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Introduction: This study investigated the mechanisms of resistance in 36 E. coli isolated from waste, litter, soil and water samples collected from poultry farms in Southwestern Nigeria. Methodology: Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) distributions of the isolates were determined using the methods of the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute and resistance genes detected by PCR. Results: A total of 30 isolates (94%) showed resistance to more than one antimicrobial. Percentage resistance was: tetracycline 81%, sulphamethoxazole 67%, streptomycin 56%, trimethoprim 47 %, ciprofloxacin 42%, ampicillin 36%, spectinomycin 28%, nalidixic acid 25%, chloramphenicol 22%, neomycin 14%, gentamicin 8%, amoxicillin-clavulanate, ceftiofur, cefotaxime, colistin, florfenicol and apramycin 0%. Resistance genes found among the isolates include bla-TEM (85%), sul2 (67%), sul3 (17%), aadA (65%), strA (70%), strB (61%), catA1 (25%), cmlA1 (13%), tetA (21%) and tetB (17%). Class 1 and 2 integrons were found in five (14%) and six (17%) isolates, respectively, while one isolate was positive for both classes of integrons. Seven out of eight isolates with resistance to ciprofloxacin and MIC ≤ 32 mg/L to nalidixic acid contained qnrS genes. Conclusions: Our findings provided additional evidence that the poultry production environment in Nigeria represents an important reservoir of antibiotic resistance genes such as qnrS that may spread from livestock production farms to human populations via manure and water.

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Untreated wastewater is a risk factor for the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. However, little is known about the contribution of untreated wastewater to the burden of antibiotic resistance in the Nigerian environment. In this study, a total of 143 ceftazidime-/cefpodoxime-resistant bacteria isolated from untreated wastewater and untreated wastewater-contaminated surface and groundwater in Nigeria were screened for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) genes, integrons and integron gene cassettes by PCR. The genetic environment of bla was mapped by PCR and potentially conjugative plasmids were detected among the isolates by degenerate primer MOB typing (DPMT). ESBL production was confirmed in 114 (79.7%) isolates and ESBL genes (bla, bla and bla) were detected in 85 (74.6%) ESBL-producing isolates. bla was associated with ISEcp1 and with orf477 in 12 isolates and with ISEcp1, IS26 and orf477 in six others. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of bla in hand-dug wells and borehole serving as sources of drinking water and a first report of the genetic environment of bla in environmental bacteria from Nigeria. The results of this study confirm untreated wastewater as an important medium for the spread of ESBL-producing bacteria within the Nigerian environment. Hence, the widespread practice of discharging untreated wastewater into the aquatic ecosystem in Nigeria is a serious risk to public health.

BackgroundThe resistance of human malaria parasites to anti-malarial compounds has become considerable concern, particularly in view of the shortage of novel classes of anti-malarial drugs. One way to prevent resistance is by using new compounds that are not based on existing synthetic antimicrobial agents.ResultsSensitivity of 100 Plasmodium falciparum isolates to chloroquine, quinine, amodiaquine, mefloquine, sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine, artemisinin, Momordica charantia (‘Ejirin’) Diospyros monbuttensis (‘Egun eja’) and Morinda lucida (‘Oruwo’) was determined using the in vitro microtest (Mark III) technique to determine the IC50 of the drugs. All the isolates tested were sensitive to quinine, mefloquine and artesunate. Fifty-one percent of the isolates were resistant to chloroquine, 13% to amodiaquine and 5% to sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine. Highest resistance to chloroquine (68.9%) was recorded among isolates from Yewa zone while highest resistance to amodiaquine (30%) was observed in Ijebu zone. Highest resistance to sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine was recorded in Yewa and Egba zones, respectively. A positive correlation was observed between the responses to artemisinin and mefloquine (P<0.05), artemisinin and quinine (P<0.05) and quinine and mefloquine (P<0.05). A negative correlation was observed between the responses to chloroquine and mefloquine (P>0.05). Highest anti-plasmodial activity was obtained with the ethanolic extract of D. monbuttensis (IC50 = 3.2nM) while the lowest was obtained from M. lucida (IC50 =25nM).ConclusionsNatural products isolated from plants used in traditional medicine, which have potent anti-plasmodial action in vitro, represent potential sources of new anti-malarial drugs.

A series of metal(II) unsymmetrical Schiff-base complexes, {M(C 10 H 6 OCH: N(CH 2 ) 2 N : C(CH 3 )CH : C(CH 3 )O), where M¼Ni(II), Cu(II) and Zn(II)}, and their 2,2 0 -dipyridine (bipy) and 1,10-phenanthroline (phen) adducts are synthesized and characterized by microanalysis, magnetic susceptibility, conductance, IR and UV-Vis spectra. The ligand coordinates using the N 2 O 2 chromophore to give a two-metal-center four-coordinate squareplanar geometry. IR and UV-Vis spectra are consistent with octahedral adducts. The compounds are non-electrolytes in nitromethane and magnetic moments indicate that the complexes are magnetically dilute. The antimicrobial activity of the compounds against ten bacteria and one fungus are reported. The Cu(II) and Zn(II) complexes showed good activity against many of the organisms while their adducts are generally not sensitive. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the sensitive compounds are between 3.0-13.0 mg mL À1 .

Emergence of multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii producing OXA-23 carbapenemase, Nigeria Acinetobacter baumannii is a nonfermentative Gram-negative bacterium commonly found in water and soil. 1 Over the last decade it has become a serious emerging community and nosocomial pathogen worldwide, known to be responsible for life-threatening infections. 2 Carbapenems are the most commonly used antibiotics for treating infections caused by A. baumannii, but an increase in carbapenem-resistant strains of A. baumannii has been reported worldwide over the last decade, 3 mainly through the production of metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) or oxacillinases (carbapenemhydrolyzing class D beta-lactamases (CHDLs)). 4 Four major