Background: Snail mucin has been reported to contain agents with wound healing properties. Mucin obtained from the mucus of snails and epiphgram obtained from species of Achatina fulica and Archachatina marginata have also been reported to show antimicrobial properties. Snail species are abundantly available and widely consumed as a delicacy across Nigeria. Aim: To assess the antibacterial effects of mucus secretions from different snail types on bacteria isolated from clinically infected wounds. Place and Duration of Study:The study lasted for a period of four (4) months and was conducted at the Microbiology laboratory of The Cross River State University of Technology in Cross River, Nigeria. Methodology:The in vitro antibacterial potency of snail mucus secretions obtained from Archachatina marginata saturalis, Archachatina marginata ovum and Achatina fulica on bacterial isolates from wound was investigated. The isolates obtained from twenty eight (28) clinical wound samples were Staphylococcus spp (24:53.3%), Pseudomonas spp (16:33.3%) and Streptococcus Original Research Article spp (6:13.4%). The susceptibility of the isolates to snail mucus secretions was assayed on Muller Hilton Agar by the disc diffusion method, using varied mucus/DMSO concentrations of 100%, 80%, 60%, 40% and 20%. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration of the mucus secretions were also evaluated. Results:The viscosity of the mucus secretions were rated as A. marginata saturalis> A. marginata ovum> A. fulica, while their colours were yellow, light brown and dark respectively. Results revealed that Staphylococcus sp was more susceptible to mucus secretion from the A. marginata saturalis (17.4±1.20) than those from A. marginata ovum (15.6±1.44) and A. fulica (15.4±2.04). The minimum inhibitory concentration of mucus secretions from A. marginata saturalis against the test organisms were observed at concentrations of 100% and 20% for Staphylococcus sp, 20% for Pseudomonas sp and 40% for Streptococcus sp respectively. The antibacterial activity of the mucus secretions were observed to be comparable to that of seven (7) different antibiotics used as control. Conclusion: Snail mucus secretions could be a source for antibacterial agents that can serve as an alternative to the expensive synthetic antibacterial agents used in wound treatment if adequately explored.

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Background and objective: Listeria sp. is a ubiquitous and frequently isolated foodborne pathogen. The prevalence of Listeria sp in raw beef and chevon sold in Lafia Nigeria, as well as their antibiotic susceptibility profile was evaluated. Methods: A total 104 samples comprising of 52 raw beef and 52 chevon were obtained from street vendors (hawkers), Shinge abattoir, Lafia old market and Lafia Modern Market. Isolation of Listeria sp. was performed on Listeria Selective Agar, following enrichment in supplemented Listeria Selective Broth. Identification of Listeria sp. was carried out by cultural and biochemical methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolated L. monocytogenes was performed by standard disk diffusion method. Chi-square test was used to determine association between contamination levels at p=0.05. Results: Seven types of Listeria sp. were isolated. L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii were the most frequently isolated contaminants in all meat types and from all sample sources. L. monocytogenes was isolated with a frequency of 64.4% (67/104) in the meat samples. Beef samples had the highest listerial contamination with a frequency of 58.2% (78/134) compared to chevon which had a listerial frequency of 41.8% (56/134). Resistance of L. monocytogenes to streptomycin and sparfloxacin was 58.2% and 55.2% respectively. Resistance to ampicillin (34.3%) and gentamicin (20.9%) was also observed. Resistances to multiple antimicrobials were detected in 11 L. monocytogenes isolates. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the raw meat sold in Lafia was contaminated with several Listeria sp. L. monocytogenes showed high rate of resistance to several antimicrobial agents used for the treatment of listerial infection. Appropriate regulation and monitoring of livestock rearing and meat retailing practices are advocated to safeguard the health of consumers. Ibrahim Med. Coll. J. 2019; 13(2): 1-8

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Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis remains a clinical and public health challenge inNigeria. This study was carried out to determine the prevalence of M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance in patients from five selected health facilities in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. The HIV serostatus and the CD4+ count of seropositive individuals were also determined. Using a combination of Zhiel Neelsen staining and WHO approved GeneXpert MTB/Rif device for M. tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance, the presence of M. tuberculosis in sputum samples was detected and confirmed. A total of 346 samples were analysed, out of which M. tuberculosis was detected in 91 (26.3%) samples and rifampicin resistance in 6 (6.6%) of the positive samples. HIV prevalence was found to be 46.8%, HIV and TB co-infection 39.6%, while 83.3% of the rifampicin resistance was from HIV positive cases. Tuberculosis was found to be decreasing with increase in CD4 count. Statistically, there was a significant relationship (P < 0.05), between level of education, HIV, CD4 count and TB occurrence. However, no significant relationship (P > 0.05) between gender, occupation and age with TB was observed. Our results show that tuberculosis still remains endemic in Nasarawa state with a high prevalence of HIV and that the confluence of HIV and tuberculosis increased the rate of rifampicin resistance. Provision of Tuberculosis diagnostics with the capacity to detect TB drug resistance beyond rifampicin is highly recommended.