Assessment of Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (HPC) Associated with Commercial Freezers in Yenagoa Metropolis

Douye V. Zige^1, , Faith I. Omeje¹ and Christian K. Anumudu¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Federal University, Otuoke, P.M.B. 126, Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, Nigeria

Cite this paper:
Douye V. Zige, Faith I. Omeje and Christian K. Anumudu. Assessment of Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (HPC) Associated with Commercial Freezers in Yenagoa Metropolis. American Journal of Microbiological Research. 2019; 7(3):98-101. doi: 10.12691/ajmr-7-3-5

Abstract

Microorganism are known to be present anywhere they can proliferate, its presence dictates it pathogenicity or otherwise. The study was embarked to assess the enteric bacterial quality and potential risk of water at the bottom of selected commercial freezers in Yenagoa metropolis. Serial dilution was adopted for the assessment of Heterotrophic bacterial count (HPC). From the analysis, bacterial count ranged between 1.083±0.104×107cfu/mL and 2.0 ± 0.358×107cfu/mL. the highest was in sample 4 (S4) and least in sample 10 (S10), the study thus found the presence of heterotrophic bacteria in all samples. This research reveals that freezers S5, S3, S4 and S8 were seriously contaminated, having mean viable bacterial load of 2.47×107cfu/mL, 2.18×107cfu/mL, 2.00×107 cfu/mL and 2.00×107 cfu/mL, respectively; while freezer S1, S2, S6, S7, S9 and S10 had variably viable bacteria count, the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria count (HPC) between sampled freezers was statistically very significant (P0.05, 0.01). Bacteria cells using morphological and biochemical characterization identified in the study include Escherichia coli (29.4%), which was the most frequently occurring organism, followed by Citrobacter spp (14.7%), Klebsella pneumonia (14.7%), Shigella spp (11.8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (11.8%), Yersinia spp (8.8%) and Campylobacter jejuni (8.8%). E coli were the most frequently isolated bacteria. E. coli and other Eneteric bacteria isolated from freezers are an indication that food items and water stored in these freezers are not safe from public health stand point. Susceptibility of isolates to antibiotics reveals 8(23.5%) were resistant and 26 (76.5%) were susceptible out of 34 cells identified. High resistance was seen in Klebsiella spp which had 2 (60%) and 100% susceptibility was seen among Citrobacter spp and Yersinia spp, on the other hand other isolate had varying drug resistant patterns. The importance of temperature control and regular efficient cleaning regimes need to be communicated to the public so that, effectual management and cleaning of freezers makes frozen food reliable and less likely to act as significant sources of human food and water borne diseases.

Keywords:
Heterotrophic Bacteria Count (HPC) contamination enteric pathogens commercial freezers

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

References:

[1]	Sophie, V Understanding microbial indicators for drinking water assessment: interpretation of test results and public health significance. National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, pg1-12. 2013.
[2]	Hsu, F-C., Shieh, Y., Van Duin, J., Beekwilder, M and Sobsey M.D Genotyping male-specific RNA coliphages by hybridization with oligonucleotide probes. Appl Environ Microb, 61: 3960-3966. 1995.
[3]	Edberg, S.C and Smith, D.B Absence of association between total heterotrophic and total coliform bacteria from a public water supply. Appl Environ Microbiol. 55: 380-4. 1988.
[4]	Bartram, J., Cotruvo, J., Exner, M., Fricker, C and Glasmacher A. Heterotrophic plate counts and drinking-water safety: the significance of HPCs for water quality and human health, Ed, IWA Publishing, pp. 7-16. 2003.
[5]	Le Chevallier, M.W., Seidler, R.J and Evans, T.M Enumeration and characterization of standard plate count bacteria in chlorinated and raw water supplies. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 40, 922-930. 1980.
[6]	McFeters, G.A., Le Chevallier, M.W., Singh, A and Kippin, J.S. Health significance and occurrence of injured bacteria in drinking water. Water Sci. Technol. 18 (10), 227-231. 1986.
[7]	Pavlov, D., de Wet, C.M., Grabow, W.O and Ehlers, M.M Potentially pathogenic features of heterotrophic plate count bacteria isolated from treated and untreated drinking water. Int. J. Food Microbiol. 92 (3), 275-287. 2004.
[8]	Helmer, R and Hespanhol, I. Water pollution control: a guide to the use of water quality management principles. Supply W, Council SC, Organization WH, Press C. ed. E & FN Spon; London, pp. 400-402. 1997.
[9]	Allen, M.J., Edberg, S.C and Reasoner, D.J. Heterotrophic plate count bacteria—what is their significance in drinking water? Int J Food Microbiol, 92pp: 265-274. 2004.
[10]	Ainsworth, R., Water, S and WHO. Safe piped water: managing microbial water quality in piped distribution systems/edited by Richard Ainsworth, editor. .pp: 25-130. 2004.
[11]	Prévost, M., Rompré, A., Coallier, J., Servais, P., Laurent, P., Clément, B and Lafrance, P. Suspended bacterial biomass and activity in full-scale drinking water distribution systems: impact of water treatment. Water Res, 32pp: 1393-1406. 1998.
[12]	White, B. A and West, E.M. Personal hygiene and kitchen hygiene. J. Food Serv. Inst., 5: 220-36. 1992.
[13]	Davies, R.J. The national sanitation training program: Canadian Restaurant Associations Answers to Safe and Sanitary Food Service. J. Food Technology, 39: 367-9. 1995.
[14]	Eja, M. A., Etok, C.A., Asikong, B.E., Mboto, C.I and Arikpo, G.E. Incidence of enteric bacterial pathogens in water found at the bottom of commercial freezers in Calabar, Southeastern Nigeria. Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 37 (2): 394-399. 2006.
[15]	Baker, F.J and Silverton, R.E. Introduction to medical laboratory technology. (sixth edition), Butterworth and co-publishers limited, UK. 2: 2-392. 1985.
[16]	Ntekpe M. E., Ukpanah, U.A., Edem, A.B., Edet, E and Umoekam, N.M. Sanitary Practices and Occurrence of Coliform Bacteria in Freezers Used in Some Restaurants in Uyo Metropolis. Int. J. Food Nutr. Saf. 3(2): 71-80. 2013.
[17]	American Public Health Association. Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater, 20th eds. APHA, Washington, D. C. 1998
[18]	Atlas, R.M and Bartha, R. Degradation and mineralization of petroleum by two bacteria isolated from coastal waters. Biotechnological Bioengineering. 14: 297-308. 1992.
[19]	Cheesbrough, M. District Laboratory Practice in Tropical Countries. (4th edition). Cambridge university press, UK. p143-157. 2006.
[20]	Iquo, B.O., Itodo, S.E., Blessing, F.O and Usang, A.I. Microbial Contamination of House Hold Refrigerators in Calabar Metropolis-Nigeria.” American Journal of Epidemiology and Infectious Disease. 5(1)1-7. 2017.
[21]	Warburton, D.W., Peterkin, P.L., Weiss, K and Johnston, M. Microbiological quality of bottled water sold in Canada. Can. J. Microbiol. 32, 391-393. 1986.
[22]	Richards, J., Stokely, D and Hipgrave, P. Quality of drinking water. Br. Med. J. 304, 571. 1992.
[23]	Hunter, P.R., Burge, S.H and Hornby, H. An assessment of the microbiological safety of bottled mineral waters. Rivista Italiana d’ Igiena 50, 394-400. 1990.
[24]	Ogan, M.T. Microbiological quality of bottled water sold in retail outlets in Nigeria. J. Appl. Bacteriol. 73, 175-181. 1992.
[25]	McCoy, J. H.The safety and cleanliness of waters and foods. J. Applied Bacteriology, 24: 365-67. 1991.
[26]	World Health Organization. Guidelines for Drinking Water Quality. vol. 2. WHO, Geneva. 1996.
[27]	Brooks, G. F., Carroll, K.C., Butel, J.S., Morse, S.A and Mietzner, T.A. Jawetz, Melnick and Adelberg’s Medical Microbiology, 25th eds. p213-5. 2010.
[28]	Conway, P.L. Human colonic bacteria: role in nutrition, physiology, and pathology. In Microbial ecology of the human large intestine.gibson and G. T. Macfarlane, eds. CRC press, Boca Raton, FL, p1-24. 1995.