Micro-Organisms Associated with the Spoilage of Garden Eggs Sold Within Sokoto Metropolis

Abstract:

Solanum species (egg plants) belong to the family of Solanaceae and the plant genus Solanum with over 1,000 species worldwide. It’s represented in Nigeria by about 25 species including those domesticated; with their leaves, fruits or both eaten as vegetables or used in traditional medicine. This study was aimed to isolate and identify microorganisms associated with the spoilage of garden eggs. Samples were collected from the Market (Kasuwar Daji) and processed according to standard techniques. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic examination, colony morphology and biochemical characteristics. Six bacterial and fungal species were isolated and identified. The bacterial isolates include Staphylococcus aureus (50%), Bacillus spp (25%), Staphylococcus epidermis (12.5%), Listeria monocytogens (6.3%) and Closteridium botulinum (6.3%). The fungal isolates were Aspergillus niger (42.6%) Aspergillus flavus (21.4%), and Rhizopus stoloniferMucro racemosus and Microsporum audoinii with 7.1% respectively. Among the bacterial and fungal species isolated in this study, Aspergillus niger and Staphylococcus aureus showed the highest percentage frequency of occurrence, and these organisms are capable of causing food spoilage and cause harm to consumers, so measures such as proper handling and storage should be taken to control the contamination of garden eggs fruits.