Phenotypic Characterization and in vitro Susceptibility Testing of Fungi Isolated from Madiga Bread (Local Staple Food) in Yenagoa Metropolis, Nigeria

Local bread known as "madiga" is typically enjoyed by residents of Nigeria's Niger Delta region. The aim of this study is to assess madiga bread for inbuilt pathogenic fungi in evaluating its level of edibility in Yenagoa Metropolis. A total of 42 samples was obtained and analyzed include; Hand swabs from factory workers (8/19%), hand swab of madiga vendors (6/14%), madiga bread gotten from market (12/29%), and madiga bread from factories (16/39%). The samples were processed using the following methods: culturing on Saboraud Dextrose Agar, identifying fungal isolates microscopic with Lacto-Phenol Cotton blue, staining the samples with Grama stain, germ tube test, cultivating yeast isolates on CHROMagar Candida (CAC), and standardizing the pure isolates using the 0.5 McFarland turbidity standard. From the samples, 206 fungi in total were isolated. Madiga breads obtained from factories 80 (39%) have the highest isolation rate. Aspergillus niger 120(58%), Aspergillus flavus 23(11%), Aspergillus fumigatus 5(3%), Candida tropicalis 21(10%), Candida parapilosis 21(10%), Microsporum auidouini 14(7%), and Penicillin spp 2(1%), are the seven distinct fungal species that was been isolated. The pure fungal isolates were subjected to antifungal susceptibility testing using the following methods: Agar diffusion and Kirby Buer techniques with Clotrimazole (50ug), Econazole (20ug), Caspofungin (5ug), Ketoconazole (15ug), Nystatin (100lu), and Fluconazole (25ug) on Saboraud Dextrose Agar. Clotrimazole was the most effective antifungal agent against all of the fungal isolates, exhibiting a 100% susceptibility rate and 8.3% resistance to fluconazole. Because of the high rate of fungal isolation from the samples that were analyzed, which is a result of the inadequate hygiene practices used in the Madiga bread's manufacturing and distribution. It is suggested that the government implement regulations to ensure appropriate monitoring of Madiga bread production and provide workers at the factory with training on essential hygiene protocols.