Detection of Escherichia Coli in Freshly Harvested Spinach Samples Collected from Five Different Markets in Zaria| Biomed Grid

Escherichia coli, though, normal flora of the digestive tract of human and animals have over the years evolved the ability to cause a wide range of disease. A total of 100 freshly harvested and ready to sale spinach samples in five selected market in Zaria, Kaduna State were collected and analysed for E.coli 0157: H7. Twenty (20) samples each were collected from Sabon Gari, Palladan, Samaru, Hayin Dogo and PZ. Isolates were screened using the conventional biochemical characterization for E. coli O157: H7. Twelve (12) gram of spinach leaves each was washed with sterile distilled water. Five (5) mls of each washing was inoculated into 5 mls of double strength Mac Conkey broth and inoculated for 24 hours at 370C. A loop full of the positive colonies was subcultured on EMB Agar and incubated for 24 h at 370C a greenish metallic sheen on the surrounding medium were observed. These presumptive positive colonies were stored in nutrient Agar slant at 40C until it was required for biochemical test. E. coli was confirmed by biochemical test and the growth on EMB Agar. Out of the 100 samples collected, Isolates were screened using the conventional biochemical characterization for E. coli O157: H7. A total of 119 (47.6%) E. coli O157: H7 and 16 (6.4%) E. coli O157 was isolated respectively. Therefore, there is need to characterize the E. coli from spinach in local markets in Zaria, so as to checkmate and create awareness on the spread of E. coli especially 0157:H7 infection in livestock and humans in Zaria and Kaduna State