ANNE O. ITEMIRE

Herbal mixtures are widely consumed in many developing countries due to their perceived therapeutic benefits, affordability, and accessibility. However, poor preparation and storage practices increase the risk of microbial contamination. This study aims to isolate and identify the microorganisms present in selected herbal mixtures sold at Uselu, New Benin and Ring Road Market in Benin City, Edo state. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on herbal preparations collected from the three major markets. Microbiological assessment was performed to determine bacterial load and isolate species. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out using standard disc diffusion techniques, and statistical analyses were applied to evaluate differences across dosage forms and locations. The overall mean bacterial load was 7.92 × 10⁷ CFU/ml. Powdered forms exhibited the highest mean load (1.33 × 10⁸ CFU/ml), followed by liquid forms (6.53 × 10⁷ CFU/ml), while paste formulations showed no detectable growth. Variations across dosage forms (p = 0.331) and market locations (p > 0.05) were not statistically significant. Bacillus subtilis was the most prevalent isolate (8 occurrences), followed by Klebsiella spp. (3), Bacillus cereus (2), and Staphylococcus aureus (2), with Pseudomonas aeruginosa identified once. Antibiotic susceptibility revealed complete sensitivity to Azithromycin and Levofloxacin (100%) and high sensitivity to Pefloxacin (76.5%). Moderate sensitivity was recorded for Gentamycin, Rifampicin, and Erythromycin (52.9%), while reduced activity was observed for Zidovudine (29.4%) and
Ampicillin (41.2%). Amoxicillin showed the lowest effectiveness, with resistance in 82.4% of isolates, confirmed by its minimal inhibition zone (4.41 ± 2.38 mm). The strongest inhibition zones were produced by Levofloxacin (19.06 ± 1.32 mm) and Azithromycin (16.94 ± 1.68 mm). In Conclusion, Locally marketed herbal mixtures in Benin City were found to harbor diverse bacterial contaminants, predominantly Bacillus subtilis. Although no significant differences were observed across dosage forms or market locations, the presence of pathogenic bacteria and high resistance to commonly used antibiotics such as Amoxicillin emphasizes it’s potential health risks.

Tomato spoilage results from adverse changes in quality driven by biological and physical factors, including microbial activity and mechanical damage. Globally, about one-third of tomato produce is lost before reaching consumers due to physical damage (e.g., bruises, mechanical breakage) and microbial activity from fungi and bacteria. This study was aimed at evaluating the fungi spoilage of tomatoes. Standard microbiological methods were used to determine the total fungal count of the samples. The fungi isolates were characterized and identified using morphological and cultural methods. The findings from this study revealed a high fungal burden in tomatoes sold across the surveyed markets, with total counts ranging from 9.0 × 10 4 to 14.0 × 10 4 cfu/g. Using the standard cultural, morphological characterization, the fungi isolates obtained in this study were Aspergillus niger, Fusarium spp., Rhizopus spp., Alternaria spp., Penicillium citrinum, Cladosporium spp. The in vitro and in vivo pathogenicity assessments confirmed that many of the isolates were not merely surface contaminants but active spoilage agents. Most of the fungi demonstrated strong pathogenicity on inoculated tomatoes, a finding that correlates with their hemolytic activity on blood agar. Antifungal susceptibility testing revealed variable resistance profiles among the isolates. While some fungi were inhibited by antifungal agents such as voriconazole and fluconazole, others displayed low sensitivity to drugs like nystatin and ketoconazole. The findings therefore emphasize the urgent need for integrated postharvest management strategies that combine proper handling, improved storage, strict hygiene practices, and the adoption of eco-friendly control methods.

The rising prevalence of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) highlights the urgent need for alternative antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill kinetics of ethanol and aqueous extracts of Hibiscus sabdariffa calyces against multidrug resistant UPEC isolates before and after plasmid curing. Antibacterial activity was determined using agar well diffusion, MIC and MBC by broth dilution, and time-kill assays by plate count method. The ethanol extract consistently showed stronger antibacterial activity than the aqueous extract, with lower MIC and MBC values and faster bacterial elimination in time-kill assays. Plasmid curing enhanced the susceptibility of UPEC to both extracts. Conclusively, Hibiscus sabdariffa, particularly the ethanol extract, demonstrated promising antibacterial potential against MDR UPEC, warranting further studies on dosage, and safety.

Gastrointestinal parasites pose significant threats to the health and productivity of goat populations, particularly in rural settings. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and impact of gastrointestinal parasites in goats at selected abattoirs in Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria. A total of 200 goat fecal samples were obtained from goats across two selected abattoirs located in New Benin and Aduwawa markets within Benin City. These comprised 100 samples each from New Benin and Aduwawa abattoirs, with 20 fecal samples obtained from Red Sokoto goats and 80 fecal samples from West African Long-legged goats in each abattoir. Ethical approval was obtained, and informed consent was secured from all involved parties before the commencement of sample collection. The samples were examined microscopically using direct wet mount and formalin-ethyl acetate concentration techniques to detect gastrointestinal parasite. Key findings revealed a high overall prevalence of 82.5%, with Eimeria spp. (49.5%), Haemonchus spp. (48.5%), and Strongyloides papillosus (48.0%) being the most frequently identified parasites. Significant breed-related differences were observed, with Red Sokoto goats exhibiting a higher prevalence of Strongyloides papillosus at 85.0% compared to 38.8% in West African Long-Legged goats. Statistical analyses highlighted significant associations between market environment and the prevalence of Haemonchus spp, as well as breed differences in susceptibility to various parasites. The prevalence rates identified in this study emphasize the urgent need for effective management and control strategies to combat gastrointestinal parasitism in goat populations within the region. The findings emphasize the necessity for integrated animal health initiatives aimed at improving livestock management practices and enhancing overall animal productivity, consequently improving the livelihoods of local farmers in Benin City.