O.I. Enabulele

Rabbit gastrointestinal tracts harbour a variety of bacteria that are shed in stool and some are beneficial while others are pathogenic. Fifteen (15) rabbit stool samples were collected from three different farms (University of Benin farm, Okene Farm and Animal house) with sterile universal bottles and samples were immediately transported to the laboratory for bacteriological analysis. Total heterotrophic bacterial counts and culture were carried out using standard microbiological techniques. Bacterial identification was also carried out using selective media and various biochemical tests. Phenotypic virulence factors (haemolysin, gelatinase production, serum resistance and capsule formation assays) were carried out on the bacterial isolates. Antibiotic susceptibility was carried out using the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar. Results showed that Animal House had the highest bacterial load (12.9 × 10⁶ ± 1.4 CFU/g) while University of Benin Farm the lowest (2.1 × 10⁶ ± 1.4 CFU/g) (p < 0.001). The bacteria isolated include, Lactobacillus sp. (26%), Neisseria sp. (20%), Staphylococcus aureus (20%), Bacillus sp. (13%), Escherichia coli (13%) and Salmonella sp. (6%). Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus sp., E. coli, and Salmonella sp. exhibited β-haemolysis, gelatinase activity, serum resistance and capsule formation, while Lactobacillus sp. and Neisseria sp. lacked these virulence factors. All isolates were susceptible to levofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, rifampicin and ceftazidime but resistant to gentamicin, cefuroxime, streptomycin, azithromycin, amoxicillin and erythromycin. Rabbit stool contains both commensal and opportunistic pathogens carrying resistant bacteria.

All living things need water and rivers constitute one of the most important sources of water for domestic, industrial and agricultural activities. This study was carried out to evaluate the physicochemical properties and prevalence of pathogenic bacteria in Ogbese River, Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State. Water samples (twenty-four) were collected from 12 stations at Ogbese Town, and another 12 stations at Olumoye towns along Ogbese river course during the months of June to December, 2018 and February 2019. Bacteriological analysis involving membrane filtration and multiple tube fermentation techniques were employed to isolate bacterial pathogens. Extraction of genomic DNA, amplification, sequencing and blasting were used to identify bacterial isolates. Antibiogram and curing of bacterial isolates were performed using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Hemolysin production, serum resistance, Sereny test, Ileal loop assay and suckling mouse tests were carried out on the bacterial isolates. The physicochemical parameters and heavy metals analyses were evaluated using standard methods for water quality. Data were analysed using analysis of variance and unpaired Student’s t test.