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Background and Aim: Aspergillus flavus causes human and animal diseases through either inhalation of fungal spores or ingestion of mycotoxins as aflatoxins produced in human and animal feed as secondary metabolites. This study was aimed to detect the incidence of A. flavus and its aflatoxins in human sputum and milk powder samples and explore the efficacy of pure propolis (PP) and propolis nanoemulsion (PNE) as natural decontaminants against fungal growth and its released aflatoxins. Materials and Methods: A. flavus was isolated by mycological culture and identified macroscopically and microscopically. Coconut agar medium and thin-layer chromatography (TLC) were used to qualitatively detect aflatoxins in the isolated strains. Toxins were extracted from toxigenic strains by the fast extraction technique. The quantitative detection of toxin types was explored by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). PNE was prepared by a novel method using natural components and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, Zetasizer, and transmission electron microscopy. The effects of PP and PNE on A. flavus growth and its toxin were determined by the well-diffusion method and HPLC. Results: The mycological culture showed that 30.9% and 29.2% of sputum and milk powder samples were positive for A. flavus, respectively. TLC confirmed the production of 61.8% and 63.2% aflatoxin by the isolated strains in sputum and milk powder, respectively. PP and PNE showed antifungal activity on A. flavus growth with mean±standard error (SE) inhibition zones of 27.55±3.98 and 39.133±5.32 mm, respectively. HPLC revealed positive contamination of toxin extracts with AFB1, AFB2, and AFG2 at 0.57±0.026, 0.28±0.043, and 0.1±0.05 mg/L, respectively. After treatment with PP and PNE, a significant decrease in AFB1, AFB2, and AFG2 concentrations was observed. Conclusion: This study suggested using propolis and its nanoformulation as antifungal and antitoxins in human medicine and the food industry to increase the food safety level and stop food spoilage.

Aim: To examine powdered infant formula (PIF) and follow-up formula (FUF) for the presence of toxigenic Clostridium difficile. Materials and Methods:A total of 100 random samples of PIF and FUF, 50 samples each, from various pharmacies and supermarkets located in Assiut city were collected during 2008-2010. Results:Our results show that 16 out of 100 (16%) examined samples of PIF and FUF were contaminated with C. difficile; 4 (8%) and 12 (24%) of the examined PIF and FUF samples tested positive for C. difficile, respectively. Only two (16.67%) isolates of C. difficile from the examined FUF were toxigenic, while the isolates from the PIF samples were not toxigenic. Conclusions:The presence of C. difficile in PIF and FUF samples suggests that there is a high potential for the transmission of C. difficile through these products. Thus, proper preparation and handling of these products is required to reduce the risk of the illnesses arising due to C. difficile.

Background and Aim: Antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes serious diseases in humans, especially when circulated in their food. This study was designed to detect the presence of E. coli O157:H7 using the fliC H7 gene in some milk products as kareish cheese, labena, and yoghurt sold in Sohag city, Egypt, and among diarrheal patients admitted to governmental hospitals in Sohag and also to highlight the risk factors associated with their infection. In addition, the antimicrobial resistance and the effect of chitosan nanoparticles (CNP) and silver nanoparticles (SNP) on E. coli O157:H7 isolates obtained from both milk products and patients were investigated. Materials and Methods: Microbiological culture methods and polymerase chain reaction were used for detecting E. coli O157:H7 in 150 milk products and 150 stool samples. Resistance against some antimicrobials that were used in the treatment of animals and humans was investigated using the disk diffusion technique. CNP and SNP at two concentrations (30 and 60 μg/mL) and average sizes of 25.1 and 26.5 nm, respectively, were identified by transmission electron microscopy. Their effect on E. coli O157:H7 isolates was examined using the well diffusion method. Risk factors for infection were investigated using statistical analysis. Results: There were 11.3% and 14.7% of milk products and stool samples positive for E. coli O157:H7, respectively. These isolates exhibited high antimicrobial resistance to ampicillin, tetracycline, and gentamycin. CNP and SNP demonstrated inhibitory effects on E. coli O157:H7 growth, which significantly increased at high concentrations (60 μg/mL), with mean inhibition zones of 31.941±3.749 and 30.681±3.871 mm for CNP in milk products and patient isolates, respectively. The respective values for SNP were 33.588±3.675 mm and 32.500±2.444 mm, indicating a higher bactericidal effect than that of CNP. Regarding risk factors for infection, both young and elderly subjects and those in contact with infected persons and/or having chronic diseases were infected. Conclusion: CNP and SNP are suitable for both medical and agricultural applications for disease control and enhancement of food quality.

L isteria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterial pathogen which is considered as a ubiquitous in nature and can be isolated from the environmental sources, including water, soil, sewage, vegetables, and food (Soni et al., 2015). The main route of infection by L. monocytogenes is through ingestion of contaminated food, such as unpasteurized milk, milk products and raw unwashed vegetables (Rawool et al., 2016).L. monocytogenes causing several outbreaks after the consumption of milk and dairy products especially ice cream (Shamloo et al., 2019). Ice cream is considered one of the most dairy products that predominates interest of popu-

This study was conducted to determine the effect of factors as synthetic contraceptives used by women on the incidence of trichomoniasis, (150) vaginal swap samples were collected from women who complained of vaginal infections only (no miscarriage or pregnancy) who visit : the Children’s and Women’s Hospital in Al-Muthana governorate and private clinics during the period from January 2018 to June 2018, the parasite was diagnosed by using a wet smear and recorded 39/150 (26%) positive infection, after that the samples conducted to molecular method PCR on the basis of 18SrRNA gene to reach more accurate results and showed to rate infection (32%) 48/150, then collect information from each patient about the use of contraceptives:(did not use any method, contraceptives pills, condom, IUCD) and has been recorded infection rates (34.80%), (30.10%), (21.11%), and (6.40%) respectively, these results indicate the importance of the use of contraceptives for the incidence of a parasite as risk factors, the statically analysis for this results showed there were significant differences between rate of infection and type of contraceptives under probability level (p≤0.05).

This work was designed to detect the presence of Salmonella species among patients with food poisoning manifestations in three central hospitals located in three cities (Sohag, Tema and Elmaragha) in Sohag Governorate and from foods consumed by the majority of patients as soft cheese and grilled chicken using microbiological, PCR method (using 16S rRNA specific primer for Salmonella species) and serological typing of Salmonella species, as well as risk factors related to Salmonella infection in human was identified based on data collected from the patients. The results illustrated that Salmonella species was detected in 9 (4.6%), 2 (2.2%) and 5 (4.2%) of the examined patients, soft cheese and grilled chicken respectively. Salmonella Typhimurium was the predominant serotype followed by S. Infantis, S. Enteritidis and S. Kentucky. Owing to the risk factors associated with infection; patients in age group ranged from15-25, males and peoples in contact with infected persons and animals were more susceptible to the infection. Public health education, rapid detection of infection, risk factors identification and collaboration between health and agriculture authorities are important to set a successful control strategy.