South Asian Journal of Research in Microbiology

Prevalence, Antibiotic Resistance, and Implications for Public Health Due to Salmonella Contamination in Food Products

Fatima Sayed, Rupinder Kaur, Vikas Jha , Umme Atiya Quraishi — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research investigated the prevalence of Salmonella species in meat, chicken, fish, prawn, and milk samples, and their resistance to antibiotics was examined. The study findings demonstrated varying levels of Salmonella contamination in different food types, including meat and chicken samples showing higher prevalence rates compared to fish, prawn, and milk. Notably, the isolated Salmonella strains exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics, raising concerns about the potential dissemination of antibiotic-resistant strains through the food chain and its implications for public health. The study underscores the critical importance of continuous surveillance in monitoring Salmonella prevalence and antibiotic resistance in food products. It also highlights the significance of promoting responsible antibiotic usage in both human and veterinary medicine to safeguard food safety and public health.

Microbiological Quality and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Bacterial Isolates from Locally and Industrially Processed Noni (Morinda citrifolia) Drinks Sold in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

R.O Adepoju, L. O Amadi , T. Sampson — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Public health is seriously threatened by the emergence of antibiotic resistance, especially in food products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the Microbiological Quality and Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Bacterial Isolates from locally and Industrially Processed NONI (Morinda citrifolia) Drinks Sold in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Noni beverages (samples) were bought from three distinct locations in Rivers State while the fruits were locally fermented into noni beverages. Conventional microbiological methods were employed to identify the bacterial isolates, and the disc diffusion method was employed to assess the antibiotics susceptibility. Characterization of the bacterial isolates was further done using molecular techniques. The total heterotrophic bacteria in the beverages ranged from 3.5±0.7 to 5.9±0.3×104 cfu/ml. The total coliform counts ranged from 1.7±1.9 to 3.8±1.2×104 CFU/ml and faecal coliform count in all the samples was zero (0). Data showed that the locally produced noni sample had the highest bacterial counts (1.6×103 cfu/ml) while the lowest count was observed in samples from location B (1.50×102 cfu/ml). The presence of multiple bacterial species, including Flavobacterium spp. (16.7%), Enterobacter spp. (25%), Serratia spp. (25%), Micrococcus spp. (8.3%) and Bacillus spp. (25%) was indicated by the results. All the isolates (100%) were resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as cefuroxime, cefotaxime, cefixime and meropenem, gentamycin, vancomycin, with 66.7% being resistant to ampiclox. Ampicillin resistance gene (Amp C gene) was detected in Serratia marcescens AB061685.1 and Bacillus subtilis AB192294.2. These findings have shown that Noni beverages are prone to bacterial contamination with serious public health concerns and thus highlighted the significance of strict quality control measures in the production and sale of Noni drinks, to check the risk of antimicrobial resistance transmission through food consumption.

Prevalence and Some Virulence Factors of Salmonella spp Isolated from Pigs and Piggery in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Joel, Chimezie, Aleruchi, Owhonka, Akani, Nedie Patience — Tue, 30 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Piggery habitats are a substantial reservoir and are frequently asymptomatic carriers of the bacterium, Salmonella. Salmonella can be shed in faeces, urine allowing infection to spread to other pigs and the environment. Therefore, there is a need to determine the prevalence and some virulence factors of Salmonella spp in pigs and piggery. The study areas were M & K pig farm Alakahia (station A) and Rivers State University pig farm (station B). A total evaluation of 112 samples were obtained with seven sample types comprising of faeces, floor, food trough, foreskin, urine, walls, and water trough were aseptically collected using sterile universal bottle and swab sticks. Samples were examined for presence of Salmonella using standard microbiological approach for enumeration and identification. Mean Salmonella-Shigella counts (SSC) for faecal sample ranges for station A and B were: 1.6 to 3.1x10⁵cfu/g, floor 5x10⁴ to 2.0x10⁵cfu/m², food trough 3x10⁴ to 1.2x10⁵cfu/m², Foreskin 4x10⁴ to 1.4x10⁵cfu/m², urine 0 to 1x10⁴cfu/ml, Wall 5x10⁴ to 2x10⁵cfu/m², Water trough 6x10⁴ to 1.3x10⁵cfu/m². Seventy-five isolates of Salmonella belonging to 5 species were isolated which include with feacal sample recording the highest prevalence (10.7%) at both locations. The virulence test performed on all Salmonella isolates were 100% motile, haemolysis, catalase and S. typhimurium (80%), S. choloraesius (89.4%), S. enterica (93.3%) S.enteritidis (54.5%) and S. bongori (100%) to biofilm production test. The high prevalence and virulent factors observed in this study indicate high potential risk of transmission of Salmonella spp in piggery, which can have a serious implication to public health. It is essential that a more effective control strategies be employed to minimize the prevalence of salmonella spp in pigs and piggery in Port Harcourt metropolis.

Diversity of Fungi and Bacteria Associated with Respiratory Infections among Commercial Bank Tellers in South-Eastern Nigeria

Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction: Fungi - associated respiratory Infections are serious health challenges that have become inextricably linked with handling of paper currencies in some countries of the world Dermici et al., [1]. Given the quantity of Old-worn-out and mutilated Naira notes in circulation, and other prevailing circumstances in Nigerian banking halls, study was undertaken to evaluate the incidence and spread of fungi -associated respiratory infections among tellers from selected commercial Banks in South-Eastern Nigeria.

Methods: A total of 504 Cash Bank Tellers; 196 Males and 308 females aged 25 – 48years (mean age 32.4 years) were evaluated for Fungi-associated infections using Sputum and Nasal secretions-smear Microscopy and Culture simultaneously. Twenty-Seven bacterial strains; Staphylococcus aureus (12), Streptococcus Pneumonia (7) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (8) were tested for their antibiogram

Results: One hundred and fifty-nine (31.5%) of the 504 Bank Cash Tellers were diagnosed of respiratory infections due to Aspergillus Sp. (13.5%), Candida albicans (5.8%), Candida tropicalis 6(.4%), Staphylococcus aureus (2.4%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (1.4%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (1.6%), and Nocardia Sp. (0.6%). The yield of micro-pathogens appeared to rise from 18.8% to 55.6% as duration of currency note handling increased from ≤ 6months to 43 – 48 months respectively. Analysis of the differences of the Micro-Pathogens isolated among tellers from Bulk Rooms (42.9%) and those from open Halls (20.2%) was statistically significant (X2cal=68.3) P < 0.05. Forty-eight (88.9%), 26(123.8%), 41(44.6%) and 43(113.2%) Strains of micro-pathogens were isolated from Tellers who indicated with history of respiratory infections, smoking only, alcohol consumption only and smoking/alcohol consumption respectively. The proportions of the micro-pathogens isolated are shown in the Table 1, with Aspergillus sp. yield appearing highest. The antibiogram of the 27 strains of bacteria isolated in the study appeared relatively high; 92.6% for Ofloxacin and 66.7% for Gentamycin, while Streptomycin, Erythromycin, Cephalexin, Ampiclox, and Chloramphenicol responded poorly.

Conclusion: The micro-pathogens isolated from this study are important agents of respiratory infections. The relatively high proportions (31.6%) of micro-pathogens isolated may serve as relevant indication that most Nigerian Currency notes in circulation are old, worn-out, mutilated, and are contaminated with micro-pathogens commonly linked with serious public health problems.

Microbial Prevalence in Soil Water in the River Deltas of the World

Rajrupa Ghosh, Rituparna Acharya — Wed, 10 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

There is a wide range of diverse soil and aquatic microbes reside in different deltas of the world that mainly exhibit in various forms such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, archaeans, actinomycetes, virus etc. They contribute to the environment in various ways to maintain the balance of natural elements, bio geological components and also help in protecting the ecological components. Microbes that are living in the soil provide plants along with environmental and natural protection from diseases and pests. They are very much essential for transforming nitrogen and nutrients into the forms that is consumable for plants. Decomposition, production of Oxygen, evolution, as well as symbiosis are the vital roles that are played by different soil and aquatic microbes. Some river deltas show maximum populations of saline soil dependent bacterial and fungal community, where as some river deltas are enriched with some specific microbes that are responsible for soil remediation. In some cases some species of hydrocarbon degrading microorganisms contribute to differences in C, N, P ratios. As the microbes are also responsible for producing different antigens as well as allergens that are mainly causative agents for varying infectious diseases, in need of its curative drugs and antibiotic medicines some microbes are involved in research studies for production of medicinal drugs and anti-allergens.