Heterotrophic bacteria in drinking water: evaluating antibiotic resistance and the presence of virulence genes.

Heterotrophic bacteria, impacting those with infections or compromised immunity, pose heightened health risks when resistant to antibiotics. This study investigates heterotrophic plate count bacteria in water from North West-C (NWC) and North West-G (NWG) facilities, revealing prevalent β-hemolysis (NWC 82.5%, NWG 86.

Plant-derived nanoparticles as alternative therapy against Diarrheal pathogens in the era of antimicrobial resistance: A review.

Diarrhea is a condition in which feces is discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form. It is one of the frequent causes of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. The impact of Diarrhea is worsened by the increasing incidence of antimicrobial resistance among the causative agents, and this is now categorized as a global healthcare challenge.

Evidence of Virulent Multi-Drug Resistant and Biofilm-Forming Species Isolated from Various Sources in South Africa.

Listeriosis is a foodborne disease caused by Listeria monocytogenes species and is known to cause severe complications, particularly in pregnant women, young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals. The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Listeria species in food and water using both biochemical and species-specific PCR analysis. L.

Combating Bovine Mastitis in the Dairy Sector in an Era of Antimicrobial Resistance: Ethno-veterinary Medicinal Option as a Viable Alternative Approach.

Bovine mastitis (BM) is the traditional infectious condition in reared cattle which may result in serious repercussions ranging from animal welfare to economic issues. Owing to the high costs associated with preventative practices and therapeutic measures, lower milk output, and early culling, bovine mastitis is accountable for most of the financial losses suffered in cattle farming. and coliform bacteria are the predominant pathogens for bovine mastitis.

Bulbous Plants : "A Thin Line between Poisonous and Healing Compounds" with Biological Activities.

(synonym ) plants are bulbous plants belonging to the family Asparagaceae (formerly the family Hyacinthaceae) and are distinctive, powerful medicinal plants. Just some species are indigenous to South Africa and have been traditionally utilized for centuries to cure various diseases and/or ailments. They have been recognized among the most famous and used medicinal plants in South Africa.

Evidence of potentially unrelated AmpC beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae from cattle, cattle products and hospital environments commonly harboring the blaACC resistance determinant.

The occurrence and genetic relatedness of AmpC beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae isolated from clinical environments, groundwater, beef, human and cattle faeces were investigated. One hundred seventy-seven (177) samples were collected and cultured on MacConkey agar. A total of 203 non-repetitive isolates were characterised using genus/species-specific PCRs and the identified isolates were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing.

Seasonal Variation in Antimicrobial Activity of Crude Extracts of sp. 1 from Phillips Reef, South Africa.

Marine invertebrates constitute a diverse group of marine organisms beneficial to humanity due to their therapeutic significance. The marine sponge species sp. 1 was collected from Philips Reef, South Africa, over a four-season period and assayed for antimicrobial potential.

Antimicrobial Potential and Phytochemical Screening of sp. 1 and () Sponge Crude Extracts Obtained from the South East Coast of South Africa.

Scientists have continuously searched for novel bioactive compounds to overcome the inherent problems associated with drug resistance, the evolution of unknown diseases, and the toxicity of currently used compounds. The ocean has been considered a rich source of compounds that possess unique chemical structures and novel biological capabilities. Biologically active molecules isolated from marine flora and fauna have shown significant advancement over the past century in the pharmaceutical industry.

Occurrence of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria and Genes in Two Drinking Water Treatment and Distribution Systems in the North-West Province of South Africa.

With the increasing spread of antimicrobial resistance, there is growing attention to the contribution made by drinking water systems. The potential health impact of two drinking water treatment and distribution systems (A and B) in the North-West Province of South Africa was determined by investigating the water quality and occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant heterotrophic bacteria and genes in the raw and treated water over four seasons. Most of the physicochemical parameters except for electrical conductivity were within permissible limits.

Characterisation of Species from Surface and Drinking Water Sources and Assessment of Biocontrol Potentials of Their Bacteriophages.

The aim of this study was to characterise species of water samples collected from taps, boreholes, and dams in the North West province, South Africa, and assess biocontrol potentials of their bacteriophages. Fifty-seven putative isolates were obtained on thiosulfate-citrate-bile-salt-sucrose agar and identified using biochemical tests and species-specific PCRs. Isolates were further characterised based on the presence of virulence factors, susceptibility to eleven antibiotics, and biofilm formation potentials.

Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Gene Characteristics of Methicillin-Resistant (MRSA) Isolated from Healthy Edible Marine Fish.

Thirty-three (33) isolates of methicillin-resistant (MRSA) from healthy edible marine fish harvested from two aquaculture settings and the Kariega estuary, South Africa, were characterised in this study. The phenotypic antimicrobial susceptibility profiles to 13 antibiotics were determined, and their antibiotic resistance determinants were assessed. A multiplex PCR was used to determine the epidemiological groups based on the type of SCC carriage followed by the detection of staphylococcal enterotoxin-encoding genes - and the Panton Valentine leucocidin gene ().

Listeriosis Outbreak in South Africa: A Comparative Analysis with Previously Reported Cases Worldwide.

species are Gram-positive, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic bacteria, which do not produce endospores. The genus, , currently comprises 17 characterised species of which only two ( and ) are known to be pathogenic to humans. Food products and related processing environments are commonly contaminated with pathogenic species.

Antibiotic Sensitivity Profiling and Virulence Potential of Isolates from Estuarine Water in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

is a zoonotic microbe and a major causative organism of diarrheal infection in humans that often has its functional characteristics inactivated in stressed conditions. The current study assessed the correlation between recovered and water quality parameters and the drug sensitivity patterns of the pathogen to frontline antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine. Water samples ( = 244) from rivers/estuarines were collected from April⁻September 2016, and physicochemical conditions were recorded on-site.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Non-Cholera Vibrios Isolated from Farmed and Wild Marine Fish (Argyrosomus japonicus), Implications for Public Health.

This study aimed to evaluate the antibiogram and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of Vibrio isolates recovered from a marine fish (Argyrosomus japonicus) and water samples from two commercial dusky kob aquaculture farms and the Kariega estuary, South Africa, and to evaluate these findings for their public health implications. A total of 277 molecularly confirmed Vibrio isolates consisting of 126 Vibrio fluvialis, 45 Vibrio vulnificus, 30 Vibrio Parahaemolyticus, and 76 vibrios belonging to species of the genus other than Vibrio cholerae were subjected to susceptibility testing to 15 antibiotics by the disc diffusion method. Multiple antibiotic resistance index (MARI) was used to determine the antibiotic resistance-associated health risk, while polymerase chain reaction was used to evaluate the presence of 14 ARGs for nonsusceptible strains.

Occurrence of Virulence Genes Associated with Human Pathogenic Vibrios Isolated from Two Commercial Dusky Kob (Argyrosmus japonicus) Farms and Kareiga Estuary in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.

: Seafood-borne infections, often linked to contaminated seafood and water, are of increasing global public health concern. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of human pathogenic vibrios and their associated virulence genes isolated from fish and water samples from 2 commercial dusky kob farms and Kareiga estuary, South Africa. : A total of 200 samples including dusky kob fish ( = 120) and seawater ( = 80) were subjected to screening on thiosulfate-citrate-bile salts-sucrose agar (TCBS).

Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Recreational Waters and Beach Sand in Eastern Cape Province of South Africa.

: Resistance of to commonly used antibiotics is linked to their ability to acquire and disseminate antimicrobial-resistant determinants in nature, and the marine environment may serve as a reservoir for antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This study determined the antibiotic sensitivity profile of isolated from selected beach water and intertidal beach sand in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. : Two hundred and forty-nine beach sand and water samples were obtained from 10 beaches from April 2015 to April 2016.