Multidrug Resistance Patterns and Multiple Antibiotic Resistance Index of Salmonella species Isolated from Waste Dumps in Zaria Metropolis, Nigeria

Several items containing residual antimicrobial agents are disposed of in dumpsites, placing a pressure on the microbial flora and a potential for development of resistance in these microorganisms. Multidrug resistancepatterns and multiple antibiotic resistance index of Salmonella spp. isolated from waste dumps in Zaria Metropolis were thus assayed in this study using one hundred and twelve (112) soil samples collected from four waste  dumpsites located in Sabon-Gari, Samaru, Tudun-Wada and Zaria City. Salmonella spp. were isolated by culture methods on selective media and characterized using a series of biochemical tests. The isolates were confirmed using microgen identification kits. Results were statistically analysed using percentages. The antibiotic resistance patterns were determined, using the disc-diffusion method. Ten antibiotics belonging to eight different classes, namely B-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracycline, cephalosporins, fluoroquinolone, Nitrofurantoins, sulphonamides, and phenicols were tested. The result of the study revealed that 57.2% of the isolates exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR) taken as resistance to four or more antibiotics tested. On the other hand, all the isolates showed 100% susceptibility to Chloramphenicol (30μg) and Gentamicin (30μg) while 76.2% had Multiple Antibiotic Resistance (MAR) Index of 0.2 and above. The isolates showing resistance to the highest number of antibiotics were obtained from refuse dumpsites in Zaria City while an isolate from Sabon-Gari was found to be resistant to six antibiotics. These results could be indicative of possible disposal of these drug residues in the waste dump locations making them hot spots for development of resistance.Keywords: Salmonella spp., Waste Dumps, Resistance Pattern, MAR Index, Zaria Metropolis

Nigerian physicians' knowledge, attitude and practices regarding diabetes mellitus in the paediatric age group

Background: Despite the increasing prevalence of diabetes in the paediatric age group, information concerning Nigerian physicians' knowledge, attitude and practices with regard to diabetes care in children and adolescents is scarce.Objective: To assess the knowledge, attitude and practices of physicians working in Nigeria.Methods: The study examined several aspects of diabetes-related knowledge, attitude and practices of Nigerian physicians. A crosssectional survey was conducted among physicians in four towns in four different States in Nigeria, using a self-administered questionnaire to obtain data. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 16.Results: A total of 288 medical practitioners from four towns in four different states in Nigeria filled the questionnaires. The distribution of participants was as follows: 25, 28, 85 and 150 from Benin (Edo State), Kano (Kano State), Ado-Ekiti (Ekiti State) and Gwagwalada (Federal Capital Territory), respectively. Questions answered correctly by more than half of the participants were: fasting plasma glucose diagnostic criterion for diabetes, 161(55.9%); best test for monitoring glycaemic control (72.9%); diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is an immediate complication (93.5%); insulin therapy is important in the control of childhood diabetes (86.5%); and diabetes is a dangerous disease (91.3%). Questions answered correctly by less than half of the participants were: the stronger hereditary nature of type 2 diabetes (39.6%) 10.1% and 2.8% knew that diabetes can present with fast breathing and abdominal pain respectively. Only 36.8% of the participants knew that children with diabetes should eat family diet. Concerning risk factors for diabetes, majority (82.6%) of the participant believe that eating too much sugar is a risk factor. Only 25.3% knew the correct method of storing insulin and 39.6% of participants stated that they do not know. This paucity of knowledge was more pronounced among physicians with less than ten years of medical practice experience after graduation from the medical school. Only a quarter (24.7%) of the respondents will allow an adolescent with diabetes to adjust his insulin dose.Conclusions: Knowledge gaps, ambivalent attitudes and suboptimal practices regarding diabetes mellitus in childhood and adolescence were found among Nigerian physicians, irrespective of duration of practice post-graduation from the medical school. Our results suggest that most physicians require additional education, focusing on DM in order to provide an acceptable level of care to children and adolescents with diabetes mellitus.Keywords: Knowledge, Attitude, Practices, Diabetes Mellitus, Children, Physicians, Nigeri

Primary congenital hypothyroidism complicated by persistent severe anaemia in early infancy: A case report with a literature review

No Abstract

Travel burden and clinical presentation of retinoblastoma: analysis of 1024 patients from 43 African countries and 518 patients from 40 European countries

BACKGROUND: The travel distance from home to a treatment centre, which may impact the stage at diagnosis, has not been investigated for retinoblastoma, the most common childhood eye cancer. We aimed to investigate the travel burden and its impact on clinical presentation in a large sample of patients with retinoblastoma from Africa and Europe. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis including 518 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 40 European countries and 1024 treatment-naïve patients with retinoblastoma residing in 43 African countries. RESULTS: Capture rate was 42.2% of expected patients from Africa and 108.8% from Europe. African patients were older (95% CI -12.4 to -5.4, p<0.001), had fewer cases of familial retinoblastoma (95% CI 2.0 to 5.3, p<0.001) and presented with more advanced disease (95% CI 6.0 to 9.8, p<0.001); 43.4% and 15.4% of Africans had extraocular retinoblastoma and distant metastasis at the time of diagnosis, respectively, compared to 2.9% and 1.0% of the Europeans. To reach a retinoblastoma centre, European patients travelled 421.8 km compared to Africans who travelled 185.7 km (p<0.001). On regression analysis, lower-national income level, African residence and older age (p<0.001), but not travel distance (p=0.19), were risk factors for advanced disease. CONCLUSIONS: Fewer than half the expected number of patients with retinoblastoma presented to African referral centres in 2017, suggesting poor awareness or other barriers to access. Despite the relatively shorter distance travelled by African patients, they presented with later-stage disease. Health education about retinoblastoma is needed for carers and health workers in Africa in order to increase capture rate and promote early referral

Prevalence of intestinal parasites in some human patients in Zaria

No Abstract. The Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 21(1) 2000: 125-13

Hygienic Evaluation of two Food Service Centres in a University Campus in Samaru, Zaria, Nigeria

Twenty samples each of cooked foods, hand and nasal swabs, table surfaces and water used for activities in two restaurants were collected over a period of three months and analysed. The analyses included total mesophilic and coliform counts. The results obtained showed that theaverage mesophilic count for the foods was in the range of 3.0 x 109 – 3.5 x 1010 cfu/g with the highest count of 3.3 x 1010 cfu/g. Coliform counts for the water was in the range of 38 MPN/100ml. The hands had a coliform counts average of 27 cfu/ml. The isolate were respectively identified toinclude Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp. The hygiene status of these food centres should be of concern to the authorities in view of the large size of students and others that patronize these eateries

Antimicrobial activity of Garcinia kola seeds on bacteria isolated from throat infections

No Abstract.International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 4 (3) 2008: pp. 239-24

Assay of Serum Antibodies against Newcastle Disease Virus in Local Chickens at Kaduna, Nigeria

Newcastle disease (ND) is a highly contagious viral disease of domestic poultry, caged, aviary and wild birds caused by the Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Assay of antibodies to Newcastle disease virus was undertaken using 300 sera samples from unvaccinated local chickens marketed and slaughtered at the Central Market, Kaduna, Northern Nigeria using the Haemagglutinin inhibition (HI) method. Of the 300 sera assyed, 202 (67.3%) tested positive for NDV antibodies, with 75% of them showing specific immunity to ND. NDV-HI Geometric mean titre of 18.4 was recorded showing a low level of antibody protectiveness to NDV attack due to natural infection. The result highlights the epizootic nature of the disease among local chickens in the area and concludes that the data is of economic importance since poultry local chickens are known to spread NDV to other avian species. Vaccination of local chicken is recommended when practicable

Comparative studies of the dough raising capacity of local yeast strains isolated from different sources

Background: Fermentation by yeast is of primary importance for its leavening function and its possible contribution to the production of desirable flavoured compounds.&nbsp;Objectives: This study focused on the isolation of local yeast strains from different sources: fresh pineapple juice, palm wine and orange juices and Burukutu.&nbsp;Methods: &nbsp;Fresh pineapple juice, palm wine and orange juices and Burukutu were kept on a sterile workbench to be fermented at ambient temperature for 72 hours. Aliquots of the fermented samples were introduced into conical flasks containing yeast extract glucose peptone broth compounded for isolation and characterization. Yeast isolated from pineapple, burukutu, orange and palm wine were characterized. The morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics of the yeasts were identified by using API20C AUX Kit (Bio Meriux), tested for markers characteristics such as sugars fermentation ability and starch hydrolysis. Biomass of each isolate tested was used to ferment flour dough to determine their fermentative abilities. Five out of the seven yeast isolates were compared with the commercial baker yeast (control) in terms of their dough raising capacity to confirm their baking potentials. Sensory evaluation of the baked fermented dough was carried out using these parameters: texture, aroma, taste and appearance.&nbsp;Results: The yeasts were identified to be Saccharomyces cerevisiae,&nbsp; Saccharomyces exiguus, Saccharomyces kluyveri and Saccharomyces ludwigii. Catalase and Urease were found to be identical with the baker’s yeast (Control). The results revealed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Saccharomyces exiguus and Saccharomyces ludwigii yeast isolates produced loaves that have sensory properties significant (p≤0.05) when comparable with baker’s yeasts commonly used in many of the bakeries.&nbsp;Conclusion: The findings in this study showed that it is possible to isolate a pure culture of Saccharomyces species from fermented fruits and local beverages for use in baking instead of importing the commercial baker’s yeast that is expensive. These local isolates if used will economize our foreign reserve. Keywords: Local yeast, Baker’s yeast, Saccharomyces species, Dough raisin

Environmental Impact and Hazards Analysis Critical Control Point (Haccp) Concept in the Production of Tsire at Zaria, Nigeria

Tsire is a local meat delicacy (kebab) in northern Nigeria, which has become popular and widely acceptable throughout the country and even beyond. Three production sites of tsire were evaluated for the environmental impact and hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) on the microbiological and chemical qualities of the product. The microbiological evaluation was done using aerobic plate count (APC) and specific microbial counts for Bacillus cereus (BC), coliforms (CC), Clostridium perfringens (CLC), Staphylococcus aureus (SC) and yeast and mould counts (YM). The results of these evaluations showed that averagely APC was log10 5.42, BC was log10 3.23, CC was log10 4.10, CLC was log10 2, 84, SC was log10 4.13 and YM was log10 2.07. Generally, the total counts as well as counts of organisms of public health significance were relatively high. This trend was in agreement with earlier reports. The proximate chemical composition of the product was carried out and the result of the analysis showed the mean moisture content to be averagely 11.9%, protein 31.8% and ash 2.4%. The potential hazards of the product determined included the improper handling of the raw beef, post process contamination from handlers as well as the environment due to mode of keeping the finished product, especially where it has to be stored overnight. The critical points in the production of tsire included the roasting process as well as reheating after holding over night. The hazards evaluation showed sharp practices through which microbial, other contaminants were introduced into the product, and these may survive the processing stages through to the final consumers. The spices used in the product were also good sources of contaminants and this could be avoided if good manufacturing practices are followed in their processing. The environment generally had a great impact on the final quality of tsire. Good hygienic practices need to be emphasized and ensured throughout the production process