Anumudu Christian | Federal University Otuoke (original) (raw)

Papers by Anumudu Christian

Research paper thumbnail of In-Vitro Phytochemical Characterization And Antibacterial Activity Of Newbouldia Laevis (Boundary Tree) On Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus

In-Vitro Phytochemical Characterization And Antibacterial Activity Of Newbouldia Laevis (Boundary Tree) On Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus

Different extracts of leaves and roots of <em>Newbouldia laevis</em> were screened fo... more Different extracts of leaves and roots of <em>Newbouldia laevis</em> were screened for their phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial properties on clinical isolates of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. The well-in-agar diffusion technique was used to assay for the antibacterial properties and the results showed that the cold water, hot water, cold ethanol and soxhlet extracts of both parts of the plant at 200 mg/ml concentration inhibited the growth of all test organisms. The soxhlet extract had a more significant inhibition on <em>E. coli</em>. Also, the soxhlet extracts had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranging 25 – 30 mg/ml while the cold water extracts had the highest MIC ranging 80 – 115 mg/ml. The phytochemical components obtained from the leaf extracts are phenols and glycosides while the root extracts contained phenols, glycoside and tannins. Some of these active components may h...

Research paper thumbnail of Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Tobacco Leaf (Nicotiana tabacum) and Its Grounded Snuff (Utaba) on Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes

Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Tobacco Leaf (Nicotiana tabacum) and Its Grounded Snuff (Utaba) on Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes

Journal of Tropical Diseases & Public Health, 2019

This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and ground snuff extrac... more This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and ground snuff extracts of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) against Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes using methanol and water as extracting solvents. The study employed the agar diffusion and tube dilution assays. Methanol extracts of tobacco leaf produced zones of inhibition of 13.0 mm against Streptococcus and 9.5 mm against Candida, whereas the water extracts produced inhibition zones of 10.0 mm for Streptococcus and no inhibitory activity on Candida. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 mg/ml was recorded by the methanol extracts of tobacco leaves against Candida and 100 mg/ml MIC against Streptococcus. The methanolic leaf extracts had both bactericidal and fungicidal effect on both Streptococcus and Candida at a concentration of 200 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition obtained from methanolic extracts of grounded snuff against Streptococcus was 10.5 mm and 15.0 mm against Candida whereas the water ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (HPC) Associated with Commercial Freezers in Yenagoa Metropolis

American Journal of Microbiological Research, 2019

Microorganism are known to be present anywhere they can proliferate, its presence dictates it pat... more Microorganism are known to be present anywhere they can proliferate, its presence dictates it pathogenicity or otherwise. The study was embarked to assess the enteric bacterial quality and potential risk of water at the bottom of selected commercial freezers in Yenagoa metropolis. Serial dilution was adopted for the assessment of Heterotrophic bacterial count (HPC). From the analysis, bacterial count ranged between 1.083±0.104×107cfu/mL and 2.0 ± 0.358×107cfu/mL. the highest was in sample 4 (S4) and least in sample 10 (S10), the study thus found the presence of heterotrophic bacteria in all samples. This research reveals that freezers S5, S3, S4 and S8 were seriously contaminated, having mean viable bacterial load of 2.47×107cfu/mL, 2.18×107cfu/mL, 2.00×107 cfu/mL and 2.00×107 cfu/mL, respectively; while freezer S1, S2, S6, S7, S9 and S10 had variably viable bacteria count, the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria count (HPC) between sampled freezers was statistically very significa...

Research paper thumbnail of Phytochemical Characteristics and in vitro Antibacterial Activities of Senna alata Leaves against Some Clinical Isolates

The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against t... more The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against three infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus) were examined using agar well diffusion method. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts were found effective against the tested clinical isolates. For the methanol extract, the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Salmonella spp with a diameter of 22.67 ± 0.67mm, followed by E. coli (20.33± 1.20mm) and S. aureus (17.00± 0.58mm). The highest zone of inhibition for ethanol extract was observed against E. coli (18.33± 1.20mm), followed by S. aureus (17.33±0.78mm) and Salmonella spp (14.67±2.40mm). The extracts demonstrated considerable activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria with the methanol extract showing higher activity than the ethanol extract. E. coli showed more susceptibility to the methanol extract of S. alata from the concentrations of 500mg/ml to 62.5mg/ml while S...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antibacterial Analysis and Synergistic Potency of the Leaf Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on Some Enteric Bacterial Isolates

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2019

The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in-vitro antibacteri... more The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial activity of the single and combined strengths of the leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on some enteric bacterial isolates. The sensitivity test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were carried out using a modified agar-well diffusion method. The enteric bacterial isolates tested included Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhi and Enterobacter aerogenes. Standard methods were applied to obtain the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. The ethanol extracts of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium produced highly significant inhibitory activity against all the enteric bacterial isolates tested. Comparatively, the ethanol plant extracts were more potent than the commercially available drug, Ciprofloxacin and the aqueous plant extracts. The isolates were sensitive at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 mg/ml for the ethanol...

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-Eat Barbecue Meat (Suya) Sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria

International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2019

Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up us... more Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up using vegetable oil, various spices, peanut cake, salt and other flavours. It is usually hung on sticks and roasted over an open glowing charcoal fire. It is a popular snack that is sold in the streets of several countries in West Africa. This study was focused on the determination of microbial quality of suya meat sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria. Five aggregate samples of barbecue (suya) meat were collected from five randomly selected suya vendors in Yenagoa, namely; Berger Junction, Swali Market, Mechanic Junction Amarata, Tombia Roundabout and Opolo Junction. The samples were analysed microbiologically by the pour plate method using various agar media to ascertain the bacteriological diversity and load of the meat and isolates identified via biochemical assays. The bacterial species; Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. were isolated. The total aerobic plate count ranged from Mean Log 4.82-5.30 cfu/g. The result showed that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) between samples in total aerobic plate count irrespective of the point of collection. Total Coliform Count ranged from Mean Log 4.89-5.45cfu/g. Sample collected from Amarata had higher Coliform count. The E. coli count ranged from mean Log 5.59-5.96 cfu/g, while Salmonella/Shigella, Staphylococcal counts ranged from Mean Log 4.54-5.99cfu/g, and 4.55-5.33 cfu/g respectively. These results show that suya sold in Yenegoa falls below the acceptable standard for human consumption and microbiologically unsafe. The contamination of suya meats may be due to contaminated utensils, use of untreated water and unhygienic manufacturing practices. Hence, there is need for the enforcement of hygienic measures and sensitization of vendors to reduce the microbial load of suya in Yenagoa and minimize the risk of food poisoning.

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological quality of kunu-zaki sold on the streets of owerri metropolis, Nigeria

African Journal of Biological Sciences, 2019

Kunu-zaki is a nourishing non-alcoholic beverage widely consumed in Nigeria. There is no standard... more Kunu-zaki is a nourishing non-alcoholic beverage widely consumed in Nigeria. There is no standardized method for its preparation thus production practices differ amongst retailers. This study was undertaken to evaluate the bacteriological quality of kunu drink retailed in major markets of Owerri metropolis, Nigeria. Triplicate samples were obtained from four markets in Owerri and a control sample prepared in the laboratory. Kunu drink was analysed using the standard pour plate procedure. The results obtained showed that total heterotrophic bacteria count, total coliform count and total Salmonella Shigella count ranged from 1.4 x 10 3 -4.5 x 10 4 cfu/ml, 1.2 x 10 3 -3.8 x 10 4 cfu/ml to 0.6 x 10 3 -3.1 x 10 4 respectively. A total of 9 bacteria genera including Staphylococcus specie, E. coli, Enterobacter specie, Proteus specie, Citrobacter specie, Serratia specie, Lactobacillus specie, Salmonella specie and Streptococcus specie were isolated with the highest percentage frequency of occurrence recorded for Staphylococcus sp. (16.66%) indicating possible low hygiene of the kunu zaki producers. The bacteria genera isolated from kunu zaki sold in Owerri and their number constitute main concerns for public health as these can cause a variety of infections or food intoxications. Thus, there is a need to establish a system of monitoring of street vended kunu zaki to make sure that it is safe for consumption.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and multidrug resistance pattern of Salmonella isolated from resident wild birds of Bangladesh

International Journal of One Health, 2016

Aim: Salmonellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases, and the presence of antimicrobial... more Aim: Salmonellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases, and the presence of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella in wild birds is global public health threat. Throughout the last decades, multidrug resistance of Salmonella spp. has increased, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and antimicrobial resistance pattern against Salmonella spp. from two species of resident wild birds namely house crow (Corvus splendens) and Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra). Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from cloacal swabs of house crows and Asian pied starling for isolating Salmonella spp. (bacteriological culture methods) followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disk diffusion method) against Salmonella spp. isolates during March to December 2014. Results: The prevalence of Salmonella in Asian pied starling and house crows were 67% and 65%, respectively. Within the category of samples from different species, the variation in prevalence was not varied significantly (p>0.05). Isolated Salmonella spp. was tested for resistance to six different antimicrobial agents. Among six antimicrobial tested, 100% resistance were found to penicillin, oxacillin, and clindamycin followed by erythromycin (50-93%), kanamycin (7-20%), and cephalothin (30-67%) from both species of birds. Kanamycin remained sensitive in (70-73%), cephalothin (26-70%), and erythromycin appeared to be (0-30%) sensitive against Salmonella spp. isolates. Isolated Salmonella spp. was multidrug resistant up to three of the six antimicrobials tested. Conclusion: It can be said that the rational use of antimicrobials needs to be adopted in the treatment of disease for livestock, poultry, and human of Bangladesh to limit the emergence of drug resistance to Salmonella spp.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of packaging materials and storage environment on postharvest quality of papaya fruit

Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2011

This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of packaging materials and storage environmen... more This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of packaging materials and storage environments on shelf life of papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.). A factorial combination of five packaging materials and two storage environments using randomized complete block design with three replications were used. The papaya fruits were evaluated for weight loss, percentage marketability, firmness, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar and total sugar content. The packaged and cooled fruits remained firmer than unpackaged and evaporatively cooled fruits. Higher chemical compositions were recorded in the control fruits stored under ambient conditions during the earlier times of storage. Packaging and cooling maintained the chemical quality of papaya fruits better than the control sample fruits towards the end of storage periods. The evaporatively cooled storage combined with packaging improved the shelf life of papaya fruits by more than two fold. The polyethylene bag packaging combined with evaporatively cooled storage maintained the superior quality of papaya fruit for a period of 21 days. This integrated agro-technology is recommended for postharvest loss reduction biotechnology in hot regions.

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Pathogenic Bacteria in Wall Gecko Dropping

The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) dropp... more The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) droppings was studied. A total of 500 samples of wall gecko droppings were collected from four different rent sampling sites and analysed microbiologically. A total of 898 bacterial isolates were obtained. The isolates were Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Klebsiella sp. Salmonella sp., had the higher incidence of 23 (25.7%) followed by Enterobacter sp. 176 (19.6%), Staphylococcus sp. 163 (18.2%) , Escherichia sp. 111 (12.4%), Shigella sp. 95(10.6%), Proteus sp. 93(10.4%) and Klebsiella sp. 29 (3.2%). Of all the sampling sites, sampling site D (packed house properties) had the highest number of bacteria isolated 33% (296), followed by the sampling site B (Restaurant) with a percentage number of 26.9% (242 isolates). Sampling sites C (Household dwellings) and A (Classroom buildings) followed with percentage number of 23.4% (21...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Packaging Materials and Storage Environment on Fungal Growth and Shelf Life of Local Bread (Madiga) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Madiga is a local bread produced from composite wheat flour. It is one of the local bakery produc... more Madiga is a local bread produced from composite wheat flour. It is one of the local bakery products that has become an
important staple food that is consumed among the people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria because of its sweet taste and
low cost. This study focused on identifying the fungi associated with the spoilage of madiga and the effect of packaging
material and storage temperature on fungi growth and shelf life of madiga. Six (6) samples of madiga bread were obtained
from a local bakery and packaged in aluminum foil, cling film and polyethylene bags. These were stored at room temperature
and refrigeration temperature. Several fungi were isolated including Mucorsp., Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp.
and Rhizopus sp. using the spread plate method. Fungal count ranged from 1.8 x 104CFU/g to 8.5 x 108CFU/g, with Mucorsp.
recording the highest occurrence at 40% while Fusarium sp. recorded the least occurrence at 6.6%. After six days, of the
packaging material used for the storage of madiga bread, the samples packaged in cling film and stored at room temperature
showed the lowest fungal count at 1.4 x 107CFU/g, thus suggesting that this is best material and temperature for the storage
of madiga bread.

Research paper thumbnail of Phytochemical Characteristics and in vitro Antibacterial Activities of Senna alata Leaves against Some Clinical Isolates

Biotechnology Research

The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against t... more The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against three infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus) were examined using agar well diffusion method. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts were found effective against the tested clinical isolates. For the methanol extract, the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Salmonella spp with a diameter of 22.67 ± 0.67mm, followed by E. coli (20.33± 1.20mm) and S. aureus (17.00± 0.58mm). The highest zone of inhibition for ethanol extract was observed against E. coli (18.33± 1.20mm), followed by S. aureus (17.33±0.78mm) and Salmonella spp (14.67±2.40mm). The extracts demonstrated considerable activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria with the methanol extract showing higher activity than the ethanol extract. E. coli showed more susceptibility to the methanol extract of S. alata from the concentrations of 500mg/ml to 62.5mg/ml while S. aureus and Salmonella spp showed lesser susceptibility. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) result also showed that the MIC of S. alata. The phytochemical analysis carried out on the leaves of S. alata detected the presence of Alkaloids, Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoids and was fairly present for Phenol. The findings in this study with Senna alata leaves having antibacterial activities thus require more attention and evaluation needed against a wider range of microorganism.

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-Eat Barbecue Meat (Suya) Sold in Yenagoa

International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up us... more Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up using vegetable oil, various spices, peanut cake, salt and other flavours. It is usually hung on sticks and roasted over an open glowing charcoal fire. It is a popular snack that is sold in the streets of several countries in West Africa. This study was focused on the determination of microbial quality of suya meat sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria. Five aggregate samples of barbecue (suya) meat were collected from five randomly selected suya vendors in Yenagoa, namely; Berger Junction, Swali Market, Mechanic Junction Amarata, Tombia Roundabout and Opolo Junction. The samples were analysed microbiologically by the pour plate method using various agar media to ascertain the bacteriological diversity and load of the meat and isolates identified via biochemical assays. The bacterial species; Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. were isolated. The total aerobic plate count ranged from Mean Log 4.82-5.30 cfu/g. The result showed that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) between samples in total aerobic plate count irrespective of the point of collection. Total Coliform Count ranged from Mean Log 4.89-5.45cfu/g. Sample collected from Amarata had higher Coliform count. The E. coli count ranged from mean Log 5.59-5.96 cfu/g, while Salmonella/Shigella, Staphylococcal counts ranged from Mean Log 4.54-5.99cfu/g, and 4.55-5.33 cfu/g respectively. These results show that suya sold in Yenegoa falls below the acceptable standard for human consumption and microbiologically unsafe. The contamination of suya meats may be due to contaminated utensils, use of untreated water and unhygienic manufacturing practices. Hence, there is need for the enforcement of hygienic measures and sensitization of vendors to reduce the microbial load of suya in Yenagoa and minimize the risk of food poisoning.

Research paper thumbnail of Production of Bacteriocins by Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici Isolated from Cow Milk

Nigerian Journal of Microbiology

A dramatic increase in bacterial resistance towards currently available antibiotics has raised wo... more A dramatic increase in bacterial resistance towards currently available antibiotics has raised worldwide concerns for public health. Therefore, bacteriocins which are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promisingly new group of therapeutic agents for managing infectious diseases and possibly in food preservation. The present study focusses on the isolation of novel bacteriocins from an indigenous sample of cow milk and testing of its antimicrobial activity. Two bacteria isolates (Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum) isolated from raw cow milk gotten from Yenegoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria produced potent bacteriocins on De-Mann Rogosa and Sharpe agar and these were shown to have inhibitory activity against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli. The bacteriocins were heat stable, remaining active at temperatures up to 100°C and functioned well over a wide pH range of 0-10. There was a reduction in activity of the bacteriocins after treatment with proteinase K and peptidase, thus confirming the proteinaceous nature of the compounds. These bacteriocins displayed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against E. coli, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 µg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration of 25µg/ml which is lower than that of the conventional antibiotics chloramphenicol (50µg/ml) used as positive control. The bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from cow milk in this work is effective in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and thus may be of use as a food preservative in the storage of food or as therapeutic agent for the treatment of infections caused by multi-drug resistant E. coli.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Salmonella typhi Infection among Food Handlers in Imo State University Owerri Nigeria and its Environs

Journal of Tropical Diseases

Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is an endemic acute febrile illness whi... more Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is an endemic acute febrile illness which causes a high disease mortality and morbidity rate in developing countries. The disease can be transmitted through contaminated food and water and has gained an endemic status as the bacterium can be carried and shed by some individuals who have recovered from the disease. This study investigates the carriership of the bacteria by food handlers who may shed the bacteria into street vended foods they serve, thus spreading the disease and correlating this data to sex, age and source of drinking water. 420 blood and stool samples were collected from volunteers working in the food retail sector (cafeterias) around Imo State University Owerri and its environs using stratified random sampling methods. Widal test (rapid slide agglutination) was utilized as a presumptive screening test with titer values of 1:80 and above considered as positive. Stool culture served as confirmatory assay and resultant bacterial colonies were subjected to a series of biochemical tests to confirm the presence of S. typhi. The overall prevalence rate recorded in this study is 66.2%, with females having a prevalence rate of 67.4% while males had a prevalence of 64.2%. Older adults in the age group of 41-55 had the highest prevalence of 82.9% followed by children within the ages of 8 to 18 (80%). With respect to the source of drinking water, the highest prevalence of Salmonella carriership was recorded for individuals consuming untreated water from boreholes and sachet water at 82.4% and 83.2% respectively while individuals that drank treated water recorded a percentage prevalence of Salmonella carriership of 29.8%. The results obtained from this study highlights the high carriership rate of Salmonella amongst food handlers and the possibility of these individuals introducing the bacteria into foods, posing a public health risk. It also identifies the consumption of untreated water as the possible source of infection of these individuals, thus indicating the need for public health interventions in the provision of portable water to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of typhoid fever.

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Pathogenic Bacteria in Wall Gecko Dropping

Intraspecific Journal of Microbiology and Life Science

The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) dropp... more The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) droppings was studied. A total of 500 samples of wall gecko droppings were collected from four different rent sampling sites and analysed microbiologically. A total of 898 bacterial isolates were obtained. The isolates were Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Klebsiella sp. Salmonella sp., had the higher incidence of 23 (25.7%) followed by Enterobacter sp. 176 (19.6%), Staphylococcus sp. 163 (18.2%) , Escherichia sp. 111 (12.4%), Shigella sp. 95(10.6%), Proteus sp. 93(10.4%) and Klebsiella sp. 29 (3.2%). Of all the sampling sites, sampling site D (packed house properties) had the highest number of bacteria isolated 33% (296), followed by the sampling site B (Restaurant) with a percentage number of 26.9% (242 isolates). Sampling sites C (Household dwellings) and A (Classroom buildings) followed with percentage number of 23.4% (210 isolates). This study has revealed that wall gecko, harbour pathogenic bacteria which are of medical and environmental (Public health) importance.

Research paper thumbnail of In-vitro PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Newbouldia laevis (BOUNDARY TREE) ON Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Different extracts of leaves and roots of Newbouldia laevis were screened for their phytochemical... more Different extracts of leaves and roots of Newbouldia laevis were screened for their phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial properties on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The well-in-agar diffusion technique was used to assay for the antibacterial properties and the results showed that the cold water, hot water, cold ethanol and soxhlet extracts of both parts of the plant at 200 mg/ml concentration inhibited the growth of all test organisms. The soxhlet extract had a more significant inhibition on E. coli. Also, the soxhlet extracts had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranging 25-30 mg/ml while the cold water extracts had the highest MIC ranging 80-115 mg/ml. The phytochemical components obtained from the leaf extracts are phenols and glycosides while the root extracts contained phenols, glycoside and tannins. Some of these active components may have elicited the antibacterial activity.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Multi-Drug Resistance Pattern of Food Poisoning Enteric Bacteria Associated with Diarrhoea Patients

American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences

Diarrhoea continues to be a burden especially in developing countries of Africa. However, the tre... more Diarrhoea continues to be a burden especially in developing countries of Africa. However, the treatment of diarrhoea is complicated due to the increase in resistance of enteric and food poisoning bacteria to commonly utilized antibiotics. This work was focused on the identification of enteric bacteria pathogens implicated in cases of diarrhoea orchestrated by food poisoning by use of specialized identification media and biochemical assays. Eight different bacteria species including; E. coli, S. typhi, Non-typhoid Salmonella, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella sp. and Non-Sorbitol utilizing E. coli were isolated from diarrhoea patients in Yenagoa, Nigeria with different frequencies. Of all isolates, E. coli had the highest frequency of occurrence (29.9%), followed by Proteus sp. (20.8%), Non-typhoid Salmonella (19.3%) and S. typhi (10.7%). Other isolates had frequencies less than 10% respectively. The isolated enteric bacteria were subjected to antibiotics susceptibility assay by the Kirby-Bauer method using Ofloxacin (5µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Gentamicin (10µg), Ceftazidine (30µg), Nitrofuratoin (300µg), Augmentin (30µg), Cefixime (5µg) and Cefuroxime (30µg). All the bacteria isolates assayed showed 100% resistance to Ceftazidine and Cefuroxime while all isolates with the exception of one Citrobacter sp. was resistant to augmentin, thus indicating the unsuitability of these drugs in the treatment of diarrhoea. Majority of the bacteria isolates showed multidrug resistance patterns, with E. coli, Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. showing a 100% resistance to the same six (Ceftazidine, Cefuroxime, Gentamycin, Cefixime, Nitrofuratoin and Augmentin) out of the eight antibiotics assayed. This is of public health significance and shows a growing trend of multidrug resistance to commercially available antibiotics utilized in the management of diarrhoea which can cause an increase in morbidity and mortality associated with acute diarrhoea.

Research paper thumbnail of Microbial succession pattern in Ogi fermentation

International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences, 2018

Pap (ogi) is a common weaning food in sub-Saharan Africa. It is usually produced from the ferment... more Pap (ogi) is a common weaning food in sub-Saharan Africa. It is usually produced from the fermentation of maize or other cereals by the traditional fermentation method. This work studied the microbial changes which took place during the fermentation of pap (Ogi) using the pour plate method and identification of resulting organisms by biochemical tests and microscopy aided with lactophenol-cotton-blue. The steep liquor had a pH of 6.4 on the first day, which latter reduced to 3.4 at the end of fermentation. The bacterial count recorded for the steep liquor ranged from 3.3x105 to 1.38x109cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 9.0x104 to 5.7x108cfu/ml. The bacteria isolated include Lactobacillus species, Bacillus species, Corynebacterium species, Streptococcus species and Clostridium species. The isolated fungi genera include; Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Pencillium species, Saccharomyces species and Candida species. A succession pattern of microorganism involved in the fermentation process was observed.The starter organisms include Streptococcus species, Clostridium species and Fusarium species. After the third day, these organisms were succeeded by Penicillium species, Bacillus species Candida species and Aspergillus species. After five days of fermentation, the fermenting microbial genera has been reduced to Lactobacillus species, Corynebacterium species and Saccharomyces species only. This study has highlighted the microbial succession pattern in ogi fermentation which can be utilized in improving the organoleptic qualities and fermentation process in the industrial production of ogi.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antibacterial Analysis and Synergistic Potency of the Leaf Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on Some Enteric Bacterial Isolates

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2019

The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in vitro antibacteri... more The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in vitro antibacterial activity of the single and combined strengths of the leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on some enteric bacterial isolates. The sensitivity test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were carried out using a modified agar-well diffusion method. The enteric bacterial isolates tested included Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhi and Enterobacter aerogenes. Standard methods were applied to obtain the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. The ethanol extracts of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium produced highly significant inhibitory activity against all the enteric bacterial isolates tested. Comparatively, the ethanol plant extracts were more potent than the commercially available drug, Ciprofloxacin and the aqueous plant extracts. The isolates were sensitive at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 mg/ml for the ethanol extract but varied from 2.5 mg/ml - 5.0mg/ml in the aqueous extract. It was also observed that the synergistic antibacterial effect of the medicinal plant extracts was greater than the singular antibacterial effect of the individual plant extracts in both the ethanol and aqueous extracts. The potency of the individual extracts and the combined effect may be due to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins and saponins in the leaves of the plants. This study partly validates the use of the plant extracts in the treatment of disease caused by the enteric bacterial isolates by multiple traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria, however, strict adherence to dosage is recommended. The leaf extract is a potential source of the new drug if the components are purified and enhanced for treating infections caused by these enteric pathogens.

Research paper thumbnail of In-Vitro Phytochemical Characterization And Antibacterial Activity Of Newbouldia Laevis (Boundary Tree) On Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus

In-Vitro Phytochemical Characterization And Antibacterial Activity Of Newbouldia Laevis (Boundary Tree) On Escherichia Coli And Staphylococcus Aureus

Different extracts of leaves and roots of <em>Newbouldia laevis</em> were screened fo... more Different extracts of leaves and roots of <em>Newbouldia laevis</em> were screened for their phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial properties on clinical isolates of <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. The well-in-agar diffusion technique was used to assay for the antibacterial properties and the results showed that the cold water, hot water, cold ethanol and soxhlet extracts of both parts of the plant at 200 mg/ml concentration inhibited the growth of all test organisms. The soxhlet extract had a more significant inhibition on <em>E. coli</em>. Also, the soxhlet extracts had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranging 25 – 30 mg/ml while the cold water extracts had the highest MIC ranging 80 – 115 mg/ml. The phytochemical components obtained from the leaf extracts are phenols and glycosides while the root extracts contained phenols, glycoside and tannins. Some of these active components may h...

Research paper thumbnail of Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Tobacco Leaf (Nicotiana tabacum) and Its Grounded Snuff (Utaba) on Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes

Antimicrobial Activities of Extracts of Tobacco Leaf (Nicotiana tabacum) and Its Grounded Snuff (Utaba) on Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes

Journal of Tropical Diseases & Public Health, 2019

This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and ground snuff extrac... more This study was designed to investigate the antimicrobial activity of leaf and ground snuff extracts of Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) against Candida albicans and Streptococcus pyogenes using methanol and water as extracting solvents. The study employed the agar diffusion and tube dilution assays. Methanol extracts of tobacco leaf produced zones of inhibition of 13.0 mm against Streptococcus and 9.5 mm against Candida, whereas the water extracts produced inhibition zones of 10.0 mm for Streptococcus and no inhibitory activity on Candida. A minimum inhibitory concentration of 25 mg/ml was recorded by the methanol extracts of tobacco leaves against Candida and 100 mg/ml MIC against Streptococcus. The methanolic leaf extracts had both bactericidal and fungicidal effect on both Streptococcus and Candida at a concentration of 200 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition obtained from methanolic extracts of grounded snuff against Streptococcus was 10.5 mm and 15.0 mm against Candida whereas the water ...

Research paper thumbnail of Assessment of Heterotrophic Bacterial Count (HPC) Associated with Commercial Freezers in Yenagoa Metropolis

American Journal of Microbiological Research, 2019

Microorganism are known to be present anywhere they can proliferate, its presence dictates it pat... more Microorganism are known to be present anywhere they can proliferate, its presence dictates it pathogenicity or otherwise. The study was embarked to assess the enteric bacterial quality and potential risk of water at the bottom of selected commercial freezers in Yenagoa metropolis. Serial dilution was adopted for the assessment of Heterotrophic bacterial count (HPC). From the analysis, bacterial count ranged between 1.083±0.104×107cfu/mL and 2.0 ± 0.358×107cfu/mL. the highest was in sample 4 (S4) and least in sample 10 (S10), the study thus found the presence of heterotrophic bacteria in all samples. This research reveals that freezers S5, S3, S4 and S8 were seriously contaminated, having mean viable bacterial load of 2.47×107cfu/mL, 2.18×107cfu/mL, 2.00×107 cfu/mL and 2.00×107 cfu/mL, respectively; while freezer S1, S2, S6, S7, S9 and S10 had variably viable bacteria count, the occurrence of heterotrophic bacteria count (HPC) between sampled freezers was statistically very significa...

Research paper thumbnail of Phytochemical Characteristics and in vitro Antibacterial Activities of Senna alata Leaves against Some Clinical Isolates

The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against t... more The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against three infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus) were examined using agar well diffusion method. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts were found effective against the tested clinical isolates. For the methanol extract, the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Salmonella spp with a diameter of 22.67 ± 0.67mm, followed by E. coli (20.33± 1.20mm) and S. aureus (17.00± 0.58mm). The highest zone of inhibition for ethanol extract was observed against E. coli (18.33± 1.20mm), followed by S. aureus (17.33±0.78mm) and Salmonella spp (14.67±2.40mm). The extracts demonstrated considerable activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria with the methanol extract showing higher activity than the ethanol extract. E. coli showed more susceptibility to the methanol extract of S. alata from the concentrations of 500mg/ml to 62.5mg/ml while S...

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antibacterial Analysis and Synergistic Potency of the Leaf Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on Some Enteric Bacterial Isolates

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2019

The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in-vitro antibacteri... more The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial activity of the single and combined strengths of the leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on some enteric bacterial isolates. The sensitivity test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were carried out using a modified agar-well diffusion method. The enteric bacterial isolates tested included Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhi and Enterobacter aerogenes. Standard methods were applied to obtain the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. The ethanol extracts of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium produced highly significant inhibitory activity against all the enteric bacterial isolates tested. Comparatively, the ethanol plant extracts were more potent than the commercially available drug, Ciprofloxacin and the aqueous plant extracts. The isolates were sensitive at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 mg/ml for the ethanol...

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-Eat Barbecue Meat (Suya) Sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria

International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, 2019

Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up us... more Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up using vegetable oil, various spices, peanut cake, salt and other flavours. It is usually hung on sticks and roasted over an open glowing charcoal fire. It is a popular snack that is sold in the streets of several countries in West Africa. This study was focused on the determination of microbial quality of suya meat sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria. Five aggregate samples of barbecue (suya) meat were collected from five randomly selected suya vendors in Yenagoa, namely; Berger Junction, Swali Market, Mechanic Junction Amarata, Tombia Roundabout and Opolo Junction. The samples were analysed microbiologically by the pour plate method using various agar media to ascertain the bacteriological diversity and load of the meat and isolates identified via biochemical assays. The bacterial species; Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. were isolated. The total aerobic plate count ranged from Mean Log 4.82-5.30 cfu/g. The result showed that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) between samples in total aerobic plate count irrespective of the point of collection. Total Coliform Count ranged from Mean Log 4.89-5.45cfu/g. Sample collected from Amarata had higher Coliform count. The E. coli count ranged from mean Log 5.59-5.96 cfu/g, while Salmonella/Shigella, Staphylococcal counts ranged from Mean Log 4.54-5.99cfu/g, and 4.55-5.33 cfu/g respectively. These results show that suya sold in Yenegoa falls below the acceptable standard for human consumption and microbiologically unsafe. The contamination of suya meats may be due to contaminated utensils, use of untreated water and unhygienic manufacturing practices. Hence, there is need for the enforcement of hygienic measures and sensitization of vendors to reduce the microbial load of suya in Yenagoa and minimize the risk of food poisoning.

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological quality of kunu-zaki sold on the streets of owerri metropolis, Nigeria

African Journal of Biological Sciences, 2019

Kunu-zaki is a nourishing non-alcoholic beverage widely consumed in Nigeria. There is no standard... more Kunu-zaki is a nourishing non-alcoholic beverage widely consumed in Nigeria. There is no standardized method for its preparation thus production practices differ amongst retailers. This study was undertaken to evaluate the bacteriological quality of kunu drink retailed in major markets of Owerri metropolis, Nigeria. Triplicate samples were obtained from four markets in Owerri and a control sample prepared in the laboratory. Kunu drink was analysed using the standard pour plate procedure. The results obtained showed that total heterotrophic bacteria count, total coliform count and total Salmonella Shigella count ranged from 1.4 x 10 3 -4.5 x 10 4 cfu/ml, 1.2 x 10 3 -3.8 x 10 4 cfu/ml to 0.6 x 10 3 -3.1 x 10 4 respectively. A total of 9 bacteria genera including Staphylococcus specie, E. coli, Enterobacter specie, Proteus specie, Citrobacter specie, Serratia specie, Lactobacillus specie, Salmonella specie and Streptococcus specie were isolated with the highest percentage frequency of occurrence recorded for Staphylococcus sp. (16.66%) indicating possible low hygiene of the kunu zaki producers. The bacteria genera isolated from kunu zaki sold in Owerri and their number constitute main concerns for public health as these can cause a variety of infections or food intoxications. Thus, there is a need to establish a system of monitoring of street vended kunu zaki to make sure that it is safe for consumption.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and multidrug resistance pattern of Salmonella isolated from resident wild birds of Bangladesh

International Journal of One Health, 2016

Aim: Salmonellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases, and the presence of antimicrobial... more Aim: Salmonellosis is one of the most common zoonotic diseases, and the presence of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella in wild birds is global public health threat. Throughout the last decades, multidrug resistance of Salmonella spp. has increased, particularly in developing countries. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Salmonella spp. and antimicrobial resistance pattern against Salmonella spp. from two species of resident wild birds namely house crow (Corvus splendens) and Asian pied starling (Gracupica contra). Materials and Methods: Samples were collected from cloacal swabs of house crows and Asian pied starling for isolating Salmonella spp. (bacteriological culture methods) followed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing (disk diffusion method) against Salmonella spp. isolates during March to December 2014. Results: The prevalence of Salmonella in Asian pied starling and house crows were 67% and 65%, respectively. Within the category of samples from different species, the variation in prevalence was not varied significantly (p>0.05). Isolated Salmonella spp. was tested for resistance to six different antimicrobial agents. Among six antimicrobial tested, 100% resistance were found to penicillin, oxacillin, and clindamycin followed by erythromycin (50-93%), kanamycin (7-20%), and cephalothin (30-67%) from both species of birds. Kanamycin remained sensitive in (70-73%), cephalothin (26-70%), and erythromycin appeared to be (0-30%) sensitive against Salmonella spp. isolates. Isolated Salmonella spp. was multidrug resistant up to three of the six antimicrobials tested. Conclusion: It can be said that the rational use of antimicrobials needs to be adopted in the treatment of disease for livestock, poultry, and human of Bangladesh to limit the emergence of drug resistance to Salmonella spp.

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of packaging materials and storage environment on postharvest quality of papaya fruit

Journal of Food Science and Technology, 2011

This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of packaging materials and storage environmen... more This experiment was conducted to assess the effects of packaging materials and storage environments on shelf life of papaya fruit (Carica papaya L.). A factorial combination of five packaging materials and two storage environments using randomized complete block design with three replications were used. The papaya fruits were evaluated for weight loss, percentage marketability, firmness, total soluble solids, pH, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid, reducing sugar and total sugar content. The packaged and cooled fruits remained firmer than unpackaged and evaporatively cooled fruits. Higher chemical compositions were recorded in the control fruits stored under ambient conditions during the earlier times of storage. Packaging and cooling maintained the chemical quality of papaya fruits better than the control sample fruits towards the end of storage periods. The evaporatively cooled storage combined with packaging improved the shelf life of papaya fruits by more than two fold. The polyethylene bag packaging combined with evaporatively cooled storage maintained the superior quality of papaya fruit for a period of 21 days. This integrated agro-technology is recommended for postharvest loss reduction biotechnology in hot regions.

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Pathogenic Bacteria in Wall Gecko Dropping

The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) dropp... more The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) droppings was studied. A total of 500 samples of wall gecko droppings were collected from four different rent sampling sites and analysed microbiologically. A total of 898 bacterial isolates were obtained. The isolates were Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Klebsiella sp. Salmonella sp., had the higher incidence of 23 (25.7%) followed by Enterobacter sp. 176 (19.6%), Staphylococcus sp. 163 (18.2%) , Escherichia sp. 111 (12.4%), Shigella sp. 95(10.6%), Proteus sp. 93(10.4%) and Klebsiella sp. 29 (3.2%). Of all the sampling sites, sampling site D (packed house properties) had the highest number of bacteria isolated 33% (296), followed by the sampling site B (Restaurant) with a percentage number of 26.9% (242 isolates). Sampling sites C (Household dwellings) and A (Classroom buildings) followed with percentage number of 23.4% (21...

Research paper thumbnail of Effect of Packaging Materials and Storage Environment on Fungal Growth and Shelf Life of Local Bread (Madiga) in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INNOVATIVE RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT

Madiga is a local bread produced from composite wheat flour. It is one of the local bakery produc... more Madiga is a local bread produced from composite wheat flour. It is one of the local bakery products that has become an
important staple food that is consumed among the people of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria because of its sweet taste and
low cost. This study focused on identifying the fungi associated with the spoilage of madiga and the effect of packaging
material and storage temperature on fungi growth and shelf life of madiga. Six (6) samples of madiga bread were obtained
from a local bakery and packaged in aluminum foil, cling film and polyethylene bags. These were stored at room temperature
and refrigeration temperature. Several fungi were isolated including Mucorsp., Aspergillus sp., Fusarium sp., Penicillium sp.
and Rhizopus sp. using the spread plate method. Fungal count ranged from 1.8 x 104CFU/g to 8.5 x 108CFU/g, with Mucorsp.
recording the highest occurrence at 40% while Fusarium sp. recorded the least occurrence at 6.6%. After six days, of the
packaging material used for the storage of madiga bread, the samples packaged in cling film and stored at room temperature
showed the lowest fungal count at 1.4 x 107CFU/g, thus suggesting that this is best material and temperature for the storage
of madiga bread.

Research paper thumbnail of Phytochemical Characteristics and in vitro Antibacterial Activities of Senna alata Leaves against Some Clinical Isolates

Biotechnology Research

The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against t... more The antibacterial activities of ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Senna alata leaves against three infectious bacteria (Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp and Staphylococcus aureus) were examined using agar well diffusion method. The methanolic and ethanolic extracts were found effective against the tested clinical isolates. For the methanol extract, the highest zone of inhibition was observed against Salmonella spp with a diameter of 22.67 ± 0.67mm, followed by E. coli (20.33± 1.20mm) and S. aureus (17.00± 0.58mm). The highest zone of inhibition for ethanol extract was observed against E. coli (18.33± 1.20mm), followed by S. aureus (17.33±0.78mm) and Salmonella spp (14.67±2.40mm). The extracts demonstrated considerable activity against both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria with the methanol extract showing higher activity than the ethanol extract. E. coli showed more susceptibility to the methanol extract of S. alata from the concentrations of 500mg/ml to 62.5mg/ml while S. aureus and Salmonella spp showed lesser susceptibility. The Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) result also showed that the MIC of S. alata. The phytochemical analysis carried out on the leaves of S. alata detected the presence of Alkaloids, Saponins, Tannins, Flavonoids and was fairly present for Phenol. The findings in this study with Senna alata leaves having antibacterial activities thus require more attention and evaluation needed against a wider range of microorganism.

Research paper thumbnail of Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-Eat Barbecue Meat (Suya) Sold in Yenagoa

International Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up us... more Suya is a traditional barbecued meat product which is produced from deboned meat and spiced up using vegetable oil, various spices, peanut cake, salt and other flavours. It is usually hung on sticks and roasted over an open glowing charcoal fire. It is a popular snack that is sold in the streets of several countries in West Africa. This study was focused on the determination of microbial quality of suya meat sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria. Five aggregate samples of barbecue (suya) meat were collected from five randomly selected suya vendors in Yenagoa, namely; Berger Junction, Swali Market, Mechanic Junction Amarata, Tombia Roundabout and Opolo Junction. The samples were analysed microbiologically by the pour plate method using various agar media to ascertain the bacteriological diversity and load of the meat and isolates identified via biochemical assays. The bacterial species; Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas spp. and Shigella spp. were isolated. The total aerobic plate count ranged from Mean Log 4.82-5.30 cfu/g. The result showed that there was no significant difference (P<0.05) between samples in total aerobic plate count irrespective of the point of collection. Total Coliform Count ranged from Mean Log 4.89-5.45cfu/g. Sample collected from Amarata had higher Coliform count. The E. coli count ranged from mean Log 5.59-5.96 cfu/g, while Salmonella/Shigella, Staphylococcal counts ranged from Mean Log 4.54-5.99cfu/g, and 4.55-5.33 cfu/g respectively. These results show that suya sold in Yenegoa falls below the acceptable standard for human consumption and microbiologically unsafe. The contamination of suya meats may be due to contaminated utensils, use of untreated water and unhygienic manufacturing practices. Hence, there is need for the enforcement of hygienic measures and sensitization of vendors to reduce the microbial load of suya in Yenagoa and minimize the risk of food poisoning.

Research paper thumbnail of Production of Bacteriocins by Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici Isolated from Cow Milk

Nigerian Journal of Microbiology

A dramatic increase in bacterial resistance towards currently available antibiotics has raised wo... more A dramatic increase in bacterial resistance towards currently available antibiotics has raised worldwide concerns for public health. Therefore, bacteriocins which are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as a promisingly new group of therapeutic agents for managing infectious diseases and possibly in food preservation. The present study focusses on the isolation of novel bacteriocins from an indigenous sample of cow milk and testing of its antimicrobial activity. Two bacteria isolates (Pediococcus acidilactici and Lactobacillus plantarum) isolated from raw cow milk gotten from Yenegoa, Bayelsa state, Nigeria produced potent bacteriocins on De-Mann Rogosa and Sharpe agar and these were shown to have inhibitory activity against the pathogenic bacteria Escherichia coli. The bacteriocins were heat stable, remaining active at temperatures up to 100°C and functioned well over a wide pH range of 0-10. There was a reduction in activity of the bacteriocins after treatment with proteinase K and peptidase, thus confirming the proteinaceous nature of the compounds. These bacteriocins displayed bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity against E. coli, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 12.5 µg/ml and minimum bactericidal concentration of 25µg/ml which is lower than that of the conventional antibiotics chloramphenicol (50µg/ml) used as positive control. The bacteriocins produced by lactic acid bacteria isolated from cow milk in this work is effective in inhibiting the growth of E. coli and thus may be of use as a food preservative in the storage of food or as therapeutic agent for the treatment of infections caused by multi-drug resistant E. coli.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence of Salmonella typhi Infection among Food Handlers in Imo State University Owerri Nigeria and its Environs

Journal of Tropical Diseases

Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is an endemic acute febrile illness whi... more Typhoid fever caused by Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi is an endemic acute febrile illness which causes a high disease mortality and morbidity rate in developing countries. The disease can be transmitted through contaminated food and water and has gained an endemic status as the bacterium can be carried and shed by some individuals who have recovered from the disease. This study investigates the carriership of the bacteria by food handlers who may shed the bacteria into street vended foods they serve, thus spreading the disease and correlating this data to sex, age and source of drinking water. 420 blood and stool samples were collected from volunteers working in the food retail sector (cafeterias) around Imo State University Owerri and its environs using stratified random sampling methods. Widal test (rapid slide agglutination) was utilized as a presumptive screening test with titer values of 1:80 and above considered as positive. Stool culture served as confirmatory assay and resultant bacterial colonies were subjected to a series of biochemical tests to confirm the presence of S. typhi. The overall prevalence rate recorded in this study is 66.2%, with females having a prevalence rate of 67.4% while males had a prevalence of 64.2%. Older adults in the age group of 41-55 had the highest prevalence of 82.9% followed by children within the ages of 8 to 18 (80%). With respect to the source of drinking water, the highest prevalence of Salmonella carriership was recorded for individuals consuming untreated water from boreholes and sachet water at 82.4% and 83.2% respectively while individuals that drank treated water recorded a percentage prevalence of Salmonella carriership of 29.8%. The results obtained from this study highlights the high carriership rate of Salmonella amongst food handlers and the possibility of these individuals introducing the bacteria into foods, posing a public health risk. It also identifies the consumption of untreated water as the possible source of infection of these individuals, thus indicating the need for public health interventions in the provision of portable water to reduce the morbidity and mortality rates of typhoid fever.

Research paper thumbnail of Incidence of Pathogenic Bacteria in Wall Gecko Dropping

Intraspecific Journal of Microbiology and Life Science

The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) dropp... more The incidence of bacteria of public health importance in wall gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) droppings was studied. A total of 500 samples of wall gecko droppings were collected from four different rent sampling sites and analysed microbiologically. A total of 898 bacterial isolates were obtained. The isolates were Escherichia sp., Salmonella sp., Shigella sp., Proteus sp., Enterobacter sp., Staphylococcus sp. and Klebsiella sp. Salmonella sp., had the higher incidence of 23 (25.7%) followed by Enterobacter sp. 176 (19.6%), Staphylococcus sp. 163 (18.2%) , Escherichia sp. 111 (12.4%), Shigella sp. 95(10.6%), Proteus sp. 93(10.4%) and Klebsiella sp. 29 (3.2%). Of all the sampling sites, sampling site D (packed house properties) had the highest number of bacteria isolated 33% (296), followed by the sampling site B (Restaurant) with a percentage number of 26.9% (242 isolates). Sampling sites C (Household dwellings) and A (Classroom buildings) followed with percentage number of 23.4% (210 isolates). This study has revealed that wall gecko, harbour pathogenic bacteria which are of medical and environmental (Public health) importance.

Research paper thumbnail of In-vitro PHYTOCHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF Newbouldia laevis (BOUNDARY TREE) ON Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Asian Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

Different extracts of leaves and roots of Newbouldia laevis were screened for their phytochemical... more Different extracts of leaves and roots of Newbouldia laevis were screened for their phytochemical and in-vitro antibacterial properties on clinical isolates of Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The well-in-agar diffusion technique was used to assay for the antibacterial properties and the results showed that the cold water, hot water, cold ethanol and soxhlet extracts of both parts of the plant at 200 mg/ml concentration inhibited the growth of all test organisms. The soxhlet extract had a more significant inhibition on E. coli. Also, the soxhlet extracts had the lowest Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) ranging 25-30 mg/ml while the cold water extracts had the highest MIC ranging 80-115 mg/ml. The phytochemical components obtained from the leaf extracts are phenols and glycosides while the root extracts contained phenols, glycoside and tannins. Some of these active components may have elicited the antibacterial activity.

Research paper thumbnail of Prevalence and Multi-Drug Resistance Pattern of Food Poisoning Enteric Bacteria Associated with Diarrhoea Patients

American Journal of Biomedical and Life Sciences

Diarrhoea continues to be a burden especially in developing countries of Africa. However, the tre... more Diarrhoea continues to be a burden especially in developing countries of Africa. However, the treatment of diarrhoea is complicated due to the increase in resistance of enteric and food poisoning bacteria to commonly utilized antibiotics. This work was focused on the identification of enteric bacteria pathogens implicated in cases of diarrhoea orchestrated by food poisoning by use of specialized identification media and biochemical assays. Eight different bacteria species including; E. coli, S. typhi, Non-typhoid Salmonella, Proteus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter sp., Klebsiella sp. and Non-Sorbitol utilizing E. coli were isolated from diarrhoea patients in Yenagoa, Nigeria with different frequencies. Of all isolates, E. coli had the highest frequency of occurrence (29.9%), followed by Proteus sp. (20.8%), Non-typhoid Salmonella (19.3%) and S. typhi (10.7%). Other isolates had frequencies less than 10% respectively. The isolated enteric bacteria were subjected to antibiotics susceptibility assay by the Kirby-Bauer method using Ofloxacin (5µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Gentamicin (10µg), Ceftazidine (30µg), Nitrofuratoin (300µg), Augmentin (30µg), Cefixime (5µg) and Cefuroxime (30µg). All the bacteria isolates assayed showed 100% resistance to Ceftazidine and Cefuroxime while all isolates with the exception of one Citrobacter sp. was resistant to augmentin, thus indicating the unsuitability of these drugs in the treatment of diarrhoea. Majority of the bacteria isolates showed multidrug resistance patterns, with E. coli, Proteus sp. and Klebsiella sp. showing a 100% resistance to the same six (Ceftazidine, Cefuroxime, Gentamycin, Cefixime, Nitrofuratoin and Augmentin) out of the eight antibiotics assayed. This is of public health significance and shows a growing trend of multidrug resistance to commercially available antibiotics utilized in the management of diarrhoea which can cause an increase in morbidity and mortality associated with acute diarrhoea.

Research paper thumbnail of Microbial succession pattern in Ogi fermentation

International Journal of Advanced Research in Biological Sciences, 2018

Pap (ogi) is a common weaning food in sub-Saharan Africa. It is usually produced from the ferment... more Pap (ogi) is a common weaning food in sub-Saharan Africa. It is usually produced from the fermentation of maize or other cereals by the traditional fermentation method. This work studied the microbial changes which took place during the fermentation of pap (Ogi) using the pour plate method and identification of resulting organisms by biochemical tests and microscopy aided with lactophenol-cotton-blue. The steep liquor had a pH of 6.4 on the first day, which latter reduced to 3.4 at the end of fermentation. The bacterial count recorded for the steep liquor ranged from 3.3x105 to 1.38x109cfu/ml while the fungal count ranged from 9.0x104 to 5.7x108cfu/ml. The bacteria isolated include Lactobacillus species, Bacillus species, Corynebacterium species, Streptococcus species and Clostridium species. The isolated fungi genera include; Aspergillus species, Fusarium species, Pencillium species, Saccharomyces species and Candida species. A succession pattern of microorganism involved in the fermentation process was observed.The starter organisms include Streptococcus species, Clostridium species and Fusarium species. After the third day, these organisms were succeeded by Penicillium species, Bacillus species Candida species and Aspergillus species. After five days of fermentation, the fermenting microbial genera has been reduced to Lactobacillus species, Corynebacterium species and Saccharomyces species only. This study has highlighted the microbial succession pattern in ogi fermentation which can be utilized in improving the organoleptic qualities and fermentation process in the industrial production of ogi.

Research paper thumbnail of Comparative Antibacterial Analysis and Synergistic Potency of the Leaf Extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn. and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on Some Enteric Bacterial Isolates

European Journal of Nutrition & Food Safety, 2019

The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in vitro antibacteri... more The research was undertaken to investigate the comparative phytochemical and in vitro antibacterial activity of the single and combined strengths of the leaf extracts of Ocimum gratissimum Linn and Gongronema latifolium Benth. on some enteric bacterial isolates. The sensitivity test and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) were carried out using a modified agar-well diffusion method. The enteric bacterial isolates tested included Escherichia coli, Shigella dysenteriae, Salmonella Typhi and Enterobacter aerogenes. Standard methods were applied to obtain the ethanol and aqueous leaf extracts. The ethanol extracts of O. gratissimum and G. latifolium produced highly significant inhibitory activity against all the enteric bacterial isolates tested. Comparatively, the ethanol plant extracts were more potent than the commercially available drug, Ciprofloxacin and the aqueous plant extracts. The isolates were sensitive at a minimum inhibitory concentration of 1.25 mg/ml for the ethanol extract but varied from 2.5 mg/ml - 5.0mg/ml in the aqueous extract. It was also observed that the synergistic antibacterial effect of the medicinal plant extracts was greater than the singular antibacterial effect of the individual plant extracts in both the ethanol and aqueous extracts. The potency of the individual extracts and the combined effect may be due to the presence of flavonoids, alkaloids, phenols, tannins and saponins in the leaves of the plants. This study partly validates the use of the plant extracts in the treatment of disease caused by the enteric bacterial isolates by multiple traditional medicine practitioners in Nigeria, however, strict adherence to dosage is recommended. The leaf extract is a potential source of the new drug if the components are purified and enhanced for treating infections caused by these enteric pathogens.