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ABSTRACT
Abattoirs are described as any suitable sites in which animals are slaughtered, eviscerated and dressed for man consumption and are officially permitted by the veterinary authority. Abattoirs are mandated to provide healthy meat with the application of hygienic measures. Enterococci are primarily inhabitants of the intestinal mucosa of animals and humans; however, the recovery of antibiotic-resistant strains of enterococci from food products allays concern. A total of 15 water samples were collected from different points of abattoirs using sterile plastic sampling containers. The different points of collection depicts include source water (3), processing water (3), drain water (3), upstream water (3) and downstream water (3). The samples assessed for physicochemical parameters and presence Enterococcus. Enterococcus characterization was carried out via cultural, biochemical techniques. The physicochemical parameters investigated include pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and salinity level. The mean total heterotrophic bacterial counts of abattoir water observed range in CFU/mL × 107 range from 64 ± 0.3 - 287 ± 0.4. The occurrence of Enterococcus species based on cultural and biochemical characterization was 9/15 (60.0%). The mean counts of Enterococcus species in abattoir water samples observed in CFU/mL × 101 range from 17 ± 0.3 - 98 ± 1.4. The resistance profile of Enterococcus species as observed was ampicillin [5/5 (100%)], ceftazidime [3/5 (60%)], erythromycin [0/5 (0%)], nitrofurantoin [3/5 (60%)] and chloramphenicol [2/5 (40%)]. The multiple antibiotics resistance (MAR) index of Enterococcus species in this study ranged from 0.80 – 0.40. Based on the finding it is obvious that abattoir effluent discharge have profound impact in the quality of the water within the vicinity of the abattoirs and microbial contamination due to seepages poses a serious public health.
