Occurrence Of Salmonella Species In Some Water Supplies Of Port Harcourt Metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the occurrence of Salmonella organisms and other enteric pathogens in some water sources from Port Harcourt metropolis, Rivers State, Nigeria. Six different water samples, two from each of the three selected water sources (Borehole, River and Well water) were collected from Timber water-side River and Choba River; two different wells located in Rumuolumeni, and two different boreholes located in Port Harcourt from and evaluated for percentage occurrence of Salmonella species and other enteric pathogens. The water samples were analysed using standard microbiological methods. The total heterotrophic count was very high, ranging from 2.9xl09cfu/ml in River water to 1.5 x 1011 cfu/ml in borehole water, while the Salmonella count from the River water was 3.0 x 109cfu/ml. A total of eight different organisms were identified colonial morphological and biochemical tests. Five out of the fifteen (15) isolates (WS01, 06, 07, 08 and 14) were identified as Shigella; Salmonella were two isolates (WS05 and 10); Vibrio (WS09), Proteus (WS13), Escherichia (WSQ2), Enterobacter (WS04), Klebsiella (WS13) all occurred once. The result showed that all the water samples evaluated had more than the recommended level of bacteria for drinking water. The presence of these organisms in the water samples reveals that the water sources were fiscally contaminated and not suitable for public use.