Distribution and types of water-borne bacterial pathogens in River Sokoto, Nigeria and their health implication

M.I.O. Raji, Y.J. Oyeniyi

 

Abstract

The quality of water from River Sokoto was assessed to determine its bacterial load and types. Standard bacteriological techniques were used to perform the total heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliform and enterococci counts of water samples collected from six sampling points on the river and distribution of bacteria in the water samples was also determined using standard procedures. The study indicated high heterotrophic bacteria, faecal coliform and enterococci counts above permissible limits for drinking and recreational waters according to World Health Organization (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). A total of 434 bacteria organisms were isolated comprising nineteen different species. Among the Enterobacteriaceae, Escherichia coli, which are human pathogenic organisms, had the highest percentage (11.98%) followed by Enterobacter aerogenes and Klebsiella pneumoniae subspecies pneumonia. Pseudomonas aeruginosaconstituted the majority of non-Enterobacteriaceae Gram negative organisms. Staphylococcus aureus was the highest among the Gram positive organisms followed by Staphylococcus saprophyticus (5.99%). Other isolates in significant numbers are Streptococcus faecalis, Bacillus subtilis, Elizabethkingia meningoseptica and Aeromonas sobria. Bacteria of aquatic habitat like Providencia rettgeri, Raoultella ornithinolytica, Staphylococcus cohnii subspecies urealyticus and Staphylococcus chromogenes that have not been isolated before in the study area were also isolated. River Sokoto predominantly contained E. coli which is an indication of faecal contamination and that makes it unsuitable for drinking and agricultural uses. People in the area should be encouraged to practice adequate sanitation.

Key words: River Sokoto, water quality, bacterial pathogens, E. coli, health implication.

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Distribution and types of water-borne bacterial pathogens in River Sokoto, Nigeria and their health implication

Genetic diversity of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus section Nigri, using RAPD and VCG techniques

B.T. Thomas, L.A. Ogunkanmi, B.A. Iwalokun, D. Popoola

 

Abstract

This study evaluates the genetic diversity of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus section Nigri using RAPD and VCG techniques. Results obtained revealed OPX 07 as the most informative of the tested RAPD markers generating 12 polymorphic bands while the least bands were generated by OPR 19. Of the 40 Aspergillus section Nigri (20 each of Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus carbonarius), 22 VCGs and 27 RAPD haplotypes were delineated. The two techniques demonstrated similar resolution except in few cases where the RAPD technique further sub divided some VCGs into simpler haplotypes. The average percentage of variable VCG and RAPD reactions were 25 and 50% in that order of sequence while 75 and 50% of the isolates were resolved as same isolates by these techniques respectively. It was also found that the Simpson index of genetic diversity approached one for the isolates from the four geopolitical zones of Ogun State, Nigeria with the mean genetic diversity within isolates (GL) contributing significantly approximately 89% of the total diversity observed within the isolates (F=22.23, p<0.05). The remaining 11% of variation could only be allotted to diversity among isolates (GS). On the whole, the total genetic diversity (HT) was found to be approximately 48%. In conclusion, RAPD markers provided better resolution than the classical VCG typing technique.

Keywords; Genetic Diversity, Ochratoxigenic Aspergillus, RAPD and VCG

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Genetic diversity of ochratoxigenic Aspergillus section Nigri, using RAPD and VCG techniques

Transcriptional factor influence on OTA production and the quelling attribute of Sirna on the OTA producing strains of Aspergillus section Nigri

B.T. Thomas, L.A. Ogunkanmi, B.A. Iwalokun, G.C Agu

 

Abstract

This study determined the influence of some transcriptional factors on ochratoxin A production as well as investigates the quelling attributes of some designed siRNA on the OTA producing Aspergillus section Nigri using standard recommended techniques. Results obtained following comparison of the pks gene promoter sequences from 15 isolates depicts differences in length and homology with the pks gene ranging from 218bp in a strain of the Aspergillus niger to 700bp in Aspergillus carbonarius. The alignment of the pks gene promoter region revealed that six and two of the aligned genes have Aba A binding site corresponding to CATTCT and CATTCC respectively while Brl A binding site was absent in all the isolates. Pac C binding site corresponding to CCTGGC and GCCAAG was also found in two and three of the pks gene promoter region respectively. The three designed siRNA shows significant impact on OTA inhibitions with no significant statistical differences (80.9, 74.4 and 75.3% for pks_Ia, pks_Ib and pks_Ic respectively) (F= 3.830, p>0.05). It can be concluded that Are A and Aba A are potential enhancers for ochratoxin A biosynthesis and none of the investigated transcriptional factors is enough for the activation of ochratoxin A production. However, pks gene was seen as a good target gene for inactivation in order to develop efficient means for ochratoxin A control using RNA silencing technology.

Key words: Transcriptional factors, Ochratoxin A, siRNA, Quelling , Aspergillus section Nigri

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Transcriptional factor influence on OTA production and the quelling attribute of Sirna on the OTA producing strains of Aspergillus section Nigri

Containment of ebola – steps to prevent spread of emerging infectious diseases, the Nigeria example

Y.J. Peter

 

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases are diseases whose incidence in humans have increased in the past decades or threaten to increase in the near future. The epidemiological and Laboratory techniques needed to detect, investigate and contain a deliberate outbreak are the same as those used for natural outbreaks. The threat to Nigeria posed by the arrival in Lagos of a patient acutely ill with Ebola was potentially enormous. Six response teams were deployed within the Emergency Operations Centre; 1) Epidemiology/ Surveillance, 2) Case Management/ Infection Control, 3) Social mobilization, 4) Laboratory Services, 5) Point of Entry and 6) Management / Coordination. The strategy group reviewed and approved all of the teams work and needed resources. Eleven patients with laboratory confirmed Ebola were admitted and discharged, an additional patient was diagnosed at convalescent stage while eight patients died. Several issues were observed by the response team during Nigeria Ebola outbreak that could in retrospect have been mitigated through additional preparedness planning for public health emergencies:- 1) Financial resources were slow to arrive, 2) Political leadership did not appreciate the enormous consequences that even a small Ebola outbreak could have on civil institutions, 3) Lack of Nigerian health workers willing to care for Ebola because of a lack of information and training on how to care for Ebola patients, 4) Inappropriate coordination of private sector engagement and 5) Partners and parts of government were unfamiliar with EOC/IMS system and its use as a means of streamlining coordination and response elements into one unified approach.

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Containment of ebola – steps to prevent spread of emerging infectious diseases, the Nigeria example

 

Trichomonas vaginalis infection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria

F. O Akinbo, I. S. Oronsaye

 

Abstract

Trichomonasvaginalisis the most common non-viral sexually transmitted disease (STD) and one of the neglected parasitic infections. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of T. vaginalisinfection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 272 girls were recruited in this study. The participants’ age ranged from 13 to 18 years. Two high vagina swab specimens were collected from each participant. The specimens were analyzed using wet mount examination and culture methods. A prevalence of 9.2% of T. vaginalis was observed among adolescent girls in this study. Level of education of parents, occupation of mothers, sexual relationship and clinical manifestation of participants significantly affected the prevalence of T. vaginalisinfection among adolescent girls attending secondary school. Culture method detected more cases of T. vaginalis infection than the wet mount technique. The use of culture method in routine diagnosis of T. vaginalisinfection is advocated as this will reduce cases of infertility resulting from undetected and untreated infection as well as the risk of HIV transmission and acquisition.

Key words: Adolescent girls,Benin City, Trichomonas vaginalis

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Trichomonas vaginalis infection among adolescent girls in some secondary schools in Benin city, Edo state, Nigeria

Impact of malaria on inflammatory proteins, haematological and biochemical indices in pregnancy

A.K. Digban, T.O Digban, A.O. Adelabu, M. V. Ndukwea

 

Abstract

Malaria morbidity and mortality has remained a major health burden in the developing countries especially in tropical Africa. Thus malaria association in pregnancy and its associated complication remains a major health problem to the expectant mothers. In this study a total of five hundred and fifty (550) blood specimens were obtained from both pregnant and non-pregnant mothers with and without malaria parasitaemiawho consented to the study. Selected biochemical and haematological parameters were assessed using conventional methods. The result showed that the malaria parasite species isolated was plasmodium falcipariumwhich accounted for about 80% of the total population; the age group of 26-35years had the highest malaria density for those classified as low (53.7%), average (55.7%) and high (70.4%). This accounted for 60.7% of the total malaria parasite density. Further analysis of the malaria parasite density on pregnancy according to their trimester showed that women on their second trimester of pregnancy had the highest percentage of malaria parasite density of 55.7% and this was statistically significant (P>0.05). The result also show that pregnancy with malaria parasitaemia had the highest mean ± standard deviation of 20.37± 15.55 while those grouped as having ‘malaria parasitaemia without pregnancy’ had the lowest (6.09± 3.76) level of C- reactive protein (CRP). This was also statistically significant (P<0.01). Conclusively, the findings recorded in this study have now shown that malaria parasite infections during pregnancy have a significant impact on both the biochemical and haematological indices and the prevalent species of the parasite is plasmodium faciparium.

Keywordsplasmodium faciparium, pregnancy, malaria parasitaemia, morbidity, mortality.

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Impact of malaria on inflammatory proteins, haematological and biochemical indices in pregnancy

Status of resistance to antimicrobial agents of Staphylococcus aureus strains at the laboratory of microbiology of the HU-JRA Antananarivo

A.M. Andrianarivelo, T.H. Andriamandimbisoa, L.M. Rakotondraoelina, A.B.A. Ratsimbazafy, F.E. Razafimanantsoa, A.A. Raharisoa, C Rafalimanana, A Rasamindrakotroka

 

Abstract

Introduction: On contact of antibiotics, S. aureus has gradually acquired multiple antibiotic resistances, including the methicillin (MRSA) and without lose its virulence. The aim of the present study was to report the evolution of resistance of S. aureus to different common antibiotics and to determine the antibiotics active against MRSA.

Materials and methods: This is a retrospective and descriptive study for 10 years from January 2005 to December 2014 at the Laboratory of Microbiology of the HU-JRA Antananarivo, the biggest academic hospital located in the capital of Madagascar. All demands for standard bacteriological examination were registered in the laboratory for various bacteriological exams or from samples taken from hospitalized patients and we included all positive cultures for S. aureus. The variables selected and used for the study were community or nosocomial sources of patients and results of susceptibility testing.

Results: A total of 906 results from 282 (31.12%) community-acquired and 624 (68.88%) nosocomial infections were studied an average of 100±25strains by year of study. Overall, the prevalence of MRSA was 13.83% (39 of 282 isolates)for community-acquired strains, and 15.70% (98 of 624) for nosocomial infections (p> 0.05)with a total of 29.53%. Resistance rate to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was significantly higher in nosocomial infection than in community-acquired. No significant difference was observed in other antibiotics. Of the 137 MRSA, except vancomycin, fusidic acid is the antibiotic that worked the most in 114 cases (83.21%) followed by gentamicin in 96 cases (70.07%). Apart from ciprofloxacin and tetracycline that we have noticed an increase in resistance rates in 2012 and 2013, almost all antibiotics tested have a stable rate of resistance.

Conclusion: The antibiotics tested showed extremely high rates of resistance and that the problem of antibiotic resistance in S. aureus is effective in our center.

Keywords: Resistance, antibiotics, S. aureus , HU-JRA ,Antananarivo

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Status of resistance to antimicrobial agents of Staphylococcus aureus strains at the laboratory of microbiology of the HU-JRA Antananarivo

Antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae causing urinary tract infections in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

D.S. Kpoda, N Guessennd, N.S. Somda, A Ajayi, J.I. Bonkoungou, F Konan, M.B. Ouattara, M Somda, J Simpore, R Ouedraogo, K.M. Drabo, L Sangare, M Dosso, A.S. Traore

 

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency of extended-spectrum beta lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL) and other antibioticsresistant bacteria in urinary tract isolates.

Study Design: prospective and experimental study.

Methodology: Place and duration of study :YalgadoOuedraogo University Hospital Center, Charles De Gaulle Pediatric Hospital Center, Saint Camille Hospital and National Public Health Laboratory, Ouagadougou, from November 2014 to October 2015.

AllEnterobacteriaceaestrains isolated from urinary samples of patients were identifiedusing API 20E chemical gallery (BioMerieux, France). All strains were subjected to an array of 14 antibiotics to study their drug susceptibility by using Kirby- Baeurdisk diffusion method. Detection of ESBL was carried out by double disk diffusion technique. Statistical analysis was performed by Microsoft Excel and Anova one-way GrapPad Prism version 5.01. Chi-square (χ2) test was used to determine significance. A p˂ 0.05was considered to be statistically significant.

Results: A total of 324 isolates of Enterobacteriaceae were identified during the study period, including211(65%) E. coli, 75 (23%)Klebsiellaspp., 18 (6%) Enterobacter spp., 11 (3%)Proteus spp., 5 (2%) Citrobacter spp., Serratia spp. 3 (1%).All the clinical isolates were susceptible to imipenem. Resistance to amikacinwas 14% (45/324); gentamicin 54% (175/324); tobramycin 58% (187/324); nalidixic acid 72% (234/324),ciprofloxacin 63% (204/324) and to cotrimoxazole 83% (269/324).The overall rate of the EBSL producing strains was 35% (114/324). Their susceptibility to antibiotics was (imipenem,amikacin, cefoxitin and fosfomycin) 100% (114/114), 93% (106/114), 74% (84/114) and 84% (96/114) respectively. ESBL positivity within individual organism group was highest inEscherichia coli 64% (73/324) followed byKlebsiellaspp. 28% (32/324), Enterobacterspp. 3% (4/324), Proteus spp. and Citrobacterspp. 2% (2/324).

Conclusion: The results showeda high frequency of ESBL producing Enterobacteriaceae, especially Escherichia coli and Klebsiellaspp. The data points to theneed of routine detection and surveillance of ESBL producing bacteria in Burkina Faso.

Keywords: Antimicrobial susceptibility, Enterobacteriaceae, Urine, Burkina Faso

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Antimicrobial susceptibility of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae causing urinary tract infections in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Incidence microbiological profile and drug resistance pattern of uropathogens causing asymptomatic bacteriuria among below poverty line diabetic male patients

S Balamuruganvelu, B Geethavani, S.V. Reddy, R Srikumar, V.K.G. Sundaram

 

Abstract

Introduction: With the prevalence of DM increasing among rural population in developing countries, factors associated with diabetes and its complications also becomes more important. More than half of diabetic patients with ASB have upper urinary tract involvement and the frequency of symptomatic UTI had been significantly higher. Symptomatic UTIs tends to be more common in diabetic subjects with ASB than in those without ASB. Although ASB is of major concern in diabetic population, the long-term consequences of ASB in patients with DM are poorly documented, Almost all studies were performed among elderly women with type 2 diabetes and there is very little information on the occurrence of ASB among BPL diabetic males in our local setting. Hence in the present study the incidence and etiology of ASB among BPL diabetic male patients was monitored along with the resistance pattern of bacterial isolates to antimicrobial agents.

Materials and methods: Clean catch voided midstream urine samples were collected from 1131 BPL Diabetic male patients enrolled for the study. Wet film of centrifuged urine was performed to detect the presence of pus cells, epithelial cells, erythrocytes, microorganisms, cast. Culture was performed using standard loop method and antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolates was studied using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method following CLSI guidelines.

Results: Out of 1131 BPL diabetic male patients screened for ASB, 155 (13.7%) were culture positive. Among the uropathogens Gram negative bacilli was the most commonest type (72.7%) and the most prevalent organisms isolated was Klebsiella spp (35.2%), Enterococcus spp (22.4%), followed by E. coli (19.4 %) ,Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( 7.3%), etc.,. 87.5% of E.coli isolated were ESBL, followed by 77.6 % of Klebsilla spp and 11.1 % Enteroabacter spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa reported in this study were 100% ESBL and 16.6% Metallo β lactamase (MBL) producers.8.1 % of Vancomycin resistant Enterococcus (VRE) was also found in this study.

Conclusion: This study demonstrated a high occurrence of ASB in BPL diabetic males (13.7%). Klebsiella was the most commonest uropathogen found in our study followed by Enterococcus , E.coli and PseudomonasE.coli and Pseudomonas showed high rates of drug resistance. Nitrofurantoin and Amikacin was the most effective drugs for majority of the isolates. Hence routine monitoring and screening for ASB in this population is essential. Moreover patients in rural parts of developing countries with diabetes has to be sensitized about the complications of ASB and regarding maintenance of their glycemic control which is of major importance in prevention of the condition.

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Incidence microbiological profile and drug resistance pattern of uropathogens causing asymptomatic bacteriuria among below poverty line diabetic male patients

 

 

Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility profile of Enterococcus spp. Isolated from some hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria

J.C. Ndubuisi, O.S. Olonitola, A.T. Olayinka, E.D. Jatau, K.C. Iregbu

 

Abstract

This study investigated the prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility of Enterococcus spp. isolated from patients and some selected hospital environment in Abuja, Nigeria. The samples included clinical and environmental. The clinical samples included stool, urine and wound swabs while the environmental samples included swabs samples taken from the health care givers hands, floor, beds, door handle, BP cuff, stethoscope, sink, toilet seats. The samples were cultured on bile aesculinazide agar and the isolates were identified with microgen test kit. The enterococcal strains isolated include Enterococcus faecalisEnterococcus faeciumEnterococcus mundtii, Enterococcus gallinarum,Enterococcus casseliflavusEnterococcus disparEnterococcoushirae and Enterococcus avium. The susceptibility testing was done with vancomycin, teicoplanin, gentamicin, streptomycin, linezolid, ampicillin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, doxycycline, nitrofurantoin, erythromycin and rifampin. More than 50% of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin, rifampin and doxycycline. E-test M.I.C confirmed 12 out of 34 strains to be intermediately resistant to vancomycin. Enterococcus faeciumand Enterococcus mundtii exhibited more resistance than Enterococcus faecalis.

Keyword: Enterococcus spp., samples, Isolates, Hospitals, susceptibility, resistance, vancomycin

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Prevalence and antibiotics susceptibility profile of Enterococcus spp. Isolated from some hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria