Microbiology Research Journal International

Aims: This study investigated the bacterial load and isolated the implicated bacteria on the leaf surfaces of Alchornea cordifolia, Musa sapientum and Thaumatococcus danielli in Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria.

Study Design: The research was laboratory-based investigation.

Place and Duration of the Study: The study was carried out at the Department of Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki, Nigeria between June 2014 and January 2015.

Methodology: Thirty grams of each sample were washed with 100 ml of physiological saline and inoculated into petri dishes containing a prepared nutrient agar and incubated for 24 hrs at 37°C. The observed bacterial growth were sub-cultured and later subjected to Gram staining and some biochemical tests (indole test, catalase test, oxidase test, motility test, sugar fermentation test).

Results: Staphylococcus spp, E. coli, Salmonella spp, Klebsiella spp and Citrobacter spp were isolated with Staphylococcus spp having the highest percentage occurrence of 38.1% on the three leaf samples followed by E. coli 19.0%, Citrobacter spp 19.0%, Salmonella spp 14.3% and Klebsiella spp 9.5% having the least percentage occurrence. The contamination of these leaves with the isolated organisms may be due to poor handling. The highest count was observed from T. danielli which had a mean plate count of 2.27 x10² while the least plate count 1.98 x10² was from A. cordifolia. M. sapientum, however, showed a plate count of 2.08 x10².

Conclusion: These leaves were heavily contaminated with different bacteria isolates and could serve as vehicles for transmitting pathogenic agents to humans. It is recommended that attention should be channelled towards safeguarding the health of the populace by ensuring the hygienic nature of these leaves from their harvesting, distribution to usage since they are used raw.