Microbial quality of irrigation water and vegetables grown in Kibaha township, Tanzania
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Date
2014
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
Vegetables are important integral part of the human diet. Although fresh vegetables
provide good health, they also harbour a wide range of microbial pathogens. The
purpose of this study was to assess the microbial quality of vegetables and water
used for irrigation in Kibaha Township. A total of 60
samples collected from
different vegetable types, namely Amaranthus spp, sweet potato leaves and spinach,
and 20 water samples from different categories including rivers, drainage, shallow
wells, and tape water were collected. These samples were cultured in Nutrient and
MacConkey agars and analysed for total viable count (TVC), total coliform count
(TCC) and total faecal count (TFC) using pour plate count technique (PPCT). In
fresh vegetables the mean values ranged from 6.53 to 6.78 logio CFU g’1 for TVC,
5.30 to 5.81 logio CFU g' for TCC and 4.45 to 5.13 logio CFU g'1 for TFC. In water
samples the mean values were 5.75 logio CFU ml '* for TVC, 4.90 logio CFU ml'1 for
TCC and 4.5 logio CFU ml'1 for TFC. Vegetable samples yielded significant higher
(P<0.05) TVC, TCC and TFC than water samples collected from different locations
in the study area. In addition river water samples had higher TVC, TCC and TFC
than any other water type in Kibaha Township. Findings from this study indicate that
water and vegetables from Kibaha Township are highly contaminated by microbial
pathogens and that consumers are at high risk to acquire food bome related diseases.
There is need for behavioural change with regards to food preparation and
consumption in order to reduce the risky. WHO intervene to reduce health risky from
uses of water with low quality is recommended.
Description
Masters Theses
Keywords
Irrigation water, Vegetables grown, Microbial quality, Kibaha township, Tanzania