Bacterial Flora and Proximate Composition of Edible Frogs (Ptychadena mascareniensis and Ptychadena pumilio) from Some Locations in Rivers State, Nigeria

Aim: To determine and compare the bacterial flora and proximate composition of edible frogs from some selected Local Government Areas (LGA) of Rivers State.

Place and Duration of Study: Live adult edible frogs were collected from six locations in six Local Government Areas in Rivers State which includes; Biara (E 7º29’ 2.097’’, N 4º78’ 70.608’’) in Gokana, Rumuodumaya (E 7º0’ 57.16.908’’, N 4º52’ 40.398’’) in Obio/Akpo, Umuikere Oyigbo (E 6º55’ 50.606’’, N 9º1’ 13.831’’) in Oyigbo, Diobu (E 6º59’ 6.882’’, N 4º48’ 29.514’’) in Port Harcourt, Igwuruta (E 4º55’ 57.006’’, N 7º1’13.692’’) in Ikwerre and Akpajo (E 5º50’ 67.306’’, N 9º1’ 43.112’’) in Eleme Local Government Areas of Rivers State. This study was conducted from July 2017 to February 2018, covering both the wet and dry seasons.

Methodology: The microbiological analyses were carried out using standard microbiological methods. Conventional and molecular identification methods were used to identify the bacteria isolated. Proximate compositions of the two species of edible frogs were also determined using standard methods. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to test for significant difference between the data obtained from the various locations using a computer based program SPSS version 22.

Results: Results revealed that Ptychadena pumilios had high bacteria counts across the six Local Government areas. Counts of total heterotrophic bacteria for Ptychadena pumilios ranged from 1.0 x108cfu/g to 9.0 x108cfu/g, Total Staphylococcus count ranged from 1.0 x105cfu/g to 9.4 x105cfu/g, Total coliform counts ranged 1.0 x105cfu/g to 8.9 x105 cfu/g, Total Feacal Coliform counts ranged from 1.4 x104cfu/g to 9.0 x104cfu/g. while for Ptychadena mascareniensis Total heterotrophic bacterial counts ranged from 2.2 x108 to 4.5 x107cfu/g, Staphylococcal counts ranged from 1.8 x105cfu/g to 9.5 x105cfu/g, Total coliform counts ranged 1.0 x105cfu/g to 9.8 x105cfu/g, Total Feacal Coliform ranged from 1.2 x104cfu/g 9.8 x104cfu/g. Statistically there were significant differences in bacterial counts in the six studied LGAs. Statistically there were significant differences in the bacterial counts from the six studied locations. A total of 259 bacterial isolate belonging to the following genera: Escherichia, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Klebsiella, and Pseudomonas were isolated during this study. The proportion of nutritional composition obtained in this study ranged as follow: carbohydrate from 1.82 to 2.24, crude fibre 2.28 to 3.00, ash 3.99 to 4.89%, lipid 11.90 to 12.32%, protein13.74 to14.00%, moisture 64.45 to 65.74%, for the species of the edible frogs tested.

Conclusion: The presence of Escherichia coli identified indicates faecal contamination and indicates the possible presence of potential pathogens. Proper processing and cooking of the frog meat will destroy these organisms, thereby preventing food borne infections. Improper handling and cooking may lead to food borne infections with greater effect observed in immunocompromised patents, the elderly and children. Ptychadena mascareniensis and Ptychadena pumilio have high protein contents therefore, they could be considered as an alternative source of protein despite the bacterial load.