Microbiological contamination of pap ‘akamu’ in Bauchi markets from water or utensils?

Bacteriological qualities of water and utensils were determined in Bauchi in order to ascertain the potential routes and sources of contamination of pap samples prepared from maize and sold in three Bauchi markets. Eleven genera of bacteria were isolated in the pap samples. These included: Streptococci, Staphylococci, Neisseriae, Enterobacter, Lactobacilli, Klebsiella, Proteus, Citrobacter, Micrococcus, Leuconostoc and Bacillus. The water samples contained seven genera: Staphylococci, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Proteus, Citrobacter, Escherichia coli and Shigella. Water was eliminated as the route and source of Strepotococci, Neisseriae, Lactobacter, Micrococcus, Leuconostoc and Bacillus found in pap. The utensils contained six genera: Streptococci, Enterobacter, Lactobacilli, Klebsiella, Micrococcus and Bacillus. Utensils were eliminated as the potential route and source of Staphylococci, Neisseriae, Proteus, Citrobacter and Leuconostoc found in pap. The Shigella and Escherichia coli came from water alone. The mean bacteria counts varied with isolates. For example, pap was 10⁹ order, Yelwa water and utensils were 10² order each. However, each group of samples from the markets and among the markets showed no variability. The statistical analysis for the goodness of fit that there was no significant difference between the observed and the expected data was highly significant for all maize samples, most water samples and a few utensil counts at 99.9% level.