Isolation And Characterization Of Microorganisms From Domestic Effluent In Michael Okpara University Of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

The isolation and characterization of the microorganisms from domestic effluent in Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, were carried out. The mean total heterotrophic plate count ranged from 1.25 x 106 cfulml to 1.97 x 106 cfu/ml, Salmonella Shigella count ranged from 4.3 x cfu/ml to 8.5 x iO4cfu/ml, Escherichia coli count ranged from 4.3 x cfti/ml to 8.6 x cftu/ml, 106 cfu/ml, Vibrio cholera ranged from 3.5 x iO4cfu/ml to 7,4 x iO4cfi.i/ml and Fungal count ranged from 3.0 x io cfu/ml to 7.5 x iø cfu/ml while the coliform count ranged from 35MPN/lOOml to 16OMPN/l0Oml. The microorganisms isolated and their percentage occurrence were Escherichia co/i (13.1%), Staphylococcus aureus (12.1%), Salmonella species (20.2%), Pseudomonas species (8 .9%), Ei,terobacter spp (10.3%), Kiebsielia species (14.9%), Vibrio cholerae (20.6%), Aspergillus species (0.3%), Rhizopus species (20.3%), Peniciiium species (26.7%) and Trichoderma species (28.1%). The results showed that the effluent samples were contaminated heavily with known pathogenic microorganisms and should therefore be treated before discharge.