Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamase-production in Escherichia coli isolated from door handles in Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.

Serious clinical concern has been raised globally over the continual evolution of pathogenic microorganisms that are resistant to several chemotherapeutic agents, especially the beta-lactam antibiotics. This study investigated ESBL-production in Escherichia coli isolated from door handles in Nasarawa State University, Keffi-Nigeria. A total of 200 door handles were sampled and 34 (17.0%) E. coli isolates were identified. The bacterial resistance profile to tested antibiotics was: tetracycline 31 (91.18%), cotrimoxazole, ceftazidime, and augmentin with 28 (82.35%). Streptomycin and ampicillin had 26 (76.47%), while ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, ceftriaxone, and gentamicin had 16 (47.06%), 14 (41.18%), 12 (35.29%) and 7 (20.59%) resistance profile respectively. Multiple antibiotics resistance index (MARI) ≥ 0.3 was recorded in 33 (97.06%) of the isolates. A total of 23 resistant phenotypes were observed in this study. The most common resistant phenotype was AMP-AUG-CAZ-CRO-S-CIP-SXT-TE-C with 4 appearances. Fourteen (14) of the isolates were Multidrug resistant (MDR), while 9 were extensively resistant (XDR) isolates. Fifteen (15) ESBL-producers were identified out of which bla TEM was identified in 7 of the isolates, while 10 were carriers of bla SHV, and bla CTX-M gene was not detected in any of the test isolates. This study recommends prompt action by all stakeholders in public health to prevent a potential disease burden from a superbug.

Detection of anti-Chlamydia trachomatis antibodies in Patients with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome in Abuja, Nigeria

Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) infections are among the sexually transmitted diseases known to increase the risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection. Serum samples from 34 consenting AIDS patients which attended the Government-approved Antiretroviral Treatment (ART) Facility at the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), Abuja between April 2005 and March 2006 were screened by enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for the presence of anti-CT antibodies using ImmunoComb® Chlamydia Bivalent IgG Test kit (Orgenics, Israel). Anti-CT antibodies were detected in ten (29.4%) of the thirty-four patients tested. The detection rate was higher among the females (33.3%) than the males (23.1%). Patients of the age group 31-45 years had the highest detection of anti-C. trachomatis antibodies, followed by those of age group 16-30 years. The result of the present study suggests the presence of anti-CT antibodies in AIDS patients, and reinforces the need for routine screening for anti-CT antibodies as a necessary intervention to reduce the burden of chlamydial diseases and to reduce the risk of HIV and its spread in Nigeria. The outcome of this study also provides justification for the possible inclusion of anti-chlamydial agents in the National AIDS Management Plan to treat associated C.trachomatis infections.

Evaluation of aviguard, a commercial competitive exclusion product for efficacy and after-effect on the antibody response of chicks to Salmonella.

The competitive exclusion (CE) action of Aviguard (AG) and its effects on the antibody response of chicks were evaluated in this study. We observed that AG protected the chicks from overwhelming colonization. Fourteen days after infection, fewer AG-pretreated than nonpretreated chicks shed salmonellae from their coloaca in both infected groups, although much less from SE-infected chicks. Antibody titers of sera produced to Salmonella typhimurium (ST) and SE in pretreated and non-pretreated chicks were not significantly different. Immunoblotting showed that these antibodies reacted with SDS-PAGE-separated 71.4, 67.7, 44.0, and 30.3 kDa proteins detectable in the test strains. Few weak bands of doubtful significance were observed in the cross-reaction between the sera of ST- and SE-infected chicks with ST and SE antigens, respectively. Our study showed that AG protected chicks from overwhelming colonization by salmonellae, and neither altered the antigenic proteins of infecting salmonellae nor their recognition by specific antibodies produced in response to the infection.

Anti-inflammatory, analgesic and anti-lymphocytic activities of the aqueous extract of Crinum giganteum.

The anti-inflammatory, anti-lymphocytic and analgesic properties of Crinum giganteum, a popular herb used for the management of asthma and other respiratory disorders was investigated in rats and mice. The extract dose-dependently produced significant (P<0.05) inhibition of formalin induced pain in rats. It also demonstrated significant (P<0.01) inhibition of abdominal constriction induced with 0.75% v/v acetic acid in mice. On the cotton pellet induced granulomatous tissue formation in rats, the extract significantly (P<0.05) decreased the weight. However, no significant inhibition was observed in the egg albumin-induced inflammation in rats. Oral administration of this extract in rats for 14 days significantly affected (P<0.05) the total leukocyte count and the overall percentage lymphocytes. The intraperitoneal and per oral LD(50) were 627+/-5.8mg/kg and 1486+/-18.9 mg/kg in mice and 520+/-10.2mg/kg and 1023+/-4.3 mg/kg in rats, respectively. Preliminary phytochemical analysis of the extract indicates the presence of tannins. These results therefore indicate that C. giganteum bulb contains biologically active principles, which have potentials for the treatment of inflammatory processes.