Enterotoxigenicity Assessment of Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp Isolated from Snails and Zobo Drink Employing Using Suckling Albino Rats

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the enterotoxigenic profile of Escherichia coli obtained from Zobo drinks and Snail samples and Salmonella spp. obtained from a Poultry farm in suckling albino rats. For the study a total of 30 suckling albino rats were obtained from the Animal Department, University of Port Harcourt, Choba. The suckling albino rats were used to evaluate the enterotoxigenicity potentials of the Escherichia coli isolates (Zobo drink 1, Zobo drink 2, snail sample 1, snail sample 2) and Salmonella spp. (S1, S2, S3, S4) using Gut/body ratio (G/B) and fluid accumulation ratio (FAR). The results after 4 hours shows that the fluid accumulation ratio as follows: Zobo drink 1 (0.050), Zobo drink 2 (0.090), snail 1 (0.087), snail 2 (0.099) and S1 (0.099), S2 (0.080), S3 (0.122), S4 (0.124), indicating toxicity potential of the test isolates, except Zobo drink 1 considering the ˃0.065 Fluid Accumulation Ratio. The practice of good hygiene, proper cooking of food and adequate enlightenment is strongly recommended.