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Ocimum gratissimum leaf extracts have been extensively demonstrated to be effective against the various aetiologic agents of diarrhoea, including Shigellae. However, the mechanism of the shigellocidal action of this plant remains to be understood. This study investigated the effects of O. gratissimum essential oil (EO) at subinhibitory concentrations of 0.75 and 1.0 microg/ml on virulence and multidrug-resistant strains of 22 Shigella isolates from Nigeria. Compared with untreated Shigella strains, O. gratissimum EO caused significant decreases (p<0.01) in extracellular protease activity, o-lipopolysaccharide rhamnose content and incidence of invasiveness mediated as keratoconjunctivitis in guinea pig. The disparity in extracellular protease activity and o-lipopolysacharide rhamnose between the two treatment groups was also found to be significant (p<0.05), suggesting greater anti-virulent effects of O. gratissimum oil at 1.0 microg/ml. Antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed that the EO of O. gratissimum reduced the MICs of antibiotics to which Shigellae showed resistance by 9.8-53.1% and fluoroquinolones by 18.2-45.5%. The results of this study strongly suggest inhibition of extracellular protease and expression of O-LPS rhamnose in Shigellae by O. gratissimum EO. The future use of O. gratissimum- antibiotic combinations as a therapeutic measure against shigellosis is discussed.

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Recently discovered extraintestinal Escherichia fergusonii obtained from non-clinical samples has exhibited the potential for acquiring multiple beta-lactamase genes, just like many extraintestinal Escherichia coli strains. Albeit, they are often omitted or classified as E. coli. This study aimed to, therefore, identify carbapenem-resistant extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing E. fergusonii isolates from clinical samples, determine their evolutionary relatedness using 16S rRNA sequencing analysis and screen for beta-lactamase genes. A total of 135 septic wound samples were obtained from patients on referral at a General Hospital in Lagos, Nigeria. For the phenotypic identification of isolates from culture-positive samples, morphological, and physiological tests were carried out. Identities of the isolates harbouring beta-lactamase genes were assigned to their genus strains using the 16S rRNA sequencing. The Kirby Bauer disc diffusion technique and double-disc synergy test were used to screen isolates for multidrug resistance and ESBL production. Carbapenem-resistant ESBL producing isolates were screened for beta-lactamase genes in a polymerase chain reaction. Three E. fergusonii isolates (CR11, CR35 and CR49) were obtained during this study. E. fergusonii strains were motile, non-lactose and non-sorbitol fermenting but positive for cellobiose and adonitol fermentation. The I6S rRNA assigned the phenotypically identified isolates to E. fergusonii species. All three isolates were multidrug-resistant, carbapenem-resistant and ESBL producers. Isolates CR11 and CR35 harboured cefotaximase (CTX-M) and temoniera (TEM) beta-lactamase genes while CR49 harboured sulfhydryl variable (SHV) beta-lactamase gene. We herein report the detection of multiple beta-lactamase genes in carbapenem-resistant ESBL producing E. fergusonii from clinical samples.

No abstract

A total of 635 clinically diagnosed typhoid fever patients were bled from three different health institutions in the metropolis of Lagos, Nigeria over a period of 15 months, May 1997 to July 1998. Out of the total blood cultured, 101 (15.9% ) isolates of Salmonella species were isolated of which 68 (67.3% ) were S. typhi, 17 (16.8% ) and 16 (15.8% ) were S. paratyphi A and S. arizonae respectively. The overall isolation rate of S. typhi among patients is 10.7% , with most isolates 45.9% found among the severely-ill young adults, age group 1 6 -30 years. All isolates were subjected to anti-microbial susceptibility testing using 12 different antibiotics: chloramphenicol, ampicillin, cotrimoxazole, gentamicin, colistin sulfate, nalidixic acid, nitrofurantoin, cefotaxime, tetracycline, streptomycin, ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All the S. typhi and S. paratyphi A isolates showed resistance to two or more of the 10 of 12 antibiotics tested particularly the 3-first-line antibiotics commonly used (chloramphenicol, ampicillin and cotrim oxazole) in the treatment of typhoid fever in Nigeria. No isolate showed resistance to ofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, however, nalidixic acid and gentamicin showed a moderate and appreciable inhibition to most of our isolates.

Inadequate training, a lack of qualified HCWs and a limited supply of emergency response kits were reported. Therefore, the government and stakeholders should address the gaps noted to adequately control and prevent future epidemics.

Chrysophyllum albidum Linn (African star apple) is a fruit with extensive nutritional and medicinal benefits. The fruit and kernel in the seed are both edible. Strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from fermented seeds and assessed for probiotic characteristics. The extracts in both the unfermented and the fermented aqueous extracts from the kernels obtained from the seeds of C. albidum were subjected to analysis using the gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. This analysis identified the bioactive compounds present as possible substrate(s) for the associated organisms inducing the fermentation and the resultant biotransformed products formed. Three potential probiotic LAB strains identified as Lactococcus raffinolactis (ProbtA1), Lactococcus lactis (ProbtA2a), and Pediococcus pentosaceus (ProbtA2b) were isolated from the fermented C. albidum seeds. All strains were non hemolytic, which indicated their safety, Probt (A1, A2a, and A2b) grew in an acidic environment (pH 3.5) during the 48-h incubation time, and all three strains grew in 1% bile, and exhibited good hydrophobicity and auto-aggregation properties. Mucin binding proteins was not detected in any strain, and bile salt hydrolase was detected in all the strains. l-lactic acid (28.57%), norharman (5.07%), formyl 7E-hexadecenoate (1.73%), and indole (1.51%) were the four major constituents of the fermented kernel of the C. albidum, while 2,5-dimethylpyrazine (C1, 1.27%), 3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydropyran-4-one (C2, 2.90%), indole (C3, 1.31%), norharman (C4, 3.01%), and methyl petroselinate (C5, 4.33%) were the five major constituents of the unfermented kernels. The isolated LAB are safe for consumption. The fermenting process metabolized C1, C2, and C5, which are possible starter cultures for the growth of probiotics. Fermentation is an essential tool for bioengineering molecules in foods into safe and health beneficial products.