ABSTRACT Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRS) infections are of global concern in healthcare institutions and community settings with significant morbidity and mortality due to multidrug resistance challenges. In Nigeria, most methicillin resistance detection was based on phenotypic method with scanty reports on molecular characterisation of MRS. In this study, molecular techniques were used to determine the presence of methicillin resistant gene (mecA) with its associated resistance de...
A B S T R A C T The physiological activities of Bacillus species that ferment African locust bean (Parkia biqlobosa (Jacq.) BenthJ to produce ' iru1 were investigated. The strains studied belong to the B. subtillis group and Were designated BS1 , BS2, BS3, BLl, BL2, BL4 and BP2. These seven strains showed significant differences (at c* = 0.05) in gtowth and extracellular proteinases production. The following (defecending) Order was obtained for the growth of the organisms in liquid medium: BS...
ABSTRACT Fish farming enterprise has increased in recent times due to public demand for fish protein. However, rising costs of fish feed ingredients have greatly reduced the profit margin of local fish farmers. Cheap, readily available and locally sourced ingredients may be better substitutes to the costly fish feeds. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of fermented Palm Kernel Cake (PKC) and Rice Bran (RB) as substitutes in the diet of Clarias gariepinus. Fungi were isolate...
ABSTRACT Tylosema esculentum is a nutritious drought avoiding plant endemic to the Kalahari Desert. Our study assessed the density, diversity and distribution of endophytic microbial community structures associated with leaves, stems and tuberous roots of T. esculentum in Eastern Namibia. Culture-dependent and PCR-based 454 pyrosequencing methods were used. ANOVA with pairwise comparison revealed a significant difference in bacterial density between below and above ground. Endophytic bacteri...
Abstract Namibia is among the driest countries in the world, and with the current drought that the country is experiencing, there is a greater need to provide drinking water not only to Windhoek, but the greater Nation at large. The Gammams Wastewater Treatment Plant, which is responsible for treating domestic and some industrial wastewater, regularly experiences toxic pluses that result in the inhibition of nitrification in the activated sludge process, leading to poor removal of ammonia. T...
ABSTRACT Most African foods used in weaning are usually cereal-based gruels fermented by Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB). The food mainly supplies carbohydrate; excessive intake of which might cause malnutrition in growing children. Minimum dietary requirements of a child could be met through fortification with protein-rich supplements. Soybean is rich in dietary protein but contains some antinutritional factors and raffinose, an oligosaccharide responsible for gas formation, bloating and flatulen...
Abstract Background: The ability of the host immune system to efficiently clear Plasmodium falciparum parasites during a malaria infection depends on the type of immune response mounted by the host. Study design: In a cross-sectional study, we investigated the cellular-and antibody responses in individuals with P. falciparum infection, in an attempt to identify immunological signs indicative of the development of natural immunity against malaria in Ibadan, Nigeria. Levels of IL-10, IL-12(p70)...
ABSTRACT While street vended ready-to-eat meats provide a source of readily available and nutritious meals for the consumers, there is a concern for their safety and microbiological quality. The prevalence of E. coli, Salmonella, Shigella, L. monocytogenes, S. aureus and Enterobacteriaceae was assessed in a total of 96 street vended ready-to-eat meat samples collected from Windhoek locations, namely, Katutura, Prosperita and Dorado Park. Selective media was used to assess aerobic plate count...
ABSTRACT Bacteria belonging to the genus bifidobacteria are reported to be the most abundant gut endosymbiotic flora in the intestinal tract of new-born infants, particularly those that have been exclusively breast-fed. This high concentration of this gram-positive anaerobic bacteria has been attributed to the prebiotic and bifidogenic factors present in human breast milk. Currently, there is limited information on the presence of bifidobacteri aspecies in Namibia. The aims of this study wer...
Abstract The Kavango region is extensively involved in agriculture and is also known to be dominated by sandy arenosols. The bad soils in the region, which have poor nutrients and water holding capacity, combined with climate change have contributed to the reduction in yield of most crops grown in the area. One of the aims of this study was to isolate and identify cowpea nodule symbionts from soils in the Kavango Region while the other was to determine cowpeas’ response to bio-inoculants b...
ABSTRACT The aims of this study were to conduct an ethnobotanical survey on indigenous knowledge of plants traditionally used as herbs and spices in Kabbe constituencies of the Zambezi region, evaluate their antimicrobial activity, determine their synergistic effects, and further elucidate their potential mechanism of action. Using semistructured interviews and closed-end questionnaires, ethnobotanical data were collected from local informants in fourteen villages of Kabbe constituencies bet...
ABSTRACT The goal of the study was to determine the plants used in Namibia to treat symptoms linked to gastro-intestinal tract infections (GITI) and to verify their antimicrobial activity. An ethnobotanical survey was conducted to document plants used in Namibia to treat symptoms related to GITI, and eighteen plant species (from 16 families) were collected and identified. Aqueous and organic extraction methods were used to obtain crude extracts that were tested on Escherichia coli, Staphyloc...
ABSTRACT Background: Rotaviruses are recognised world-wide as the principal aetiological agents of severe neonatal diarrhoea in a number of species, including man and domestic animals. Eight species of this virus have been detected and classified as A, B, C, D, E, F, G and H. Human beings are predominantly infected by species A, B and C, but A–E species cause disease in other animals. Studies in Ghana have reported new emerging strains of the virus in paediatric diarrheal cases some of whic...
ABSTRACT Background Surgical site infections (SSIs) are the most common healthcare-associated infections affecting surgical patients. Such infections are often caused by methicillin-susceptible as well as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is resistant to the entire class of beta-lactam antimicrobials; which are largely used in clinical medicine. Patients infected with MRSAs therefore have limited therapeutic options, and this may ...
ABSTRACT Giardiasis and cryptosporidiosis remain as part of the commonest gastroenteritis in Ghana. The diseases are caused by the protozoan parasites, Giardia lamblia and Cryptosporidium sp. respectively. Inadequate supply of treated water and poor sanitation are some of the key factors leading to the spread of these infections. Being zoonotic diseases, it is suspected that, a large proportion of human infections could come from infected domestic and farm animals. Though, use of molecular to...