CULTURE-BASED MICROBIOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT OF BACTERIAL COMMUNITY IN SOILS FROM WASTE DUMPSITES WITHIN GOMBE METROPOLIS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Waste dumpsites or landfills is an area of land where refuse or waste materials from differed
processes, activities and sources are deposited. This study was aimed at applying a culturebased
approach for assessing the culturable bacterial community in soils from waste dumpsites
within Gombe metropolis for environmental relevance. Exactly thirty (30) soil samples were
collected from 10 different dumpsites and were examined bacteriologically by serial dilution
then pour plating on several culture media. Afterwards, bacteria isolated after 24 h incubation
were macroscopically, microscopically and biochemically examined for genuine identification
and confirmation. Also, the bacterial plate counts of the respective dumpsites were determined.
The bacterial load from the mean plate count were 3.33x109, 3.1x109, 1.43x109, 2.77x109,
2.13x109, 3.20x109, 4.20x109, 3.23x109, 2.03x109 and 1.33x109 for Arawa, Bolari, Bagadaza,
Hammadu Kafi, Cecenia, Riyal, Pantami, Malam Inna, State low-cost and Kagarawal
respectively. Nine (9) bacteria genera/species isolated and identified were Staphylococcus
aureus, Klebsiella pneumonia, Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Bacillus cereus, Salmonella
sp, Enterobacter sp, Micrococcus sp and Shigella sp though with varied percentage of the
occurrence. Findings from this study understandably portray low diversity of the bacterial
population as only culturable bacterial community was reflected in commensuration with the
approach applied. The detection of Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Shigella in the
refuse dumpsites soils confirmed microbial pathogen presence and depict an environmental
and public health significance thus government and municipalities should provide annexe laws
or revise existing policies regarding the locations, operation and management of dumpsites to
safeguard the health and safety of the populace.