ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF BACTERIA ASSOCIATED WITH WASTE-WATER FROM HAIR-DRESSING SALONS IN AWKA METROPOLIS
CHUKWUEBUKA MARYVIN EZEOKOLI *
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, P.M.B. 5025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
CHRIS OKWUDILI ANYAMENE
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, P.M.B. 5025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
EMMANUEL TOBECHUKWU UGWUOJI
Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, P.M.B. 5025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
CONSTANCE CHINYERE EZEMBA
Department of Microbiology, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.
BENJAMIN UZONNA ONONYE
Department of Zoology, P.M.B. 5025, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study was conducted to isolate and characterize bacteria associated with waste-water from hair-dressing salons in Awka- the state capital of Anambra, South-Eastern Nigeria. Samples were collected from five different locations in Awka namely: Zik’s Avenue, Unizik temporary site, Okpuno, Commissioners’ quarters and Ifite-Awka. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic, morphological, and biochemical characteristics. Five bacterial groups were isolated and identified. They include Staphylococcus aureous, Pseudomonas spp., Streptococcus spp., Escherichia coli and Bacillus spp.. It was observed that Staphylococcus aureous was isolated from all the waste-water samples from the five different locations. Bacterial counts revealed that samples from Unizik temporary site has the highest number of isolates while samples from Commissioners’ quarters had the least. The presence of these bacterial organisms is an indication that hair-dressing and beauty salons could be contributing to the spread of infection within Awka metropolis.
Keywords: Effluent, salon, isolation, hair-dressing, beauty spa, waste-water, environment