Characterization of Bacterial and Fungal Populations Present in the Wastewater Released by the Ogbe Slaughterhouse

Abstract

This work aimed to characterize the bacterial and fungal concentrates present in the wastewater thrown by the Ogbe slaughterhouse. Bacterial and fungal concentrates from Ogbe slaughterhouse wastewater were evaluated at two seasons. Results obtained showed total heterotrophic bacterial count (2.0×105-2.1×105 cfu/mL) and total fungal count (1.5×105-2.0×105 cfu/mL). Bacterial isolates such as Acinetobacter sp. (0.50-3.65%), Citrobacter sp. (3.00-9.13%), Escherichia sp. (2.50-13.69%), Klebsiella sp. (2.50-14.16%), Proteus sp. (2.00-9.13%), and Staphylococcus sp. (11.00-13.69%) were higher in dry season than rainy season. Bacillus sp. (9.13-23.00%), Enterobacter sp. (0.00-3.00%), Micrococcus sp. (6.85-7.50%), Pseudomonas sp. (12.84-25.00%), Salmonella sp. (4.57-5.00%), Serratia sp. (0.00-1.50%) and Streptococcus sp. (4.57-13.00%) were higher in rainy season than dry season. Mould isolates such as Absidia sp., Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Cladosporium sp., Penicillium sp., and Rhizopus sp., were observed in the present study. Apart from Penicillium sp., the percentage occurrence of all the observed mould isolates in wastewater for the seasons were higher than their respective control. Candida sp., Saccharomyces sp., and Torulopsis sp, were among the yeast isolated from wastewater generated from Ogbe abattoir in this study.  The observed isolates become important when their potential risk as pathogens as well as the intensified environmental health hazards they pose to humans living within the abattoir environment are considered.