BackgroundNon typhoidal salmonellosis is one of the neglected zoonoses in most African countries. The use of sub-therapeutic doses of antibiotics as animal growth promoter enhances the emergence and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance in bacteria with food animal reservoirs and may also results in antibiotics residue in animal products. One promising alternative to antibiotics in animal feed is Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) as probiotics. This study was carried out to determine the anti-salmonella activities and suitability of LAB isolated from cattle faeces in Nigeria as potential probiotics in cattle feed.MethodThe test Salmonella enterica spp strains and LAB were isolated from cattle faeces and identified by MALDI-TOF MS and partial sequencing of 16S rRNA genes respectively. The anti-salmonella activities of the isolated LAB in co-culture, cell-free supernatant, inhibition of growth by viable LAB cells and quantification of organic acids were determined by standard techniques. The ability of the LAB strains to withstand gastric conditions, antibiotic susceptibility and their haemolytic ability on blood agar were also determined.ResultsA total of 88 LAB belonging to 15 species were isolated and identified from cattle faeces. The most abundant species were Streptococcus infantarius (26), Enterococcus hirae (12), Lactobacillus amylovorus (10), Lactobacillus mucosae (10) and Lactobacillus ingluviei (9). Most of the LAB strains showed good anti-salmonella activities against the test Salmonella enterica spp. with 2 Lactobacillus strains; Lactobacillus amylovorus C94 and Lactobacillus salivarius C86 exhibiting remarkable anti-salmonella activities with total inhibition of Salmonella spp after 18 hours of co-incubation. The selected strains were able to survive simultaneous growth at pH 3 and 7% bile concentration and are non hemolytic.ConclusionThis study reports the vast diversity of culturable LAB in cattle faeces from Nigeria and their putative in-vitro antibacterial activity against Salmonella enterica spp isolated from cattle. Lactobacillus amylovorus C94 and Lactobacillus salivarius C86 demonstrated promising probiotic potentials in-vitro and will be further tested in-vivo in animal field trial.

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Background: The addition of sub therapeutic doses of antibiotics to cattle feed for growth promotion is a contributory factor to antibiotic resistance, thus an alternative to antibiotics is needed in animal feed additives. Objective: To determine the antimicrobial activity of cow's intestinal Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) against enteric commensals. Method: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species (spp) and LAB were isolated from thirty different cow faecal samples and the LAB identified by partial sequencing of 16S rRNA. The antimicrobial activity of the LAB was determined against the test Escherichia coli and Klebsiella spp. Results: Five species of LAB were isolated from thirty cow faecal samples and identified as Enterococcus hirae (8), Enterococcus durans (6), Enterococcus faecium (1), Enterococcus faecalis (1) and Weissella confusa (1). Viable cells and cell free supernatant (CFS) of the LAB were able to inhibit the growth of the test organisms with the largest zone of inhibition by the viable cells being 26mm against Escherichia coli CB6 produced by Enterococcus hirae CO6A while Weissella confusa CO29M and Enterococcus hirae CO2A produced the largest zones of inhibition (26mm) Sci. 2015;15 (3):888-95. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ahs.v15i3.24

The upsurge of resistance in classes of antibiotics in varied bacterial species has increased the search for alternatives to antibiotics in bacterial infections. However, one alternative is the beneficial bacteria in foods, environment and gut. Probiotics is now being embraced as an alternative strategy to combat antibiotic resistant pathogens. A newer application is gut microbiota in its healthy state combating pathogenic and antibiotic resistant microbes. There have been numerous applications of beneficial bacteria against different infectious agents. This article describes the concept of beneficial microbes as antimicrobial agents with current applications as antimicrobial agents, various applications in the human gut with future directions.

Background: Improvements in medical and pharmacologic management of HIV/AIDS has led to increased life expectancy for the afflicted individuals. Hence, the focus of management for People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) has shifted to issues relating to function and Quality of Life (QoL). Information is scarce on disability issues and quality of life among people living with HIIV/AIDS in Nigeria. This was the premise of this study that assessed the level of disability and how it related to quality of life among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, the largest city in Nigeria. Methods: 360 PLWHA (274 females; 86 males) aged 37.79±9.37 years participated in this study. They were recruited from the anti-retroviral clinics of one secondary and one tertiary healthcare facilities in Ibadan, Nigeria. Disability and QoL were assessed using the 12-item WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0) and the WHOQOL_HIV Bref respectively. Data were analysed using Chi square and Kruskal Wallis test at p = 0.05. Results: Almost a quarter (23.6%) reported being currently ill, with HIV/AIDS-related symptoms accounting for the highest perceived illness (42.5%). Majority of these participants (71.1%) had mild to extreme disabilities. There were no significant associations (p > 0.05) between disability and each of age, sex and employment status. Disability was however, significantly associated with level of education, alcohol use, CD4 count, history of tuberculosis and QoL (p <0.01). Conclusion: Disability was relatively high among people living with HIV/AIDS in Ibadan, Nigeria. Although mostly rated mild, disability was associated with poor QoL. This underscores the need for early identification of disability in people living with HIV/AIDS to minimise its impact on their QoL.