Chikodili G. Anaukwu, Franklin C. Nwagwu, Onyedika I. Okafor, Chinyere C. Ezemba, Chinedu C. Orji, Kingsley C. Agu and Etim J. Archibong
Burukutu samples were randomly purchased from different shops at Elele market, Army Barracks, Alimini, River state and Obinze market,Army Barracks, Owerri,Imo state, Nigeria. A total of 30 samples were aseptically collected and compositely screened for total aerobic plate count, total coliform count, total fecal coliform count and total fungal count using Nutrient agar (NA), MacConkey(MCA), Eosin methylene blue (EMB) and Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA) respectivelyby pour plating technique. The microorganisms isolated belong to the genera Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Aspergillus, Rhizopus and Saccharomyces. The Total aerobic plate count of the samples from Elele and Obinze market were 6.20±0.26 cfu/ml and 5.85±0.26 cfu/ml respectively. Total fecal coliform count of the samples from Elele market was 5.10±0.10 cfu/ml, while that from Obinze market was 5.06±0.23cfu/ml. The total coliform count and total fungal count of the samples from Elele market were 5.80±0.08 and 6.20±0.22cfu/ml, while samples fromObinze market recorded 5.50±0.17 and 6.08±0.08cfu/ml.Staphylococcus aureus was the highest occurring bacteria at 27.27% while Sacccharomycescerevisiae was the highest occurring fungi at 40.91%. Statistical analysis showed that therewas no significant difference in the microbial counts of the samples collected from Elele market and Obinze market at pvalue > 0.05.
