Indiscriminate and unguided discharge of untreated wastewater especially from abattoirs can constitute a public health threat and also stimulate the onset of co-resistance to metal and antibiotics in environmental microorganisms. It has been shown that microorganisms especially bacteria that have the capacity to resist antibiotics and heavy metals, may constitute a public health threat. This study was therefore conducted to determine the susceptibility and tolerance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from abattoir effluent flowing into a receiving river around Bodija market in Ibadan to a range of antibiotics and heavy metals. Ten points were selected for sampling, and the samples were cultured on nutrient agar and mannitol salt agar. A total of 22 Staphylococcus aureus strains were obtained. They were subjected to increasing concentration of six heavy metals [lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), cadmium (Cd), nickel (Ni)] and five antibiotics. Of the total isolates, 41% were resistant to all the six metals at 1500μg/ml concentration, while the others showed various degree of resistance. A percentage resistance of 22.7% was observed for tetracycline, 100% to ceftazidime, 9.1% to ciprofloxacin and vancomycin while 63.6% of the strains were resistant to oxacillin. All the strains but two showed resistance to all the metals tested, while multiple resistance to antibiotics was also observed. Further studies need to be carried out on the mechanisms of resistance of these strains.

In Nigeria, one of the highest tuberculosis (TB) burdened nations, sputum smear microscopy is routinely employed for TB diagnosis at Directly Observed Treatment Short-Course (DOTS) Centers. This diagnostic algorithm does not differentiate Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) from nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM). Between December 2008 and January 2009, consecutive patients diagnosed with TB were screened for inclusion at 10 DOTS centers in Ibadan, Nigeria. To verify Mycobacterium species in patients diagnosed, we cultured and identified mycobacterial isolates using PCR, line probe assay, and spoligotyping techniques. From 48 patients screened, 23 met the inclusion criteria for the study. All the 23 study patients had a positive culture. Overall, we identified 11/23 patients (48%) with MTC only, 9/23 (39%) with NTM only, and 3/23 (13%) with evidence of both MTC and NTM. Strains of MTC identified were Latin American Mediterranean (LAM) genotype (n = 12), M. africanum (n = 1), and the genotype family T (n = 1). Four M. avium-intracellulare-M. scrofulaceum complexes, one M. chelonae complex, one M. abscessus, and one M. intracellulare were identified. Our findings underscore the need to incorporate molecular techniques for more precise diagnosis of TB at DOTS centers to improve clinical outcomes and safe guard public health, particularly in TB endemic countries.

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The physicochemical, microbiological and heavy metal studies of water samples and bacteria obtained from the Dandaru River were investigated. Water samples were collected from six different sampling points along the course of the river and analysed using standard procedures. The physicochemical parameters showed that the water samples at point 5 had the highest value for all the parameters except Total Dissolved Solids. The heavy metal analysis revealed that the mean concentration of zinc, lead, chromium and iron were highest at point 5; 2.11, 0.02, 0.04 and 0.54 mg/l respectively, while that of copper and manganese concentration was highest at point 4 (0.59 and 0.41 mg/l respectively). The total heterotrophic bacteria count was between 3.6 -64.0 ×10 1 cfu/ml, with point 3 having the least value (3.6×10 1 cfu/ml); while the coliform count using Most Probable Number (MPN) tube method ranged from 350 -≥1600 MPN index/100 ml. The bacteria obtained belonged to the genera Bacillus, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. On exposure to increasing concentration of six heavy metals, 47.62% of the total bacteria obtained were observed to be growing at 500 µg/ml for all the six metals employed in this study, while the others showed varying degree of tolerance to the metals.

Introduction: The use of antibiotics for the promotion of animal growth and traditional therapy culminate the development of resistance in pathogenic microorganisms and their posterior transmission to humans through food. The presence of Pseudomonas species in aquatic environments facilitate their dissemination and further exposure to antimicrobial agents through wash down from abattoir may lead to multi-drug resistance, thereby causing serious public health problems. Aim: This study was designed to determine the occurrence of antibiotic resistant Pseudomonas species in an abattoir wastewater in Ibadan, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Wastewater samples were collected from the slaughters slab and drainage for 6 weeks between May-June, 2015. Pseudomonas species were isolated using Pseudomonas Centrimide Agar. The isolates were identified using standard microbiological tests. The antibiotic susceptibility test against 10 antibiotics using disc diffusion technique was done.