ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH HAWKED SUYA MEAT IN BIRNIN KEBBI METROPOLIS

ABSTRACT This study investigates the microbial contamination in hawk suya, a popular street-vended meat in Nigeria, focusing on bacterial species present and their potential health risks. The analysis involved examining suya samples for microbial load and identifying the dominant bacteria through colony forming unit (CFU) counts of 4.8 x 105 , Gram staining, and biochemical testing. Findings reveal significant variation in microbial load across different samples, with some having extremely high CFU counts of bacteria, while others were categorized as “too few to count” (TFTC). The dominant bacterial species identified were Staphylococcus aureus (45%), Lactobacillus spp. (20%), Bacillus spp. (15%), and Streptococcus spp. (15%). The presence of S. aureus, a known pathogen often linked to foodborne illnesses, emphasizes the need for stringent hygiene practices among street food vendors. Furthermore, the high percentage of Lactobacillus spp. suggests that environmental and storage conditions could influence both beneficial and spoilage bacterial growth. Keywords: Suya Meat, Microobial Contamination, Foodborne illness, Bacteria.