Abstract

Okome R. A*, Abdulahi M. Ali and Ahmadu E. Mohammed

Virulence factors (such as serum resistance, cell surface hydrophobicity, haemolysin, and gelatinase production) and extended spectrum β lactamase were determined for the Gram negative bacilli isolated from ready-to-eat fruit samples comprising of Ananas comosus, Carica papaya, Citrus sinensis and Citrullus lanatus. The Enterobacteriaceae which include Klebsiella oxytoca (31.7%), Klebsiella pneumonia (22.0%), Proteus mirabilis (14.6%), Enterobacter gergoviae (13.4%), Proteus vulgaris (3.7%), Pantoea agglomerans (3.7%), Hafnia alvei (3.7%), Enterobacter aerogenes (2.4%), Citrobacter sakazaki (1.2%), Citrobacter freundii (1.2%), Salmonella arizonae (1.2%) and Serratia marcescens (1.2%) respectively were characterized using Microgen GNA ID kit. The haemolysin production analysis showed that 96.6% of Enterobacteriaceae produced cytolytic protein toxins (α-haemolysin), gelatinase (81.7%), serum resistance (87.9%), cell surface hydrophobicity (92.4%) and 95.8% were resistant to cefotaxime and ceftazidime which implies that such organisms are ESBL producers. The research showed that consumption of ready-to-eat fruits processed and sold by unlicensed vendors with poor education levels and untrained in food hygiene may increase the risk of food-borne diseases.