ABSTRACT

The quest for search of a new microbial active agent has led to the exploitation of the snail .Achatina fulica, this species is known to carry parasites and harbor a dense metabolically active community. The microorganisms isolated from snail gut samples gotten from Ahiaeke Market, Abia State, Nigeria was studied. The bacterial isolated from the snail gut were Micrococcus sp, Bacillius sp, Pseudomonas sp, and Enterobacter sp. And fungi isolated were Aspergillis sp, Penicillium sp, and Fusarium sp.  Aspergillius sp and Penicillium sp were used as test organisms against the isolated bacterial. To know which inhibits the growth and shows antifungal effect against test organisms. Aspegillus sp and Penicillum sp with D1 showing the highest zone of inhibition (16mm) and E1 showing the least zone of inhibition (9mm)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Declaration ii

Certification iii 

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Aim 3

1.2 Objective      3                                     

CHAPTER TWO

LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1 Snail Description 4

2.1.1 Diet 4

2.1.2  Damage 5

2.1.3    Prevention and Avoidance 7

2.1.4 Physical Barriers 7

2.1.5    Cultural Practices 8

2.1.6  Biological Control 9

2.2       Overview of Fungi 9

2.2.1    Characteristic/functions of fungi life 10

2.2.2    Life water associated fungi (aquatic fungi) 10

2.3 Overview of bacteria 12

2.3.1    Growth 12

2.3.2    Factors that affect the generation time of bacteria 13

2.3.3    Bacterial metabolism 14

2.3.4 Human bacterial diseases 14

2.3.5 Importance of bacteria 15

2.3.6 Secondary metabolites of fungi 15

2.4 Aspergillus 17

2.5 Penicillium 18

CHAPTER THREE

MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Collection of samples 20

3.2 Isolation of Microorganism from the Gut of Snail 20

3.2.1 Screening of isolate for antagonism (antimicrobial effect) 20

3.2.2 Identification and Characterization of isolate 21

3.3 BIOCHEMICAL TESTS 21

3..3.1 Gram Staining 22

3.3.2 Catalase Test 22

3.3.3 Indole Test 22

3.3.4 Citrate Utilization Test 22

3.3.5 Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S) Production Test 22

3.3.6 Oxidase Test 23

3.3.7 Starch Hydrolysis 23

3.4. Antifungal Screening 24

3.5 Agar well diffusion method 24

3.6 Measuring zone of inhibition 24

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 RESULTS 26

CHAPTER FIVE

DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

 5.1 Discussion 30

5.2 Conclusion 32

REFERENCES

APPENDIX