ISSN 2736-1756
Advanced Journal of Microbiology Research ISSN 2241-9837 Vol. 12 (7), pp. 001-005, July, 2018. © International Scholars Journals
Full Length Research Paper
Snails as meat source: Epidemiological and nutritional perspectives
Anthony, A. Adegoke 1*, Adebayo-Tayo, C. Bukola 2, Inyang, U. Comfort3, Aiyegoro, A. Olayinka4 and Komolafe, O. Amos3
1Department of Microbiology, University of Uyo, Uyo, Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria.
2Department of Botany and Microbiology, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.
3Department of Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria.
4Applied and Environmental Microbiology Research Group (AEMREG) Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology Plant Science Building, University of Fort Hare, South Africa.
Accepted 30 July, 2018
Abstract
The microbiological (epidemiological), proximate and mineral element composition of the different species of snails (Achatina fulica, Limcolaria sp. and Helix pomatia) obtained from three different market in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state were investigated. Total bacterial count ranged from 1.00 - 1.50 x 108 cfu/g, Coliform count ranged from 1.68 - 2.20 x 107 cfu/g, Salmonella/Shigella count ranged from 5.2-8.2 x107 cfu/g, lactic acid bacteria count ranged from 1.03 - 1.30 x 108 cfu/g and fungi count ranged from 7.3 x 107 to 1.00 x 108 cfu/g. The organisms isolated were Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Lactobacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus and Bacillus cereus while the fungal isolates were Aspergillus terrus, Aspergillus fumigatus, Absidia sp., Fusarium oxysporum, Eurotium sp. and Aspergillus flavus. The results showed that Helix pomata have the highest microbial load of 2.20 x 108 cfu/g. The proximate analysis showed that African giant snail (Achatina fulica) was nutritionally richer than the other snails. Mineral determination also showed that African giant snail had the highest amount of minerals. It was generally observed that snails though nutritionally rich are reservoirs of pathogenic microorganisms which are of public health importance.
Key words: Microbiological, proximate, mineral composition, coliform, Helix pomata