Microbial status of smoked fish, scombia scombia sold in Owerri, Imo state, Nigeria

As one of the common sources of protein available to man; fish is highly consumed due to its lower cholesterol content and price. So it forms a rich protein source for both poor and rich. As a part of checkmating the public health risks associated with this general dependence of the population on fish; the microbiological assessment of smoked fish; Scombia; scombia sold in Owerri was embarked on with the aim of ascertaining the microbial quality; the presence and prevalence of microorganisms of public health importance. A total of one hundred and eight (108) samples were collected from the smoking Factory; Open Market and Hawkers. These were analyzed microbiologically for viable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count on Nutrient and Potato dextrose agar respectively; using pour plate method and coliform count in MacConkey broth by multiple tube method (MPN). The mean value results from the analysis revealed high microbial contamination in all the samples. The resultant data were analyzed statistically using randomized block design of Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) at 95 level of confidence and the difference were separated using the least significance difference (LSD). The mean results of viable heterotrophic bacteria and fungi count showed no significance difference for the collection sites; but the coliform mean results for the three sites showed marked variation at 95 level (P0.05). Identified bacteria; include: Staphylococcus aureus; E. coli; Bacillus sp.; Klebsiella sp.; whereas fungi are Penicillium sp.; Aspergilusl sp.; Fusarium violaceum; Biospora sp.; Candida sp; Botryodioplodia sp.; Alternania sp. This high level of microbial contamination can be traceable to handlers; and environment to which this fish is exposed during smoking and selling exercises; and considering the danger it portends to human health; public health and food safety authorities should intensify their monitoring efforts towards controlling such contamination

Prevalence of Salmonella typhi and intestinal parasites among food handlers in Bahir Dar Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Background:Food borne diseases are a global public health problem. Food handlers play a major role for the transmission of food borne diseases. Objectives: This study was aimed at exploring the prevalence of intestinal parasites; S. typhi carrier rate and risk factors among food handlers at Bahir Dar town. Methods: A cross -sectional survey was conducted among food handlers working in different kitchens. A pre-tested structured questionnaire was used for collecting data. Stool samples were investigated for intestinal parasites and S. typhi as per the standard laboratory methods. Results: Among 384 food handlers; females comprised 300 (78). The majority 371 (96.6) were young adults (12 - 40 years). The median year of service was 1 year (1 month to 24 years). All food handlers had no previous medical checkup and 54 (14) were certified as food handlers. One hundred fifty eight (41.1) food handlers had intestinal parasites and 6 (1.6) were found positive for S. typhi. Of these; 25 (6.5) were suffering from diarrhoea. Nine species of intestinal parasites; 2 protozoa (E. histolytica/dispar 12.76and G. lamblia 7. 0) and 7 helminthes (A. lumbricoides; 11.7; Hookworm; 8.1; S. stercoralis; 2.86; S. mansoni; 1.8; Taenia species; 1.3; H. nana; 0.5and T. trichiuria; 0.5) were detected. Conclusion: Inexperienced and poor personal hygienic food handlers play a role for transmission of food borne infections. Local health authorities should implement food handler's training on food safety; institute periodic focused medical check up for food handlers and improve human waste disposal

The Assessment of Heavy Metal and By-Product on Fried Food Sold by Roadside Vendors in Calabar; Nigeria

The assessment of heavy metals (lead and mercury) and by-product (sulphur) on fried food sold by roadside food vendors in Calabar; Nigeria were investigated. The food samples which were covered and uncovered after frying were obtained randomly from 20 street food vendors. The food samples were obtained from 10 busy roads and 10 non- busy roads in Calabar; Nigeria. The busy roads were those roads that recorded more than 20 cars per minute; while the non-busy roads recorded less than 10 cars per minute. The result showed that the busy roads had significant (P0.05) higher depositions of heavy metals and by-products than the non-busy roads. Lead deposits on the food samples was significantly (P0.05) higher than the amount of mercury and significantly (P0.05) higher than the amount of sulphur deposit. The amount of sulphur deposit on the food samples was significantly higher (P0.05) than mecury. The food samples that was uncovered after frying had a significantly higher (P0.05) deposit of heavy metal and by-product than the food samples that were covered after frying. This result suggest that fried foods vended in calabar by the road-side have a serious public health concern

The Bioload and Aflatoxin Content of Market Garri from some Selected States in Southern Nigeria: Public Health Significance

Background: Garri is consumed by several millions of people in the West African sub-region and in Nigeria in particular regardless of ethnicity and socio-economic class. How- ever production and handling methods have not been standardized resulting in a product with varying quality and safety indices hence varying public health concern. Objec- tives: To investigate the microbial contamination level; presence; prevalence and distribution of Aflations B1; B2; G1 and G2 in market garri with the aim of developing useful indices for safe handling and acceptable public health standards. Methods: A total of 300 samples comprising of 30 samples each from various market in both urban and rural settings were randomly collected using sterile polyethylene bags. These were analysed for microbiological quality and aflatoxins content using standard procedures. Results: Eight bacteria genera (Bacillus; Staphylococcus; Streptococcus; Pseudomonas; Clostridium; Salmonella Klebsiella and Coliforms groups) genera and six fungi genera (Asper- gillus; Penicillium; Rhizopus; Botrytls; Fusarium and Cladosporium) were detected and isolated. Aflatoxins B1; B2; G1 and G2 were detected in varying concentrations amongst the samples analysed within and amongst the states investigated with an average occurrence rate of 17.5Conclusion: Market garri was found to contain high bioload with vast array of micro-organisms and Aflatoxins in all the states investigated. Results are useful in developing and establishing public health standards for the production and safe handling of garri

Cholera Epidemics: The Mulago Experience

"Cholera is an acute diarrhoeal disease caused by vibrio cholera or relatef vibrosis. The bacteria is usually ingested through eating or drinking contaminated food. Infective dose in with 107-109 vibrios. Typical history is of acute onset of diarrhoea with or without vomiting. The stools are greyish; turbid and liqui-characteristically called ""Rice water"". Due to marked fluid loss; patients become rapidly dehydrated. Definitive diagnosis can be made by growing the vibros from the stool."

Maize flour contaminated with toxigenic fungi and mycotoxins in Kenya

"The majority of the Kenyan human population may be exposed to regular doses of a wide spectrum of highly toxic; carcinogenic; immunosuppressive; mutagenic; and hepatotoxic mycotoxins through the consumption of maizemeal. Maizemeal is consumed in Kenya at the rate of about 0.4kg/person/day; therefore; even the lowest amount of toxins consumed can cause significant effects as some are cumulative. Maize is also a major component in livestock and poultry feed; and the therefore regular indirect human exposure through the consumption of animal products that contain mycotoxin residues could be common. Due to these suspected risks; it is imperative to establish whether consumers in Kenya are actually exposed to dangerous mycotoxins in maize products hence this survey. Forty samples of flour packed in 90kg bags; 58 samples of ""Ugali"" brand (milled and packed by the Milling Corporation of Kenya Ltd); and 74 samples of ""Jagoo"" brand (Unga Maize Millers) were collected from the Nairobi area. The samples were analysed for resident mycoflora; and some mycotoxins associated with key fungal species. Important fungal species isolated from the flour included Aspergillus lavuss; A. sulphureus; fusarium moniliforme; penicillium stoloniferum; and P. cyclopium. All the three brands of flour were contaminated with Aflatoxins B1 and B2 (0.4-20 ug/kg); ochratoxin A(50-1;500 ug/kg); and Zearalenone (2;500 - 5;000 ug/kg). Ochratoxin A was the most prevalent mycotoxin. These data provide a warning that the mycotoxin contamination problem in maizemeal is critical and consumers' health is at risk. Therefore; rigorous countrywide monitoring of mycotoxins in this staple food should be pursued. If possible; maize products should be subjected to stiff microbial quality control from the farm gate to the market shelf."

Faecal contamination level; survival of salmonella typhi and pH changes in 'Gari' and its potential public health hazard in Lagos

The pH changes; faecal contamination level; survival of nalidixic-acid resistant salmonella typhi in 'gari' soaked in water was examined. The pH values showed that 'gari' had a range of pH 3.76 to pH 6.24. The mean pH values showed that there were no appreciable change for gari types from various sources within the studied time period of 120 minutes. Faecal coliform contamination of 4 to 2;400/g using the MPN technique were recorded in 33of the 36 'gari' samples. This high faecal coliform contamination rate of gari; a popular fermented cassava food is unacceptable and it is of public health importance. Our survival experiment showed that the seeded enteric pathogen slightly decreased in colony-forming unit (cfu) with log(0.3 10) 0.3 within the studied 120 minutes. It is concluded that our local foods should be monitored regularly for public health safety; and improved hygienic practices should be emphasized as an intervention for diarrhoeal diseases in developing countries