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PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2023The world-famous markets of Marrakech, also known in Arabic as souks, harbor a vast diversity of reptiles that are sold for medicinal/magic/pet purposes or used for...
The world-famous markets of Marrakech, also known in Arabic as souks, harbor a vast diversity of reptiles that are sold for medicinal/magic/pet purposes or used for snake charming. This unique epidemiological context has never been studied considering the interactions of humans, reptiles, and zoonotic pathogens. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the parasites and pathogens present in blood and feces associated with handled reptiles in the markets of Marrakech to assess the risk of zoonotic transmission within the reptile-human interface. Privately owned reptiles (n = 118), coming from vendors or snake charmers, were examined and blood and feces sampled. DNA was extracted and molecular screening (cPCR, nPCR, qPCR, dqPCR) was performed aiming to identify potentially zoonotic pathogens (i.e., Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, Babesia/Theileria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Leishmania spp., Cestoda). Overall, 28.9% (34/118) of reptiles were positive for at least one pathogen. In blood, Anaplasma spp. were detected in four snakes, with two Montpellier snakes positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, while Rickettsia spp. were detected in one Mediterranean chameleon and four puff adders. Leishmania tarentolae was molecularly detected in a Mediterranean chameleon and a Montpellier snake. In feces, the cox1 gene generated a myriad of sequences for nematodes, cestodes, fungi and bacteria. Importantly, Proteus vulgaris was identified from a Mediterranean chameleon. Cryptosporidium spp. nPCR yielded a positive sample (i.e., Cryptosporidium sp. apodemus genotype I) from a Moroccan worm lizard, as well as for bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an Egyptian cobra, and Morganella morganii from a puff adder. Results from this study demonstrated the risk of zoonotic transmission of microorganisms and parasites present in blood and feces from reptiles that are brought to the souks in Marrakech, Morocco, to be sold for medicinal purposes or used for snake charming, being in direct and straight contact with humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Cryptosporidiosis; Morocco; Cryptosporidium; Rickettsia; Parasites; Anaplasma; Snakes; Reptiles
PubMed: 37467211
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011431 -
Cureus Jun 2023Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae threaten infection treatment globally. This study aims to assess ESBLs-E prevalence and...
BACKGROUND
Extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae threaten infection treatment globally. This study aims to assess ESBLs-E prevalence and multidrug-resistant organisms (MDR) in clinical specimens from Tabuk, KSA.
METHODS
A cross-sectional research was carried out in March-May 2023. A collective of 90 Enterobacteriaceae isolates were identified from clinical specimens. The specimen was identified by standard methods. The Enterobacteriaceae member was screed for ESBL production by screening and confirmatory as per the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI).
RESULT
was the most common isolate, followed by , , , and . Among the sample, the majority of isolates were from urine (47.8%) followed by pus (25.6%) and the least from other body fluids (6.7%). The showed the highest average antibiotic resistance (73.7%) among all the antibiotics used followed by (70.4%), (70%), (69.8%), and (69.4% both), and (68.8%). There was a 41.2% average reduction in ESBL positivity from phenotypic to confirmatory test results. The highest reduction was observed among (66.7%) and the least was observed in (17.1%).
CONCLUSION
Most of the ESBL-producing isolates were found mainly in blood and urine samples. The most frequent ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae were and . The best options for treating Enterobacteriaceae that produce ESBL are Amoxicillin, Amikacin, and Cefoxitin. ESBL-producing isotopes showed a high resistance rate to cefepime and cefotaxime compared to non-ESBL producers. It is of utmost importance to implement reliable infection control measures in healthcare institutions nationwide.
PubMed: 37431354
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.40183 -
SAGE Open Medicine 2023This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of water sources in Ishaka division, Bushenyi district.
OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to evaluate the microbiological quality of water sources in Ishaka division, Bushenyi district.
METHODS
Water from taps, wells and springs were sampled for the cross-sectional investigation. The enumeration and identification of microbes ( and total coliforms) in water samples were carried out using a variety of methods. was enumerated using the membrane filtration method; and using a two-step enrichment method; using the surface spread method and total coliforms using the most probable number technique. Mannitol salt agar was used for enumeration of and violet red bile agar was used for enumeration of total coliforms and ; xylose lysine deoxycholate agar was used for both spp. and spp. API-20E was used to phenotypically identify the Enterobacteriaceae contaminants in water. These included spp. and .
RESULTS
counts in the water from springs and wells ranged from 0 to 314 cfu/mL ( = 0.173) and 0 to 3 cfu/mL ( = 0.269), respectively, while tap water had no incidence of . Highest level of bacterial contamination in water sources, beyond acceptable WHO (0 cfu/100 mL) limits for drinking water, was reported: spp., 34 (54.8%), followed by total coliforms, 24 (38.7%), spp., 22 (35.5%) and least were spp. (8.1%) and spp. (8.1%).
CONCLUSION
It is therefore concluded that spring and well community water sources in Ishaka division, Uganda, are significantly contaminated with pathogenic bacteria and thus unsafe for drinking without adequate water treatment (disinfection and filtration).
PubMed: 38020800
DOI: 10.1177/20503121231194239 -
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious... Jun 2024Although Proteus species are occasional causes of serious infections, their epidemiology has not been well defined. The objective was to describe the overall and... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
BACKGROUND
Although Proteus species are occasional causes of serious infections, their epidemiology has not been well defined. The objective was to describe the overall and species-specific occurrence and determinants of Proteus species bloodstream infection (BSI) in a large Australian population.
METHODS
All Queensland residents with Proteus species BSI identified within the publicly funded healthcare system between 2000 and 2019 were included.
RESULTS
A total of 2,143 incident episodes of Proteus species BSI were identified among 2,079 Queensland residents. The prevalence of comorbid illness differed with higher Charlson comorbidity scores observed with P. penneri and P. vulgaris, and higher prevalence of liver disease with P. penneri, higher comorbid cancer with P. vulgaris, and lower diabetes and renal disease prevalence with P. mirabilis BSIs.
CONCLUSION
This study provides novel information on the epidemiology of Proteus species BSI.
Topics: Humans; Bacteremia; Male; Middle Aged; Female; Proteus Infections; Aged; Queensland; Proteus; Prevalence; Adult; Comorbidity; Aged, 80 and over; Young Adult; Proteus mirabilis
PubMed: 38574445
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116286 -
Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2024The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of citrate-stabilized sols of cerium oxide nanoparticles at different concentrations via...
The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of citrate-stabilized sols of cerium oxide nanoparticles at different concentrations via different microbiological methods and to compare the effect with the peroxidase activity of nanoceria for the subsequent development of a regeneration-stimulating medical and/or veterinary wound-healing product providing new types of antimicrobial action. The object of this study was cerium oxide nanoparticles synthesized from aqueous solutions of cerium (III) nitrate hexahydrate and citric acid (the size of the nanoparticles was 3-5 nm, and their aggregates were 60-130 nm). Nanoceria oxide sols with a wide range of concentrations (10-10 M) as well as powder (the dry substance) were used. Both bacterial and fungal strains (, , , , , , , ) were used for the microbiological studies. The antimicrobial activity of nanoceria was investigated across a wide range of concentrations using three methods sequentially; the antimicrobial activity was studied by examining diffusion into agar, the serial dilution method was used to detect the minimum inhibitory and bactericidal concentrations, and, finally, gas chromatography with mass-selective detection was performed to study the inhibition of growth. To study the redox activity of different concentrations of nanocerium, we studied the intensity of chemiluminescence in the oxidation reaction of luminol in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. As a result of this study's use of the agar diffusion and serial dilution methods followed by sowing, no significant evidence of antimicrobial activity was found. At the same time, in the current study of antimicrobial activity against strains using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry, the ability of nanoceria to significantly inhibit the growth and reproduction of microorganisms after 24 h and, in particular, after 48 h of incubation at a wide range of concentrations, 10-10 M (48-95% reduction in the number of microbes with a significant dose-dependent effect) was determined as the optimum concentration. A reliable redox activity of nanoceria coated with citrate was established, increasing in proportion to the concentration, confirming the oxidative mechanism of the action of nanoceria. Thus, nanoceria have a dose-dependent bacteriostatic effect, which is most pronounced at concentrations of 10-10 M. Unlike the effects of classical antiseptics, the effect was manifested from 2 days and increased during the observation. To study the antimicrobial activity of nanomaterials, it is advisable not to use classical qualitative and semi-quantitative methods; rather, the employment of more accurate quantitative methods is advised, in particular, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, during several days of incubation.
PubMed: 38392727
DOI: 10.3390/nano14040354 -
Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland) Jun 2023The overuse and misuse of antibiotics can pose the risk of spreading mutant strains that show antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with negative impacts on the management of...
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics can pose the risk of spreading mutant strains that show antimicrobial resistance (AMR), with negative impacts on the management of bacterial infections and economic implications for healthcare systems. The research and development of natural antibacterial agents could be a priority in the next years to improve a number of effective antibacterial molecules and to reduce the AMR phenomenon and its development. The present study identified the most effective concentration and contact time of L. essential oil (TEO) to obtain bactericidal effects in vitro against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Six clinically isolated (wild types) bacterial strains, (, and ) and two ATCCs ( and ) were tested after 1 min, 3 min and 5 min of contact with TEO. The preliminary results on after 24 h of incubation revealed a TEO concentration of 9.28 mg/mL (/) that completely inhibited bacteria growth, keeping cell viability. The total suppression of bacterial growth at all tested contact times was observed for all tested bacterial strains, and the results were confirmed after 48 h of incubation. Bacterial growth suppression was confirmed even with the presence of organic components. These preliminary results showed the in vitro antimicrobial efficacy of TEO against different Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial strains. Future studies are necessary to confirm the reproducibility of these results even on other strains and to define the exact molecular mechanisms of EOs in order to consider TEO as a valid alternative to classic antibiotic therapies and subsequently to reduce the occurrence of AMR.
PubMed: 37508225
DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12071129 -
Frontiers in Plant Science 2023, also known as sweet ginger, is a medicinal and edible plant. rhizome is popularly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and as flavouring spices, but there are few...
, also known as sweet ginger, is a medicinal and edible plant. rhizome is popularly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine and as flavouring spices, but there are few reports on its constituents and bioactivities. This study analyzed the phytochemical components of rhizome by GC-MS and UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS and evaluated its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-enzymatic properties. According to the GC-FID/MS data, its rhizome essential oil (EO) consisted mainly of ()-2-decenal (53.8%), ()-2-decenyl acetate (24.4%), ()-3-dodecenyl acetate (3.5%), and ()-2-octenal (3.5%). Its water extract (WE) and 70% ethanol extract (EE) showed high total phenolic content (TPC, 52.99-60.49 mg GAEs/g extract) and total flavonoid content (TFC, 260.69-286.42 mg REs/g extract). In addition, the phytochemicals of WE and EE were further characterized using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS, and a total of sixty-three compounds were identified, including fourteen phenolic components and twenty-three flavonoid compounds. In the antioxidant assay, WE and EE revealed a potent scavenging effect on DPPH (IC: 6.59 ± 0.88 mg/mL and 17.70 ± 1.15 mg/mL, respectively), surpassing the BHT (IC: 21.83 ± 0.89 mg/mL). For the antimicrobial activities, EO displayed excellent antibacterial capabilities against , , , , and with DIZ (12.60-22.17 mm), MIC (0.78-1.56 mg/mL), and MBC (3.13 mg/mL) and significantly inhibited growth (MIC = 0.313 mg/mL, MFC = 0.625 mg/mL, respectively). In addition to weak tyrosinase and cholinesterase inhibition, EE and WE had a prominent inhibitory effect against α-glucosidase (IC: 0.013 ± 0.001 mg/mL and 0.017 ± 0.002 mg/mL), which was significantly higher than acarbose (IC: 0.22 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Hence, the rhizome of has excellent potential for utilization in the pharmaceutical and food fields as a source of bioactive substances.
PubMed: 37936928
DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1284931 -
Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences Sep 2023This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of 03 medicinal plants, , and from Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The active constituents of...
This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial and cytotoxic activity of 03 medicinal plants, , and from Cholistan desert, Pakistan. The active constituents of plants species were extracted in 05 different solvents and the extracts were tested against various bacterial strains and brine shrimps. Although all 's extracts except chloroform were active against the most active was the acetone extract (21 ± 0.00 mm at 200 μg/disc) and activity was better than Caricef (p-value 0.03). While its water extract was more potent (18 ± 1.45 mm at 200 μg/disc) than Augmentin and Caricef (p-value < 0.005). The methanol extract's activity (15 ± 0.39 mm in 200 μg/disc) was comparable to Fucidin against (p-value > 0.99) and activity of diethyl ether extract against (10 ± 1.16 mm in 200 μg/disc) was same as of Urixin (p-value 0.91)'s acetone extract against (10 ± 0.15 mm in 1 μg/disc) was more active than Augmentin Caricef and Cefotax (p-value < 0.02) and against (15 ± 1.15 mm in 200 μg/disc) activity was higher than Caricef (p-value 0.03). All 's extracts except water extract were found active against However, the diethyl ether extract was most effective (25 + 0.00 mm at 150 μg /disc) and activity was more than Augmentin, Oxy-tetracycline, Fucidin, Urixin, Ceftriaxone (p-value < 0.05). Although all extracts were exhibited cytotoxic activity, the 's acetone extract (100%), 's diethyl ether extract (90%) and 's methanol extract (100%) were most active at 1000 μg/ml concentration. This study validated the medicinal significance of the studied plants and thus opens the way for their therapeutic applications.
PubMed: 37583872
DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2023.103750 -
BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies Oct 2023Zingiber officinale, generally known as ginger, contains bioactive phytochemicals, including gingerols and shogaols, that may function as reducing agents and stabilizers...
BACKGROUND
Zingiber officinale, generally known as ginger, contains bioactive phytochemicals, including gingerols and shogaols, that may function as reducing agents and stabilizers for the formation of nickel nanoparticles (Ni-NPs). Ginger extract-mediated nickel nanoparticles were synthesized using an eco-friendly method, and their antibacterial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antidiabetic, anticancer, dye degrading, and biocompatibility properties were investigated.
METHODS
UV-visible spectroscopy, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy were used to validate and characterize the synthesis of Ni-NPs. Agar well diffusion assay, alpha-amylase and glucosidase inhibitory assay, free radical scavenging assay, biocompatibility assay, and MTT assay were used to analyse the biomedical importance of Ni-NPs.
RESULTS
SEM micrograph examinations revealed almost aggregates of Ni-NPs; certain particles were monodispersed and spherical, with an average grain size of 74.85 ± 2.5 nm. Ni-NPs have successfully inhibited the growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Proteus vulgaris by inducing membrane damage, as shown by the absorbance at 260 nm (A260). DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) free radicals were successfully scavenged by Ni-NPs at an inhibition rate of 69.35 ± 0.81% at 800 µg/mL. A dose-dependent cytotoxicity of Ni-NPs was observed against amastigote and promastigote forms of Leishmania tropica, with significant mortality rates of 94.23 ± 1.10 and 92.27 ± 1.20% at 1.0 mg/mL, respectively. Biocompatibility studies revealed the biosafe nature of Ni-NPs by showing RBC hemolysis up to 1.53 ± 0.81% at 400 µg/mL, which is considered safe according to the American Society for Materials and Testing (ASTM). Furthermore, Ni-NPs showed antidiabetic activity by inhibiting α-amylase and α-glucosidase enzymes at an inhibition rate of 22.70 ± 0.16% and 31.23 ± 0.64% at 200 µg/mL, respectively. Ni-NPs have shown significant cytotoxic activity by inhibiting MCF-7 cancerous cells up to 68.82 ± 1.82% at a concentration of 400 µg/mL. The IC50 for Ni-NPs was almost 190 µg/mL. Ni-NPs also degraded crystal violet dye up to 86.1% at 2 h of exposure.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, Zingiber officinale extract was found successful in producing stable nanoparticles. Ni-NPs have shown substantial biomedical activities, and as a result, we believe these nanoparticles have potential as a powerful therapeutic agent for use in nanomedicine.
Topics: Zingiber officinale; Nickel; Rhizome; Metal Nanoparticles; Hypoglycemic Agents; alpha-Amylases
PubMed: 37789322
DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04182-7