Browsing by Author "Lupindu, A.M"

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Isolation of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus from apparently healthy human animal attendants, cattle and cattle wastes in Tanzania
(2018-01) Muhairwa, A.P; Lupindu, A.M; Madoshi, B.P; Mtambo, M.M.A; Olsen, J.E
Aim: The study aimed to isolate and characterize Enterococcus species from apparently healthy waste attendants, cattle and cattle waste in Tanzania. Emphasis was given to antimicrobial resistance and in particular occurrence of vancomycin (VA)-resistant enterococci. Methods and Results: Faecal samples were collected from healthy cattle, cattle waste attendants and cattle house wastes, and isolation of Enterococcus species was performed using Slanetz Bartley agar. Isolates were characterized with regard to species, antimicrobial susceptibility and presence of VA resistance genes. Enterococcus faecalis was the most prevalent species from all sources of isolation (43 5%), followed by Enterococcus faecium (38 4%). Isolates of E. faecium showed a higher number of phenotypic antimicrobial resistance than isolates of E. faecalis. Fifty-eight isolates, which showed resistance or intermediate resistance to VA by disc diffusion test, were analysed for VA- resistant Enterococcus (VRE) by PCR. The vanA gene was detected in 14 isolates of E. faecium and 12 isolates of E. faecalis, while vanB was detected in three isolates. No isolates were found to carry vanC1-gene. Conclusion: VRE was detected in both human and cattle samples, despite no known use of antimicrobial agents that can select for VRE in livestock in Tanzania. Enterococcus faecalis was the most commonly isolated species from cattle and humans. Significance and Impact of the Study: The study provides information on the prevalence of VRE in human and nonhuman samples in Tanzania calling for further studies on the origin of VRE in such isolates, since no selection mechanism in Tanzania are known.
Occurrence of staphylococcus aureus in fresh Indian mackerel fish
(Tanzania Veterinary Journal, 2019) Ali, F. S; Lupindu, A.M; Mdegela, R.H; Mmoch, A.J
Fish provide important protein to human population. The procedures to preserve and maintain quality of fish from fishing until consumption can play a role in contamination with pathogens. Consumption of contaminated sea food products such as fish may lead to food poisoning. Knowledge about the spectrum of fish bacterial contaminants may assist in prevention of contamination and control food poisoning incidences. The present study aimed at characterizing and estimating prevalence of Staphylococcus aureus in fresh Indian Mackerel Fish (Rastrelliger kanagurta) from landing sites in Unguja Island. A total of 400 Indian Mackerel Fish were collected from landing sites in Unguja Island and from each fish two samples, skin swab and muscle, were collected. The primary culture was obtained from Mannitol salt agar, Nutrient and Blood agar followed by Gram staining, catalase coagulase tests. PCR targeting 16S rRNA, nuc, mecA, pvl, spa and enterotoxin genes was run to genetically characterize isolates and identify S. aureus. The result indicates that there was growth of bacteria in 359 (89.75%) fish skin swabs and 102 (25.5%) in fish muscle samples. Based on biochemical tests, 27 isolates (6.75%) were confirmed to be Staphylococcus bacteria. Of the 27 isolates, seven (1.75%) were confirmed S. aureus based on PCR. All 27 isolates confirmed to be positive in 16Sr RNA gene, two isolates demonstrated mecA gene and one had SEB and SEC. Detection of S. aureus in fresh Indian Mackerel Fish at landing sites poses a contamination risk to other critical points along the value chain and threatens public health.