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Aims: To differentiate and CharacterizeMycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex causing pulmonary tuberculosis across North Central NigeriaStudy Design:This was a simple descriptive health-based study that involved clinically suspected tuberculosis patients who were referred to two selected General Hospitals for diagnosis in each of the states across North Central Nigeria.Place and Duration of Study:This study was carried out in the North Central zone of Nigeria and it included all the seven States across North Central Nigeria using two General Hospitals Methodology:A total of 371 GeneXpert positive sputa for TB were decontaminated using N Acetyl Cysteine and Sodium Hydroxide under a level 3 Bio-safety cabinet and the resulting sediment was cultured on Lowestein-Jensen (LJ) media containing glycerol and pyruvate at 37ºC in a slanted position, SD-Bioline (TB Ag MPT 64) for the differentiation of MTBC from NTM was carried out using the isolatesfrom LJ culture. Evaluation of speciation was done using Line Probe Assay to determine the predominant species of MTBC. All the protocols used in this study followed the manufacturer’s manual strictly.Results:A total of 371 decontaminated positive GeneXpert sputa derived from 2800 suspected PTB participants were cultured on Lowestein-Jensen (LJ) medium and 302(81.40%) was found positive while 69(18.60%) were found negative. Out of the culture positive isolates, 288 (95.36%) isolates were detected on SD-BIOLINE TB Ag MPT 64 ® assay for MTBC and 14 (4.64%) as NTM. Of the 288 MTBC, three different species were identified; 272 (94.64%) were M. tuberculosis/M.Canetti,7 (2.43%) were M. africanumand 9(3.13) showed a no MTBC reaction band on all the samples that were analysed.Conclusion: Differentiations of MTBC from NTM has help to re-confirm that not all symptoms of pulmonary infection are caused by MTBC but NTM are implicated due to their distribution in the environment, however, molecular characterisation method has narrow our findingsdown to M.tuberculosis/M.canettiias the predominant specie of MTBC circulating in the region, although, M.africaumwas also detected and these two species of MTBC are the leading cause of pulmonary tuberculosis across all the North Central state of Nigeria.per state. The study included 371 positive sputum samples drawn from 2800 suspected pulmonary TB patients between 2017 and 2018.Original ResearchArticle
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Aims: To review current and effective techniques of identifying fungi as against the error prone traditional methods being solely depended on by the developing world and recommend steps to improve fungi identification. Fungi are eukaryotes with cell walls composed of chitin with or without cellulose. They are ubiquitous and are estimated to be over 250,000 species, of which about 150 have been shown to cause disease in humans. These species that cause disease in humans are regarded as medically important fungi and are of six categories namely zygomycetes, hyalohyphomyces, dematiaceous fungi, dermatophytes, dimorphic fungi and yeasts. Accurate and rapid identification of pathogenic fungi is critical to disease treatment as the outcome borders on life or death. Traditional techniques in the identification of medically important fungi include the use of stains, macroscopic and microscopic morphology, biochemical tests, histopathology and antibody detection but are plagued with limitations which have necessitated the advancement of more effective techniques that address the limitations of the traditional methods. Three of these effective techniques currently in use in the developed science world are Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), Loop Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and Rolling Circle Amplification (RCA) techniques. For the developing world, identifying medically important fungi in order to intervene in treating their resultant infections is still a tedious and rudimentary task. The techniques, equipment and trained personnel is still on the “to do list” while the true culprits of fungi diseases remain unidentified or at best misidentified. Conclusion: The developing world needs to consciously move away from sole dependence on the traditional methods of identifying fungi by being innovative and align itself with current and effective identification methods in order to make a progressive impact in the fight against medically important fungi.
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Background and Objectives: Meat pie is a popular ready-to-eat food sold in Nigeria and is consumed by people of all classes and category. The study aimed to determine the incidence and susceptibility of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus isolated from meat pie to antibiotics commonly administered in Makurdi.Material and Methods: A total of 180 samples were collected and evaluated for bacterial contamination and presence of antibiotic-resistant Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Contaminants were isolated and identified using biochemical test. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method.Results: Eleven bacterial genera was identified. Bacillus spp (85%) occurred most frequently, followed by Staphylococcus aureus (38.9%), while Edwardsiella spp (2.8%) occured the least. Staphylococcus aureus was highly resistant to Cloxacillin (87.1%) but highly susceptible to Ofloxacin (88.6%). Escherichia coli was resistant to Amoxycillin, Tetracycline, Cloxacillin and Augmentin but susceptible to Gentamicin and Ofloxacin. Conclusion: Meat pie sold in Makurdi habours Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli with multiple antibiotic resistance. Regulation of the production and retail process of meat pie is advocated as a possible means of reducing contamination and the risk of transferring antibiotic resistant bacteria to consumers.
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Aims: To identify and determine the bacteria associated with skin and soft tissue conditions of fungal infections. Place and Duration of Study: Sample area was Plateau State Nigeria and sample collection and analysis was done in Dermatophilosis Research Centre, National Veterinary Research Institute Vom, Plateau State, Nigeria, between September 2011 and December 2012. Methodology: Nine hundred and forty (940) human skin and nail scraping samples from different parts of the body were collected from subjects referred to the Centre from different hospitals with visible skin infections. Sample analysis were carried out using standard microbiological methods which include: Wet mount, tease mount, culture and biochemical tests were used to process and analyze for the isolation and identification of fungi and bacteria. Results: Out of 940 samples, 892(94.9%) yielded fungal species which include: Microsporum 45(4.8%), Trichophyton 176(18.7%), Aspergillus 216(22.9%), Epidermophyton 32(3.4%), Candida 72(7.7%), Mucor 141(15.0%), Rhizopus 52(5.5%), Fusarium 12(1.3%), Bipolaris 23(2.5%), Sporothrix 74(7.9%), Penicillium 32(3.4%) and Curvularia 17(1.8%). All samples 940 (100%) yielded an array of bacteria which include: Staphylococcus aureus 125(13.3%), Staphylococcus epidermidis 145(15.8%), Micrococcus luteus 233(24.8%), α-hemolytic Streptococci 89(9.5%), Escherichia coli 59(6.3%), Proteus mirabilis 113(12%), Bacillus subtilis 78(8.3%) and Klebsiella pneumonia 98(10.4%). Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus were isolated from all sites of infection while Micrococcus luteus was isolated from all moist ulcerous and dry scaly skin infections. Conclusion: This study showed the presence of bacteria in high frequency in and around skin and soft tissue infection sites on the body. Micrococcus luteus was the most prevalent bacterial organism associated with skin and soft tissue conditions of fungal infections. Under favourable conditions, some of the bacteria isolated can establish infections through broken skin hence complicating or prolonging treatment of the skin infection.