Phylogenetic variants of Mycoplasma hominis from pregnant women and women presenting with infertility in Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Nigeria

Background: Much controversies have been associated with the pathogenicity of Mycoplasma hominis but little has been done to unravel the mystery behind the different views. This study aimed at investigating the genetic variants abounding within M. hominis and the distribution of the virulent genes among the variants. Methodology: Twenty (20) M. hominis isolates from high vaginal swabs of women (11 from pregnant women and 9 from women presenting with infertility) attending the Obstetrics and Gynaecology clinics of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital (NAUTH), Nnewi, Nigeria, were sequenced using 16S rRNA universal gene target for the purpose of phylogenetic analysis and epidemiological typing. The isolates were also screened for the presence of M. hominis variable adherence antigen (vaa) and p120 virulent genes using primer constructs from the respective genes in a conventional PCR protocol. Results: Of the 20 M. hominis vaginal isolates, 4 phylogenetic strains were detected; strain MHS43 constituted 10/20 (50.0%) [2/9 (22.2%) from infertile women and 8/11 (72.7%) from pregnant women]; strain MHBS constituted 3/20 (15%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 0/11 (0%) from pregnant women]; strain MHSWP2 constituted 4/20 (20.0%) [3/9 (33.3%) from infertile women and 1/11 (9.1%) from pregnant women]; while strain MHKC87 constituted 3/20 (15%) [1/9 (11.1%) from infertile women and 2/11 (18.2%) from pregnant women].Each of vaa and p120 genes was detected in 14 of 20 isolates, while 6 isolates did not carry the genes. A 2-way ANOVA test showed that none of the genes was significantly associated with a particular strain (p=0.8641). Conclusions: The different views regarding the pathogenicity of M. hominis may be linked to the heterogeneity within the species and lack of homogeneity in the virulent genes as witnessed both in the intra species and intra strain levels.

Etiology and pathogenicity of bacterial isolates: a cross sectional study among diarrheal children below five years in central regions of Kenya

Introduction: bacterial agents are among pathogens implicated to cause diarrhea in children resulting to huge mortality and morbidities. Bacterial etiologies causing diarrhea in children below five years are rarely investigated in Central Kenya, which would otherwise guide prescription and target health education.Methods: a cross-sectional study approach was applied on 163 randomly selected stool samples from children below five years who presented with diarrhea in Murang`a and Muriranja`s hospitals. The objective was to determine the bacterial agents of diarrhea. Enteric bacterial pathogens were cultured using appropriate media and identified. Statistical analyses were performed using STATA v.13. Chi-square or Fisher exact-test were used to check for evidence of relationship whenever applicable.Results: there were nearly equal distributions in gender 86 (52.8%) female vs. 77 (47.2%) male, majority (35.6%) aged between 0-12 months. Bacterial isolates were highly diverse in female than the male, children aged 49-60 months and least among those aged 0-12 months. A total of 188 bacterial isolates belonging to 11 genera were recovered. The predominant bacteria was nonpathogenic Escherichia coli 85 (45.2%), while 13 (6.9%) Escherichia coli were positive for virulence genes, including 8 (4.3%) positive for LT and STp Shiga-like or Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, 3 (1.6%) positive for eae and bfpA Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and 2 (1.1%) positive for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli gene. Others included: Salmonella 21 (11.2%), Pseudomonas 14 (7.4%), Shigella 14 (7.4%), Klebsiella 12 (6.4%), Aeromonas 8 (4.3%), Enterobacter 7 (3.7%), Proteus 8 (4.3%), Citrobactor 3 (1.6%), Yersinia 2 (1.1%) and Vibrio 1 (0.5%).Conclusion: salmonella was the major bacterial isolate and majority of the bacteria were statistically significant cause of diarrhea (p=0.001)

Prevalence of Virulence Determinants in Staphylococcus Epidermidis from ICU Patients in Kampala; Uganda

Introduction: Staphylococcus epidermidis is often considered a non-pathogenic organism but it causes nosocomial infections. To distinguish invasive strains; comparative studies of patient and community isolates may offer some clues. We investigated the distribution of virulence determinants in patient isolates from Uganda. Methodology: S. epidermidis isolates were identified with the Staph API ID 32 kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility; biofilm formation and hemolysis were detected with standard procedures. Genes associated with virulence (aap; atlE; bhp; hla; hld; ica; IS256; sdrE; sea; tsst) and antimicrobial resistance (aac(6')-Ie-aph(2'')-Ia; aph(3')-IIIa; ant(4')-Ia; blaZ; mecA; vanA/vanB1) were detected by PCR. Results: S. epidermidis grew in 30 (30/50; 60) ICU samples and 20 (20/60; 33) community samples (one isolate per sample per patient/person). All ICU isolates (30/30; 100) were IS256 and hld positive; 22 (22/30; 73) were biofilm/ica positive; 21 (21/30; 70) were hemolytic on blood agar; nine (9/30; 30) contained atlE gene; six (6/30; 20) hla gene; five (5/30; 17) aap gene; and three (3/30; 10) bhp gene. A gene encoding an aminoglycoside-modifying enzyme; aph(3')-IIIa; was highly prevalent (28/30; 93); while blaZ (2/30; 7); mecA (3/30; 10); vanA (3/30; 10) and vanB1 (3/30; 10) were less prevalent. Of the community isolates; one (1/20; 5) was ica positive; two (2/20; 10) formed biofilms; and three (3/20; 15) possessed the atlE gene. bhp; aap; IS256; hld and antimicrobial resistance genes were not detected in community isolates. Conclusions: S. epidermidis from ICU patients in Mulago Hospital is potentially virulent and could be a reservoir for antimicrobial resistant genes