Browsing by Author "Gathuru, Eliud"
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Publication Antibacterial effect of Solanum incanum root extracts on bacteria pathogens isolated from portable water in Egerton University, Kenya(BioMed Central, 2019) Waithaka, Paul; Githaiga, Benson; Gathuru, Eliud; Dixon, MojongBackground: Contaminated water is a major source of enteric diseases. This study aimed at isolating pathogenic bacteria from portable drinking water in Egerton University. In addition, the study aimed at subjecting the isolates to sensitivity test of root extracts from Solanum incanum besides carrying out minimum inhibitory test of the root extracts. Material and methods: The bacterial pathogens were isolated from water using membrane filtration. The roots were obtained from Solanum incanum plants in the field and dried at room temperature under shade. The root extracts were obtained using methanol, ethanol and water. Sensitivity test of the isolates to the extracts was carried out using disk diffusion technique. Minimum inhibitory technique was carried out using broth tube dilution technique. Results: The bacterial pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella sp. were isolated from the water samples. The crude extracts contained tannins, alkaloids, glycosides, flavonoids, resins, phenols and steroids. There was no significant difference between the zones of inhibition produced by the test bacterial pathogens when subjected to crude extracts obtained using methanol, ethanol and water (F=28.57 P=0.07). However, there was a significant difference between the MIC of methanol, ethanol and water extracts. Conclusion: Portable water in and around Egerton University is contaminated with potential bacteria pathogens. However, extracts from Solanum incanum can be used as a remedy to the problem. There is need for determination of the structure of active ingredients in the extracts obtained from Solanum incanum.Publication Control of bacterial pathogens isolated from water using Actinomycetes extracts at Egerton University, Kenya(Bionatura, 2019-01-12) Waithaka, Paul; Gathuru, Eliud; Githaiga, Benson; Kamunyi, JacklineDiseases are the worst enemy to man currently. This study was aimed at isolating pathogenic bacteria from water obtained from shallow wells in Dundori Kenya. Also, the study aimed at testing the isolates for sensitivity to antibiotic metabolites previously extracted from Actinomycetes isolates from soils of Egerton University. Water samples were collected from shallow wells randomly selected from Dundori and abbreviated as A, B, C, D, and E. Bacterial pathogens were isolated from the water samples using the membrane filtration technique. The isolates were characterized using biochemical means. Antimicrobial sensitivity testing was carried out using Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. Data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Comparison of means was carried out using one way ANOVA. Shallow wells B, D and E were highly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria. Biochemical characterization of the isolates indicated that the most common isolates were Vibrio cholera, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus sp, Escherichia coli, and Staphylococcus aureus. There was no significant difference between the zones of inhibition produced by the antibiotic metabolites (F=2.149 P=1340) when tested against the test isolates. There were no significant differences between the MIC's of the antibiotic metabolites on the bacterial pathogens (F=2.01 P=0.15). Water from some shallow wells in Dundori is highly contaminated with Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Proteus sp., Vibrio cholerae and Staphylococcus aureus. The pathogens can effectively be controlled using antibiotics from the Actinomycetes. There is a need to sensitize the residents of the study area on ways of preventing seepage of contaminants into the shallow wells.