ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF BACTERIA IN TIGER NUT (CYPERUS ESCULENTUS) DRINK FROM SELECTED AREAS IN LAGOS STATE.

Tigernut drink made from tigernut tubers (Cyperus esculentus) have been widely consumed in Nigeria as Kunun-aya based on their nutritional values. This study is aimed at isolating and identifying the presence of bacterial contamination in tigernut drink from selected areas in Lagos state. A total of six tiger-nut drink samples were obtained randomly in duplicates from selected areas within two local governments in Lagos state and was analyzed in the laboratory using standard microbiological methods. These samples were stored for three days at different temperatures before isolation and identification of isolates. Susceptibility of the bacterial isolates to antibiotics was determined by disc diffusion method. Results showed that pH of the samples were within the acidic range of 4.73-5.14 and total titratable acidity 1.07%-1.87%. Total bacteria count of the samples stored in room temperature ranged from 0.28×102 cfu/ml to 1.12×102 cfu/ml, while the refrigerating temperature ranged from 0.07×102 cfu/ml to 0.56×102 cfu/ml. Total coliform counts of the samples stored in room temperature ranged from 0.26×102 cfu/ml to 2.56×102
cfu/ml and the refrigerating temperature ranged from 0.20×102 cfu/ml to 1.20×102
cfu/ml after three days of storage with control having no growth indicating that it was prepared aseptically and hygienically. Twenty-four bacteria were biochemically characterized and was grouped into seven bacterial genera indicating the prevalence of bacterial contamination of the tigernut drink samples under the family Enterobacteriaceae and Alcaligenaceae. Klebsiella Species had the highest occurence,
07(29.2 %) while Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris have the least value, 1(4.2%) each. Antibiotic susceptibility test of gram-negative bacteria isolates revealed results of ten antibiotics. The high level of resistance were shown to the following antibiotics; amoxicillin (87.5%), augmentin(70.8%), ciprofloxacin(33.3%), septrin(29.2%), chloramphenicol and sparfloxacin(16.7%), gentamycin and streptomycin(12.5%), perfloxacin and tarivid(8.3%). The results of this study revealed that all the samples from the three (3) locations were heavily contaminated and this can potentially pose a health hazard to consumers.