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ABSTRACT
The bacteria associated with the watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) fruits in Benin metropolis (June12, Ekosodin, JaraSupermarket) were studied. The media used were prepared according to the manufacturer’s instructions. The sample were analyzed using the spread plate method done by carrying out serial dilution of the sample after which appropriate dilutions were used for inoculation on Nutrient and MacConkey agar. The bacteria count for Day 0 ranged from (1.0x 10-4 cfu/g) to (2.8 x 10-4cfu/g) on Nutrient agar while count ranged from (2.5x 10-4 cfu/g) to (8.17 x 10-4cfu/g) on MacConkey agar. Then for Day 01, bacteria count ranged from (1.0 x 10-4cfu/g) to (2.57 x 10-4cfu/g) on Nutrient agar while count ranged from (2.5 x 10-4cfu/g) to (7.5 x 10-4cfu/g) on MacConkey agar. Lastly for Day 2 the least count in Nutrient agar (0.6x 10-4 cfu/g) to (5.0 x 10-4cfu/g) on Nutrient agar while the count ranged from (2.17x 10-4 cfu/g) to (5.5 x 10-4cfu/g) on MacConkey agar. Finally, for Days 1 and 2, in Nutrient agar the control sample had the lowest count (0.6 x 10-5cfu/g) and the Ekosodin sample had the highest count (2.57 x 10-4cfu/g). For Days 1 and 2, in MacConkey agar the control sample had the lowest count (2.17 x 10-4cfu/g) and the Ekosodin sample had the highest count (7.5 x 10-4cfu/g). The microbial isolates discovered included Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus sp., Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter sp. and Escherichia coli samples have the most occurrences at 100%, and Citrobacter freundii, Bacillus sp and Enterobacter sp. has the same occurrences at 50%.The findings revealed that these sliced fruits were infected with bacteria that were harmful to public health, and it was recommended that customers carefully wash the fruits before eating them.
