Browsing by Author "Haule, Akwinatha Marcus"

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Microbial quality of irrigation water and vegetables grown in Kibaha township, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture, 2014) Haule, Akwinatha Marcus
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.