CULTURE-BASED AND MOLECULAR DETECTION OF THE MIROBIAL QUALITY OF BOREHOLE WATER USED IN SOME HOSTELS IN IHIAGWA, IMO STATE

Culture-based and molecular detection of the quality of borehole water collected at random from seven hostels in Ihiagwa was undertaken. The bacterial isolates identified using culture-based analysis include Staphylococcus sp, Klebsiella sp, Micrococcus sp, Salmonella sp, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The presence of fungal isolates such as Trichoderma sp, Aspergillus sp and Rhizopus sp was also observed. Molecular identification of isolates using Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR assay] with specific primers targeting 16sRNA of coliforms, 16sRNA of total bacteria genera, 16sRNA of Vibrio sp and IVsRNA of total fungi was carried out. Bands were obtained during gel electrophoresis depicting the presence of targeted organisms. The absence of Vibrio sp was evident. This study was carried out to ascertain the level of contamination and non potability of drinking water used within these hostels.