MICROBIAL SAFETY AND QUALITY OF FOODBORNE BACTERIAL PATHOGENS FROM COMMON FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES IN LOCAL MARKET OF NEKEMTE TOWN ,EAST WOLLEGA ZONE,OROMIA,ETHIOPIA

Fresh fruits and vegetable products are nutritious and healthy for human consumption, they are potential carriers of foodborne pathogens when contaminated during production, harvesting, transportation, and marketing of the produce. Therefore, this study sought to assess foodborne bacterial pathogens from fresh fruits and vegetable products sold in local markets of Nekemte town. The study involved a total of 180 samples comprising 30 samples each of mangoes, papaya, avocado, tomatoes, cabbage, and carrot. The samples were collected from three different market stations: Bake Jama, Darge, and Bordi in Nekemte town. Microbial analysis of the samples was carried out using the spread plate method on selective and differential media like manitol salt agar, violet red bile aga,eosin methylene blue and macconkey agar for total counts of Staphylococcus , fecal coliform, total coliform, and Escherichia colis. The results revealed that the maximum count of Staphylococcus was found in mango (6.98 log CFU/g), followed by cabbage (6.54 log CFU/g), while the minimum count of Staphylococcus was found in avocado (5.43 log CFU/g). For fecal coliforms, the maximum count was found in cabbage (6.52 log CFU/g), followed by papaya (6.41 log CFU/g), and avocado (6.01 log CFU/g), while the minimum count of fecal coliforms was found in carrot (4.42 log CFU/g). For total coliforms, the maximum count was found in mango (6.23 log CFU/g), followed by papaya (6.15 log CFU/g). The minimum total coliform counts were found in carrot (5.42 log CFU/g) and tomato (5.51 log CFU/g). From the total bacterial isolates, the dominant bacterial species isolated were Staphylococcus spp. (24.44%), followed by Bacillus spp. (20.83%), Enterobacter spp. (16.67%), and Micrococcus spp. (14.17%).Out of 180 samples, pathogenic bacteria were detected as follows: Staphylococcus aureus in 17.22% of samples, Salmonella in 9.44%, Shigella in 8.33%, and Escherichia coli in 6.67% of the samples. The bacterial isolates were also subjected to the study of antimicrobial susceptibility pattern by the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar medium. The bacterial isolates were found to be sensitive to ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, gentamicin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT). From the overall findings, it is evident that contamination could take place during harvesting, post-harvest handling, transportation, and display at market stalls and vendors' practices. The presence of fecal coliform bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria suggests health risks. It is recommended that microbiological surveys, improvement of hygiene practices, and training of vendors on handling practices should be implemented for better safety and quality of fresh fruits and vegetables. Keywords: avocado, count, fruits, isolate, mango, papaya, vegetable