Biofilm-related infections caused by Candida albicans and associated drug resistant micro-organisms are serious problems for immunocompromised populations. Molecules which can prevent or remove biofilms are needed. Twenty-eight terpenoids of plant origin were analysed for their activity against growth, virulence attributes, and biofilms of C. albicans. Eighteen molecules exhibited minimum inhibitory concentrations of <2 mg ml(-1) for planktonic growth. Selected molecules inhibited yeast to hyphal dimorphism at low concentrations (0.031-0.5 mg ml(-1)), while adhesion to a solid surface was prevented at 0.5-2 mg ml(-1). Treatment with 14 terpenoids resulted in significant (p < 0.05) inhibition of biofilm formation, and of these, linalool, nerol, isopulegol, menthol, carvone, α-thujone, and farnesol exhibited biofilm-specific activity. Eight terpenoids were identified as inhibitors of mature biofilms. This study demonstrated the antibiofilm potential of terpenoids, which need to be further explored as therapeutic strategy against biofilm associated infections of C. albicans.

Aflatoxins contamination of maize exhibits a serious threat to human and animal health over the past few decades. To protect the safety of food commodities, regular monitoring for afltoxins in food is necessary. In the proposed study, we have followed a rapid and sensitive biosensor approach as well as thin layer chromatography method for quantification of aflatoxins. Our data demonstrate that all the samples tested were beyond the safety level of aflatoxins as determined by Food and Drug Administration and European Union. Results of fungal mycoflora evidenced the massive presence of Aspergillus species (75 %) followed by Fusarium (11 %), Penicillium (8 %) and Trichoderma (6 %) as characterized by biochemical and sporulation properties. Use of internationally developed biosensor for detection of fungal toxin in this work is the first approach that was utilized in the developing country like Ethiopia. In the end, we conclude that fungal contaminant and there metabolites are potential threat to the agricultural industry and require urgent intervention.

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BackgroundPreeclampsia is a multi-organ system disorder that occurs after the 20th week of gestation in pregnancy and is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria. In Africa more than 270,000 women die from maternal deaths, worldwide approximately 76,000 women and 500,000 babies die yearly due to preeclampsia. It affects about 8–10 % of all pregnancies. Studies have shown that up to 77 % women affected with preeclampsia lack knowledge about preeclampsia, and therefore cannot take preventative measures. The aim of study is to evaluate the outcomes and quality of care given to preeclamptic patients treated in Dilla University Referral Hospital.MethodsThe study is a retrospective, hospital based study. One hundred and seventy two records of women were retained for final study out of 7702 patients from January 2009 to December 2012.ResultsThe incidence rate of preeclampsia in Dilla University Referral Hospital was found to be 2.23 %. The common mean ages found to be affected for preeclampsia were 19.2, 22.5 and 27.8 and 31.5 with a trend towards increasing severity with younger age population.ConclusionA guideline on the management and prevention of preeclampsia needs to be produced for Ehiopia.

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Intestinal parasites are responsible for one of the major health problems like food contamination with socioeconomic effects in the world with a prevalence rate of 30-60%, in developing countries that lie within tropical and subtropical areas. They pose a reasonable public health burden, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, including Ethiopia. Globally, due to intestinal parasitic infections, around 3.5 billion people are affected and more than 200,000 deaths are reported annually. Around 50000 deaths yearly are caused by intestinal parasites in Ethiopia. As such, intestinal parasites perceived global and local burdens to various countries. The risk of food contamination depends largely on the health status of the food handlers, their hygiene, knowledge, and practice of food hygiene. Food handlers with poor personal hygiene and sanitation conditions are the major potential sources of intestinal helminthes and protozoa worldwide. The proposed study was aimed at evaluating prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and their associated factors among food handlers working in selected catering establishments. A cross-sectional study was conducted in Bule Hora Town from March to April 2020. A total of 136 catering establishments were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 20. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in this study was 46.3%. Entamoeba histolytica was the most predominant parasite (33.3%, i.e., 21/63) while Giardia lamblia was the least (11.1%, i.e., 7/63). Consumption of vended or borehole water and hygienic practices such as hand washing before eating, after using toilet, before cooking and trimming of finger nail and wearing proper working clothes and shoes were statistically significant with intestinal parasitic infection ( P < 0.05 ). Generally, the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infection in this study was high and contributed by low socioeconomic status and poor environmental and personal hygiene. Measures including education on personal hygiene, environmental sanitation, drinking water supply, regular medical checkups, and treatment should be taken into account to reduce the prevalence of intestinal parasites.

Present study involves the simple, rapid, non-toxic and in vitro method of extracellular silver nanoparticles synthesis using Entomopathogenic fungus (Beauveria bassiana). The development of silver nanoparticle in fungal supernatant was confirmed by the absorbance peak at 450 nm in UV-Vis spectrophotometer. Further, presence of AgNPs and its crystal lattice was confirmed by EDS and XRD, respectively. TEM micrograph confirmed the presence of differently shaped (triangular, circular, hexagonal) nanoparticles with size ranging from 10 to 50 nm. Variable shape and size of fungal assisted AgNps was also confirmed in SEM study. The optimal pH and temperature for biosynthesis of nanoparticles was found to be 6.0 and 25 °C, respectively. The continuous effects of AgNPs against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus in time dependent manner was confirmed in growth kinetic studies. During 36 h of growth study, maximum reduction in O.D 560 was found in E. coli (67.2%) followed by P. aeruginosa (63.3%) and S. aureus (56.8%) at 30 °C. The MIC values of fungal assisted AgNPs against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus was found to be 2.5, 3 and 4.5 ppm, respectively. The MIC values of Ciprofloxacin was observed to be 0.5, 0.5 and 0.7 ppm, whereas MICs of AgNPs + Ciprofloxacin showed 0.4, 0.4, 0.5 ppm against E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. aureus, respectively, clearly highlighting the synergistic effect of AgNPs in combination with Ciprofloxacin. In the view of challenges for developing antimicrobial nanoparticles of variable shape and size by various other methods, tuning nanoparticles synthesis via fungi can be a wonderful approach to resolve existing hurdles.