Microbiological quality of some Recreational Beaches along the Shoreline of Lagos State, Nigeria

Abstract

Water and sand samples from selected recreational beaches in Lagos shoreline from East to west axis, Eleko (ELK), Lekki (LEK), Takwa Bay (TAK) and Badagry (BDG) as well as Marina and Badagry Jetties were purposely collected using standard microbiological methods. Fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) - E. coli and Enterococcus, were isolated using USEPA methods 1603 and 1600 respectively. Pathogens (Vibrio parahaemolyticus, V. vulnificus, Salmonella, Citrobacter, Serratia, Pseudomonas and Aeromonas) as indicative bacteria of public health significance were isolated using membrane filter techniques and plating on appropriate selective media. Higher counts of FIB were isolated from sand samples compared to beach water sampled while Marina and Badagry Jetties recorded highest faecal counts. V. parahaemolyticus was detected in all beaches sampled while V. vulnificus and Salmonella were detected in 4 sampling sites. Aeromonas was detected from both water and sand samples of 6 sampling sites while Citrobacter was detected in seawater samples from all beaches sampled. Detection of E. coli, enterococci, Vibrio, Salmonella, Pseudomonas, Serratia, Citrobacter and Aeromonas in this survey showed that there is environmental health risk to the beach goers and suggest the importance of routine microbiological monitoring of the beaches for precautionary and public health measures.

Keywords: sand, seawater, recreational beach, fecal indicator bacteria