Molecular Exploring of Plasmid-mediated Ampc beta Lactamase Gene in Clinical Isolates of Proteus mirabilis

Between September to December 2020, thirteen isolates of Proteus mirabilis were recovered among one hundred fifty; MacConkey agar was utilized to purify Gram-negative bacteria isolated from infections of the urinary tract. The primary identification of Proteus mirabilis isolates was relied on “colonial morphology, microscopic examination, and biochemical “tests; however, the confirmation of identification of antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was conducted utilizing an automated VITEK-2 compact system. The result showed that Proteus mirabilis isolates were highly resistant to most antibiotics, making them multi-drug resistant (MDR). Phenotype methods were used to detect AmpC beta-lactamase. Initial and confirmatory methods showed that eight isolates were AmpC producers. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) was employed to detect the blaampC gene.

Isolation of Lactobacillus species from fermented Parkia biglobosa seed and screening for their probiotic activity

Food fermentation has been a tradition for decades due to its immense benefits. Lactic acid bacteria are known to possess probiotic potential due to various chemical antimicrobial substances they produce. This research was aimed at isolating Lactobacillus spp. from locally fermented locust beans and screening the isolates for their probiotic potential. A total of 20 samples of fermented locust beans (P. biglobosa) were collected and processed. The samples were inoculated onto de-Mann Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) media and incubated anaerobically. The isolates with characteristic colonial morphology of Lactobacillus sp. were characterized using Gram staining and biochemical tests. Lactobacillus spp. isolates were screened in-vitro for probiotic potential using the following parameters, tolerance of low pH, bile tolerance and antimicrobial activity. Four isolates of Lactobacillus species consisting of Lactobacillus fermentum and Lactobacillus plantarum were isolated from different fermented locust beans. All isolates showed tolerance to low pH and bile concentration of 3.04 and 0.3%, respectively. The Lactobacillus species isolates showed varying antibacterial activity against all test bacteria with isolate S06 (L. plantarum) showing the highest degree of antibacterial activity. In conclusion, the Lactobacillus species isolated from fermented locust beans can serve as probiotic candidate.

Biodiversity of non-Saccharomyces yeasts associated with spontaneous fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon wines from Shangri-La wine region, China

Shangri-La is a wine region that has the highest altitude vineyards in China. This is the first study investigated the biodiversity of non-Saccharomyces yeasts associated with spontaneous fermentation of Cabernet Sauvignon wines produced from two sub-regions (Lancang River and Jinsha River) of Shangri-La. The culturable yeasts were preliminarily classified based on their colonial morphology on the Wallerstein Laboratory nutrient agar plates. Yeast species were identified by the sequencing of the 26S rRNA D1/D2 region and the 5.8S rRNA ITS region. Twenty-five non-Saccharomyces yeast species belonging to sixteen genera were isolated and identified in Shangri-La wine region. Candida, Hanseniaspora, Pichia, and Starmerella were found in both sub-regions, but the Lancang River showed more diverse yeast species than the Jinsha River. Shangri-La not only exhibited high diversity of non-Saccharomyces yeasts, and furthermore, seven species of non-Saccharomyces yeasts were exclusively found in this region, including B. bruxellensis, D. hansenii, M. guilliermondii, S. vini, S. diversa, T. delbrueckii and W. anomalus, which might play an important role in distinctive regional wine characteristics. This study provide a relatively comprehensive analysis of indigenous non-Saccharomyces yeasts associated with Cabernet Sauvignon from Shangri-La, and has significance for exploring ‘microbial terroir’ of wine regions in China.

Assessment of Bacteria and Parasite Contamination of Dried Sliced Beef (Kilishi) Sold within Birnin Kebbi Metropolis, Kebbi State, Northern Nigeria

Kilishi is a version of jerky that originated in Hausa land Nigeria. It is made from deboned cow, sheep or goat meat. The dried sliced beef (kilishi) is often left open in a basin thereby exposing it to flies, dust and other effects of the environment by so doing the product can be contaminated. This study was carried out to investigate the bacteria and parasite contaminants of dried slice beef (kilishi) sold in different locations within Birnin Kebbi metropolis. The samples were analyzed using pour plate method. The bacterial species were characterized and identified on the basis of their colonial morphology; gram’s staining reaction and biochemical characteristics. The protozoans and helminthes cyst/eggs morphology were identified using microscopy techniques. The total bacteria plate count for each sample ranges from the highest (8x109) to the lowest (3.5x103) CFU/g from Birnin Kebbi Kalgo, Jega and Aliero samples respectively. The organisms isolated include; Staphylococcus aureus (35.2%), Escherichia coli showed 30(21.1%) percentage of occurrence, Bacillus species occurred 17(12%) Klebsiella spp 16(11.3%), Pseudomonas spp 13(9.2%), Shigella spp 10(7.04%) and the least was P. vulgaris 6(4.2%). The kilishi meat product was also contaminated with some Protozoans and helminthes contaminants which include; Acaris lumbricoides (14.2%), Entamoeba histolytica (35%), Girdia lambila (42.8%), and Taenia spp. (7.1%). It was concluded that the high bacteria count and frequency of isolates from the kilishi samples tested is an indication of high contamination of the meat by potential pathogens due to poor handling and sanitary conditions which may pose a potential source of food borne diseases.

Pattern of Carbapenem Resistance in Enterobacteriaceae in Rajshahi Medical College Hospital

The global emergence and spread of Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae have been threatening the ability to treat an infection. Hence the present study was carried out with the aim to isolate important members of Enterobacteriaceae family with identification of carbapenem resistant isolates among them. The study was done in the Department of Microbiology, Rajshahi Medical College with collaboration of different disciplines of RMCH from January 2019 to December 2019. Samples were collected purposively. Causative organisms were isolated by culture and identified by colonial morphology, gram staining and relevant biochemical tests. Identified Enterobacteriaceae those showed resistance to carbapenem (imipenem, meropenem) were tested phenotypically by Modified Hodge Test (MHT) to see carbapenemase production. A total of 97 Enterobacteriaceae were isolated from 275 samples. E. coli (54.64%) was the most frequent isolate. By Modified Hodge Test, 19(19.59%) bacteria were phenotypically confirmed as Carbapenem Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). This study signifies that carbapenem resistance is increasing at an alarming rate. TAJ 2020; 33(2): 63-68

PREVALENCE, IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF DERMATOPHYTES CAUSING TINEA CAPITIS IN A LOCALITY OF NORTH CENTRAL NIGERIA

Background: Tinea capitis impacts negatively on the health of children, consequently affecting their education. Its prevalence is unknown in many African communities. Tinea capitis is faced with therapeutic challenges as resistance to all classes of antifungal agents continues to emerge. This study determined the prevalence, identified dermatophytes of Tinea capitis in Okelele community in North Central Nigeria; and evaluated the susceptibility of isolates to selected antifungal drugs. Materials and Methods: Three hundred and one pupils from seven primary schools in the locality who gave assent and those with parental consent were recruited into the study. Scalp scrapings and hairs were collected from participants and subjected to microscopy and culture. Isolates identified by colonial morphology and micromorphology were subjected to disk diffusion antifungal susceptibility testing. Results: Two hundred and twenty-eight of the participants had mycologically proven Tinea capitis giving a prevalence of 75.7%. The dermatophytes identified were T. rubrum (68.0%), M. ferrugineum (22.0%), T. mentagrophytes (8.0%) and T. verrucosum (2.0%). Resistance observed with these isolates was as low as 21.2% to as high as 100% while sensitivity ranged from 78.8% to 100%. Only large family size significantly influenced the occurrence of T. capitis among the risk factors. Conclusion: Prevalence of Tinea capitis from this study is high. T. rubrum being anthropophilic and the predominant dermatophyte identified corroborates large family size as an important risk factor. Antifungal resistance as a cause of therapeutic failure was demonstrated by some isolates in this study.

Characterization of Fungal Surface Contaminants of the Small Maltese June Pear, Pyrus communis var. bambinella

ABSTRACT Fungal pathogens cause surface contamination and potential premature fruit spoilage of bambinella, a fruit endemic to the Maltese islands, leading to the loss of fruit during the postharvest phase. The objective of this study was to isolate, quantify, and characterize fungal contaminants of the small Maltese June Pear and describe their growth kinetics. In total, 284 fungicide-free fruits were collected over three consecutive summers (2014, 2015, 2016). The isolated fungi were identified by using forward and reverse colonial morphology. Species identification was determined using PCR-based methods. The number of CFU per square centimeter of bambinella outer skin was calculated. Mycelium diameter growth rate studies of the isolates were also carried out at seven different temperatures, ranging from 5 to 35°C. Fungi isolated from bambinella included Cladosporium ramotenellum, Alternaria arborescens, Penicillium lanosum, Penicillium expansum, and Aspergillus sydowii, listed from the most abundant to the least abundant. The Rosso model was fitted to the growth kinetic data and showed that the optimal temperatures for growth of all five fungi were in the range of 20 to 22°C, whereas growth was slower at temperatures below 10°C and above 30°C. As observed in the diameter studies, the order of highest to lowest germination rate was found to be P. expansum, A. sydowii, P. lanosum, C. ramotenellum, and A. arborescens. Germination studies showed that the highest germination rate was observed for P. lanosum, followed by A. arborescens, C. ramotenellum, P. expansum, and A. sydowii, in descending order. The highest germination lag time was observed for A. arborescens, followed by C. ramotenellum, P. expansum, P. lanosum, and A. sydowii, in ascending order. HIGHLIGHTS

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Biofilm-Forming Capabilities are not Predictable from Clinical Details or from Colonial Morphology

Antibiotic resistance is increasing to an extent where efficacy is not guaranteed when treating infection. Biofilm formation has been shown to complicate treatment, whereby the formation of biofilm is associated with higher minimum inhibitory concentration values of antibiotic. The objective of the current paper was to determine whether biofilm formation is variable among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates and whether formation is associated with recurrent urinary tract infection (UTI), and whether it can be predicted by phenotypic appearance on culture medium A total of 62 E. coli isolates that were reported as the causative agent of UTI were studied (33 from patients denoted as having recurrent UTI and 29 from patients not specified as having recurrent UTI). The biofilm forming capability was determined using a standard microtitre plate method, using E. coli ATCC 25922 as the positive control. The majority of isolates (93.6%) were found to be biofilm formers, whereby 81% were denoted as strong or very strong producers of biofilm when compared to the positive control. Through the use of a Wilcox test, the difference in biofilm forming propensity between the two patient populations was found to not be statistically significant (p = 0.5). Furthermore, it was noted that colony morphology was not a reliable predictor of biofilm-forming propensity. The findings of this study indicate that biofilm formation is very common among uropathogens, and they suggest that the biofilm-forming capability might be considered when treating UTI. Clinical details indicating a recurrent infection were not predictors of biofilm formation.

Isolation of Pathogenic Bacteria from some Male Barbershops in the City of Nasiriyah

A study was conducted to evaluate bacterial contamination in hairdressing and beauty salons in Thi-Qar at Alnasiriyah city. Samples were collected from ten different salons. The samples were collected from scissors,comb, razor, dryer, sink, and table tools. The isolates obtained were examined and identified using microscopic examination, colonial morphology and biochemical characteristics. Six bacterial species were isolated and identified. The bacterial isolates include Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Streptococcus spp, Micrococcus Spp,Enterococusspp and Enterobacter. Isolated from some men's salons and shaving tools and the highest frequency of bacteria was in the salon of Nawras by 15%, Salon Ahmed by 12.5% , more bacterial isolation of shaving tools,sink,razor and the presence of this potential pathogen is an indication that hairdressing salons could be contributing to the spread of infection.

A prevalence study of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant women

Background: Pregnancy is associated with specific anatomical, physiological and immunological changes that can predispose to infection and also alter the response to the disease process. Infections in pregnancy demands prompt adequate and careful management. The disease process as well as the treatment protocol may have profound effects on the outcome of pregnancy. Pregnant women frequently develop vaginal discharge which can lead to complications during pregnancy like abortions, premature birth, low birth weight and other morbidities. Some of the infections may be serious and life threatening for the mother while others may seriously jeopardize the fetus or neonate leaving the mother asymptomatic. The aim and objective of this study was based on the present study was aimed to study the prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among pregnant patients who were visited in outdoor patient’s department of Prasutitantra and Streeroga.Methods: About 135 high vaginal swabs were collected from the women who carrying 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy with symptoms of vaginal infection. These samples were tested under microscopic examination and culture on Mac Conkey agar, blood agar and Sabouraud dextrose agar respectively. Colonial morphology, wet/K.O.H. preparation, gram staining, germ tube test, were carried out for identification of the isolated organisms.Results: Out of 135 samples collected, 61 (45.18%) patients were shown positive fungal infection of candidial species. The age group showing the highest number of positive candidiasis was of 20 to 25 years. Multigravida (60%) were more commonly affected than primigravida (40%) and commonly seen in third trimester (67.41%).Conclusions: Vaginal Candidiasis was common in pregnant women with more common in young adults.