Public health implication of Listeria species and other bacteria isolates of abattoir effluent in Lagos, Nigeria

Abstract

Untreated abattoir effluent constitutes a reservoir for the spread of intestinal pathogens and Listeria species (though rarely considered), is one of such organisms. This study was therefore conducted to determine the status of these bacteria and others in abattoir effluent, in Lagos, Nigeria. Thirty samples of abattoir effluent were collected over a period of 6 weeks at the government central abattoir in Lagos, Nigeria. Each sample was serially diluted and pour-plated on Nutrient Agar, MacConkey Agar and Listeria Selective Agar. Mesophilic aerobic counts were enumerated. Isolated bacterial colonies were identified by standard methods and antimicrobial susceptibility test conducted using the disk diffusion technique. Heavy loads of Listeria species, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, sp., Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas, aeruginosa, were isolated from all the samples. The antibiotic susceptibility pattern of these bacterial organisms revealed marked resistance to most of the antimicrobial agents tested. With the exception of Pseudomonas, there was no statistically significant difference between the antimicrobial resistance rate of Listeria and other bacteria isolates (P >0.05). The public health significance of these findings, particularly the abattoir effluent bacteria potential capability of transferring disease and antibiotic resistance to man, as well as the challenges posed to disease treatment was highlighted.