THE BACTERIA QUALITY OF THE INDIGENOUSLY FERMENTED MILK PRODUCT – NONO’ IN MAIDUGURI MUNICIPALITY NIGERIA

Fifty samples of “nono”, a fermented milk product akin to yoghurt, were carefully collected from three markets in Maiduguri municipality and were examined for the presence of pathogenic bacteria. Twenty-eight percent of the sample were found to be contaminated with aciduric pathogenic bacteria that may cause milk-borne disease equally in consumers. Fourteen percent of the isolated were positives for Escherichia coli. The percent for Staphylococcus aureas, and four percent Streptococcus pyogenes. Thirty-six samples showed no growth of any pathogenic bacteria. It is hoped that as peri-urban and rural diary cattle get more veterinary service and the women manufacturing ‘nono’ employ better hygienic measure, the future ‘nono’ would be a more wholesome product, free from any pathogenic bacteria of public health significance. By then, the Maiduguri ‘nono’ would have achieved international recognition

Role of Homeopathy in Epidemics: Paving Way for a Plausible Solution in the Management of COVID-19/SARS-CoV-2 Infection

The emergence and spread of the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) from Wuhan, China, has become a global threat. The high infectivity and drastic outcomes have made this a paramount health concern. Effective therapy or vaccine to arrest the progress has still not been proved. Homeopathy has a long reputation and evidence of intervening in several epidemic situations, notably the recent influenza. Symptoms-based personalised approach makes it more precise to treat patients. The symptom complex presented by several patients suffering from the COVID-19 can help to select the genus epidemicus, one or few medicine/s to treat and prevent the epidemic. A proper hygienic measure and medication are sufficient to manage a large number of cases with mild symptoms. Severe cases with or without complications are an important concern and need critical management. A significant body of literature justifies the consideration of homeopathy in this situation. A conceptual framework may be drawn to integrate homeopathy with standard therapy to find a better treatment plan. Keeping the symptoms and existing evidence in consideration, some medicines may be proposed for further trials, treatment and prevention plan.

Seroprevalence and B1 gene Phylogeny of Toxoplasma gondii of Dogs and Cats in Republic of Korea

The outbreak of human toxoplasmosis can be attributed to ingestion of food contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii. Toxoplasmosis recently increased in domestic and stray dogs and cats. It prompted studies on the zoonotic infectious diseases transmitted via these animals. Sero- and antigen prevalences of T. gondii in dogs and cats were surveyed using ELISA and PCR, and B1 gene phylogeny was analyzed in this study. Toxoplasmosis antibodies were measured on sera of 403 stray cats, 947 stray dogs, 909 domestic cats, and 2,412 domestic dogs collected at nationwide regions, Korea from 2017 to 2019. In addition, whole blood, feces, and tissue samples were also collected from stray cats (1,392), stray dogs (686), domestic cats (3,040), and domestic dogs (1,974), and T. gondii-specific B1 gene PCR was performed. Antibody prevalence of stray cats, stray dogs, domestic cats, and domestic dogs were 14.1%, 5.6%, 2.3%, and 0.04%, respectively. Antigen prevalence of these animals was 0.5%, 0.2%, 0.1%, and 0.4%, respectively. Stray cats revealed the highest infection rate of toxoplasmosis, followed by stray dogs, domestic cats, and domestic dogs. B1 gene positives were 5 of stray cats, and identified to high/moderate pathogenic Type I/III group. These findings enforce that preventive hygienic measure should be strengthened at One Health level in dogs and cats, domestic and stray, to minimize human toxoplasmosis infections.

Studies on food safety of melon in its food supply chain

Food safety is an important issue in the food supply chain and food trad. Since unsafe food will cause serious health problems. Melons may contaminate with bacteria, viruses or parasites. Findings of studies indicating that pathogens may transfer from the skin to the flesh of the fruit while fruit cutting. Salmonella, Listeria, Norovirus, and E. coli can easily multiply on the flesh which is low in acidity when temperature is ambient. Thus, consumption of melon in the past considered a reason of illness outbreaks. To reduce the possibility of illness, personnel and kitchen hygiene should be strictly considered during the preparation of melons for consumption. So that, it is important to take care of hygienic measure such as sufficiently large and clean working areas, clean hands, clean knives and chopping boards. These apparently simple of hygiene rules are more important since a small dose of pathogens can cause a serious infection and illness. Further, recommending to food retail stores, catering businesses and households to cut up a quantity that they can eat in a serve, and/or can sell within two hours. Households should quickly eat melons after cutting up or put in the refrigerator as quickly as possible. Cut melons which are unrefrigerated for longer time or exposed to direct sun light, should not be eaten. More attention should be given to people who are vulnerable, including, sick persons, elderly as well as small children and pregnant women.

SWIMMING POOL USERS AND URINATION

The modern way of life means a quick pace that carries a tremendous amount of stress, irregular diet and lack of physical activity, which poses a health risk. For this reason, the World Health Organization recommends physical activity of at least 30 minutes a day which can be, among others, achieved using the pool. Only safe swimming pool water can provide users with all the benefits of its use, which will lead to overall health improvement. Although microbiological hazards pose the greatest danger to the health, chemical risks, as a result of unhygienic user behavior, should not be neglected since they can lead to a reduced effect of disinfection. The presence of urine in the pool water leads to a chemical reaction between nitrogen compounds from the urine and chlorine-based disinfectant, which creates chloramines which are the prerequisite for the occurrence of by-products of disinfection. As a result of their presence, the pool users may experience irritation of respiratory tract, skin and eyes. Our study was designed to determine the presence of urination during the use of the pool and examine the regularity of using the toilet before entering the pool. The survey was conducted on 1,506 respondents, divided into two age groups. In the age group of 12 to 15 years there were 380 respondents and in the age group of 18 to 25 years, 1,126 participants. Data of our study show that 27.0% of respondents had at least one episode of urination inside the pool. At least one episode of urination inside the pool had nearly one third of respondents aged 12 to 15 years (30.2%) and every fourth respondent in age group 18 to 25 years (25.9%). Of the total number of respondents in our research, 59.5% considered that the use of the toilet before entering the pool is very important hygienic measure. Hygienic significance of this measure identified 41.5% of the respondents in age group 12 to 15 years and 65.7% of respondents aged 18 to 25 years. In relation to the regularity of use, the results of our survey show that 50.5% of respondents, or half of our respondents, regularly use the toilet before entering the pool. In the age group 12 to 15 years hygienic measure regularly applied 35.7% of respondents. A significantly higher percentage of regular use of this hygienic measure, but still not sufficiently high, was recorded in the age group of 18 to 25 years (55.5%). The results of our study lead to conclusion that urination inside the pool is present as a form of unhygienic behavior of pool users, which represents a public health problem. Since the younger age group, from 12 to 15 years, showed a higher degree of risk-taking behavior, fundamental and continuous education on the importance of implementation of hygiene measures when using the pool is necessary. Code of conduct in the context of sports facilities, which include the swimming pools, should start since an early age. Learning about forms of behavior in public places and public sports facilities begins in the family and later continues throughout schooling. Health education is a part of the general culture of every individual, regardless of gender, age, education and standard.

APLICAÇÃO DO SISTEMA HAZARD ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS (HACCP) NO PROCESSAMENTO DE CARNE BOVINA FRESCA

Apresenta breve discussão sobre proposta de implementação do sistema HACCP em unidades de processamento de carne bovina fresca. Tratandose de produto altamente perecível e apresentando condições favoráveis ao desenvolvimento microbiano, a carne bovina é freqüentemente considerada como veículo de doenças transmitidas por alimentos. Conclui que a utilização adequada de medidas higiênicas e de conservação é importante na garantia da qualidade microbiológica, química e física das diferentes etapas de obtenção da carne bovina fresca. APPLICATION OF THE HAZARD ANALYSIS AND CRITICAL CONTROL POINTS (HACCP) SYSTEM IN THE FRESH MEAT PROCESSING Abstract This article presents a brief discussion upon the purpose of HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) in the fresh meat processing. Due to be a product highly perishable and presenting favorable conditions to microorganisms development, the cattle meat is usually considered as vehicule of food transmitted diseases. Concludes that the improvement of processing conditions, utilization of hygienic measure and conservation is very important in the safety of microbiological, chemical and physical quality of the obtention stages of fresh meat.