ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA FOUND IN CUT ONIONS IN THE MALE HOSTELS OF GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY THINKERS CORNER.

CHUKWUEMEKA, VICTOR CHUKS (2023) ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA FOUND IN CUT ONIONS IN THE MALE HOSTELS OF GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY THINKERS CORNER. Other thesis, GODFREY OKOYE UNIVERSITY, ENUGU.

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Abstract

Onion is associated with microorganisms which are capable of causing spoilage due to its affinity for bacteria when exposed. The bacteria gotten from the cut and exposed onion kept in the male hostel of Godfrey Okoye University were isolated and characterized in other to distinguish them from another and identify the pathogens. A total of eight onion samples were obtained from different sites of the male kitchen of Godfrey Okoye University and analyzed bacteriologically. The onion samples were collected and taken to the laboratory, then cultured and analyzed using biochemical and microbiological techniques which include serial dilution and culturing of the organism. Out of the total number of samples analyzed, 4(50%) were positive for bacteria pathogen while 4(50%) had a case of no bacteria growth. The isolation of bacteria from the cut onion indicated that the frequency of Staphylococcus aureus was more significant in the study with frequency and percentage of 19(45%) while Streptococcus spp. had least percentage occurrence of 3(7%). The mean bacteria count from the present study showed that the total aerobic plate count was one thousand and six (1006). The significance of this study, for, the polymerase chain reaction analysis indicated presence of pathogenic species, the biochemical test all showed positive results which shows that the microbiological analysis of cut onions (Allium cepa) in the male hostel of Godfrey okoye university Campus was high. Based on the distribution of isolates according to location from which the cut onions were obtained, it showed that St stephen hostel had the high number of bacterial isolates 4(57%) while Nwabueze Hostel had the least number of bacteria isolate 1(14%) and Ad-gentes had no growth. The findings of this study illustrate that bacterial contamination is present in the cut and exposed onions that the total colony count (CFU/ML) of the pathogenic bacterial isolated is high and can cause food poisoning when consumed. It is therefore recommended that cut onions that have been exposed to the atmosphere should remain unsafe for human consumption as it has been shown that even though the juices have antimicrobial properties, they are also seen to be poisonous because they are a huge magnet for bacteria.

Item Type:	Thesis (Other)
Subjects:	Q Science > QR Microbiology
Divisions:	Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences
Depositing User:	Uchenna Eneogwe
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2026 09:28
Last Modified:	18 Jun 2026 09:28
URI:	http://eprints.gouni.edu.ng/id/eprint/5832

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