Rapid detection and molecular epidemiology of β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from food animals and in-contact humans in Nigeria.

The emergence and spread of β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae poses a significant threat to public health, necessitating the rapid detection and investigation of the molecular epidemiology of these pathogens. We modified a multiplex real-time (RT)-PCR to concurrently detect β-lactamase genes (blaCTX-M, blaTEM, and blaSHV) and Enterobacteriaceae 16S ribosomal RNA. qPCR probes and primers were validated using control isolates, and the sensitivity and specificity assessed.

Detection of multidrug-resistant Campylobacter species from food-producing animals and humans in Nigeria: Public health implications and one health control measures.

Antimicrobial-resistant thermophilic Campylobacter species (TCS) pose tremendous public health problems because they are zoonotic, difficult to treat and usually harboured by food-producing animals (FPAs). This study ascertained the phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in 56 phenotypically identified TCS from slaughtered cattle, poultry, and humans in Enugu State, Nigeria. The presence of selected AMR and virulence genes harboured by the animal and human isolates were also detected and compared in 36 PCR-confirmed Campylobacter species.

Gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings for lead ion sensing.

Surface plasmon resonance sensor based on gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (SPR-TFBGs) are perfectly suited for fine refractometry. Thanks to the functionalization of the gold layer, they can be used for label-free biosensing. They have been largely used for the specific detection of proteins and cells.

Femtosecond pulse laser-engineered glass flexible structures instrumented with an in-built Bragg grating sensor.

The advent of near-infrared femtosecond pulse laser has enabled the highly-resolved manufacturing of micro/nano structures in various materials including glass. In this paper, we make use of an automated femtosecond laser system, so-called Femtoprint, to design a monolithic self-instrumented mechanism that we use for in-built strain sensing. To that aim, a flexible structure is designed and produced from a silica planar substrate.

Gamma-radiation enhancement of sensing properties of FBGs in a few-mode polymer CYTOP fiber.

We investigate the effect of γ-radiation on temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) sensitivities of polymer perfluorinated fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs). To this aim, different γ-radiation doses (80, 120, 160, and 520 kGy) were applied to a set of FBGs. We show that irradiated FBGs demonstrate an RH sensitivity rise with the received dose: from 13.

Plasmonic biosensing with tilted fiber Bragg gratings interrogated using a 512-pixel spectrometer.

Plasmonic tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) are very efficient for fast, accurate, and minimally invasive biosensing. Their transmitted amplitude spectrum is a dense comb of narrowband cladding mode resonances (full width at half maximum < 1 nm) that is usually demodulated using highly resolved (wavelength resolution < 10 pm) devices. This work demonstrates the possibility of using a coarsely resolved spectrometer (166 pm) to read out the amplitude spectrum of a gold-coated TFBG.

Online Gamma Radiation Monitoring Using Few-Mode Polymer CYTOP Fiber Bragg Gratings.

We investigated the gamma radiation response of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) inscribed in a few-mode polymer optical fiber. The fiber had a graded-index CYTOP core of 20 µm and XYLEX overclad of 250 µm in diameter. Four FBGs were exposed to gamma radiation during four irradiation sessions at a 5.

Electro-plasmonic-assisted biosensing of proteins and cells at the surface of optical fiber.

An electro-plasmonic biosensor is used to attract proteins and cells on the surface of a fiber optic probe by controlled biomolecular migration. Concentrating targets on a high performance plasmon-assisted fiber grating sensor leads to a drastic enhancement of the limit of detection. This architecture relies on a biofunctionalized gold coated tilted fiber Bragg grating (TFBG) that operates as a working electrode to enable electrophoresis in the probed medium.

Partially gold-coated tilted FBGs for enhanced surface biosensing.

To date, there is clear experimental evidence that gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) are highly sensitive plasmonic biosensors that provide temperature-compensated detection of analytes at concentrations in the picomolar range. As most optical biosensors, they bring an evanescent wave in the surrounding medium, which makes them sensitive to both surface refractive index variations (= the useful biosensing signal) and to bulk refractive index changes (= the non-useful signal for biosensing). This dual sensitivity makes them prone to drift.

Molecular characterization of extended spectrum cephalosporin resistant isolated from livestock and in-contact humans in Southeast Nigeria.

The rise in antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in bacteria is reducing therapeutic options for livestock and human health, with a paucity of information globally. To fill this gap, a One-Health approach was taken by sampling livestock on farms ( = 52), abattoir ( = 8), and animal markets ( = 10), and in-contact humans in Southeast Nigeria. Extended spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant (ESC-R) was selectively cultured from 975 healthy livestock faecal swabs, and hand swabs from in-contact humans.

Knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use among small-scale poultry farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria.

This study examined the knowledge and practices regarding antibiotic use among small-scale poultry farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was employed to select 88 poultry farmers. The interview schedule was used for data collection.

Veterinary clinic surfaces as reservoirs of multi-drug- and biocide-resistant Gram-negative bacteria.

This cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the common Gram-negative bacteria (GNB) contaminating veterinary clinic environments, and to evaluate the susceptibility of the isolates to commonly used antibiotics and biocides. A total of 62 swab samples were collected from different frequently touched surfaces in the 4 veterinary clinics visited. The samples were processed for isolation and identification of GNB using standard microbiological procedures.

Peste des petits ruminants in Nigeria: identification and variations of lineage II and lineage IV in sheep and goats.

Peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) is the aetiologic agent of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), an important viral disease of sheep and goats. PPR is endemic in Nigeria and leads to social and economic losses. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of PPR infection and genetically characterize PPRV strains obtained from sheep and goats in three States of Southeast Nigeria.

Potential sources and characteristic occurrence of mobile colistin resistance () gene-harbouring bacteria recovered from the poultry sector: a literature synthesis specific to high-income countries.

Understanding the sources, prevalence, phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of gene-harbouring bacteria (MGHB) in the poultry sector is crucial to supplement existing information. Through this, the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance (PMCR) could be tackled to improve food safety and reduce public health risks. Therefore, we conducted a literature synthesis of potential sources and characteristic occurrence of MGHB recovered from the poultry sector specific to the high-income countries (HICs).

Ultra-fast fiber Bragg grating inscription in CYTOP polymer optical fibers using phase mask and 400 nm femtosecond laser.

Fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in cyclic transparent fluoropolymer (CYTOP) optical fiber are the subject of a lot of research as they can be of interest for many applications, such as temperature, humidity, strain, and radiation sensing. We report here a new technique to produce high quality FBGs in CYTOP fiber. It uses a femtosecond laser system operating at 400 nm and a phase mask.

800 nm femtosecond pulses for direct inscription of FBGs in CYTOP polymer optical fiber.

We report the inscription of highly reflective fiber Bragg gratings in perfluorinated polymer (CYTOP) optical fibers using 800 nm femtosecond pulses and a line-by-line inscription method. We demonstrate that the energy for grating inscription without damage is below 27 nJ. After the writing process, we show that the grating reflectivity continues to rise for several hours.

Is Africa ready for mobile colistin resistance threat?

Antimicrobial resistance is a growing public health problem and a threat to effective treatment and prevention of an array of infections caused by bacteria. Africa is already faced with many socio-economic and health crises. Many countries in Africa can seldom boast of a standardized health care facility comparable to those in developed countries.

Reduction of the Adverse Impacts of Fungal Mycotoxin on Proximate Composition of Feed and Growth Performance in Broilers by Combined Adsorbents.

Synergistic interaction of adsorbents in reducing the adverse impacts of mycotoxin on performance and proximate composition of broiler feeds was investigated. Fungal growth was induced by sprinkling water on the feed. + bentonite, kaolin + bentonite or + kaolin adsorbent combinations (1.

Plasmonic sensors based on tilted Bragg gratings in multicore optical fibers.

Bare and gold-coated tilted fiber Bragg gratings (TFBGs) can nowadays be considered as a mature technology for volume and surface refractometric sensing, respectively. As for other technologies, a continuous effort is made towards the production of even more sensitive sensors, thereby enabling a high-resolution screening of the surroundings and the possible detection of rare events. To this aim, we study in this work the development of TFBG refractometers in 4-core fibers.

Isolation and characterisation of colistin-resistant Enterobacterales from chickens in Southeast Nigeria.

Objectives: Resistance to colistin (CST) mediated by mobile genetic elements has had a broad impact worldwide. There is an intensified call for epidemiological surveillance of mcr in different reservoirs to preserve CST for future generations. In Nigeria, the poultry industry is a key livestock sector.

Prevalence and Traits of Mobile Colistin Resistance Gene Harbouring Isolates from Different Ecosystems in Africa.

The mobile colistin resistance () gene threatens the efficacy of colistin (COL), a last-line antibiotic used in treating deadly infections. For more than six decades, COL is used in livestock around the globe, including Africa. The use of critically important antimicrobial agents, like COL, is largely unregulated in Africa, and many other factors militate against effective antimicrobial stewardship in the continent.

Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli isolates from frugivorous (Eidolon helvum) and insectivorous (Nycteris hispida) bats in Southeast Nigeria, with detection of CTX-M-15 producing isolates.

Thirty-five Escherichia coli isolates obtained from the liver, spleen and intestines of 180 frugivorous and insectivorous bats were investigated for antimicrobial resistance phenotypes/genotypes, prevalence of Extended-Spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) production, virulence gene detection and molecular typing. Eight (22.9 %) of the isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR).

Comparison of colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification kit and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in the diagnosis of peste des petits ruminants in sheep and goats in Southeast Nigeria.

Background And Aim: Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is an acute, extremely contagious transboundary viral disease of small ruminants with severe economic consequences, caused by PPR virus. Cost-effective and rapid diagnosis of the disease is essential for prompt management and control. This study aimed to compare the application of a commercial colorimetric loop-mediated isothermal amplification (cLAMP) kit and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in the diagnosis of PPR in sheep and goats in Southeast Nigeria.