Detection and Public Health Risk of Salmonella Species Contaminating Different Water Sources in Keffi, Nigeria

This study was carried out to detect Salmonella species and evaluate the public health implications from different water sources in Keffi, Central Nigeria. A total of 100 water samples, 25 each of well, public borehole, tap and sachet water were collected from different locations within the Metropolis and analysed using standard microbiological techniques. Of which 38(38.0%) of the samples were contaminated with Salmonella species. The frequency of isolation shows that well water is the most contaminated, 18(72.0%), followed by borehole water, 10(40.0%), tap water, 7(28.0%), while sachet water is the least contaminated with an isolation rate of 3(12.0%). The total bacterial count ranged between 1.0–6.2 ×103 cfu/ml, while the Salmonella/Shigella count ranged from 0.2–2.8×103 cfu/ml. The total bacterial count of 6.2×103 cfu/ml was recorded for well water, 2.2×103 cfu/ml for borehole water, 1.2×103 cfu/ml for tap water and 1.0×103 cfu/ml for sachet water, while highest Salmonella/Shigella count of 2.8×103 cfu/ml was recorded for well water. The pH for well and borehole water were slightly acidic, although that of tap (7.0) and sachet water (7.5) were within permissible limits. The temperature for the water samples were between 25°C–28°C. Meanwhile, turbidity was highest for well water (0.36NTU), in the same vain, total dissolved solid was highest for well water (16.12 mg/l) and lowest for sachet water (0.02 mg/l); while hardness of water was highest amongst the well water samples analysed with a measurement of 48.14 mg/l. The chemical properties of the water samples analysed showed the highest measurements of 6.80 mg/l, 0.78 mg/l and 3.48 mg/l of magnesium, iron and sulphate for well water respectively. Consequently, the presence of microbial contaminants particularly enteric pathogens is indicative of faecal contamination and this can lead to adverse health effects, including gastrointestinal illness and typhoid fever. Therefore, water in Keffi should be properly treated before consumption while boreholes and wells should be dug far away from latrines and septic tanks so as to avoid cross-contamination by faecal materials.