Bacteria Associated With Spoilage of African Pear (Dacryodes edulis) From Selected Market In Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the bacteria associated with the spoilage of African pear (Dacryodes edulis) sold in selected markets in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria. A total of fifteen (15) spoiled African pear samples were randomly collected from Rumuola Market, Mile 3 Market, and Rumuokoro Market. Standard microbiological methods, including serial dilution, spread plate technique, Gram staining, and biochemical tests, were used for the isolation and identification of bacterial isolates. The total bacterial counts ranged from 5.35 × 10⁶ CFU/g to 7.3 × 10⁶ CFU/g, indicating heavy bacterial contamination of the spoiled fruits. The highest bacterial count was recorded in sample Rk1 from Rumuokoro Market, while the lowest count was observed in sample M3 from Mile 3 Market. Four bacterial genera were identified from the spoiled African pear samples: Staphylococcus species, Bacillus species, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella species. Staphylococcus species had the highest frequency of occurrence (34.8%), followed by Bacillus species (26.1%), Escherichia coli (21.7%), and Klebsiella species (17.4%). The presence of these bacteria suggests poor hygienic handling, inadequate storage conditions, and environmental contamination during transportation and marketing. The study revealed that spoiled African pear sold in local markets may serve as a source of potentially pathogenic bacteria and could pose public health risks to consumers. Proper hygiene, improved storage conditions, and routine microbial monitoring are therefore recommended to reduce contamination and improve fruit safety