Mashood Abiola Raji

Erratum to: Antimicrobial resistance and virulence profile of enterococci isolated from poultry and cattle sources in Nigeria

This study investigated the occurrence, antimicrobial resistance and virulence of Enterococcus from poultry and cattle farms. Three hundred and ninety samples: cloacal/rectal swabs (n = 260) and manure (n = 130] were processed for recovery of Enterococcus species. Standard bacteriological methods were used to isolate, identify and characterize Enterococcus species for antimicrobial susceptibility and expression of virulence traits. Detection of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes was carried out by polymerase chain reaction. Enterococcus was recovered from 167 (42.8%) of the 390 samples tested with a predominance of Enterococcus faecium (27.7%). Other species detected were Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus hirae, Enterococcus raffinosus, Enterococcus avium, Enterococcus casseliflavus, Enterococcus mundtii and Enterococcus durans. All the isolates tested were susceptible to vancomycin, but resistance to tetracycline, erythromycin, ampicillin and gentamicin was also observed among 61.0, 61.0, 45.1 and 32.7% of the isolates, respectively. Sixty (53.1%) of the isolates were multidrug resistant presenting as 24 different resistance patterns with resistance to gentamicin-erythromycin-streptomycin-tetracycline (CN-ERY-STR-TET) being the most common (n = 11) pattern. In addition to expression of virulence traits (haemolysin, gelatinase, biofilm production), antibiotic resistance (tetK, tetL, tetM, tetO and ermB) and virulence (asa1, gelE, cylA) genes were detected among the isolates. Also, in vitro transfer of resistance determinants was observed among 75% of the isolates tested. Our data revealed poultry, cattle and manure in this area are hosts to varying Enterococcus species harbouring virulence and resistance determinants that can be transferred to other organisms and also are important for causing nosocomial infection.

Leptospirosis among zebu cattle in farms in Kaduna State, Nigeria

Abstract Objective To assess the occurrence of Leptospira spp serovar Hardjo among Zebu cattle in some livestock producing areas of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Methods Sera samples were obtained from 164 Zebu breed of cattle above one year osf age in seven cattle farms were screened for antibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results Antibodies to Leptospira spp. serovar Hardjo were detected in eighteen (10.98%) out of the 164 animals sampled. There was no significant difference (P>0.05) in seropositivity between the different age groups or between different Zebu breeds. Conclusion The presence of Leptospirosis among the Zebu breeds of cattle may poses a threat to livestock production and has public health implication due to its zoonotic potential.

Characterization of high level ampicillin- and aminoglycoside-resistant enterococci isolated from non-hospital sources

Purpose. High level ampicillin‐ and aminoglycoside‐resistant enterococci are being increasingly reported from non‐hospital sources. This study was carried out to characterize these strains from non‐hospital sources in Nigeria. Methodology. A collection of Enterococcus faecium isolated from vegetables, soil, farm animals and manure and observed to be resistant to ampicillin (n=63) and gentamicin (n=37) discs, were screened for resistance to high levels of ampicillin and aminoglycoside using E‐test strips. Putative high level ampicillin‐ and aminoglycoside‐resistant strains were screened for pbp5 and aminoglycoside modifying enzyme genes, respectively, by PCR. The C‐terminal region of the amplified pbp5 gene was also sequenced. Results. Five (5/63) and thirty‐five (35/37) of the ampicillin‐ and aminoglycoside‐resistant strains were identified as high level ampicillin‐ and aminoglycoside‐resistant E. faecium strains, respectively, based on the MIC results. The amplified pbp5 gene from the high level ampicillin‐resistant isolates displayed 96‐99% nucleotide sequence similarity with the reference strains and three novel insertions (500Glu→Leu, 502Asp→Arg and 614Ile→Phe) in the amino acid sequence. Aminoglycoside modifying enzyme genes aac(6′)‐Ie‐aph(2″) (100%), aph(2′)‐Ic (88.8%), aph(3′)‐IIIa (90%) and ant(4′)‐Ia (40%) were detected among the high level aminoglycoside‐resistant isolates. Conclusion. This is the first report on the characterization of high level ampicillin‐ and aminoglycoside‐resistant Enterococcus faecium among animals and vegetables in Nigeria. The results show that non‐hospital sources can constitute a reservoir for potential dissemination of these strains and genes to humans via the food chain or by direct contact.

A Novel Report on the Prevalence of Enterohaemorrhagic ( Escherichia Coli ) non-O157 Isolated from Cattle in Kaduna State , Nigeria

This study was carried out to investigate the presence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) of cattle that may pose a risk to human beings. Two hundred and forty (240) faecal samples were obtained from 8 randomly selected commercial cattle farms in Kaduna state, Nigeria. E. coli colonies from 76 (31.2 %) faecal samples were confirmed by Gram staining reactions and biochemically using indole, methyl red, Voges Proskauer and citrate (IMViC), triple sugar iron and motility tests respectively. Characterization of the isolates revealed three heterogeneous serogroups (O111, O118 and O126) from apparently healthy cattle, while no E. coli serogroup was isolated from diarrhoeic cattle. The prevalence of non-O157 isolates was 4.5 %. Association between the serogroups and source of samples (farms) was significant (P<0.05). The O126 serogroup isolated from apparently healthy cattle occurred more frequently, followed by O118 and O111 respectively. Although it is not known whether the presence of EHEC subgroups in apparently healthy cattle in the study areas may pose a health threat, it is safe to assume that the human population in these areas, including cattle rearers and veterinarians, is at risk of exposure to the EHEC subgroups reported in the study. Data from the study possibly suggest cattle as important source of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli in Kaduna State, Nigeria.