Aims: To detect the effect of microbes isolated from peels of Carbohydrate-rich tubers on Albino
rats.
Study Design: The study was a comparative and descriptive study. Cassava and cocoyam peels
were bought from Obanla market, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Those samples were
put into a sterile polythene bag and transported to microbiology laboratory for microbiological
analysis.
Place and Duration of Study: Microbiology Laboratory, Elizade University, Department of Animal
Production and Health Research Laboratory, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State.
The study was performed between September, 2015 and March, 2016
Methodology: Two gram of the samples was grounded in a mortar with pestle. The serial dilution
method was aseptically used to reduce the microbial load present in the collected samples. Nutrient
agar and potato dextrose agar were used to isolate the bacteria and fungi respectively from the
samples under aseptic condition. Biochemical tests and sugar fermentation were carried out on the
bacterial isolates after pure culture was obtained. Results: The isolated bacteria were Streptococcus faecalis, Corynebacterium fascians,
Micrococcus luteus, Alcaligenes faecalis and Aeromonas hydrophila. Fungal isolates were
identified using lactophenol cotton blue. Fungi isolated includes: Articulospora inflata, Aspergillus
fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Geotrichum albidum, Torula herbarum and Halosporangium panum.
All the bacteria isolates were used to infect Albino rat. The uninfected rats were used as control.
The histopathological and haematological analysis carried out on liver and intestine of the albino
rats showed that the microorganisms caused a pathological change that ranges from necrosis of
the liver hepatocytes, hepatocellular drainage and hemorrhage to vacuolation and inflammatory cell
infiltrations of the intestinal wall.
Conclusion: This study has shown that cassava and cocoyam peels can act as vehicles for
disseminations of pathogenic microorganisms and should therefore be properly disposed
