Aug 6, 2016

Contributory pattern of paper mill effluents on the population and distribution of enteric pathogens in Owerrinta River, Eastern Nigeria

Chinedu Emeka Ihejirika, Jude Nnama Ogbulie, Onyenonachi Charity Ihejirika, Catherine Ogechi Azuwike, Ijeoma Joy Ibe

Department of Environmental Technology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Department of Microbiology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Department of Public Health, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Department of Biotechnology, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

Department of Biology and Microbiology, Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri, Nigeria

Key words: Owerrinta River, effluents, bacterial pathogens, occurrence and drinking water.

Abstract

Wastewater discharge into freshwaters is a major source of pathogens. Relationship between bacterial pathogens in 3 paper mill effluents and recipient Owerrinta River was determined under standard microbiological analysis. The THBC of effluents and River ranged from 1.8 X 105 -7.2 X 106cfu/ml and 2.0 X 103–5.5 X 104 cfu/ml while the TCBC ranged from 3.1 X104–8.8 X 104 cfu/ml and 1.0 X 103–2.0 X 104 cfu/ml respectively.

Trend in counts for effluents within samples was: Effluent I > Effluent — II > Effluent — III while within river samples was B > C > A. Isolates occurred thus: Escherichia coli (100%), Klebsiella spp. (83.3%), Shigella spp. (66.7%), Salmonella spp. (83.3%), Proteus spp. (33.3%), Pseudomonas spp. (83.3%), Staphylococcus spp. (66.7%), Bacillus spp. (100%), and Citrobacter spp. (11.1%). The effluents contributed to the bacterial load and presence of pathogens, and the counts were above established limits for drinking water.

Get the original articles Source: Volume 1, Number 4, August 2011 — IJB

Published By: International Journal of Biosciences (IJB)