This study therefore was to evaluate the effects of microbes on used and unused textile materials. From this study a total of nine bacterial and three fungal species were isolated from used and non-used textile materials. These microbial species were isolated using spread plate technique and they were identified using morphological characteristics, pigmentation on media, microscopy and biochemical methods which reveals the major bacteria and fungi isolates to be Escherichia coli, Staphylococci aurues, Proteus species, Klebsiella species, Pseudomonas species, Enterococcus species, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum. The microbial counts shows that mineral (asbestos) had the highest microbial load at 8.5x10⁹ followed by synthetic (rugs) at 5.1x10⁹ while the least was recorded on brazillian wool and polyesters at 2.2x10⁹ each. The microbial counts from the unused textile material shows that plant (cotton) had the highest microbial load at 8.1x10⁹ followed by brazillian wool at 4.0x10⁹ while the least was recorded on polyesters at 1.2x10⁹ each. The fungi counts from both samples shows that used textile material had high count compared to unused textile materials. The statistical analysis using T-test statistical package showed that there was significant difference between the various mean counts from both samples at (P< 0.05). It was also recorded in this study that the most widely distributed and abundant colony forming unit are Escherichia coli and Aspergillus flavus.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page                                                                                                                                i

Certification                                                                                                                            iii

Dedication                                                                                                                              iv

Acknowledgement                                                                                                                  v

Table of contents                                                                                                                    vi

Lists of Table                                                                                                                          viii

Abstract                                                                                                                                  ix

CHAPTER ONE                                                                                                              

1.1       Introduction                                                                                                                1

1.2       Uses of Textiles                                                                                                           1

1.3       Types of Textiles                                                                                                        2

1.3.1    Animal Textiles                                                                                                          3

1.3.2    Plant Textiles                                                                                                              4

1.3.3    Mineral Textile                                                                                                                       4

1.3.4    Synthetic Textiles                                                                                                       5

1.4       Where are Textiles Manufactured in Nigeria?                                                           6

1.5       How the Use of Textiles Began.                                                                                 6

1.6       Ways to Improve the Textiles Industry to Avoid the Growth of Microorganism.      8

1.7       Factors to Consider when choosing Textiles for Clothing.                                        9

1.8       Effects of Sun and Rain on Textiles                                                                           9

1.9       Aim and Objective                                                                                                      10

1.9.1    Objectives                                                                                                                   10

CHAPTER TWO                                                                                                           

2.1       Literature Review                                                                                                                   11

2.1.1    Textiles as a Carriers of Microorganism                                                                    11

2.2       Types of Microbes that Attack Textile Materials                                                       12

2.3       Susceptibility of Textiles to Microorganisms                                                            14

2.3.1    Different Types of Fibers have different Susceptibilities to Microorganisms.          14

2.4       General Effect of Microbes on Textiles Materials                                                     15

2.5       Application of Antimicrobial Treatments on Textiles                                               16

2.5.1    Low Moisture Content and Application of Biocides in Textiles                                16   

2.5.2    Application of Antimicrobials by Leaching Technology                                           17

2.5.3    Application of Antimicrobials by Molecularly Bond Unconventional Technology  18

2.5.4    Adaptation and Mutation of Antimicrobes by Microorganism                                  18

2.5.5    Natural and safer way out so far for Textiles                                                             19

CHAPTER THREE                                                                                                         

3.1       Materials and Methods                                                                                               20

3.2       Materials                                                                                                                     20

3.2.1    Sample Collection                                                                                                      20

3.2.2    Sterilization                                                                                                                 20

3.3       Methods                                                                                                                      20

3.3.1    Isolation of Bacteria from used and used Textiles                                                      20

3.3.2    Bacteriological Analysis                                                                                             21

3.3.3    Fungal Isolation and Identification                                                                             21

3.4       Phenotypic Characteristics of Bacterial Isolates                                                        21

3.4.1    Gram Staining                                                                                                             21

3.5       Biochemical Test                                                                                                        22

3.5.1    Catalase                                                                                                                       22

3.5.2    Methyl Red (MR) Test                                                                                               22

3.5.3    Coagulase Test                                                                                                            22

3.5.4    Voges- Proskauer (VP) Test                                                                                       23

3.5.5    Indole Test                                                                                                                  23

3.5.6    Citrate Utilization Test                                                                                               24

3.5.7    Motility Test                                                                                                               24

CHAPTER FOUR                 

4.1 Results                                                                                                                              25

CHAPTER FIVE                                                                                                                 

5.1       Discussion                                                                                                                   31

5.2       Conclusion                                                                                                                  32

5.3       Recommendation                                                                                                        32

REFERENCES

APPENDIX I

APPENDIX II