Microbiology and Public Health

Over the years it has been proven that a mutualistic relationship exists between termites and microorganisms inhabiting their gut.
Microbiological analyses were carried out on termitarium, macerated dead termites and mango barks from farm settlements in Ibule
– soro Akure, Ondo state, Nigeria. Bacteria isolates such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Clostridium botulinum, Bacillus subtilis, Actinobacter
sp and Microbacter sp were identified while fungal isolates such as Chrysosporium tropicum, Mortierella rolfi, Aspergillus niger,
Fusarium oxysporum and Penicillium chrysogenum were also identified from the analyzed samples. Isolates such as Actinobacter sp,
Aspergillus niger, Mortierella rofli and Penicillium chrysogenum showed mild antagonism against selected clinical pathogens used; the
selected pathogens include: Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella spp and Streptococcus pyogenes respectively. The results obtained
from antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that Microbacter sp and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were multiple antibiotic resistant isolates
(MDRIs). However, molecular characterization of these multiple antibiotic resistant isolates was carried out via plasmid profiling to
determine the size of the bacterial plasmids. These isolates were again subjected to antibiotics treatment after being cured of their
plasmids to determine if their initial resistance to antibiotics is chromosomal or extra – chromosomal. The findings of this research
revealed that termite nests serve as reservoirs for microbes which possess antagonistic properties and that the genetic basis for
antibiotic resistance of screened multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria isolated from termite nests were plasmid based. It is therefore
recommended that advanced culture independent approaches should be used to explore the microbial diversity of the termite nests
in the near future for greater research focus.

Background: Medication adherence describes a patient's behavior of accurately following drug regimens; nonadherence describes a patient's inability to accurately follow drug regimens. Several factors such as psychosocial, educational, health-related, and environmental-related factors could contribute in determining the level of adherence to antiretroviral drug. This was a study to assess the level of adherence antiretroviral combination therapy and the health status of people living with HIV in Calabar, Nigeria. Materials and Methods: Questionnaires were administered to 350 HIV persons who attended antiretroviral treatment (ART) clinic to obtain their sociodemographic data, knowledge of ART, service received, and drug history. Stool samples were collected and examined using direct microscopy, formol-ether concentration technique, and modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique for enteric parasites, whereas blood samples were collected for HIV status examination using serial HIV testing algorithm, hemoglobin levels using cyanmethemoglobin method, and counting of CD4 using Partec CyFlow counter. Results: The results showed that 79.43% (278/350) of the participants adhered to antiretroviral drugs, with most of them (47.84%, 133/278) having CD4 counts between 201 and 400 cell/µl. Stigma was the major reason for nonadherence to treatment. Those who adhered to therapy had a lower infection rate and an elevated mean hemoglobin level than those who did not adhere. Conclusion: There was also an elevated hemoglobin level, lower enteric parasite infections, and an improved CD4 count among the adherents than those who did not adhere.

Recent studies have started to pay attention on several factors on the eating habits of children with the increasing concern of childhood nutritional status. Research has shown that eating habits for children are increasingly affected by advances in science and technology, changes in lifestyle, dietary transformation, and vice versa. Children are more likely to eat available and easily accessible foods, and they generally tend to eat huge quantity whilst larger portions are given. The objectives of this study were to illustrate the contribution of at-home and away-from-home food intake to the diet and nutrition of children as well as their scenario of intake by children and comparative nutritional quality. By following proper criteria, applicable secondary data, and records from extraordinary electronic databases have been included in this paper for accomplishing the review article. According to the aforementioned literature, the majority of children's daily energy demands are provided by the food taken at home and this form of food also contributes to most children's macro-nutrient and micro-nutrient requirements. Yet, away-from-home food intake is rising every day around the world. Away-from-home foods have been reported to be of lower nutritional quality and greater portion sizes compared with other home-made foods. The results of the study suggest that out-of-home foods tend to have high energy density; other findings of the study indicate that out-of-home foods can be a source of staple foods as well as snack-type foods and sugar-sweetened beverages. As the children's eating behavior changes smoothly, an appropriate study should be carried on food taken at home and away from home to cover the correct diet and nutrition for the children.

Fresh meat (Beef) samples were obtained from two abattoirs in Calabar (Anantigha and Ikot- Enebong), and analyzed microbiologically to assess the microbial load using standard microbial techniques. The mean microbial load on the fresh meat obtained from Anatigha abattoir ranged from 1.07x104 to 2.76x104cfu/g and total coliform count ranges from 1.13x103 to 2.33x103 cfu/g while the fresh meat obtained from Ikot-Eneobong abattoir ranged from 2.07x104 to 2.94x104cfu/g and total coliform count ranged from 1.57x103 to 2.80x103cfu/g. The 48 isolates identified includes Bacillus sp, E.coli, Enterococcus sp, Citrobacter sp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella sp, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp, Serratia sp, Salmonella sp and Proteus sp. Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Citrobacter sp, and Enterococcus sp were the most predominant. The result also shows that there were significant differences (p< 0.05) in the bacteria and total coliform counts obtained from the two abattoirs. This result revealed that fresh meat due to lack of proper preservation is often contaminated. However the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the fresh meat shows that the health standard requirement for beef has fallen below standard for human consumption. This calls for proper attention on meat hygiene and handling process.