ISOLATION OF GRAM NAEGATIVE BACTERIA ISOLATED FROM CARROTS SOLD IN AKUNGBA-AKOKO MARKET

Carrots (Daucus carota) are root vegetables that can be purple, red, yellow or white colour based on their pigmentation and variety. Due to the awareness of its high nutritional content such as vitamins, minerals and carotene, they are mainly consumed raw, possibly exposing one to the risk of being infected. Studies on the pathogenic Bacteria associated with fresh carrots sold in the community market at Akungba-akoko was carried out using cultural techniques. MacConkey agar was the growth media used for the isolation of the Bacteria. Twelve fresh carrots were randomly bought from different food vendors in the community market, and then 10g of the outer layer (epidermal) scrapings were collected from each sample and homogenized in 90 ml of buffered peptone water. Isolates were identified by Gram staining and biochemical tests. The bacteria were identified to be Proteus specie, Citrobacter specie, Klebsiella specie, Escherichia coli, Serratia Specie, Pseudomonas Specie and Salmonella specie. Klebsiella spp was predominantly isolated among the bacterial isolates (24%) followed by Escherichia coli (20%), Salmonella spp (16%), Serratia spp (12%), Proteus spp, Citrobacter spp, and Pseudomonas spp with 8% respectively. A high level of susceptibility was observed to Ciprofloxacin at (100%) and Augmentin at (50%), while the high level of resistance was observed to be high in Gentamicin at (100%). These organisms may have been introduced to the carrots during growth, harvesting, handling, storage and distribution. The presence of the Microorganisms is a public health risk because of the diseases known to be caused by them. It is therefore imperative that adequate hygienic practices be put in place during the cultivating and handling of carrots