The proximate analysis and antimicrobial activities of Persea Americana seed (Avocado pear) against pathogenic Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus was carried out to ascertain the unique properties that makes it confer antibacterial effect. This research work was carried out in the Microbiology Project Laboratory of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli. The organisms used were obtained from urine samples of students and characterized using microbiological and biochemical tests. The phytochemical and proximate analysis of the seed extract of the plant was determined quantitatively using chemical and spectrophotometric methods. The inhibitory activity test was carried out using agar well diffusion method also tube dilution technique using double-fold serial dilution method was employed for assaying the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) at various concentrations (31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/ml). The phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, phenols, cyanogenic glycosides and steroids. The proximate content revealed that the seed contained more of moisture than fat and fibre. The ethanolic extract of Persea americana seed showed a pronounced activity (11.00 mm and 9.40 mm) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were significantly higher (P<0.05) than that of the aqueous extract (5.90 mm) which showed for only Escherichia coli. This activity differed significantly (P>0.05) from that of Ciprofloxacin (22.10 mm and 16.40 mm). The results of MIC for the ethanolic extract against E. coli and S. aureus were 500 mg/ml and 250 mg/ml respectively, while the MBC result was pronounced for only E. coli at 500 mg/ml. The spectra of antimicrobial activities displayed by the extracts could be attributed to the presence of these phytochemicals and signifies the potential of Persea americana as a source of therapeutic agent.

A study of the comparative analysis of house-hold drinking water quality in Uli, Anambra State was carried out in the Microbiology Laboratory of Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli to evaluate the water, with a view to assessing the public health implication of water from these sources. Trips were made to living homes to obtain samples of their drinking water. Twenty Samples were used for the study. Ten samples were collected from homes that drank straight from the boreholes. Five samples were collected from those that drank sachet water and five from those that drank bottled water. Microbiological and physicochemical parameters were utilized using standard methods. Most probable number (MPN) technique was employed in the bacteriological analysis of the water samples. Biochemical tests were utilized in the identification of the microorganisms. Results based on the cultural, morphological and biochemical characteristics, revealed the samples to contain three isolates identified as Escherichiacoli, Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella sp. The pH of all the treated water samples were neutral, pH of the borehole water samples was neutral. The temperature of the sachet water samples ranged between 22.5 -23.5 whereas that the borehole water samples were 22°C -22.2°C respectively. The total dissolved solid of the treated water samples ranged between 0.82mg/1 and 1.60mg/1, whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 7.07 -20mg/l. The total suspended solids of the treated water samples were not detected whereas that of the borehole water samples ranged between 31 -55mg/l. Results from total coliform counts for the samples were highest in the boreholes with a total coliform count of 2.4MPN per ml. Faecal coliform count was highest in the borehole samples. The presence of high faecal coliform count in the borehole samples could be attributed to the proximity of the boreholes to pit latrines at distances less than the 30m. This does not conform with WHO recommendations for safe drinking water. From the results, all the untreated drinking water sampled from Uli were unfit for human consumption. This could be responsible for the incessant gastroenteritis, staphylococcal toxic shock syndrome, dysentery and Klebsiella pneumonia observed in Uli and environs. This study suggests that all the drinking water from various sources used by the inhabitants of Uli and environs should be treated before drinking.