ISOLATION, CHARACTERIZATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH COW SUYA MEAT SOLD IN CALABAR METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT

The consumption of Cow suya meat is on the increase because of it health benefits, it inexpensiveness compared to Goat meat, and the demand. Bacteriological analysis was carried out on 10 suya samples collected from four (4) different vendors within 4 different locations (Ekpo Abasi, Bogobiri, Yellow Duke and Abang asang). The samples were analyzed using standard bacteriological techniques. Total bacterial cell count was determined through pour plating method serial diluted to factor 8 on Nutrient and MacConkey agar respectively. The bacteria cell count of the analyzed samples ranged from 4.6×10⁹ to 9.5×10⁹ cfu/ml. Prominent bacteria species isolated includes Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Proteus spp, Streptococcus spp, Klebsiella spp, Salmonella spp, Enterococcus spp, Clostridium spp, Shiegella spp, Pseudomonas spp and Staphylococcus spp with percentage occurrence of 25.9%, 22.2%,11.1%, 7.4%, 7.4%, 7.4%, 3.7%, 3.7%, 3.7%, 3.7%, and 3.7% respectively. Bogobiri had the highest occurrence of 11 (40.7%), followed by Abang asang 7 (25.9%), then Yellow Duke with 6 (22.2%), and Ekpo Abasi with the least with 3(11.1%). Determination of isolates susceptibility to antimicrobial agent was carried out using ten (10) antimicrobial agents comprised of Gram positive (Perfloxacin, Gentamycin, Ampliclox, Zinnacef, Amoxicillin, Rocephan, Ciprofloxacin, Stretomycin, Septrin and Erythromycin) and Gram negative (Septrin, Chloramphenicol, Sparfloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Amoxicillin, Augmentin, Gentamycin, Perfloxacin, Tarvid, Streptomycin). Result reveals higher efficacy of Perfloxacin against all isolated organisms with recorded zone of inhibition of (>28mm) according to listed organisms, followed by gentamycin (>26mm) for both Gram positive and negative. All isolated organisms resisted the effect of Amoxicillin for Gram positive and Gram negative isolates, and Chloramphenicol for only Gram negative. Significance difference was observed at P