PREVALENCE OF BACTERIA ISOLATES IN WATER AND SOME BIOTA OF LAPAI-AGAIE DAM, NIGERIA

Abstract

Lapai-Agaie dam play a pivotal role as primary source of domestic water supply, agricultural (irrigation and fisheries) activities to the host communities. Therefore, this study assessed the prevalence of bacterial isolates in water and on some biota (macrophytes and fishes) in order to provide basic information on bacterial diversity of the dam. The water pH and temperature of the identified sample sites were determined. Water sample for bacteria isolation was collected across water surface at each sites into 500ml sterile container. Macrophytes from the sampling sites were wholly collected with forceps into a sterilized plastic container; while fish samples were obtained from the landing site and placed in sterilized polythene bag for subsequent analyses. The standard procedures for bacteria sampling and identification were employed using phenotypic identification techniques. Water pH was significantly different (p<0.05) between sampling sites. Six bacteria isolates were identified from the two water sampling sites. Site A recorded the highest average bacterial colony count of 0.96x22x10⁸ cfu/ml with Escherichia coli (12(29 %)) as the most frequent isolate. A total number of seventeen (17) genera of fishes where eleven bacteria were isolated. The fish coded FS3 recorded the highest distribution bacteria isolates. Three species of macrophytes were identified in the dam, with the highest bacteria population of 1.85±0.24x10⁷cfu/ml in the stem of Leerisia havedra as it had the highest bacterial population of 16.42±0.43x10⁷ cfu/ml. Twelve (12) bacteria isolates where identified from the macrophytes with Klebsiella pneumonia recording the highest frequency of 8(16 %). However, the distribution of pathogenic bacteria in water was lower than that on the fishes and macrophytes. An indication that the biota may act as causative agent of epidemic disease. Therefore, the existence of these isolates pose challenges to human health, if proper hygiene and implementation of aquatic water policy and regulations are not properly enforced to discourage anthropogenic pollution.