Influence of local spices (Tetrapieura tetraptera and Allium sativum) on the keeping quality of sausages prepared under laboratory conditions.

Two local spices Tetrapleura tetraptera and Allium sativum (garlic) were used as preservatives in the preparation of chicken and beef sausages. The effect of these spices on the microbiological and biochemical properties of sausages was monitored. Initial microbial counts of ground meat before treatment with preservatives were 2.55 x 105cfu/g and 3.64 x 105cfu/g for raw beef (Br) and raw chicken (Cr) respectively. Ground meat was treated with garlic (g), Tetrapleura tetraptera (t), sodium nitrite (n) or their combinations (gn, tn) at varying concentrations for the preparation of different sausage samples. Storage was carried on at two different temperatures and results showed that sausages treated with 4% garlic, 4% Tetrapleura tetraptera and 0.42% sodium nitrite per 100g meat showed much proliferation of microbes during storage. For these samples microbial counts were 3 x 103cfu/g, 1.4 x 104cfu/g, 2 x 103cfu/g, 1.3 x 103cfu/g for Bg1, Bt1, Cg1, and Ct1 respectively. Microbial genera isolated were mainly Escherichia coli, Staph. aureus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus, Micrococcus spp and Rhizopus. Sausages treated with 10% garlic, 10% Tetrapleura tetraptera and 0.42% sodium nitrite per 100g meat were less susceptible to microbial deterioration irrespective of whether the sausages were stored at room temperature or refrigeration temperature. For these samples, postprocessing counts were 1 x 103cfu/g, 1 x 103cfu/g, 2.7 x 104cfu/g, 1 x 103cfu/g, 5 x 103cfu/g and 2 x 103cfu/g for Bg2, Bt2, Cg2, Cgn, Ct2 and Ctn respectively. The microbial genera isolated after treatment were Lactobacillus bulgaricus and Staph epidermidis. Escherichia coli, Staph. aureus, were absent. Btn and Bgn had no microbial growth. All sausage samples showed reduced percent fat and increased ash, protein and carbohydrate content. KEY WORDS: Tetrapleura tetraptera, Allium sativum Micrococcus spp, Staph epidermidis, Lactobacillus bulgaricu

Application of correlation analysis in assessment of relationships between mineral hydrocarbon levels and hydrocarbonoclastic bacteria count in tropical mangrove estuarine sediments

Pearson’s Product-Moment correlation analysis of the relationships between total hydrocarbon content (THC) and hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria population (HUB) in mangrove sediments and overlying water of the Qua Iboe Estuary, Nigeria was carried out. The results show that there was in general a close relationship between the two variables, but also a large amount of variation not explained by the analysis. The strongest positive relationships (p = 0.05) were found for THC in epipellic (intertidal) sediment and water (r = 0.65) while the relationship between THC in benthic (subtidal) sediment and water (r = 0.028) was weak, and positively insignificant (p = 0.05). A correlation of HUB densities on THC in benthic sediment was strong and positive (r = 0.91) but characterized by high HUB/HET ratios. That is, the strength of the relationship with respect to the oil degrading potentials of the bacterial was fairly low. In contrast, the relationships between the two variables in epipellic sediment (r = 0.66) was positively significant (p = 0.05) but with a substantial presence of heterotrophic bacteria. This implies that a quick-analysis of hydrocarbon content in epipellic sediment in relation to hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria densities following an oil spill is reliable. However, such analysis on benthic sediment may not be reliable in estuarine environment with chronic exposure to crude oil pollution. This is despite the wide distribution of HUB (82.4% in benthic sediment, 43.1% in epipellic sediment, and 33.3% in surface water) in the ecosystem as revealed by the coefficient of determinations (R2) values

Microbial population dynamics as a function of sediment salinity gradients in the Qua Iboe Estuary mangrove swamp (Nigeria).

In this investigation the extent to which sediment salinity gradients can be used to predict the sensitivity of microbial populations in mangrove ecosystem was investigated. The microbial groups monitored were heterotrophic bacteria, coliform bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and yeasts. Pearson's Product-Moment Correlation (r) analyses were done on Log10-transformed estimates of population densities. The values obtained from the intertidal (epipellic) and subtidal (benthic) sediments were less than the critical value of 0.707 (n=8, p=0.05). This indicates that salinity was less closely related to the microbial population densities. A positive but insignificant relationship was found for fungi (r=0.03) in intertidal sediment. The total heterotrophic bacteria (r=-0.69), coliforms (r=-0.54), actinomycetes (r=-0.43) and yeasts (r=-0.56) were negatively affected by salinity in epipellic sediment. But in the benthic sediment, total heterotrophic bacteria (r=0.55) and unexpectedly, the fungi (r=0.58) and actinomycetes (r=0.29) exhibited positive but insignificant correlations while coliform and yeast counts in the benthic sediments were negatively influenced by salinity. However the coefficient of determinations (R2) revealed that total heterotrophic bacteria (48.06%) and yeasts (31.18%) were more extensively distributed in the intertidal sediments than coliforms. (29.38%,actinomycetes (18.68%) and fungi (0.09%). In contrast, the fungi (33.48%) demonstrated a wider distribution in benthic sediment. This may be ascribed to their existence, mostly as dormant, but culturable spores in the anoxic bottom sediment. The weak relationship exhibited by coliforms further confirms their usefulness as indicator of faecal contamination in estuarine ecosystem

Microalgae biodiversity and biomass status in Qua Iboe Estuary mangrove swamp, Nigeria

Microalgae composition,abundance,diversity and biomass of the Qua Iboe Estuary mangrove swamp were studied. The results revealed the rich assemblage of the brackish ecosystem. Six major taxanomic classes were encountered. These were the Bacillariophyceae, Cyanophyceae, Chlorophyceae, Chrysophyceae, Euglenophyceae and Phaeophyceae. Their composition, abundance and diversity exhibits strong seasonal variation. Variations between pelagic and sedimentary habitats were also noticed. The diatoms (Bacillariophyceae) dominated the habitats. Actinoptychus undalatus, Navicula radiosa and Amphora ovalis co-dominated the pelagic water column; while the epipellic (intertidal) and benthic (subtidal) sediments were co-dominated by A. ovalis and Actinoptychus undulatus. Analyses of the Shannon’s index of general diversity (H1), McArthur-Terborgh species equitability index (E) and Simpson’s index of dominance (D) of the microalgae communities revealed that A. ovalis with a mean H 1 -value of 0.25, E-value of 0.08 and D-value of 0.05 was the most prevalent genus in the mangrove ecosystem despite its uneven distribution. The densities of the microalgae communities corresponded with their biomass statuses and were seriously impacted by oil spillage. This forms the basis of concern because the estuary is associated with a high probability of major oil pollution with serious consequences for ecological stability and fisheries

Effects of Long-Term Kerosene Spillage on Heterotrophic Microorganisms in Soil from Niger Delta, Southern Nigeria

Kerosene contaminated soil was obtained from four different locations in Calabar while pristine soil served as control. Bacterial species isolated from kerosene contaminated soil samples included species of Bacillus , Pseudomonas , Micrococcus and Serratia while bacteria isolated from pristine soil samples comprised of species of Streptococcus , Salmonella , Escherichia coli , Staphylococcus aureus , Bacillus, Serratia, Micrococcus and Pseudomonas. Similar fungal species which included species of Aspergillus , Penicillium , Mucor , Rhizopus , and Fusarium were isolated from both chronic kerosene contaminated and pristine soil samples. There was no significant difference (p ≥ 0.05) in heterotrophic bacteria (HTB), fungal (HTF) and kerosene utilizing fungal counts (KUF) between chronic kerosene contaminated and pristine soil samples. However, there was significant difference (p≤0.05) between kerosene utilizing bacteria (KUB) between chronic kerosene contaminated and pristine samples. This revealed that long-term kerosene slippage had a selecting effect on soil bacteria as opposed to soil fungal