Biodegradation Potential of Abattoir Wastewater Microbiota in Nigeria

Water used for washing carcasses of slaughtered animals and slaughter house is referred to as abattoir wastewater. This study was designed to investigate the microorganisms associated with abattoir wastewater and to establish the biodegradation potential of abattoir wastewater microbiota. Isolation of the microbes was carried out using pour plate technique. The total viable count for the microbes’ ranges from 2.5×104 - 4.6×105 cfu/mL. Results revealed that all the physicochemical parameters exceeded the permissible limits (total dissolved solid (TDS) 1748mg/L, total suspended solid (TSS) 176mg/L, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) 91 mg/L and chemical oxygen demand (COD) 227 mg/L). Microorganisms isolated include Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus anthracis, Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Mucor sp, Trichophyton quickeanum and Penicillium sp. Some of the microbes were observed to have biodegradation potential by their ability to grow on mineral salt media (MSM) incorporated with starch, cellulose, crude oil, kerosene and diesel as the sole source of carbon and energy. This study suggests that abattoir wastewater harbors microorganisms that could be hazardous to public health when discharged into the environment untreated hence the need for strict monitoring. These microbes isolated could be employed as agent of bioremediation of wastewaters. Key words: Abattoir; Biodegredation; Isolation; Microbiota; Wastewate