The Asia Journal of Applied Microbiology

Preliminary survey of feline intestinal parasites in Ghana

2023-01-10T09:57:07-06:00

Cats can host an array of parasite species. This is particularly evident in sub-Saharan Africa, where climatic conditions favour parasites and their vectors, and pets are given little medical attention. The presence of parasites in cats results in significant morbidity in these companion animals. Proximity of infected cats to humans also favours zoonotic transmissions. This study aimed at ascertaining the prevalence and diversity of parasites in cats. A total of 90 feline faecal samples were examined using floatation techniques. Overall, 75 cats (83.3%) were infected with at least one of six parasite species. Toxocara ova were found in 35 (38.9%), hookworm ova in 20 (22.2%), Isospora in 19 (21.1%), Capillaria in 17 (18.9%), pinworm eggs in 5 (5.6%) and flukes in 4 (4.4%) cats respectively. Sex of cats was a significant determinant of infections. This study demonstrates environmental contamination with feline parasites of zoonotic importance, thus necessitating a One-Health surveillance to minimize zoonotic risks from these companion animals. Cats play active roles in the transmission of multiple parasites of zoonotic importance in Ghana.

Degradation of lignocellulosic substrates by Pleurotus ostreatus and Lentinus squarrosulus

2023-05-08T07:36:44-05:00

Lignocellulosic substrates are wastes in the environment whose reducing sugars are not readily available for use. Biological pretreatment is the use of microorganisms and/or their metabolites to break down substrates to obtain simple sugars which is also cheap compared with other pretreatment techniques. This work is aimed at degrading lignocellulosic substrates with higher mushrooms to obtain simple sugars that could be used as raw materials for other industrial processes. The two mushrooms [Pleurotus ostreatus (PO) and Lentinus squarrosulus (LS)] with the ability to produce cellulase, xylanase, and lignase were used for degradation of lignocellulosic substrates [groundnut shell (GS), maize cob (MC), maize straw (MS), rice straw (RS) and sugarcane bagasse (SB)]. The residual extractives, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and reducing sugar contents were determined every 7 days. Least extractives (1.12 %), hemicellulose (15.09 %), lignin (17.60 %), and cellulose (5.60 %) were recorded in PO-degraded MS, POLS-degraded GS, LS-degraded GS, and PO-degraded MS at 28, 35, 49 and 42 days of degradation, respectively. The highest reducing sugar contents (mg/g) obtained in GS (11.83), MS (27.03), SB (28.70), and RS (37.96) were recorded when degraded by PO for 49, 14, 7, and 49 days, respectively while that of MC (13.32) was recorded when degraded by LS for 42 days. Reducing sugar obtained was higher from sole degradation with PO compared with LS and POLS. Degraded MS, RS, and SB had better yield of reducing sugar than GS and MC. The amount of reducing sugar released varied with substrates, organisms, and degradation time.

Attachment of V. cholerae with plankton biomass in two different ecological zones of Bangladesh

2023-05-15T08:02:21-05:00

Seasonal variation and planktonic abundance has profound effects on the attachment of V. cholerae the devastating agent for causing cholera. As crustacean plankton is the primitive carrier for the cholera bacterium, which stage is the most efficient for the attachment to V. cholerae however is a most curious interrogation to resolve. Here in this experiment, laboratory microcosms were prepared with estuarine Mathbaria water, saline Paikgacca water and fresh water of lake. These three sets were with their twins among which one was with algal supplementation to feed the plankton and another was without any algae. After two months of rearing, it was found that, Mathbaria water and lake water supported the bacterial growth to enhance along with the nauplii production. On the other hand, among the three contaminated water sources (site-2, site-8 and site-11) in Mathbaria nauplii biomass showed highest peak during the infection period (March-May and September-November) in 2013 and 2014. In Chhatak also nauplii biomass showed highest peak at three contaminated ponds (site-1, site-10 and site-12) during the peak season in the studied year. During the current study nitrogen and phosphorus amount was higher in the contaminated ponds of Mathbaria when there was peak season of cholera. So, micronutrients as well as larval stages of crustacean plankton are dominant biological factor for causing cholera in these two regions of Bangladesh. This experiment will play as a role model to observe the intensity of the attachment of V. cholerae to copepods at their different stages as well as the interrelation of micronutrients in coastal region with the availability of cholera during peak season.

Antimicrobial resistance of methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococcal species in two government hospitals in Kuantan, Malaysia

2023-05-16T06:57:11-05:00

The emergence of nosocomial infections caused by CoNS has led clinicians and researchers to reconsider the role of CoNS and methicillin-resistant CoNS (MR-CoNS) as important agents of nosocomial infections. This study was conducted on clinical isolates of MR-CoNS obtained from inpatients in Hospital Tengku Ampuan Afzan (HTAA) and International Islamic University Malaysia Medical Center (IIUM-MC) to determine their antimicrobial resistance profile. The isolates were cultured from clinical samples of blood, tissues, and swabs. Forty isolates (33 blood, 4 tissues, and 3 swabs) of MR-CoNS were collected through venepuncture, biopsy, and swabbing techniques respectively, and processed by conventional cultural, biochemical methods and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Methicillin- and vancomycin-resistance profile of the isolates was performed by E-test and broth micro-dilution methods. Of the 40 isolates, 38 were identified to be methicillin-resistant (MIC ³ 0.5 µg/mL). The remaining 2 isolates were considered as susceptible to methicillin (MIC ≤ 0.25). All 40 isolates were found to be susceptible to vancomycin (MIC=1-4 µg/mL). All 40 isolates were also tested for phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profile using the Kirby and Bauer disc diffusion method. Resistance rates to linezolid, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, and ceftaroline were found to be 100%. Resistance rates to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, teicoplanin, and clindamycin were found to be 82.5%, 92.5%, and 97.5% respectively. Thus, all the isolates revealed multi-drug resistance profiles to more than 3 antimicrobials; the highest being resistance to 9 antibiotics, except one isolate from swab. This points toward the need for periodic antibiogram surveillance as they are identified to cause difficult to treat infections.

Microbiological investigation of bacteria in raw eggs obtained from Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria

2023-08-02T06:25:53-05:00

This study aimed to investigate the bacterial load and antibiotic susceptibility of bacteria isolated from uncooked eggs, with the goal of assessing potential health risks associated with their consumption. Six uncooked egg samples were collected, including samples from the eggshell, egg yolk, egg albumen, and their mixture. Bacterial enumeration was performed using the serial dilution and pour plate method on nutrient agar and MacConkey agar. Bacterial isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics using Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was conducted using the disc diffusion method on Mueller Hinton agar. The mean total bacterial load in the egg samples ranged from 3.6 x 10^4 to 5.0 x 10⁴ CFU/ml, with coliforms ranging from 2.5 x 10³ to 3.0 x 10⁴ colony-forming unit per ml. A total of 48 isolates were obtained and identified, consisting of 13 Gram-negative and 35 Gram-positive bacteria. The identified bacteria exhibited varied susceptibility and resistance patterns to antibiotics. Gram-negative bacteria showed 100% susceptibility to gentamycin, ofloxacin, pefloxacin, and ciprofloxacin, except for Neisseria denitrificans, while demonstrating 100% resistance to nitrofurantoin, augmentin, and ceftriaxone. Most Gram-positive bacteria were susceptible to Pefloxacin and Streptomycin. Some isolates displayed resistance to multiple antibiotic classes, with Micrococcus varians and Bacillus laterosporus showing resistance to 6 and 7 different classes of antibiotics, respectively. The study findings emphasize the potential health risks associated with consuming uncooked eggs due to the presence of multiple antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These findings highlight the importance of proper cooking and handling practices for eggs to minimize the risk of foodborne infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. It underscores the need for awareness and implementation of appropriate food safety measures to safeguard public health.

Effect of glucose on biodegradation of hydrocarbons in crude-oil polluted soil undergoing bioremediation

2023-09-03T06:47:29-05:00

Bioremediation of crude oil polluted soil can be enhanced by addition of easily assimilated carbon sources such as glucose. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of increasing concentration of glucose on biodegradation of hydrocarbons in crude-oil polluted soil undergoing bioremediation. Some hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria and fungi were used as bioremediation agents in the study. Soil artificially polluted with crude-oil was divided into 5 setups: CT (control), S1, S2, S4, and S8. Suspension of the bioremediation agents and nutrients were added to the setups. About 5, 10, 20, and 40 g glucose were added to S1, S2, S4, and S8 respectively: equivalent to 1, 2, 4, and 8 % glucose concentration. Soil moisture in the setups was maintained at 10-20 % during the experimental period. Total hydrocarbon concentration (THC), and population of total heterotrophic bacteria (THB), hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB), total fungi (TF), & hydrocarbon utilizing fungi (HUF) were determined on day 1 and 21. Results obtained showed that increase in HUB occurred only in setup S1, and setup S1 had the highest extent of hydrocarbon degradation (18.93 %). Setup S8 had the lowest extent of hydrocarbon degradation (0.79 %). It is concluded that glucose concentration of 1 % and below will enhance biodegradation of hydrocarbons in crude-oil polluted soils, whereas high glucose concentration will retard hydrocarbon biodegradation. Also, the study indicates the possibility of fungi not partaking in hydrocarbon degradation when glucose is made available.

Study of antibiotic susceptibility of uropathogenic germs and epidemiology in patients at the Ignace Deen National Hospital in Conakry (Republic of Guinea)

2023-11-22T04:48:49-06:00

Out of 228 urines analysed, the prevalence was 85%. Married people are the most exposed, with 78%. Households (30%), administrative staff (19%) and patients from the commune of Kaloum (35%) were the most represented. 58% were male, with a sex ratio (male/female) of 0.73. The 51 and over age group was the most affected with 32%, followed by the 21-30 age group with 19% and the 31-40 age group with 16%. The age groups least represented were 11-20 and 0-10 with 5% and 6% respectively. Married people are the most affected, with 82%, compared with 18% of single people. The married/single ratio is 4.5. Housewives are the most represented with 15%, followed by sales staff with 18% and pupils/students with 13%. Patients from the Urology department accounted for 45%, followed by Gynaecology with 21%, Rheumatology with 12%, and patients from elsewhere accounted for 10%. Patients from the commune of Kaloum were the most represented with 36%, followed by patients from outside Conakry with 20% and Matam with 19%. 61% of the urine was clear, 33% turbid and 6% haematic. 15% of urine was germ-free, 63% contained gram-negative bacilli and 37% gram-positive cocci. Leukocyturia was significant in 86% of cases. Epithelial cells were present in 6%, haematuria in 3%, yeast in 3% and oxalate crystals in 2%. The germ Escherichia coli was the most incriminated in 40% followed by Staphyloccus aureus with 32%, Klebsiella pneumoniae with 8%, Pseudomonas aeruginosae with 5%, Acinetobacter baumannii with 3% and Staphylococcus haemolyticus with 2% and the other germs were 1%. Antibiotics such as amikacin were effective in 63%, Nitrofurantoine in 79% and Imipenem in 76%.

Epidemiology and impact of HIV-HBV co-infection on haemato-biochemical parameters in patients at the Matam Community Medical Centre (City of Conakry)

2023-12-30T01:29:51-06:00

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) co-infection is a major public health problem wordlwide. The aim was to determine the impact of HIV/HBV co-infection on haemato-biochemical parameters in 400 patients, from July 1^st to October 30^th, 2022 at the Matam Medical communical center (MMC), in Conakry. The results showed that positivity was 12.5% for HIV, 12% for HBV and 4% for HIV/HBV coinfection. For hematological parameters, 81% (13/16) of HIV/HBV coinfected patients had low hemoglobin levels, with frustrated anaemia (54%), moderate anaemia (15%), severe anaemia (31%), microcytic anaemia (23%), normocytic anaemia (77%), hypochromic anaemia ‘8%), normochromic anaemia (92%), hyponeutrophilia (31%), red blood cell (19%). With monocyte values, 31% had hyperlymphocytosis, 19% had hypermonocytosis and 12% had hypereosinophilia. For biochemical parameters, 69% and 56% of coinfected patients had abnormal increased values of Alanine Aminotransferse (ALT) levels, Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) levels. In relation to the epidemiological variables, Female was the most represented with 56%, all age groups are almost affected with the majority between 21-40 years, 56% followed by 41-60 years with 25% and ≤ 20 years with 19%. Married people are more represented by infections with 56% followed by Singles with 31% and Widows 13%. Almost all socio-professional categories are affected by infections with a high seroprevalence among Housewives, Commercial Agents and Workers with 25%, followed by Pupils/Students with 19% and Administrative Agents with 6%. These results showed that HIV/HBV co-infection had negative impact on hemato-biomedical parameters of the majority of patients in the present studies.