (SS3B Classroom) for the morning sessions and 6.56 x 103 cfu/m3 (Library) to 2.59 x 104 cfu/m3 (SS3B Classroom) for the afternoon session. Seven bacterial species, Bacillus spp., Enterococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Micrococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. Staphylococcus aureus and Serratia spp and six fungal species, Alternaria spp., Aspergillus niger, Candida spp., Mucor spp., Penicillium spp., and Rhizopus spp were isolated. The bioaerosol concentrations were higher than recommended limit regardless of the sampling sessions. The high microbial counts and identified bacterial and fungal species may pose a serious problem to learning. Keywords: Microbial Air Quality, Classroom, Bacteria, Fungi, Niger Delta
Aims: Ideal water for swimming should meet the portable water standard by being transparent, odorless, and tasteless. However, these qualities can be affected by the presence of infectious agents which directly or indirectly contaminate pool water. This study aims at monitoring the microorganisms (bacteria, fungi and protozoa parasites) and pH associated with swimming pool water. Study Design: A random sampling technique was adopted to select the five (5) swimming pools for the study based on accessibility and visitation. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Port Harcourt Local Government Area, Rivers State between March 2016 to August 2017. Methodology: Five (5) outdoor swimming pools attached to hotels in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Port Harcourt Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria were randomly selected for the study. Water samples were aseptically collected in duplicates and analyzed for total heterotrophic bacterial count, total heterotrophic fungal count, protozoa and pH using appropriate techniques. Results: The results show that swimming pools with sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate had a mean THBC range from 4x101 cfu/ml - 1.58x103 cfu/ml, mean THFC, 0 cfu/ml - 8x101 cfu/ml and mean pH, 5.9-6.4; for samples without sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate, the mean THBC ranged from 0 cfu/ml - 9.2x101 cfu/ml, mean THF, 0 cfu/ml - 8x101 cfu/ml and mean pH, 5.6-6-2. Protozoa (parasites) were absent in all water samples analyzed. The results further reveals that 95.9% and 100% of the swimming pools samples failed to the meet the <100 cfu/ml and 7.0 – 7.8 World Health Organisation Standards for THBC and pH respectively. The bacteria identified are Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Stapylococcus aureus while the fungi identified are Aspergillus spp., Rhizopus spp. and Penicillium spp. Conclusion: The study finds the levels of THBC in the samples with sodium thiosulphate pentahydrate, the presence of Escherichia coli and the pH range a threat to health of bathers. Therefore, the owners should ensure routine decontamination and assessment of water quality.
Aims: The hand-dug wells and river water in Oproama Community, Rivers State, Nigeria was assessed for its quality. Study Design: The study involved ten (10) sampling stations consisting of seven (7) hand-dug wells and three (3) points along the Oproama River. Place and Duration of Study: Oproama Community in Asari-toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria between January and December, 2011 to cover both dry and wet seasons. Methodology: The parameters assessed were Vibrio (bacteria), salinity, calcium, magnesium concentrations as well as saltwater intrusion status employing standard laboratory procedures and estimation model. Results: The results reveal that Vibrio counts ranged from 2 x102 to 1.375 x104 cfu/100ml and the bacteria species identified from the water sources were Vibrio cholera and Vibrio parahaemolyticus. The study also reveals that salinity ranged from 11.97 to 13,772mg/l, calcium, 0.15 to 126.33mg/l and magnesium, 0.09 to 43.02mg/l. All parameters assessed exhibited seasonal variation during the study period; Calcium/magnesium (Ca/Mg) ratios for each well water sample ranged from 1.67 to 12.33 and indicate absence of saltwater intrusion which stands at a Ca/Mg limit of 1. Conclusion: Salinity (particularly well water samples), calcium and magnesium concentrations were within recommended limit; Vibrio counts were high and its presence in drinking water has public health risk; therefore, the use of sanitary buckets and point-of-use (households use) treatment and safe storage practices of water is strongly advocated.
This study was carried out to investigate the enterotoxigenic profile of Escherichia coli obtained from Zobo drinks and Snail samples and Salmonella spp. obtained from a Poultry farm in suckling albino rats. For the study a total of 30 suckling albino rats were obtained from the Animal Department, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. The suckling albino rats were used to evaluate the enterotoxigenicity potentials of the Escherichia coli isolates (Zobo drink 1, Zobo drink 2, snail sample 1, snail sample 2) and Salmonella spp. (S1, S2, S3, S4) using Gut/body ratio (G/B) and fluid accumulation ratio (FAR). The results after 4 hours shows that the fluid accumulation ratio as follows: Zobo drink 1 (0.050), Zobo drink 2 (0.090), snail 1 (0.087), snail 2 (0.099) and S1 (0.099), S2 (0.080), S3 (0.122), S4 (0.124), indicating toxicity potential of the test isolates, except Zobo drink 1 considering the ˃0.065 Fluid Accumulation Ratio. The practice of good hygiene, proper cooking of food and adequate enlightenment is strongly recommended.
Mycoflora and Water quality index assessment studies of hand-dug wells and a river in Oproama Community, Niger Delta were studied. Water samples was taken from the ten sampling stations (7 wells and 3 river points) and water quality index using water quality index calculator given by National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) information system.
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