Enteric infections and diarrheal diseases (EIDD) pose serious threats to human health globally, closely associated with poor environmental sanitation, poor water supply and unhygienic nature of individuals, which are common in developing countries. Viruses and Parasites are the major microbial agents known to cause Diarrhea and Bacteria especially Escherichia coli, Salmonella Spp. and Shigella Spp. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species among adults attending Dutsin-Ma General Hospital, Katsina State, and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility profile of the bacterial isolates to commonly prescribed antibiotics against them. A total of 30 fresh diarrheic samples were collected from the study participants, 17 samples from male and 13 from female participants in sterile sample containers between May and July, 2021. The samples were put in ice packed container and then transported to the laboratory of the Microbiology Department, Federal University, Dutsin-Ma for processing and analyses. Out of the 30 samples examined, 29 (96.67%) were found to be positive, 16(53.33%) E. coli and 13(43.33%) Salmonella species, respectively. The result of antibiotic susceptibility test showed that both E. coli and Salmonella species had highest resistance to ampicillin but were found to be sensitive to chloramphenicol, hence, it could be used as a best drug of choice for the treatment of diarrhoea caused by the pathogens.
Herbicides’ toxic impact on the non-target soil microorganisms which play roles in degrading organic matter, nitrogen and nutrient recycling and decomposition needs to be considered. In the present study, the effect of four (4) most commonly used herbicides, viz; atrazine, 2, 4- D amine, glyphosate and paraquat on soil microorganisms was assessed over a period of fifteen continuous days (exposure period). The herbicide treatments were the normal recommended field rate, (6.67 mg active ingredient per gram of soil for atrazine, 6.17 mg for 2, 4-D amine, 5.56 mg for glyphosate, and 2.46 mg for paraquat), half and double of the recommended field rates. Tables 4.1 through 4.5 showed the various heterotrophic bacterial colony counts obtained from the various treatments, ranging from the control (Day 1; no herbicide applied) to days 3, 6, 9 and 15 after the application of the various herbicides, respectively. Two general trends are readily observed: the first is that, upon application of the herbicide, the microbial growth steadily diminishes, up to the 6th day. However, from there it continues to increase till the end of the experiments (day 15). This applies to each herbicide. Firstly, the effect of the addition of the various herbicides was evaluated using two samples, a two-tailed Z-Test for means, at a 95% confidence interval, and the results showed that there is a difference in the bacterial counts before the application of the herbicides (Day 0) and immediately after (day 3), and the difference is statistically significant (Z = 3.32, Z critical = 1.96, P = 0.00090). This indicates that the application of the herbicides affects the bacterial population.
Aflatoxins are the most common and potent mycotoxins produced mainly, by Aspergillus species, often found contaminating cereals. This study was aimed at isolating fungal species and detecting aflatoxins from grinded cereals sold in Dutsin-ma metropolis of Katsina State, Nigeria. Forty (40) cereal samples (Maize, Millet, Sorghum and Wheat), 10 of each were collected randomly from 3 different locations in Dutsin-ma metropolis. Standard microbiological procedures were used to isolate and identify fungal species on Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) and fungal ATLAS [1,2] respectively. The predominant fungi isolated were species of Aspergillus, Mucor and Fusarium. Aspergillus niger had the highest incidence of 32.1%, Aspergillus flavus had 20.2%, followed by Mucor spp. with 13.1%, Aspergillus fumigatus with 11.9%, Aspergillus parasiticus had 8.3%, then Aspergillus lentulus and Fusarium oxysporum had 7.14% each. Presence of Aflatoxins were tested (out of the four aflatoxin types) in the samples using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (H.P.L.C) (UV-VIS detector) by comparing the retention time of standards to the time on the peaks obtained from the samples during the HPLC analysis. Aflatoxins were detected in all three samples that were tested with the maize sample having the highest % height of B1 (48.10%), Millet had the highest % height of G1 (29.88%). G2 was not detected on the millet samples. All the other 2 samples had all three aflatoxins detected. Percentage height of aflatoxin peaks ranged from 16.60% – 48.10. This study revealed high contamination of grinded cereals by species of Aspergillus, Mucor and Fusarium. Aflatoxins B1, G1 and G2 were also detected, which makes their consumption a public health risk. Proper pre-harvest and post-harvest management of cereals coupled with proper cooking of cereal products before eating are recommended so as to reduce contamination and prevent possible intake of these toxins.
Submission of an original paper with copyright agreement and authorship responsibility.I (corresponding author) certify that I have participated sufficiently in the conception and design of this work and the analysis of the data (wherever applicable), as well as the writing of the manuscript, to take public responsibility for it. I believe the manuscript represents valid work. I have reviewed the final version of the manuscript and approve it for publication. Neither has the manuscript nor one with substantially similar content under my authorship been published nor is being considered for publication elsewhere, except as described in an attachment. Furthermore I attest that I shall produce the data upon which the manuscript is based for examination by the editors or their assignees, if requested.Thanking you.
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