Quantities and antibiotic resistance of microorganisms in some microbial products for animals in Vietnam

The aims of the study were to look into the quantities of live beneficial microorganisms and antibiotic resistance of bacterial strains in several probiotic products used for food animals in the market. Ten probiotic products that claim to contain beneficial bacteria and fungi were examined. Eight products are said on the label to contain Lactobacillus spp., nine contain Bacillus spp., five contain yeasts and two have molds. The results showed that eight products did not have the microbial quantities or/and composition of microorganisms as saying on their labels. Of eight products which claim to contain Lactobacillus spp., the bacteria were isolated from only four, of which three had Lactobacillus counts at least ten-fold as low as the numbers on the labels. Spore-forming bacilli were isolated from all nine Bacillus-containing products. However, two products had the bacterial counts at least 10-fold as low as the numbers printed on the labels. Among five products stated to contain yeasts, the organisms were recovered from samples of only one. Seven Lactobacillus and fifteen Bacillus isolates from all samples that had bacterial growth were tested for their susceptibility against seven common antibiotics using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The results revealed that all the Lactobacillus isolates showed susceptibility to the tested antibiotics except kanamycin. All 15 Bacillus isolates were susceptible to ampicillin, kanamycin, and ciprofloxacin; five isolates were intermediately resistant to tetracycline; one isolates resisted erythromycin, and one isolates was resistant to vancomycin. The results of this study would provide information for farm practice in choosing antibiotics used together with antibiotics to maintain or/and restore the gut microflora after antibiotic treatment.

Isolation and selection of microorganisms in cocoa fermentation

The objectives of this study were to investigate the change of microorganisms involved in cocoa (Theobroma cacao) fermentation and then to isolate, characterize and select the important microorganisms in cocoa fermentation. The results showed that microbial quantities continuously changed during cocoa fermentation and the highest quantity of dominant microorganisms at different stages of fermentation process as 8.03 log cfu/g of yeast, 6.34 log cfu/g of mold, 7.77 log cfu/g of lactic acid bacteria, 7.87 log cfu/g of acetic acid bacteria, 7.25 log cfu/g of Bacillus, and 10.93 log cfu/g of the total aerobic bacteria. There were nine yeast isolates belonging 5 genera of Saccharomyces, Kluyveromyces, Brettanomyces, Candida and Cystofilobasidium; 9 mould isolates belonging to 2 genera of Rhizopus and Aspergillus; 11 acetic acid bacteria isolates belonging to Acetobacter; and 13 spore-forming bacterial isolates belonging to Bacillus isolates. Three isolates of yeast (CY-1a, CY-1b, CY-2a) belonging to Kluyveromyces possessed the high fermentative capacity and 4 Acetobacter isolates (CAAB-1d, CAAB-1a, CAAB-1e and CAAB-2d) produced high amounts of acetic acid.

The Effects of Different Lead Pollution Levels on Soil Microbial Quantities and Metabolic Function with/without Salix integra Thunb. Planting

Background and Objectives: Salix integra Thunb., a fast-growing woody species, has been used in phytoremediation in recent years. It has the potential to accumulate high amounts of lead (Pb) in its growth, however, its effects on soil microbial community structure and function during its phytoextraction processes are not well understood, especially at different pollution levels. Materials and Methods: In our study, we set unplanted and planted Salix integra in areas with four levels of Pb treatments (0, 500, 1000, and 1500 mg/kg). After six months of planting, the rhizospheric soil, bulk soil, and unplanted soil were collected. Soil properties and microbes participating in nitrogen and phosphorus cycling were measured, following standard methods. Microbial metabolic functions were assessed using a Biolog-ECO microplate. Results: The bacteria (nitrogen-fixing bacteria, ammonifying bacteria, inorganic phosphorus-solubilizing bacteria, and nitrosobacteria) all increased in the 500 mg/kg treatment and decreased in the 1500 mg/kg treatment compared with the 0 mg/kg treatment, especially in rhizospheric soil. The microbial metabolisms decreased along with the increase of Pb levels, with the exception of the rhizospheric soil with a 500 mg/kg treatment. The metabolic patterns were relative to the pollution levels. The utilization of carbohydrates was decreased, and of amino acids or fatty acids was increased, in the 500 mg/kg treatment, while the opposite occurred in the 1500 mg/kg treatment. The values of soil properties, microbial quantities, and metabolic activities were higher in rhizospheric than bulk soil, while the differences between bulk and unplanted soil were different among the different Pb treatments. The soil properties had little effect on the microbial quantities and metabolic activities. Conclusions: S. integra planting and Pb levels had an interactive effect on the microbial community. In general, S. integra planting promoted microbial quantities and metabolic activity in rhizospheric soil. Lower Pb pollution increased microbial quantities and promoted the utilization of amino acids or fatty acids, while higher Pb concentrations decreased microbial quantities and metabolic activities, and promoted the utilization of carbohydrates.

Heavy metals and microbial loads in raw fecal sludge from low income areas of Ashanti Region of Ghana

This study was carried out to determine the heavy metals and microbial loads of raw public toilet sludge from low income areas (peri-urban and rural) of Ashanti Region of Ghana. Fecal sludges were sampled from public toilets. Methods outlined in Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewaters were used for the analyses of fecal sludge samples. Range of heavy metals concentrations were found as 0.039–5.216 mg/l and 0.010–1.488 mg/l for peri-urban and rural areas, respectively. These concentrations were in the order of Mn > >Cu > >Fe > >Zn > >Pb > >Ar > >Cd and Zn > >Mn > >Fe > >Cu > >Pb > >Ar > >Cd for peri-urban and rural areas, respectively. The range of bacteria loads was measured as 1.4 × 106–4.5 × 107CFU/100 ml for peri-urban and 0.2 × 106–4.5 × 107CFU/100 ml for rural areas. Similarly, range of helminths was determined as 1–18 eggs/100 ml for both peri-urban and rural areas. The study showed that the levels of heavy metals and microbial quantities were generally higher in peri-urban compared to rural areas. However, fecal sludge from these low income areas are not recommended for direct use in agriculture unless they are given further treatment. Composting is recommended as a promising and suitable method for effective treatment of fecal sludge resulting in a hygienically safe and economically profitable product.

Effects of the Accumulation of Different Plastic Film on the Quantities of Soil Microbial

This study has adopted potted experiment to study systematically the effect on soil microbial quantities of the accumulation of five different plastic film: for 0 year ,for 5years ,for 10 years ,for 15 years ,and for 20 years , and has analyzed the change trends of soil microbial activity. Whose relationship with soil quality has also been explored through analysis of the situation on crop growth, so as to provide scientific basis for law of the accumulation of plastic film on soil microbial activity.

Study on Diversity of Soil Microbial in Different Reclamation Years

This paper made a comparative study of the distribution and quantity of bacteria, actinomycetes, fungi and different bacteria physiological group in different reclamation years and different soil layers with the soil in different reclamation years as experiment material, adopting flat-panel culture and microbial selecting culture medium and using accounting of gradient plat-panel coating. The results showed that: with the extension of reclamation years, microbial quantities are rising overall. The microbial quantities (bacteria, actinomycetes and fungi) in the cultivated land of 200 years were 4.94 times higher than those in the uncultivated land; the microbial quantities in the surface soil of 200 years were 2.16 times higher than those in the deeper soil. The soil microbial community structure of agricultural land has been changing with the extension of reclamation years and the quantitative relation of the three main microbes was: bacteria > actinomyces > funfi; As the uncultivated land become developed, the microbial diversity index and the quantities of physiological group reduced after increasing in the beginning, but the regularity for change of physiological group diversity index is not obvious.

The Effect of Germicides on the Longevity of Cut Flowers

The effect of DICA (50 mg·liter-1), BCDMH (12 mg available chlorine/liter), and HQC (250 mg-liter]) on the longevity of 14 popular cut flower species was assessed. Longevity was significantly extended in: Rosa hybrida L. `Gabrielle' and Scilla campanulata L. Squill. by all germicides; Lilium parkmannii L. `Nepal', Gerbera jamesonii L. `Mercy', and Narcissus tazetta L. `Fortune' by DICA and BCDMH; Gypsophila paniculata L. `R22' by DICA and HQC; and Freesia hybrida Eckl. ex Klatt `White Bergunden' by BCDMH. No effect on longevity was found in Dendranthema grandiflora (Ramat) Kitamura. `Horim', Dianthus caryophyllus L. `Medea', Dianthus barbatus L., Iris hollandica L. `Pearl', and Gerbera jamesonii L. `Double Delight'. Longevity was significantly reduced by DICA in Alstroemeria aurantiaca L. `Mona Lisa' and Tulipa hybrida L. `Apeldoorn'. Analysis of microbial concentrations showed that proliferation was effectively controlled by DICA and BCDMH, but not by HQC. Levels of up to 106 cfu·ml-1 were detected in water, indicating that species not affected by germicides can tolerate these microbial quantities. Fresh weight and solution uptake data indicated that germicides acted primarily by improving solution uptake. Longevity was significantly reduced in R. hybrida `Gabrielle' and D. caryophyllus `Medea' flowers placed in solutions containing high counts of microorganisms (>108 cfu·ml-1) isolated from D. caryophyllus or R. hybrida. Chemical names used: 1-bromo-3-chloro-5,5-dimethylhydantoin (BCDMH); sodium dichloroisocyanuric acid (DICA); 8-hydroxyquinoline citrate (HQC).