ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIAL SPECIES FROM SLAUGHTER HOUSE EFFLUENT

ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIAL SPECIES FROM SLAUGHTER HOUSE EFFLUENT

ABSTRACT

This research work titled “isolation and identification of bacterial species from slaughter house effluent” seeks to detect contaminating micro-organisms before slaughtering process in poultry, to study the bacteriological quality of abattoir contaminated effluent and to characterize the bacterial isolates from the abattoir effluent. Sample used in this research were gotten from Nasarawa abattoir. A total of 3 samples of the effluent were analysed on weekly basis for total bacterial count, total coliform count and fungi growth. The colony forming unit per gram (cfu/ml) of the bacterial count ranged from 1.0 x 10⁴ – 9.5 x 10⁴cfu/ml. The presence of Staphylococci spp, Salmonellaspp, E. coli, Serratiaspp and Bacillus and Pseudomonas spp were suspect bacterial isolate found in the waste water. The study recommends that standard hygienic practices be enforced at both pre- and post-production stages and establishment of cleaning programmes with subsequent monitoring and microbiological verification to determine effectiveness should be encouraged both in slaughterhouse and in butcheries.

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background of the Study

Meat and meat products are an important component of diet in many parts of the world, particularly in developed nations, where the consumption of animal protein per head of population is the highest. For developing nations, the production and consumption of meat is increasing as levels of affluence increase. The continuous drive to increase meat production to meet the protein needs of the population is usually associated with some pollution problems (Hinton et al., 2010).

The health of the city is linked to the health of the dwellers. The health of the dweller is affected by the environment. In every neighbourhood, there is a considerable range of biological and chemical pollutants that cause or contribute to diseases. Some may pose health risk for specific particular group while others for the entire neighbourhood. Pathogens from cattle waste could be transmitted to humans via water-based recreations.

Wing and Wolf (2010) noted decrease health and quality of life of residents around intensive livestock’s operations and hinted that respiratory and mucous membrane effects were common with neighbours of intensive swine operation. Abattoir activities have also been found to be associated with some diseases such as pneumonia, diarrhea, typhoid fever, asthma, wool sorter diseases, respiratory and chest diseases (Bello and Oyedemi, 2009).

Human and animal wastes are usually not disposed of in landfills, although animal carcasses and waste from abattoirs may in some countries be disposed of in dumps and landfills. The main health concern with human and animal wastes is the high concentrations of pathogenic organisms associated with this type of waste, and the potential it has to spread disease. Animal wastes represent a risk to the quality of local groundwater because of the proliferation of microorganisms that occurs during the process of degradation (Ezeronye and Ubalua, 2005).

It is generally observed that, waste management legislation in Nigeria, where available, is scattered, scanty, obsolete and non-effective. It is grossly inefficient and non-enforceable, and does not serve as a deterrent to the indiscriminate release of waste into the environment.

Abattoirs are approved and registered facilities where animals are slaughtered and dressed for human consumption (Tompkin, 2004). The purpose of an abattoir is to produce hygienically prepared meat by the humane handling of the animal using hygienic techniques for slaughtering and dressing (FAO, 2002). However, meat contamination in abattoirs and meat stalls often result from contaminated water, unhygienic practices like poor handling, use of contaminated tables to display meat meant for sale and the use of contaminated knives in cutting operations (Fasanmiet al., 2010).

Abattoirs are a major pollutant of the country side and cities, when the slaughter wastes are not properly managed, and especially, discharged into waterways, such practices can introduce enteric pathogens and excess nutrients into surface water (Alonge, 2011). Slaughtering animals on a large scale is fraught with critical environmental and public health issues. The absence of potable water supplies coupled with the poor status of public infrastructures and unhygienic conditions of these abattoirs raise serious public health concern, as hygiene problems are not only limited to slaughtering but are also associated with incorrect processing of the animals (Akinro, 2009).

Food and water-borne pathogens are the leading cause of illness and death in developing countries costing billions of dollars in medical care and social costs (Fratamico, 2005; Ayoadeet al., 2013). Contaminated raw meat is one of the main sources of food-borne illnesses. The risk of the transmission of zoonotic infections is also associated with contaminated meat (Bhandareet al., 2007; Podpecanet al., 2007).

Contamination of water bodies from abattoir waste constitutes significant environmental and public health hazards (Nafarndaet al., 2006;Osibanjo and Adie, 2007; World Bank, 2008; Coker et al., 2011).

The genera normally regarded as coliforms include Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Citrobacter and Escherichia, particularly E. coli. However, others may include strains belonging to genera such as Serratia, Yersinia etc. (Wallace et al., 2011).

In most developing countries such as Nigeria, there are three main types of abattoirs, namely, the line slaughter, the slaughter slab and the batch systems. The line slaughter system is the most orderly and well-fitted in terms of customary abattoir configuration, furnishing, administration and conformation to the WHO guidelines on setting up of an abattoir (Eriksen, 2008). On the other hand, slaughter slabs that are the most commonly found in Nigeria are established and operated by municipal and local authorities. These operate in well-built areas and conform to a good extent with the WHO guidelines for abattoirs.

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

In Nigeria, numerous abattoirs dispose their effluents directly into the streams and waterways without any type of treatment and the butchered meat is washed by the same water (Adelegan, 2002). Pathogens present in animal carcasses or shed in animal wastes may include rotaviruses, hepatitis E virus, Salmonella spp., E. coli O157:H7, Yersiniaenterocolitica, Campylobacter spp., Cryptosporidiumparvum, Giardialamblia and many members of the bacterial family Enterobacteriaceae (Sobseyet al., 2002).

If large amounts of wastes from animal production are directly applied into the soil, it pollutes the environment, including the ground water (Tymczynaet al., 2000). In particular high protein waste leads to high nitrogen losses with 50% of total nitrogen lost in a few months (Williams et al., 2009); resulting in enrichment of ground water, lakes or streams, pathogen distribution, production of phytotoxic substances, air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Bitzer and Sims (Bitzer and Sims, 2008)reported that over application of organic waste as fertiliser for cropping can result in nitrate (NO₃) contamination of groundwater. High levels of NO₃ in drinking water can result in the blue baby syndrome, cancer and respiratory illness in humans and foetal abortions in livestock (Kelleher et al., 2002).

1.3       Justification for the Study

The worst managed abattoirs in Nigeria are the batch type of slaughter system where animals are killed and processed sometimes on bare floor or on corrugated roofing sheets placed on the floor. These are usually located in abandoned buildings or under the shade of trees and open exposed grounds that a butcher might find suitable for the business.

The present surveillance work is the isolation of bacterial and the public health problems associated with waste water disposal in Nasarawa. Located in North Central geopolitical zone of Nigeria, it is arguably the most economically important state of the country of Nigeria.

1.4       Aim and Objectives of the Study

The aim of the study is isolation and identify species of bacterial in slaughter house effluent.

The objective of this study are:

1. To isolate bacterial species from slaughter house effluent.
2. To identify the bacterial species using conventional biochemical tests.