-
Heliyon May 2024The demand for cowhide (ponmo) is currently very high, particularly in Nigeria, due to rising commodity prices, including animal proteins, which has forced a larger...
The demand for cowhide (ponmo) is currently very high, particularly in Nigeria, due to rising commodity prices, including animal proteins, which has forced a larger percentage of the population who cannot afford meat, chicken, turkey or eggs to rely on other meat products such as "ponmo," "kundi," and "tinko" as an alternative source of protein. This research aims to identify microorganisms associated with ponmo, determine the antibiogram of the isolates, and assess the nutritional value of ponmo marketed in Ilishan-Remo central market. Six ponmo vendors were sampled for Dry White Ponmo (DWP), Wet White Ponmo (WWP), Wet Brown Ponmo (WBP) and Brown Ponmo Water (BPW) and transported in sterile containers to the Laboratory for analysis to determine the microbial load, sensitivity, and proximate analysis using standardized methods. For microbiological analysis, samples were tested in triplicate. All samples analyzed had a high microbial load count (from 1.1 x 10 to 1.4 x 10). The organisms isolated were (34.21 %) (26.31 %) spp. (18.42 %) spp. (13.15 %) and Coagulase-negative staphylococci (7.89 %). All the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Septrin had the highest resistivity (86.84 %) while gentamicin had the lowest resistance (7.89 %). Pefloxacin sensitivity was observed in 37 of the 38 isolates (97.37 % sensitivity). Ciprofloxacin and gentamicin came second and third (84.2 % and 73.68 % sensitivity) respectively. According to the proximate analysis, the WWP has more protein, fat, and fiber, whereas the WBP has more moisture. Food handlers should follow Good Hygiene Practices and take a Food Handlers Test regularly.
PubMed: 38813194
DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e30882 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... Aug 2024Electro-Fenton (EF) can in-situ produce HO and effectively activate HO to generate powerful reactive species for the destruction of contaminants under acidic conditions,...
Electro-Fenton (EF) can in-situ produce HO and effectively activate HO to generate powerful reactive species for the destruction of contaminants under acidic conditions, however, the production of iron-containing sludge and requirement of low working pH significantly hinder its practical application. Herein, a novel Cu, N co-doped carbon (Cu-N@C) with metal organic framework (MOF) as a precursor was constructed and adopted for the elimination of pefloxacin (PEF) in the heterogeneous electro-Fenton (HEF) process. PEF could be almost completely removed within 1 h and total organic carbon (TOC) removal efficiency was 48.57% within 6 h. Meanwhile, Cu-N@C had good repeatability and environmental adaptability, it can still maintain excellent catalytic performance after 10 cycles, and it exhibited satisfactory remediation performance in simulated water matrix. In addition, the HEF process catalyzed by Cu-N@C also showed satisfactory degradation effect on other organic pollutants including atrazine, methylene blue, and chlorotetracycline. Under the action of impressed current, the HEF system could generate HO in-situ, and the active species could be generated in the redox cycle of Cu/Cu/Cu. Electron paramagnetic resonance and quenching experiments confirmed that •OH was the dominant active species in the degradation of organic compounds. The degradation process of PEF was studied by mass spectrometry analysis of intermediate products. This study provided a simple method to prepare MOF-based electrocatalyst, which exhibits promising application potential for treatment wastewater.
Topics: Hydrogen Peroxide; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Catalysis; Copper; Carbon; Nanocomposites; Pefloxacin; Iron; Nitrogen; Metal-Organic Frameworks
PubMed: 38782161
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124198 -
Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious... Aug 2024The study was done to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among Salmonella enterica serovars causing bacteremia in Northern India. In this observational... (Observational Study)
Observational Study
The study was done to assess the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern among Salmonella enterica serovars causing bacteremia in Northern India. In this observational study, blood samples positive for Salmonella enterica serovars from January 2021 to April 2023 were studied. Species identification was done using MALDI-ToF MS. Serotyping was done using slide agglutination method. Antimicrobial susceptibility was interpreted as per the CLSI guidelines. During the study period, 32 Salmonella enterica serovars were isolated. Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi was the predominant serovar, followed by Salmonella enterica serovar Paratyphi A. All isolates were susceptible to ceftriaxone, chloramphenicol, co-trimoxazole and cefotaxime. Pefloxacin showed 100% resistance. Resistance to nalidixic acid was found in 81.2% isolates. Of the isolates resistant to nalidixic acid, 19(73.08%) isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin also. This changing susceptibility pattern necessitates continuous surveillance of antibiogram of Salmonella isolates to rationalize the treatment protocols for invasive salmonellosis and prevent emergence of resistant strains.
Topics: Humans; Bacteremia; India; Tertiary Care Centers; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Salmonella Infections; Serogroup; Salmonella enterica; Salmonella; Adult; Male; Drug Resistance, Bacterial; Serotyping; Middle Aged; Young Adult; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization; Female; Salmonella typhi
PubMed: 38776664
DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2024.116354 -
Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health Apr 2024Typhoid is endemic in many low-income countries, including in Papua New Guinea. This study aimed to describe the burden and clinical features of typhoid in children in a...
BACKGROUND
Typhoid is endemic in many low-income countries, including in Papua New Guinea. This study aimed to describe the burden and clinical features of typhoid in children in a provincial hospital, to describe environmental conditions that lead to typhoid, and to document the antibiotic sensitivity of Salmonella spp. in the Eastern Highlands Province.
METHODS
A combined retrospective and prospective study of children admitted to with clinical features of typhoid to the Goroka Hospital throughout 2022.
RESULTS
The study included 98 children, of which 54% were female. The median age was 8 (IQR 5-10.6) years. Over 60% of the patients were from Goroka District, the peri-urban area encompassing the town and surrounds. Ninety-four percent (92) of the patients used a pit latrine as a toilet and only 28% had access to treated water. Neuropsychiatric symptoms were common (60%), as was leukopenia (48%), thrombocytopenia (52%) and anaemia (42%). Thirty-seven patients had positive blood cultures for Salmonella typhi; all isolates were sensitive to third-generation cephalosporins, pefloxacin, ampicillin, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, and only 54% sensitive to chloramphenicol. The median duration of hospitalisation was 6 days (IQR). There were no deaths.
CONCLUSION
Prompt public health actions are needed to reduce the burden of typhoid infection in the Papua New Guinea. The conjugate typhoid vaccine should be considered in the highlands region, where typhoid is most endemic.
PubMed: 38661078
DOI: 10.1111/jpc.16553 -
Journal of Colloid and Interface Science Aug 2024Building a heterojunction is a fascinating option to guarantee sufficient carrier separation and transfer efficiency, but the mechanism of charge migration at the...
Building a heterojunction is a fascinating option to guarantee sufficient carrier separation and transfer efficiency, but the mechanism of charge migration at the heterojunction interface has not been thoroughly studied. Herein, MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI photocatalyst with a Z-scheme heterojunction structure is constructed, which achieves efficient photocatalytic decontamination under solar light. Driven by the newly-built internal electric field (IEF), the formation of Fe-O-Bi electron migration channel allows for rapid separation and transfer of charge carriers at the heterojunction interface, confirmed by the material characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculation. The narrower band gap and improved visible light response also contribute to the enhanced photocatalytic activity of composite materials. With levofloxacin as the target pollutant, the optimal MIL-53(Fe)/BiOI achieves complete removal of pollutant within 150 min, the photocatalysis rate of which is ca. 4.4 and 26.0 times that of pure BiOI and MIL-53(Fe), respectively. Simultaneously, the optimal composite material exhibits satisfactory photodegradation of seven fluoroquinolones, and the photocatalysis rates are as follows: lomefloxacin > ciprofloxacin > enrofloxacin > norfloxacin > pefloxacin > levofloxacin > marbofloxacin. DFT calculations reveal a positive relationship between degradation rate and Fukui index (ƒ) of main carbon atoms in seven fluoroquinolones. This study sheds light on the existence of electron migration channels at Z-scheme heterojunction interface to ensure sufficient photoinduced carrier transfer, and reveals the influence of pollutant structure on photolysis rate.
PubMed: 38640652
DOI: 10.1016/j.jcis.2024.04.096 -
Environmental Research Jul 2024Developing cobalt-based catalysts with a high abundance of oxygen vacancies (V) and exceptional V utility efficiency for the prompt removal of stubborn contaminants...
Promoting oxygen vacancies utility for tetracycline degradation via peroxymonosulfate activation by reduced Mg-doped CoO: Kinetics and key role of electron transfer pathway.
Developing cobalt-based catalysts with a high abundance of oxygen vacancies (V) and exceptional V utility efficiency for the prompt removal of stubborn contaminants through peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation poses a significant challenge. Herein, we reported the synthesis of the reduced Mg-doped CoO nanosheets, i.e. Mg-doped CoO-r, via Mg doping and followed by NaBH reduction, aiming to degrade tetracycline (TC). Various characterization results illustrated that NaBH reduction imparted higher V utility efficiency to Mg-doped CoO-r, along with an ample presence of reduced Co species and an increased surface area, thereby substantially elevating PMS activation capability. Notably, Mg-doped CoO-r achieved more than 97.9% degradation of 20 mg/L TC within 10 min, showing an over 8-fold increase in reaction rate relative to the Mg-doped CoO (k: 0.3285 min vs 0.0399 min). The high removal efficiency of TC was sustained across a broad pH range of 3-11, even in the presence of common anions and humic acid. Radical quenching trials, EPR outcomes, and electrochemical analysis indicated that neither radicals nor O were the primary active species. Instead, electron transfer pathway played a dominant role in TC degradation. The Mg-doped CoO-r displayed excellent recyclability and versatility. Even after the fifth cycle, it maintained an impressive 83.0% removal of TC. Furthermore, it exhibited rapid degradation capabilities for various pollutants, including levofloxacin, pefloxacin, ciprofloxacin, malachite green, and rhodamine B. The TC degradation pathway was proposed based on LC-MS determination of its degradation intermediates. This study showcases an innovative strategy for the rational design of an efficient cobalt-based activator, leveraging electron transfer pathways through PMS activation to degrade antibiotics effectively.
Topics: Cobalt; Tetracycline; Peroxides; Kinetics; Oxides; Oxygen; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Electron Transport; Oxidation-Reduction
PubMed: 38599451
DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118892 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... May 2024Microplastics (MPs) in sludge can affect the ability of biochar-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade antibiotics. In this work, biochar was prepared by mixing...
Influence of microplastics and environmentally persistent free radicals on the ability of biochar components to promote degradation of antibiotics by activated peroxymonosulfate.
Microplastics (MPs) in sludge can affect the ability of biochar-activated peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade antibiotics. In this work, biochar was prepared by mixing sludge and polystyrene (PS) through hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and high-temperature pyrolysis processes. The resulting biochar was used to activate PMS to degrade ofloxacin (OFX), levofloxacin (LEV), and pefloxacin (PFX). The addition of PS significantly enhanced the ability of biochar/PMS to degrade antibiotics and the levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs, 4.59 × 10 spin/g) due to the decomposition of PS. The addition of PS resulted in a slight decrease in the specific surface area of biochar (2-3 m/g on average), but a significant increase in the concentration of EPFRs increased the removal efficiency. The activation of PMS by biochar is dominated by free radicals, accounting for about 70%, in which SO and •OH contribute the most and O the least. However, O contributes 15-20% to the degradation of antibiotics in non-free radical processes. Overall, the process of biochar/PMS degradation of antibiotics is mainly dominated by free radicals, and the effect of non-free radicals is not obvious. Both hydrochar and pyrocarbon samples showed good hydrophilicity, and this property should improve the ability of active sites on biochar to degrade antibiotics. In the HTC process, PS can decompose during hydrochar preparation, with a maximum reduction value of 40.09%. The three-dimension excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM) and total organic carbon (TOC) results show that the protein content in sludge plays a major role in reducing PS, with little effect of polysaccharide and SiO. There are six to seven degradation intermediates of quinolone antibiotics, which are eventually degraded into CO, HO, and inorganic substances. The regeneration experiment showed good reusability of hydrochar and pyrocarbon, further demonstrating the suitability of biochar for the degradation of antibiotics.
Topics: Charcoal; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Microplastics; Peroxides; Free Radicals; Water Pollutants, Chemical; Sewage
PubMed: 38574947
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123827 -
Environmental Pollution (Barking, Essex... May 2024The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have resulted in the pollution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in municipal wastewater treatment plants...
The overuse and misuse of antibiotics have resulted in the pollution of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), posing threats to ecological security and human health. Thus, a comprehensive investigation was conducted to assess the occurrence, removal efficiency, and ecological risk of antibiotics, along with the diversity, abundance, and co-occurrence of ARGs, and their correlations in 13 WWTPs along the Yangtze River Basin. Among 35 target antibiotics, 23 antibiotics within 6 categories were detected in all the samples. Amoxicillin (AMO), ofloxacin (OFL), and pefloxacin (PEF) were predominant in influents, while AMO exhibited dominance with the highest concentration of 1409 ng/L in effluents. Although antibiotic removal performance varied among different WWTPs, a significant decrease in each antibiotic category and overall antibiotics was observed in effluents compared with that in influents (p < 0.05). Remarkably, ecological risk assessment revealed high risks associated with AMO and ciprofloxacin (CIP) and medium risks linked to several antibiotics, notably including OFL, roxithromycin (ROX), clarithromycin (CLA), and tetracycline (TC). Furthermore, 96 ARG subtypes within 12 resistance types were detected in this study, and the total absolute abundance and diversity of ARGs were significantly decreased from influents to effluents (p < 0.05). Enrichment of 38 ARGs (e.g., bla, ermA, vatA, mexA, and dfrA25) in effluents indicated potential health risks. Various mobile genetic elements (MGEs), exhibited significant correlations with a majority of ARGs in both influents and effluents, such as intⅠ1, tnpA1, tnpA5, and tp614, underscoring the important role of MGEs in contributing to the ARG dissemination. Many antibiotics displayed lower correlations with corresponding ARGs, but exhibited higher correlations with other ARGs, suggesting complex selective pressures influencing ARG propagation. Overall, the incomplete elimination of antibiotics and ARGs in WWTPs is likely to pose adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems in the Yangtze River Basin.
Topics: Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Wastewater; Genes, Bacterial; Rivers; Ecosystem; Prevalence; Drug Resistance, Microbial; China; Water Purification
PubMed: 38518970
DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.123800 -
Dalton Transactions (Cambridge, England... Mar 2024The accurate and rapid detection of antibiotics and heavy-metal-based toxic oxo-anions in water media employing coordination polymers (CPs) as luminescent probes has...
The accurate and rapid detection of antibiotics and heavy-metal-based toxic oxo-anions in water media employing coordination polymers (CPs) as luminescent probes has attracted a lot of attention. Three new Cd(II)-based ternary CPs derived from first-presented L ligands, including [Cd(DCTP)(L)(OH)] (1), [Cd(TBTA)(L)(OH)] (2), and [Cd(NPHT)(L)(HO)] (3) (L = 2-((1-imidazol-1-yl)methyl)-5,6-dimethyl-1-benzo[]imidazole, HDCTP = 2,5-dichloroterephthalic acid, HTBTA = tetrabromoterephthalic acid and HNPHT = 3-nitrophthalic acid), were successfully assembled and characterized. 1 and 2 show 2D hcb layers, which can be further extended into a 3D supramolecular framework classic hydrogen bonding interactions. 3 features a 1D double chain that ultimately spreads into a 2D network through weak hydrogen bonding interactions. With the advantages of high stability and excellent luminescent properties, the three CPs display high sensitivity, selectivity, and good anti-interference for the sensing of pefloxacin (PEF) and CrO ions (LOD values toward PEF: 3.82 × 10 mol L for 1, 4.06 × 10 mol L for 2, and 1.36 × 10 mol L for 3, and toward CrO ions: 5.97 × 10 mol L for 1, 5.87 × 10 mol L for 2, and 8.21 × 10 mol L for 3). These CPs are the first examples of bifunctional luminescent sensors to detect PEF and CrO in aqueous solutions. The luminescence quenching mechanisms are explored in detail.
PubMed: 38375864
DOI: 10.1039/d4dt00128a -
Microbial Drug Resistance (Larchmont,... Mar 2024Nontyphoid salmonella can cause severe infections in newborns and is therefore declared a pathogen of major health significance at this age. The aim of the study was...
Phenotypic and Molecular Characterization of a Hospital Outbreak Clonal Lineage of Subspecies serovar Mikawasima Containing and That Emerged on a Neonatal Ward, During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Nontyphoid salmonella can cause severe infections in newborns and is therefore declared a pathogen of major health significance at this age. The aim of the study was molecular and antimicrobial characterization of β-lactamase-producing Mikawasima outbreak clone on a Neonatal ward, University Hospital of Split (UHS), Croatia during the COVID-19 pandemic. From April 2020, until April 2023, 75 nonrepetitive strains of Mikawasima were isolated from stool specimens and tested for antimicrobial resistance. All 75 isolates were resistant to ampicillin and gentamicin, while 98% of isolates were resistant to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. A high level of resistance was observed to third-generation cephalosporins (36% to ceftriaxone and 47% to ceftazidime). Extended-spectrum β-lactamase production was phenotypically detected by double-disk synergy test in 40% of isolates. Moderate resistance to quinolones was detected; 7% of isolates were resistant to pefloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All isolates were susceptible to carbapenems, chloramphenicol, and co-trimoxazole. Fourteen representative isolates, from 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, were analyzed with PFGE and all of them belong to the same clone. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of three outbreak-related strains (SM1 and SM2 from 2020 and SM3 from 2023) confirmed that these strains share the same serotype (Mikawasima), multilocus sequence typing profile (ST2030), resistance genes [ and ] and carry incompatibility group C (IncC) plasmid. Furthermore, the gene was detected in SM1 and SM2. In summary, WGS analysis of three representative strains clearly demonstrates the persistence of β-lactamase-producing Mikawasima in UHS during the 4-year period.
Topics: Infant, Newborn; Humans; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Serogroup; Pandemics; Salmonella enterica; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; COVID-19; Salmonella; beta-Lactamases; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Hospitals
PubMed: 38330414
DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2023.0132