Effects of Angiotensin-converting Enzyme Inhibitors and Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers on the Immune System of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Challenged Hamsters

The severe cases of coronavirus disease 2019 observed in patients with hypertension and diabetes mellitus disease have created controversy as to why this was the case and the role of angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) and angiotensin enzyme inhibitors was not ruled out as a contributing factor. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and ARBs on respiratory immunity. The study used a Syrian hamster as an animal model to study the effects of ARBs and ACEIs on the immune system of Pseudomonas aeruginosa-challenged hamsters; fever was a response variable. The hamsters were randomly separated into three groups of six. One group was administered enalapril, another with losartan, and the last group was administered water for 30 days. After 30 days, the hamsters were inoculated with 0.2 mL of 1.5 × 108 cfu/mL of P. aeruginosa. After 18 h from the inoculation time, the temperature was taken every 2 h for 36 h. The temperature in all groups ranged from 35.5°C to 37.2°C with an average of 36.1°C and there was no mortality recorded at the end of 14 days. The results were analyzed using Dunnett multiple comparisons analysis of variance using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 27. There were no significant differences in temperature between hamsters treated with enalapril or losartan and those treated with water (control). In addition, no hamster developed fever. In conclusion, enalapril and losartan may not negatively affect the respiratory immunity. Effects of ACEIs and ARBs on the immune system of P. aeruginosa challenged hamsters

Isolation, identification and characterisation of bacteria from ripe tomatoes grown under different agronomic conditions

Background: Tomatoes are exposed to potential microbial contamination. The objective of the study was to determine the presence of bacteria in and on tomato fruits grown under different agronomic conditions in Lusaka. Methods: Bacteriological survey of 27 samples of fresh tomatoes collected from different sources was carried out and analysed. Analysis was done by culturing the tomatoes on different medias: MacConkey, chocolate, blood and shingella and salmonella agar. Following isolation of pure colonies, biochemical tests were done, SIM, catalase, oxidase, TSI, simmons citrate agar and the urease test. Results: Nine bacteria were identified: Escherichia coli, citrobacter, enterobacter, Vibrio spp, Shigella, Salmonella, Klebsiella and Streptococcus aureus. E. Coli and Staphylococcus aureus were found to be the dominant species. Results indicated that the microbial load in samples from fields near the sewer was higher than in samples from far away from the sewer system. Conclusion: Tomatoes grown near the sewer streams are contaminated with bacteria from entrobactriaceae family