scholarly journals Municipal Wastewater Effluents as a Source of Listerial Pathogens in the Aquatic Milieu of the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa: A Concern of Public Health Importance

2010 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 2376-2394 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuel E.O. Odjadjare ◽  
Larry C. Obi ◽  
Anthony I. Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Wastewater Effluents

scholarly journals Molecular Detection and Distribution of Six Medically Important Vibrio spp. in Selected Freshwater and Brackish Water Resources in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oluwatayo E. Abioye ◽  
Ayodeji Charles Osunla ◽  
Anthony I. Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Brackish Water ◽  
Water Samples ◽  
Vibrio Vulnificus ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Public Health Importance

Water resources contaminated with pathogenic Vibrio species are usually a source of devastating infection outbreaks that have been a public health concern in both developed and developing countries over the decades. The present study assessed the prevalence of six medically significant Vibrio species in some water resources in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa for 12 months. We detected vibrios in all the 194 water samples analyzed using polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The prevalence of Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio mimicus, Vibrio fluvialis, Vibrio vulnificus, Vibrio alginolyticus, and Vibrio parahaemolyticus in freshwater samples was 34, 19, 9, 2, 3, and 2%, and that in brackish water samples was 44, 28, 10, 7, 46, and 51%, respectively. The population of the presumptive Vibrio spp. isolated from freshwater (628) and brackish water (342) samples that were confirmed by PCR was 79% (497/628) and 85% (291/342), respectively. Twenty-two percent of the PCR-confirmed Vibrio isolates from freshwater (n = 497) samples and 41% of the PCR-confirmed Vibrio isolates from brackish water samples (n = 291) fall among the Vibrio species of interest. The incidences of V. cholerae, V. mimicus, V. fluvialis, V. vulnificus, V. alginolyticus, and V. parahaemolyticus amidst these Vibrio spp. of interest that were recovered from freshwater samples were 75, 14, 4, 6, 1, and 1%, whereas those from brackish water samples were 24, 7, 3, 3, 47, and 18%, respectively. Our observation during the study suggests pollution as the reason for the unusual isolation of medically important vibrios in winter. Correlation analysis revealed that temperature drives the frequency of isolation, whereas salinity drives the composition of the targeted Vibrio species at our sampling sites. The finding of the study is of public health importance going by the usefulness of the water resources investigated. Although controlling and preventing most of the factors that contribute to the prevalence of medically important bacteria, such as Vibrio species, at the sampling points might be difficult, regular monitoring for creating health risk awareness will go a long way to prevent possible Vibrio-related infection outbreaks at the sampling sites and their immediate environment.

scholarly journals Incidence and Molecular Characterization of Hepatitis E Virus from Swine in Eastern Cape, South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusesan Adeyemi Adelabu ◽  
Benson Chuks Iweriebor ◽  
U. U. Nwodo ◽  
Larry Chikwelu Obi ◽  
Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Hepatitis E Virus ◽  
Hepatitis E ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
The World ◽  
Low Incidence

Hepatitis E virus-mediated infection is a serious public health concern in economically developing nations of the world. Globally, four major genotypes of HEV have been documented. Hepatitis E has been suggested to be zoonotic owing to the increase of evidence through various studies. Thus far, this paper reports on prevalence of hepatitis E virus among swine herd in selected communal and commercial farms in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa. A total of 160 faecal samples were collected from swine herds in Amathole and Chris Hani District Municipalities of Eastern Cape Province for the presence of HEV. Of the 160 faecal samples screened, only seven were positive (4.4%) for HEV. The nucleotide sequences analyses revealed the isolates as sharing 82% to 99% identities with other strains (KX896664, KX896665, KX896666, KX896667, KX896668, KX896669, and KX896670) from different regions of the world. We conclude that HEV is present among swine in the Eastern Cape Province, albeit in low incidence, and this does have public health implications. There is a need for maintenance of high hygienic standards in order to prevent human infections through swine faecal materials and appropriate cooking of pork is highly advised.

scholarly journals Detection of Carbapenem-Resistance Genes in Klebsiella Species Recovered from Selected Environmental Niches in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

Antibiotics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 425
Author(s):  
Kingsley Ehi Ebomah ◽  
Anthony Ifeanyi Okoh
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Resistance Genes ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽  
Carbapenem Resistance ◽  
Eastern Cape Province ◽  
Eastern Cape ◽  
Klebsiella Species ◽  
Antimicrobial Resistance Genes ◽  
Klebsiella Spp

Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) have been heavily linked to hospital acquired infections (HAI) thereby leading to futility of antibiotics in treating infections and this have complicated public health problems. There is little knowledge about carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella spp. (CPK) in South Africa. This study aimed at determining the occurrence of CPK in different samples collected from selected environmental niches (hospitals, wastewater treatment plants, rivers, farms) in three district municipalities located in the Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Molecular identification and characterization of the presumptive isolates were determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and isolates that exhibited phenotypic carbapenem resistance were further screened for the possibility of harbouring antimicrobial resistance genes. One hundred (43%) of the 234 confirmed Klebsiella spp. isolates harboured carbapenem-resistance genes; 10 isolates harboured blaOXA-48-like; 17 harboured blaKPC; and 73 isolates harboured blaNDM-1. The emergence of blaKPC, blaOXA-48-like, and blaNDM-1 carbapenem-resistance genes in Klebsiella species associated with environmental sources is of great concern to public health.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document