Isolation And Characterization of Enteropathogens- Escherichia Coli 0157:H7, Salmonella and Shigella From Vegetables

ABSTRACT

Unhygienically vegetables which are usually consumed in raw serve to transmit various infections disease. Bacteria are among the common vegetable contaminants. However, the rate of contamination depends on various environmental and human factors. Hence, this research was conducted to assess the level of bacterial contamination and associated factors among vegetables marketed in nsukka metrolopolis. A total of 80 fresh vegetable samples (20 each), were bought at random from different sellers in three different markets (Ogige market, Obukpa market and Odim market) and streets in Nsukka Metropolis at different times for a period of three months (July, August and September). The samples were promptly transported under aseptic condition in separate sterile cellophane bags to the Microbiology Laboratory, University of Nigeria Nsukka for analysis within 2 hours of collection.