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Evidence of African Swine Fever Virus in Pigs Slaughtered at Muhanzi Municipal Abattoir in Bukavu City, Eastern of Democratic Republic of Congo
Bisimwa Ntagereka Patrick,
Wasso Shukuru Dieudonné,
Ntakundi Muderhwa Théophile,
Bwihangane Birindwa Ahadi,
Bisimwa Basengere Espoir,
Mushagalusa Nachigera Gustave,
Katcho Karume,
Baluku Bajope
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
1-7
Received:
14 December 2018
Accepted:
2 January 2019
Published:
19 February 2019
Abstract: African swine fever (ASF) is an acute, highly infectious and fatal arboviral disease affecting both wild and domestic pigs causing a very high mortality rate that goes up to 100%. Up to date no vaccines are available to protect the animals against the disease. No study has been conducted to assess the presence of ASFV in imported slaughtered pigs in Bukavu city and very limited literature is available on ASF in the entire country of Democratic Republic of Congo. A cross sectional study was carried out in Muhanzi municipal abattoir of Bukavu city, eastern Democratic Republic of Congo to investigate the presence of antibodies against African swine fever virus (ASFV) and the viral genome in imported pigs for slaughtering. The commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent and the conventional polymerase chain reaction assays were used to screen both ASFV antibodies and viral genome respectively. In total 284 pigs were tested out of which 87.3% (248/284) were female adult of more than 1 year old. The majority of them (75.4% (214/284) were imported from Rwanda of which about 62.7% (178/284) of them presented clinical sign such as redness in the skin. Most of them (90.8%) were exotic breed. Out of 284 animals tested, ASFV antibodies were detected in 69 giving an overall seroprevalence of 24.2% from which pigs originated from Idjwi territory were more ASF seropositive (64.2%) compared to the one imported from Rwanda (11.2%). The seropositivity was found to be significantly associated with the breed (OR= 7.4, p<0.05), origin of animals (OR = 14.2, p<0.05) as well as all the observed clinical signs (p<0.05) except nasal discharges and abnormal liver (p>0.05). Additionally, 38 animals out of 284 tested (13.3%) were ASFV PCR positive with high infectivity rate (35.7%) when pigs slaughtered originated from Idjwi territory of the DRC were found to be more infected than the one imported from Rwanda (OR= 8.5, p<0.05). The ASFV PCR positivity was found to be significantly associated with age where young animals (<12 months old) were found to be more infected (OR= 3.6, p<0.05). Similarly, the local breeds were found to be significantly more infected when compared with exotic breed (OR-7.6; p<0.0001). Deliberate policy has to be implemented in order to prevent spread of the disease to pig farms within the region and for saving the pig industry from ASF devastation.
Abstract: African swine fever (ASF) is an acute, highly infectious and fatal arboviral disease affecting both wild and domestic pigs causing a very high mortality rate that goes up to 100%. Up to date no vaccines are available to protect the animals against the disease. No study has been conducted to assess the presence of ASFV in imported slaughtered pigs i...
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Influence of Blanching on the Production of Pectinases from Banana Peels by Aspergillus niger
Ogunlade Ayodele Oluwayemisi,
Aladejana Oluwatoyin Modupe
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
8-11
Received:
22 January 2019
Accepted:
28 February 2019
Published:
26 March 2019
Abstract: Pectinases are enzymes that break down pectin, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls into simpler molecules. They are commonly referred to as pectic enzymes. Influence of blanching was determined on the production of pectinases from banana peels by Aspergillus niger. Banana peels were subjected to blanching with cold 5% NaCl. Aspergillus niger isolated from decaying banana peels using potato dextrose agar (PDA) were screened for the production of pectinases by examining the isolates with the largest zone of clearance. Solid state fermentation (SSF) and submerged fermentation (SMF) were carried out with the banana peels as the substrate (carbon source) using the Aspergillus niger with the largest zone of clearance. The result revealed that SSF has the highest yield of polygalacturonase and pectin lyase production and both were produced on day 3 of the fermentation having values of 7.5544U/mL and 22.3214U/mL respectively. It was observed that yield of production was generally higher in blanched banana peels when compared with unblanched banana peels. Subjection of banana peels to blanching with cold NaCl solution in solid state fermentation gave higher levels of pectinases activity when compared with banana peels that were not treated at all. Therefore blanching of banana peels for pectinases production is of great importance.
Abstract: Pectinases are enzymes that break down pectin, a polysaccharide found in plant cell walls into simpler molecules. They are commonly referred to as pectic enzymes. Influence of blanching was determined on the production of pectinases from banana peels by Aspergillus niger. Banana peels were subjected to blanching with cold 5% NaCl. Aspergillus niger...
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Physico-chemical and Microbiological Evidence of Drinking Water Quality in Ugbowo, Benin City, Nigeria
Ezenweani Raymond Sunday,
Ezenweani Emmanuel Chidi
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
12-18
Received:
14 December 2018
Accepted:
10 April 2019
Published:
10 May 2019
Abstract: Potable water is unarguably indispensable in the existence of Man. Adequate supply of safe drinking water is imperative as many dangerous diseases can be associated with unclean water used for consumption purposes. This study investigated the physico-chemical and microbiological qualities of portable water in Ugbowo, Benin City, Nigeria. A total of five different potable water sources were investigated and were selected randomly in the study place. The result showed that four of the potable water sources which include; Sources A (SA), Sources B (SB), Sources C (SC), Sources D (SD), were fit for drinking after comparing them with the WHO’s, EU’s, SON’s standards of drinking water quality, while sample E was not found to be fit for drinking as a result of its high microbiological load after comparison with above standards. Communities should be educated and enlightened on the ill effects of consuming unclean water as vast range of water borne diseases such as cholera and typhoid can emanate from such consumption. Various NGOs and governmental agencies must deem it fit to continually investigate portable water qualities to enable urgent response when necessary.
Abstract: Potable water is unarguably indispensable in the existence of Man. Adequate supply of safe drinking water is imperative as many dangerous diseases can be associated with unclean water used for consumption purposes. This study investigated the physico-chemical and microbiological qualities of portable water in Ugbowo, Benin City, Nigeria. A total of...
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New Simple Media Substrates to Differentiate Candida dubliniensis from Candida albicans
Zenab Abduhall Krema,
Ebtesam Salem Mokthar,
Hameda Sadkali El Magrahi,
Mohamed Suliman Ellabib
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
19-23
Received:
5 March 2019
Accepted:
8 April 2019
Published:
15 May 2019
Abstract: Candida dubliniensis is a recently described as an important pathogenic species, which shares many phenotypic features with Candida albicans and therefore microbiological laboratories may be misidentified. The molecular methods can be exhausting and unavailable at many mycological laboratories, with restricted budgets such as those in developing countries. Therefore, the phenotypic techniques have been encouraged in the development of simple differential media with high specificity and sensitivity for the presumptive identification of these species. We examined the colony morphology and chlamydospore production of C. dubliniensis (28 isolates) and C. albicans (40 isolates). Isolates were cultured on several new proposed media such as Coriander (Coriandrum sativum L), Cumin (Cuminum cyminum), Soybean (Glycine max), lupin (Lupinus albus), flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum), pumpkinseed (Lepomis gibbosus), Basil (Ocimum basilicum L), Peppermint (Mentha piperita) and Marjoram (Origanum majorana L), yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis), thyme (Thymus vulgaris), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), and sage (Salvia officinal) extract agar. In all of these media, over 80% of C. dubliniensis isolates showed rough colonies with peripheral hyphae fringes and abundant chlamydospores after 24 to 48 hours of incubation at 25 °C. In contrast, under the same conditions, all isolates of C. albicans (100%) showed smooth colonies without hyphae fringes or chlamydospores. In conclusion, this media subtracts offer a simple, rapid, and inexpensive screening media for the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.
Abstract: Candida dubliniensis is a recently described as an important pathogenic species, which shares many phenotypic features with Candida albicans and therefore microbiological laboratories may be misidentified. The molecular methods can be exhausting and unavailable at many mycological laboratories, with restricted budgets such as those in developing co...
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Bacteriological Analysis of Ready-to-Eat Barbecue Meat (Suya) Sold in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State Nigeria
Nwachukwu Micheal Ikechukwu,
Anumudu Christian Kosisochukwu,
Ihenetu Francis Chukwuebuka,
Nwachukwu Innocentia Ogechi,
Obasi Chidera Chisom,
Ezediunor Caleb Chukwufumnanya
Issue:
Volume 4, Issue 1, March 2019
Pages:
24-28
Received:
7 March 2019
Accepted:
16 April 2019
Published:
20 May 2019
Abstract: 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.
Abstract: 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 f...
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