Yeast and Filamentous Fungi in the Jerry Cans of Water Vendors (Meruwa) in Toru–Orua, Sagbama. Bayelsa State
Okaba Ebikonbowei Alexis *
University of Africa, Toru–Orua, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Access to safe portable water have long constituted a challenge to man. majority of the people in Toru - Orua, Bayelsa State depend on water vendors for their water supply and hence the need to examine the yeast and filamentous fungi associated with the Jerrycan used by these water vendors (Meruwa). Culture dependent method was used to investigate the microbial quality of the vendors jerry can and the water from three different locations. The result from the study showed that the swab samples in location 1 recorded Candida spp (70%), Aspergillus sp (16%) Geotrichum sp (9%) and Rhizopus sp (5%). in location 2, swab sample showed three different genera that showed Candida spp recording the highest percentage (66%) Aspergillus sp (19%) and Fusarium spp (15%). Candida spp was observed to be the most dominant yeast specie associated with the Jerry cans while Aspergillus was the most dominant in the water sample. The prevalence of the yeast and filamentoud fungi in the Jerry cans used by water vendors may result to illnesses, therefore the Jerry cans ought to be properly and regularly cleaned.
Keywords: Yeast, filamentous fungi, jerry can