Salmonella and Listeria Associated with Street Vended Watermelon and Pawpaw Sold in Calabar Metropolis
G. E. John *
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria
J. A. Lennox
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria
J. T. Johnson
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Basic Medical Science, University of Calabar, Nigeria
H. Peters
Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture and Wildlife, University of Calabar Nigeria
G. E. Umoafia
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, University of Calabar, Nigeria
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Fresh cut street vended watermelon and pawpaw was analyzed for possible contamination with Salmonella and Listeria species was understudied using standard microbiological techniques. A total of twenty samples, (10) of pawpaw and (10) of watermelon were obtained from four different vendors located in Etta-Agbo, Watt, Goldie and Marian market. These were analyzed using the Compact Dry Plate, chromogenic media for the direct detection of these organisms selectively. The results revealed a high contamination level of the samples with Salmonella spp whereas all the pawpaw and watermelon samples analyzed were free of Listeria spp. The mean Salmonella spp count ranged between 2.1X103 to 5.7x105 cfu/g. The presence of this organism in the samples analyzed is a reflection of unwholesomeness and gross contamination of the fruits and are therefore unsafe for human consumption.
Keywords: Watermelon, pawpaw, contamination, street vended fruits, Salmonella, Listeria