International Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-Producing Clinical Isolates of <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> in Two Kenyan Facilities: A National Referral and a Level Five Hospital.","authors":"Sylvia M Maveke, Gabriel O Aboge, Laetitia W Kanja, Alfred O Mainga, Naftaly Gachau, Beatrice W Muchira, Gervason A Moriasi","doi":"10.1155/2024/7463899","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/7463899","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and multidrug resistance (MDR) among <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, especially through the production of extended spectrum <i>β</i>-lactamases (ESBLs), limits therapeutic options and poses a significant public health threat.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess the phenotypic and genetic determinants of antimicrobial resistance of ESBL-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> and <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> isolates from patient samples in two Kenyan Hospitals.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We collected 138 <i>E. coli</i> and 127 <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates from various clinical specimens at the two health facilities from January 2020 to February 2021. The isolates' ESBL production and antibiotic susceptibility were phenotypically confirmed using a standard procedure. Molecular analysis was done through conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with appropriate primers for <i>gad</i>A, <i>rpo</i>B, <i>bla</i>_TEM, <i>bla</i>_SHV, <i>bla</i>_OXA, <i>bla</i>_{CTX-M-group-1}, <i>bla</i>_{CTX-M-group-2}, <i>bla</i>_{CTX-M-group-9}, and <i>bla</i>_{CTX-M-group-8/25} genes, sequencing and BLASTn analysis.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Most <i>E. coli</i> (82.6%) and <i>K. pneumoniae</i> (92.9%) isolates were ESBL producers, with the highest resistance was against ceftriaxone (69.6% among <i>E. coli</i> and 91.3% among <i>K. pneumoniae</i>) and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (70.9% among <i>K. pneumoniae</i>). The frequency of MDR was 39.9% among <i>E. coli</i> and 13.4% among <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. The commonest MDR phenotypes among the <i>E. coli</i> isolates were CRO-FEP-AZM-LVX and CRO-AZM-LVX, while the FOX-CRO-AMC-MI-TGC-FM, FOX-CRO-FEP-AMC-TZP-AZM-LVX-MI and CRO-AMC-TZP-AZM-MI were the most frequent among <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. Notably, the FOX-CRO-FEP-AMC-TZP-AZM-LVX-MI phenotype was observed in ESBL-positive and ESBL-negative <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. The most frequent ESBL genes were <i>bla</i>_TEM (42%), <i>bla</i>_SHV (40.6%), and <i>bla</i>_OXA (36.2%) among <i>E. coli</i>, and <i>bla</i>_TEM (89%), <i>bla</i>_SHV (82.7%), <i>bla</i>_OXA (76.4%), and <i>bla</i>_{CTX-M-group-1} (72.5%) were most frequent ESBL genes among <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates. The <i>bla</i>_SHV and <i>bla</i>_OXA and <i>bla</i>_TEM genotypes were predominantly associated with FOX-CRO-FEP-MEM and CRO-FEP multidrug resistance (MDR) and CRO antimicrobial resistance (AMR) phenotypes, among <i>E. coli</i> isolates from Embu Level V (16.7%) and Kenyatta National Hospital (7.0%), respectively.</p><p><strong>Conclusions: </strong>The high proportion of ESBL-producing <i>E. coli</i> and <i>K. pneumoniae</i> isolates increases the utilization of last-resort ant","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10881238/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139931093","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Metagenomic Characterization of Poultry Cloacal and Oropharyngeal Swabs in Kenya Reveals Bacterial Pathogens and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Genes.","authors":"Philip M Panyako, Sheila C Ommeh, Stephen N Kuria, Jacqueline K Lichoti, Johns Musina, Venugopal Nair, Vish Nene, Muhammad Munir, Samuel O Oyola","doi":"10.1155/2024/8054338","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8054338","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Poultry enteric bacterial diseases are of significant economic importance because they are responsible for production losses due to weight loss, increased morbidity and mortality, and increased cost of production arising from poor feed conversion and treatment. This cross-sectional purposive study characterized enteric bacterial pathogens in poultry from selected agroclimatic regions in Kenya and investigated their antimicrobial resistance gene profiles. Cloacal (<i>n</i> = 563) and oropharyngeal (<i>n</i> = 394) swabs were collected and pooled into 16 and 14 samples, respectively, to characterize bacterial pathogens and their antimicrobial resistance gene profiles. We report that <i>Proteobacteria</i>, <i>Chlamydiae</i>, and <i>Firmicutes</i> are the most dominant phyla present in both cloacal and oropharyngeal swabs of the six poultry species studied, indicating the colonization of the poultry gut by many pathogenic bacteria. Using KEGG and COG databases, some pathways related to metabolism, genetic information, and cellular processing were detected. We also report the abundance of antimicrobial resistance genes that confer resistance to <i>β</i>-lactamases, aminoglycosides, and tetracycline in most of the poultry analyzed, raising concern about the dangers associated with continuous and inappropriate use of these antibiotics in poultry production. The antimicrobial resistance gene data generated in this study provides a valuable indicator of the use of antimicrobials in poultry in Kenya. The information generated is essential for managing bacterial diseases, especially in backyard poultry raised under scavenging conditions.</p>","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-02-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10876313/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139905620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Antibiotic Resistance Profile of E. coli Isolates from Lettuce, Poultry Manure, Irrigation Water, and Soil in Kumasi, Ghana","authors":"Abigail Abena Anokyewaa Appau, L. Ofori","doi":"10.1155/2024/6681311","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6681311","url":null,"abstract":"Inputs such as irrigation water and poultry manure used in lettuce cultivation have been found to be associated with antibiotic-resistant pathogens. The study assessed the antibiotic resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from lettuce, poultry manure, irrigation water, and soil in Kumasi. One hundred and fifty-six samples of lettuce, irrigation water, soil, and manure were collected from three farms over a seven-week cultivation period (seedlings to harvest stage). E. coli were enumerated using standard methods. 98% of the samples were positive for E. coli. Geometric means for lettuce, irrigation water, and soil ranged from 2.0 × 105 to 1.67 × 107 MPN/100 ml while that of manure ranged from 2.0 × 105 to 1.31 × 107 MPN/100 ml. Generally, the microbial load of all parameters on all farms across the weeks was significant and exceeded World Health Organization (WHO) and International Commission on Microbiological Specifications for Foods (ICMSF) standard recommendations for food. Using the Kirby Bauer method, antibiotic sensitivity testing was performed against 225 biochemically confirmed E. coli with twelve antibiotics. Relatively high resistance was recorded for some members of the beta-lactam class: meropenem: 94.2%, ampicillin: 91.9%, cefuroxime: 95.1%, ceftriaxone: 94.7%, and cefotaxime: 94.2%. Eighty of the isolates were screened for extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL) production using cefotaxime (CTX) and cefotaxime/clavulanic acid (CTX/CLA) discs and three showed positive: one each from poultry manure, irrigation water, and soil. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmed the presence of blaCTX-M gene. The occurrence of antibiotic-resistant E. coli in vegetables and their production environment is alarming and poses serious health threats to the general public. The presence of blaCTX-M gene in E. coli from a vegetable production site recorded for the first time in Ghana requires enforcement by regulatory bodies on the inappropriate use of antibiotics in the country.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139592535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Occurrence, Antimicrobial Resistance, and Virulence Profiles of Salmonella Serovars Isolated from Wild Reptiles in South Africa","authors":"Lungile N. Mlangeni, TA Ramatla, K. Lekota, Cormac Price, O. Thekisoe, Che Weldon","doi":"10.1155/2024/5213895","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5213895","url":null,"abstract":"Reptiles are carriers of an array of microorganisms, including significant zoonotic bacteria of the genus Salmonella, which cause a disease referred to as salmonellosis that affects both animals and humans. This study investigated the occurrence of Salmonella serovars in wild reptiles at Timbavati Private Game Reserve in Limpopo Province, South Africa, and examined their virulence and antimicrobial resistance gene profiles. A total of 19 wild reptiles were sampled, which resulted in 30 presumptive Salmonella isolates. The isolates were identified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) by amplifying the invA gene and were further confirmed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Salmonella serovars were detected in chameleons (36.8%), lizards (31.6%), snakes (15.8%), and tortoises (15.8%). The use of 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Salamae (30%), S. enterica subsp. enterica (16.7%), S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (13.3%), and S. enterica subsp. enterica serovar Indiana (13.3%) were the four most common subspecies among the investigated 30 isolates. Detected virulence genes included pagN (100%), hilA (96.7%), ssrB (96.7%), prgH (86.7%), and marT (86.7%). The isolates exhibited resistance to nalidixic acid (43.3%) and kanamycin (43.3%), followed by streptomycin (16.7%) and ciprofloxacin (3.3%). Antibiotic-resistant genes were detected as follows: strA, strB, qnrA, qnrS, parC, aadA, aac(6′)-Ib, and aac(6′)-Ib-cr at 33.3%, 6.7%, 16.7, 13.3%, 10%, 23.3%, 6.7%, and 10%, respectively. The findings highlight the necessity of educational initiatives aimed at reducing reptile-related infections. Effective antibiotic treatment appears promising for infection, given the minimal drug resistance observed in reptile Salmonella serovars in the current study.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139382403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GC-MS Analysis and Study of the Antimicrobial Activity of Citrus paradisi, Citrus aurantifolia, and Citrus sinensis Peel Essential Oils as Hand Sanitizer","authors":"Isra Osman Mohammed, Ayat Ahmed Alrasheid, Saad Mohammed Hussein Ayoub","doi":"10.1155/2024/4957712","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/4957712","url":null,"abstract":"In the setting of healthcare, the use of hand sanitizers and antiseptics for hand hygiene is of paramount importance to avoid transfer of pathogenic microorganism through hand and skin contact. There is an increasing interest in the incorporation of essential oils in hand sanitizer’s formula to avoid the adverse effect of conventional hand sanitizers on health. This study aimed to detect the chemical constituents of citrus peel essential oils and study their antimicrobial activity compared with commercial hand sanitizers. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the hydrodistillated essential oils of peels of grapefruit (Citrus paradisi), lime (Citrus aurantifolia), and orange (Citrus sinensis) were carried out using gas chromatography mass spectroscopy. The disc diffusion method was used to screen the antibacterial activity of the essential oils against Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans compared with a 78% alcohol-based commercial hand sanitizer. The antimicrobial testing results were statistically analyzed. The highest yield percentage of the obtained essential oils was 1.09% obtained by orange oil. The GC-MS analysis indicated that monoterpene and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons occupied the largest portion of the chemical composition of the three essential oils with D-limonene as the most predominant component. All essential oils showed activity against all tested organisms. Lime essential oil showed comparable antimicrobial activity relative to the commercial 78% alcohol hand sanitizer. In conclusion, essential oils obtained from citrus fruit peel represent a rich source of compounds possessing antimicrobial properties and could be an alternative to synthetic antimicrobial agents.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2024-01-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139391372","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) with Interferon-Induced Transmembrane Protein-3 (IFITM-3) Genetic Variants and Interleukin-6 as Severity and Risk Predictors among COVID-19 Egyptian Population","authors":"Amal F. Makled, Sahar A. M. Ali, S. S. Eldahdouh, Asmaa S. Sleem, Maha M. Eldahshan, Yara Elsaadawy, Samar S. Salman, Asmaa Mohammed Elbrolosy","doi":"10.1155/2023/6384208","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/6384208","url":null,"abstract":"Introduction. The host genetic background is a crucial factor that underlies the interindividual variability of COVID-19 fatality and outcomes. Angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) and interferon-induced transmembrane protein-3 (IFITM-3) have a key role in viral cell entrance and priming. The evoked immune response will also provide a predictive prognosis for COVID-19 infection. This study aimed to explore the association between ACE-2 and IFITM-3 genotypes and their corresponding allele frequencies with disease severity indices in the Egyptian COVID-19 population. The serum level of interleukin-6, as a biomarker of hyperinflammatory response, and cytokine storm, was correlated with disease progression, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the selected receptors, and treatment response. Methodology. We enrolled 900 COVID-19-confirmed cases and 100 healthy controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from 200 subjects (160 patients selected based on clinical and laboratory data and 40 healthy controls). The ACE-2 rs2285666 and IFITM-3 rs12252 SNPs were genotyped using the TaqMan probe allelic discrimination assay, and the serum IL-6 level was determined by ELISA. Logistic regression analysis was applied to analyze the association between ACE-2 and IFITM-3 genetic variants, IL-6 profile, and COVID-19 severity. Results. The identified genotypes and their alleles were significantly correlated with COVID-19 clinical deterioration as follows: ACE2 rs2285666 CT + TT, odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 12.136 (2.784–52.896) and IFITM-3 rs12252 AG + GG: 17.276 (3.673–81.249), both p<0.001. Compared to the controls, the heterozygous and mutant genotypes for both SNPs were considerable risk factors for increased susceptibility to COVID-19. IL-6 levels were significantly correlated with disease progression (p<0.001). Conclusion. ACE-2 and IFITM-3 genetic variants are potential predictors of COVID-19 severity, critical outcomes, and post-COVID-19 complications. Together, these SNPs and serum IL-6 levels explain a large proportion of the variability in the severity of COVID-19 infection and its consequences among Egyptian subjects.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138952074","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Therapeutic Potential of Punica granatum and Isolated Compounds: Evidence-Based Advances to Treat Bacterial Infections","authors":"P. M. Mendes, Guilherme Martins Gomes Fontoura, Liliane dos Santos Rodrigues, Aloiso Sampaio Souza, Jesse Pereira Machado Viana, Ana Lúcia Fernandes Pereira, Richard Pereira Dutra, Adriana Gomes Nogueira Ferreira, Marcelino Santos Neto, A. S. Reis, A. Berretta, V. Monteiro-Neto, Márcia Cristina Gonçalves Maciel","doi":"10.1155/2023/4026440","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/4026440","url":null,"abstract":"Punica granatum Linn has been known for its nutritional and medicinal value since ancient times and is used in the treatment of various pathologies owing to its antibacterial properties. This review reports the results of the most recent studies on the antibacterial effects of P. granatum and its isolated compounds on bacteria of clinical interest. A search in the PubMed, Scopus, Science Direct, and Science Citation Index Expanded (Web of Science) databases was performed, which included articles that evaluated the antibacterial activity of P. granatum extracts and excluded articles that analyzed other microorganisms or nonpathogenic bacteria, as well as theses, dissertations, duplicate articles, and those not fully available. The literature suggests that P. granatum extracts can act on bacteria, such as methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), Streptococcus mutans, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae. In addition, fruit peel was the most commonly used pharmacogen and methanol, ethanol, and water were the most common solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds. The antibacterial potential of the methanolic extract of pomegranate peel could be attributed to the presence of active compounds, such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, punicic acid, gallic acid, and punicalagin. Thus, there is evidence that these plant extracts, having high polyphenol content, can disrupt the bacterial plasma membrane and inhibit the action of proteins related to antimicrobial resistance. P. granatum shows antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, with great potential against multidrug-resistant strains. Further research is needed to clarify the mechanism of action related to this biological activity and investigate the isolated substances that may be responsible for the antibacterial effects.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138998877","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implications and Mechanisms of Antiviral Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria: A Systematic Review","authors":"Fargol Farahmnandi, P. Parhizgar, Parya Mozafari Komesh Tape, Fahimeh Bizhannia, Fateme Sadat Rohani, Marzieh Bizhanzadeh, Zeinab Sadat Mostafavi Alhosseini, Maede Hosseinzade, Yeganeh Farsi, M. Nasiri","doi":"10.1155/2023/9298363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/9298363","url":null,"abstract":"Background. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are among the most important strains of probiotics. Some are normal flora of human mucous membranes in the gastrointestinal system, skin, urinary tract, and genitalia. There is evidence suggesting that LAB has an antiviral effect on viral infections. However, these studies are still controversial; a systematic review was conducted to evaluate the antiviral effects of LAB on viral infections. Methods. The systematic search was conducted until the end of December 17, 2022, using international databases such as Scopus, Web of Science, and Medline (via PubMed). The keywords of our search were lactic acid bacteria, Lactobacillales, Lactobacillus (as well as its species), probiotics, antiviral, inhibitory effect, and virus. Results. Of 15.408 potentially relevant articles obtained, 45 eligible in-vivo human studies were selected for inclusion in the study from databases, registers, and citation searching. We conducted a systematic review of the antiviral effects of the LAB based on the included articles. The most commonly investigated lactobacillus specie were Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Lactobacillus casei. Conclusion. Our study indicates that 40 of the selected 45 of the included articles support the positive effect of LAB on viral infections, although some studies showed no significant positive effect of LABs on some viral infections.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139007518","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Enteric Protozoan Parasitosis and Associated Factors among Patients with and without Diabetes Mellitus in a Teaching Hospital in Ghana","authors":"Eric Konadu, M. A. Essuman, Angela Amponsah, Wisdom Xoese Kwadzo Agroh, Ernest Badu-Boateng, S. Y. Gbedema, Y. D. Boakye","doi":"10.1155/2023/5569262","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/5569262","url":null,"abstract":"Background. Enteric protozoa infections (EPIs) could worsen clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus and therefore requires prompt and accurate diagnosis and attention. This study aimed to determine the burden of EPIs and their associated factors among patients with and without diabetics at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Ghana. Again, the diagnostic performance of parasitological techniques routinely used for diagnosis was assessed. Methods. A total of 240 participants (made up of 140 patients with diabetes and 100 patients without diabetes) were recruited into the study by simple random sampling from November 2020 to May 2021. Stool samples of participants were collected, along with their demographic information, and examined using the saline direct wet mount (DWM), formol-ether concentration (FEC), and modified Ziehl–Neelsen staining (ZNS) techniques for the presence of enteric protozoans. Results. Enteric protozoa were found among 62/140 (44.3%) diabetic patients and 13/100 (13.0%) nondiabetic patients. The predominant protozoa identified were Cryptosporidium spp. (17.86%) among patients with diabetes and Blastocystis hominis (7.0%) among patients without diabetes. EPI was associated with diabetes mellitus status (AOR = 3.48, 95% CI, 1.55–7.79), having diabetes for more than five years (AOR = 3.83, 95% CI, 1.65–8.86) and having comorbidity (AOR = 2.93, 95% CI, 1.33–6.45). The FEC technique had the highest sensitivity (100.0%), specificity 94.3% (95% CI, 91.35–97.22), and accuracy 95.0% (95% CI, 88.54–98.13) when compared to other techniques for diagnosis. Conclusion. EPIs are a significant health problem among patients with diabetes at KATH, and therefore antiparasitic drugs should be included in their treatment protocols for better health outcomes. Again, the FEC technique has demonstrated better performance in detecting EPIs and is therefore recommended to achieve early and accurate diagnosis of EPIs.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138586098","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Serological Evidence and Coexposure of Selected Infections among Livestock Slaughtered at Eastern Cape Abattoirs in South Africa","authors":"K. D. Mazwi, F. Kolo, I. Jaja, R. P. Bokaba, Y. B. Ngoshe, A. Hassim, L. Neves, H. van Heerden","doi":"10.1155/2023/8906971","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/8906971","url":null,"abstract":"Zoonotic infections were investigated in a cross-sectional study on asymptomatic livestock slaughtered in abattoirs in the Eastern Cape. Antibodies against Brucella spp., Coxiella burnetii, Toxoplasma gondii, and the coexposure were investigated in sera using serological tests. A total of 565 animals comprising of 280 cattle, 200 sheep, and 85 pigs were screened using RBT, iELISA, CFT, and AMOS-PCR. The Mast® Toxoreagent test and iELISA were used for the detection of T. gondii and C. burnetii, respectively. The Brucella positivity based on at least two tests was 4.3% (12/280), 1.0% (2/200), and 0.0% (0/85) in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity of 37.90% (106/280), 1.50% (3/200), and 7.10% (6/85) was observed in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Coxiella burnetii seropositivity of 26.40% (74/280), 15.00% (30/200), and 2.40% (2/85) was observed in cattle, sheep, and pigs, respectively. Coexposure was detected in cattle for positivity against C. burnetii and T. gondii 40.54%, Brucella spp. and T. gondii 1.35%, and Brucella spp. and C. burnetii 4.05%. Coexposure for Brucella spp., C. burnetii, and T. gondii 4.05% was detected in cattle. Coexposure of Brucella spp. and C. burnetii 6.67% was detected in sheep. The AMOS-PCR identified B. abortus in cattle and a mixed infection of B. abortus and B. melitensis in sheep in 64.71% seropositive samples. To our knowledge, the coexposure of Brucella spp., T. gondii, and C. burnetii in cattle has not been reported. Coexposure of Brucella spp. and C. burnetii in cattle and sheep is significant as it results in reproductive losses and constitutes an infectious risk to humans. The detection of antibodies against multiple zoonotic infections in livestock from abattoirs has implications for public health.","PeriodicalId":14098,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Microbiology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2023-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"138624324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}