Estimation of Cellulolytic Bacteria from Cowdung in Awka Central Abattoir, Anambra State, Nigeria

Bacteria obtained from cow-dungs from selected slaughtering points in Awka central abattoir were assessed for cellulose degradation. The qualitative screening of the isolates was determined by culturing the isolates on a cellulose selective medium. The isolates were obtained and identified as Serratia marcescens, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Bacillus subtilis and Lactobacillus spp. Three of the isolates with the highest cellulolytic activity are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis and Streptococcus mutans. Pseudomonas aeruginosa gave the highest diameter clear zone value of 12mm+0.25mm Streptococcus spp. follows with clear zone of 11mm+1.02mm and Bacillus subtilis had the least diameter clear zone of 10mm+1.04mm. The three isolates were selected for optimization because they had a clear zone up to 10mm and above. These isolates were subjected to qualitative screening by culturing the isolates in a liquid medium with different incubation periods (12, 24, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96hrs) at shack and static conditions. Potential activities of Fpase and CMC-ase were found in Pseudomonas aeruginosa (0.94u/m), Bacillus subtilis (0.88u/m) and Streptococcus mutans (0.6u/m) all at 48hrs incubation respectively. Microbes in cow dung have a potential to be Cellulolytic as the degradation of cellulose is an environmental friendly approach that can reduce the accumulation of agricultural wastes.