Benedicta Iyobosa IDAHOSA

All living things need water and rivers constitute one of the most important sources of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties and prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in Ogbese River, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. Water samples (twenty-four) were collected from 12 stations at Ogbese Town, and another 12 stations at Olumoye towns along Ogbese river course during the months of June to December, 2018 and February 2019. Bacteriological analysis involving membrane filtration and multiple tube fermentation techniques were employed to isolate bacterial pathogens. Extraction of genomic DNA, amplification, sequencing and blasting were used to identify bacterial isolates. Antibiogram and curing of bacterial isolates were performed using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Hemolysin production, serum resistance, Sereny test, Ileal loop assay and suckling mouse tests were carried out on the bacterial isolates. The physicochemical parameters and heavy metals analyses were evaluated using standard methods for water quality. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and unpaired Student’s t test.