Total Aerobic Microbial Count Research Articles

Microbial assessment of commercial pet foods marketed in the United Arab Emirates

Examining the microbiological characteristics of pet food is imperative to safeguard the health and well-being of companion animals, pet owners, and the surrounding environment. Domestic animals, known for carrying harmful microorganisms, pose a significant health risk, especially in close proximity to people and children. Notably, no studies have previously investigated pet food quality in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, in particular, the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This study examined the microbiological quality of all stock keeping units (SKUs) of pet foods marketed in UAE (n = 118). Parameters assessed include Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC), Enterobacteriaceae, Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC), Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, and Clostridium species. Among the 118 samples, 33 (28%) exceeded the acceptable TAMC limit of 106 CFU/g, highlighting significant variations based on manufacturers and ingredients. Eight samples (7%) surpassed the maximum Enterobacteriaceae limit of 3 × 102 CFU/g. TYMC levels exhibited variation, with 33 (28%) exceeding the limit of 104 CFU/g. L. monocytogenes was identified in 44 (37%) of the samples, while Salmonella was not detected. Clostridium contamination was observed in 28 (24%) of the samples. Statistical analyses revealed associations between pet food characteristics and microbial quality, underscoring the imperative for international standards to ensure the safety of pet food. These findings carry significant implications for pet owners, regulatory bodies, and the pet food industry, emphasizing the need for ongoing efforts to enhance the overall quality and safety of pet food products.

Microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations in various pharmacopoeias: a global scenario.

A pharmacopoeia is a compendium of guidelines and criteria for drug quality. It was established by a national or regional entity and has legal significance. This applies to administration of drugs in a particular nation or region. In this study, the differences and similarities of microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications for microbial enumeration of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations in 14 national and international pharmacopeias were investigated. It was found that 12 pharmacopeias have given separate microbial limits for total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC), and a list of specified microorganisms for which acceptance criteria are defined. However, similarities were noticed in Ph.Eur, Ph. Helv and, BP. Salmonella, and Escherichia coli are the most common pathogens specified for herbal preparations in which boiling water is added prior to use and for internal use in all Pharmacopoeias because they serve as indicators of potential contamination. From this study, it can be concluded that the differences in microbial limit tests and their acceptance criteria as specified in the various pharmacopoeias need to be harmonized. It will become a more convenient option for global drug manufacturers to import/export herbal drugs, and this would also eliminate the burden of performing various analytical methods and comply with different microbial acceptance criteria set by various pharmacopoeias. The comparative data obtained from this study will be used to develop strategies for revisions of pharmacopoeias in a harmonized manner with respect to microbiological acceptance criteria, specifications for microbial enumeration of herbal drugs and herbal drug preparations.

Assessment of House Cricket (Acheta domesticus) Meal for Nigerian Households

Over 100 million people in Africa are affected by protein malnutrition because they cannot afford conventional animal protein. The light yellowish-brown cricket (Acheta domesticus) is one of the cricket species preferred for mass rearing. The study was aimed at assessing the safety of the house cricket meal for human and animals’ consumption in Nigeria. Four house crickets were collected from the wild and reared in the animal house of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, Nigeria to produce several generations. Samples of adult and nymph house crickets were obtained from the stock and processed by sun-drying for three days and then analysed for microbial count. Samples of 10 g each were weighed and put in 90 ml of 4% tween 20 in 1 in 10 dilutions. Also, 10 ml was also measured aseptically and transferred to 90 ml of diluent in 1 in 100 bottle. The total aerobic microbial count for adult and nymph house cricket yielded growth with flat opaque colonies of Bacillus sp of 2430 cfu/g and 590cfu/g respectively. The mold count for the adult was 2470 cfu/g and 425 cfu/g for nymph respectively. House crickets sampled were free of diseasecausing microbes such as Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringes and yeast.

A Quality Assessment of Strawberry Nectar Stabilized by Thermal and High-Pressure Processing Conditions

This study is aimed at evaluating the quality of strawberry nectar following high-pressure processing (HPP) at different pressure levels (400, 500, and 600 MPa for 3 minutes) and thermal pasteurization (TT) at 75°C for 15 s. Key parameters include total colour difference ( Δ E ∗ ), aparent viscosity, colour analysis via CIELAB coordinates, and pH. Additionally, residual enzymatic activity (RA%) of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and peroxidase (POD) was measured. Strawberry nectar (12°Brix) was prepared and subjected to processing, with thermal treatment in 50 mL tubes and HPP in 40 mL polyethylene bags. Samples were stored under refrigeration during 21 days, with microbial analysis conducted to assess microbiological stability during storage. TT exhibited a more pronounced reduction in total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) compared to HPP, which showed no detectable yeast and mould. Apparent viscosity varied among samples, with HPP at 600 MPa displaying a significant increase of 52.1% compared to the control. The pseudoplastic behavior, characterized by n values lower than 1, was consistent across all treatments. TT led to a reduction in L ∗ brightness value during storage, whereas HPP-treated samples underwent colour changes over time with Δ E ∗ of 3.1 for 400 MPa, 3 minutes, at 21 days. For PPO and POD, the 600 MPa treatment exhibited the highest inhibition (44% and 4% RA, respectively). This comprehensive study provides insights into how different HPP processing conditions affect the quality attributes, enzymatic activity, and microbiological stability of strawberry nectar during production and refrigerated storage. The research’s significance lies in its holistic comparison of HPP with traditional thermal pasteurization, offering valuable information for both industry and consumers.

Effect of Gamma Irradiation on Cannabinoid, Terpene, and Moisture Content of Cannabis Biomass

In recent years, cannabis has been proposed and promoted not only as a medicine for the treatment of a variety of illnesses, but also as an industrial crop for different purposes. Being an agricultural product, cannabis inflorescences may be contaminated by environmental pathogens at high concentrations, which might cause health problems if not controlled. Therefore, limits have to be placed on the levels of aerobic bacteria as well as yeast and mold. To ensure the safety of cannabis plant material and related products, a remediation process has to be put in place. Gamma irradiation is a sterilization process mainly used for pharmaceuticals, foods, cosmetics, agricultural, and herbal products including cannabis plant material. This study was designed to determine the effect of irradiation on the microbial count as well as on the chemical and physical profiles of the cannabis biomass, particularly cannabinoids, terpenes, and moisture content. The full cannabinoid profile was measured by GC/FID and HPLC analysis, while terpene profile and moisture content were determined using GC/MS and Loss on Drying (LoD) methods, respectively. Analyses were conducted on the samples before and after gamma irradiation. The results showed that the minimum and maximum doses were 15 and 20.8 KiloGray (KGY), respectively. Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC) and Total Yeast and Mold Count (TYMC) were determined. The study showed that irradiation has no effect on the cannabinoids and little effect on terpenes and moisture content, but it did result in the virtual sterilization of the plant material, as evidenced by the low levels of bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (CFUs) < 10 after gamma irradiation.

Investigation of microbiological safety of dry cat foods marketed in Poland.

Pets are inhabiting more and more human homes every year. In 2020, the cat population in Europe was 110 million, including 6.8 million in Poland. Dry food is the most popular dietary model for cats because of its easy storage and efficient satisfaction of pet needs. The high processing temperature of dry food reduces the chance of microbial contamination, but this can occur later, during post-production or storage in the pet's caregiver's home or, in the case of weighed foods, in the store. The purpose of this study was to investigate the microbiological safety of dry feed sold in the original manufacturer's packaging and the same feed from the same manufacturers sold in a retail store by weight. Six discriminants, presence of Salmonella spp., number of coliforms, number of coagulase-positive staphylococci, determination of yeast and mould counts, Enterobacteriaceae count, Listeria monocytogenes and determination of total aerobic microbial count were used for the analysis. Then, cat food was then stored for 45 days according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Based on the samples tested both after opening and after storage, it was concluded that the dry cat food analyzed posed a law microbiological risk to animals and humans.

An evaluation of the quality of Annona muricata leaf products.

Annona muricata, also known as graviola, is traditionally used for the treatment of a range of disorders including cancer. Interest in A. muricata use has increased in recent years. This study investigated the quality and safety of a selection of commercially available A. muricata leaf products. Seven commercially available products were purchased via online shopping sites. Each product was assessed for quality indicators including weight variation, quantification of the bioactive constituent annonacin, presence of annonaceous acetogenins and contaminants. The samples were evaluated by thin-layer chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy, low-resolution mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Microbial analysis was carried out in accordance with the British Pharmacopoeia. Heavy metals were analysed by inductive coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Of the seven products analysed, one product contained less than half of the content stated on the label. The labelled dosage recommendation varied between products. There was a high variation in annonacin concentration (1.05-3.09 mg/g) and the presence of annonaceous acetogenins. One of the products was found to have a total aerobic microbial count above the United States Pharmacopoeia limit. The variation in the indicators of quality and safety of commercially available A. muricata leaf products tested have implications for clinicians and people living with cancer who use these herbal products.

The Influence of Biopolymer Coating Based on Pumpkin Oil Cake Activated with Mentha piperita Essential Oil on the Quality and Shelf-Life of Grape

This work aimed to determine the influence of biopolymer coatings based on pumpkin oil cake, with and without the addition of Mentha piperita essential oil, on the quality and shelf-life of the Afus Ali variety of grapes, stored at room temperature and in the refrigerator. Furthermore, a 10% (w/w) aqueous solution of composite pumpkin oil cake (PuOC) with the addition of 30% glycerol was prepared at 60 °C and pH 10. The active biopolymer coating was prepared similarly by adding 1% (v/v) Mentha piperita essential oil. The quality of packed grapes was tested by determining the dry matter content, total sugar content, total acidity, alcohol content, total phenolic compounds content, and total flavonoid content, as well as by determining the antioxidant activity, through the application of the DPPH, FRAP and ABTS tests. Additionally, microbiological parameters were investigated: total aerobic microbial count, yeasts, and molds. The obtained results proved that in all tested samples, over a certain period of time, the content of dry matter, content of phenolic and flavonoids substances and sugar content decreased as a consequence of the spoilage of grapes, that is, the consumption of sugar for the production of alcohol, which consequently leads to the total acidity increasing. The application of lower storage temperatures and active coating (with Mentha piperita essential oil) had a positive effect on all inevitable reactions. Grapes’ antioxidant potential may be enhanced or maintained by applying PuOC coating with or without Mentha piperita essential oil, which is best observed in the case of the DPPH test. The uncoated sample stored at room temperature had the largest decrease in DPPH values during storage, with changes ranging from 2.119 mg/g to 1.471 μmol mg/g. The samples, coated with PuOC and PuOC with the addition of essential oil, had uniform DPPH values throughout the entire storage period. Additionally, regarding phenolic content, at the end of storage period the highest phenolic content was observed in samples with active coating stored at room temperature (734.746 ± 2.462) and at refrigerator temperature (680.827 ± 0.448) compared with untreated samples and with samples with plain PuOC coating. The presence of active essential oil in the applied coating significantly affected the microbiological profile of grapes during the storage period. Besides the positive impact of the applied lower storage temperature, the effectiveness of the applied active packaging is even greater (microbiological results were in the order of PuOC+essential oil < PuOC < Control). The developed artificial neural networks were found to be adequate for modeling the microbiological profile, antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid content.

Investigation of microorganisms in cannabis after heating in a commercial vaporizer.

There are concerns about microorganisms present on cannabis materials used in clinical settings by individuals whose health status is already compromised and are likely more susceptible to opportunistic infections from microbial populations present on the materials. Most concerning is administration by inhalation where cannabis plant material is heated in a vaporizer, aerosolized, and inhaled to receive the bioactive ingredients. Heating to high temperatures is known to kill microorganisms including bacteria and fungi; however, microbial death is dependent upon exposure time and temperature. It is unknown whether the heating of cannabis at temperatures and times designated by a commercial vaporizer utilized in clinical settings will significantly decrease the microbial loads in cannabis plant material. To assess this question, bulk cannabis plant material supplied by National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) was used to assess the impact of heating by a commercial vaporizer. Initial method development studies using a cannabis placebo spiked with Escherichia coli were performed to optimize culture and recovery parameters. Subsequent studies were carried out using the cannabis placebo, low delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) potency and high THC potency cannabis materials exposed to either no heat or heating for 30 or 70 seconds at 190°C. Phosphate-buffered saline was added to the samples and the samples agitated to suspend the microorganism. Microbial growth after no heat or heating was evaluated by plating on growth media and determining the total aerobic microbial counts and total yeast and mold counts. Overall, while there were trends of reductions in microbial counts with heating, these reductions were not statistically significant, indicating that heating using standard vaporization parameters of 70 seconds at 190°C may not eliminate the existing microbial bioburden, including any opportunistic pathogens. When cultured organisms were identified by DNA sequence analyses, several fungal and bacterial taxa were detected in the different products that have been associated with opportunistic infections or allergic reactions including Enterobacteriaceae, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas, and Aspergillus.

Effect of Oat Hull as a Source of Insoluble Dietary Fibre on Changes in the Microbial Status of Gastrointestinal Tract in Broiler Chickens.

Simple SummaryThe aim of this study was to determine the effect of the addition of oat hull (0–3%) and high amounts of cereal grains to the diets of broiler chickens in terms of the development of the upper gastrointestinal tract, and individual microbial counts in the crop and ileum, and the effect of dietary fibre fractions on microbial changes from the beak to the ileum. The addition of 3% oat hull increased the weights of the proventriculus and gizzard, thereby improving the gizzard barrier function. The presence of dietary fibre and hemicelluloses in diets increased the total aerobic microbial count and Lactobacillus spp. bulk in the crop. The presence of insoluble dietary fibre in the diet decreased the total aerobic microbial count and increased the E. coli count in the crop. In the ileum, insoluble dietary fibre decreased the E. coli count and soluble dietary fibre decreased the total combined yeast and mould count.This study aimed to determine the effect of the addition of oat hull (0–3%) and high amounts of cereal grains to the diet of broiler chickens in terms of the development of the upper gastrointestinal tract, individual microbial counts in the crop and ileum, and the effect of dietary fibre fractions on microbial changes from the beak to the ileum. In the 28 d trial, 162 one-day-old Hubbard Flex male chickens with an average body weight of 44.5 g were randomly allocated to 27 metabolic cages. The experiment consisted of a randomised, one factorial ANCOVA design composed of a covariate with two ANOVA factorial designs containing nine treatments (3 × 3): three sources of cereal grains (maize, wheat, and barley, with a minimum amount of 500 g · kg−1, each with nine replications) and three levels of oat hull (0, 1, and 3%, each with nine replications). At the end of the study, 81 chickens (9 in each treatment) were slaughtered to determine the weight of the individual organs and characterise the intestinal microbiota. The application of 3% oat hull to the cereal diets increased the weight of the proventriculus and the gizzard (6.3 and 27.3 g, respectively) in comparison to diets without the addition of this structural component (6.0 and 23.7 g). Higher crop counts of total aerobic microbes (6.29 log CFU · g−1) and Lactobacillus spp. (4.05 log CFU · g−1) were observed in diets containing wheat grain compared with maize (4.62 and 3.55 log CFU · g−1, respectively). The main reason for the microorganism’s growth (p < 0.05) was the amount of soluble dietary fibre and hemicelluloses present in the diet: total aerobic microbial count (respectively r = 0.918 and r = 0.816) and Lactobacillus spp. (respectively r = 0.416 and r = 0.442). Barley diets decreased (p < 0.05) E. coli counts in the ileum (2.69 log CFU · g−1) vs. maize and wheat diets (3.41 and 3.45 log CFU · g−1, respectively), mainly due to the increase in the amount of insoluble dietary fibre in the diet (r = −0.462). Reduced total yeast and mould counts in the ileum were also observed (p < 0.05) in connection with the presence of soluble dietary fibre and hemicelluloses in diets (r = −0.397 and −0.398, respectively).

Microbiological safety of commercial canned and dry pet food products in Lebanon.

Estimating the microbiological quality of pet food is essential in providing healthy and safe foods to pets. The aim of this study was to assess the microbiological safety of pet food marketed in Lebanon, namely cat and dog products. To the best of our knowledge, no studies have been conducted in Lebanon nor the Middle East region with reference to pet food quality. Lebanese market was screened and a total of 165 dry and canned pet food products were identified, collected and analyzed for their load of total aerobic microbial count, Enterobacteriaceae species, yeasts and molds, and for the presence of Salmonella and Listeria species. Dry pet food products had higher contamination level compared to canned ones. In terms of non-conformity to the European commission regulations, out of the 165 brands, 11 (7%) had a total aerobic microbial count above 106 cfu/g, and 27 (16%) exceeded 3 × 102 cfu/g as a maximum limit of presumptive Enterobacteriaceae. Among the dry brands, 8 out of 66 (12%) had a contamination level of yeasts and molds above 104 cfu/g. Presumptive Salmonella spp. was detected in 68 (41%) and presumptive Listeria spp. in 106 (64%) of brands. These alarming results necessitates setting and monitoring microbiological standards for pet food in Lebanon. This study contributes as well to the building of a database for knowledge development regarding the potential contamination of pet food by the abovementioned microorganisms.

Levels of Deoxynivalenol and Aflatoxin Mycotoxins in Grains in Some Markets of Makurdi Metropolis, Nigeria

This study aimed to estimate deoxynivalenol (DON) and total aflatoxin in two varieties of millet, sorghum and maize, in some markets of Makurdi metropolis, North-Central, Nigeria using direct competitive Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. Moisture content, total aerobic microbial count, mould count, Coliform and Escherichia coli were determined using standard analytical methods. Moisture content profile of 9.5032 to 12.9940% (sorghum), 9.5932 to 12.3604% (maize) and 9.0279 to 12.4108% (millet) was considered relatively high. Proliferation of total aerobic microbial count was observed in the samples across the sampling points. Mycotoxins under study were detected in all samples across the sampling points. Whereas total aflatoxins were within permissible limits, DON exceeded thresholds. It was also observed that, these grains were more susceptible to the fungus Fusarium species producer of DON than the producer of aflatoxin, thus susceptibility of the grains to fungus producer of DON was in the order: sorghum &gt; maize &gt; millet, whereas the susceptibility against the fungus producer or producers of total aflatoxin level was in the order: sorghum &gt; millet &gt; maize respectively. This in general, indicated microbial contamination of these cereals in the study location indicting farmers and marketers of poor hygienic handling and processing of the grains. Pearson’s 2-tailed correlation at 0.05 level of significance revealed strong correlation of deoxynivalenol with moisture content of grains across locations.

Determination of Deoxynivalenol and Total Aflatoxin Levels in Commonly Traded Grains in The Commercial City of Katsina-Ala North-Central Nigeria

This study determined the total aflatoxin and deoxynivalenol levels in grains traded in the commercial city of Katsina-Ala, North-Central Nigeria, from 300 samples obtained from 30 composites, of 10 different locations, using the direct competitive Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Moisture content, total aerobic microbial count, mould count, coliform and Escherichia coli were determined using standard analytical methods. Mycotoxins were detected in all samples across the study locations; total aflatoxin ranged from 2.30 to 8.4 ppb, which were within the maximum limits for aflatoxins, deoxynivalenol (DON) concentration ranged from 2,900.00 to 8,400.00 ppb that was above the maximum limits. Moisture was high in all samples with content ranging from 9.0279 to 12.3851 %, microbial contamination was observed on the grains. It was also observed that, these grains were more predisposed to DON than aflatoxin, thus vulnerability of the grains to DON was in the order: sorghum &gt; maize &gt; millet, whereas total aflatoxin level was in the order: sorghum &gt; millet &gt; maize respectively. Pearson’s 2-tailed correlation at 0.05 level of significance revealed strong correlation of deoxynivalenol with moisture content across locations, while ANOVA at 5 % level of significance established the presence of mycotoxins and their precursors across the locations. This fundamentally, showed microbial tainting of these cereals in the study location indicating that farmers and marketers handle these grains in an unhygienic manner.

Microbial Quality Assurance of Dried Roots of Chlorophytum borivilianum Sant F (Safed Musli)

Aim: To assess total bacterial load and detect E. coli and Salmonella in Chlorophytum borivilianum (Safed Musli), cultivated and processed in the Bundelkhand region.&#x0D; Study Design: Quality assurance of medicinal plant raw material is essential for the preparation of good quality herbal medicines. The dried roots of Safed Musli were collected from different regions of the Bundelkhand and total aerobic microbial count was measured.&#x0D; Methodology: We collected 10 samples of Safed Musli dried roots from different regions of Bundelkhand. A stock suspension was prepared using sterile peptone water and plated on a nutrient agar medium which was used to calculate total aerobic bacterial load as colony-forming units per gram (CFU/g). Further, biochemical tests were performed to confirm the identification of E. coli and Salmonella.&#x0D; Results: The total aerobic bacteria count in dried roots of Safed Musli was within the permissible limit (105-107CFU/g of dried raw material) as per globally recognized pharmacopoeia and other regulatory agencies such as the Central Council of Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Ministry of AYUSH, Govt. of India, United States Pharmacopoeia (USP), Brazilian Pharmacopoeia (BP), European Pharmacopoeia (EP), World Health Organization (WHO), American Herbal Products Association (AHPA) and National Science Foundation/American National Standards Institute (NSF/ANSI). Although 2 out of 10 samples were found to have contamination of E. coli and Salmonella within the permissible limit of WHO, EP and NSF/ANSI.&#x0D; Conclusion: The results indicated that the Safed Musli cultivated and processed in the Bundelkhand region is suitable for the preparation of herbal medicines and food supplements.

Evaluation of nutritional value and microbiological safety in commercial dog food

In addition to properly balancing nutritional value in accordance with the needs of a dog, estimating the microbiological quality of dog food is crucial in providing healthy and safe foods. The aim of this study was to examine the quality of dry food for adult dogs, with particular reference to: (1) evaluating the nutritional value and compliance with nutritional guidelines for dogs, (2) comparing the nutritional value of dog foods, with particular emphasis on the division into cereal and cereal-free foods, and (3) evaluating their microbiological safety. All thirty-six evaluated dry dog foods met the minimum European Pet Food Industry FEDIAF requirement for total protein and fat content. The total aerobic microbial count in the analyzed dry dog foods ranged from 2.7 × 102 to above 3.0 × 107 cfu/g. In five (14%) dog foods the presence of staphylococci was detected; however, coagulase positive Staphylococcus (CPS) was not found. Mold presence was reported in one cereal-free dog food and in six cereal foods. In none of the analyzed foods Enterobacteriaceae were found, including coliforms, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. Bacteria of the genus Listeria and Clostridium as well as yeasts were also not detected. In conclusion, the evaluated dry dog foods had varied microbiological quality. The detected number of microorganisms may have some implications for long-term consumption of contaminated food. The lack of European Commission standards regarding the permissible amounts of microorganisms in pet food may result in insufficient quality control of these products.

Quality of Different Brands of Metronidazole Benzoate Oral Suspensions Available at Jimma Town, Southwest Ethiopia: Pharmaceuticals Quality Study

Background: Poor quality drugs include substandard and counterfeit medicines. Poor quality antibiotics selectively kill the susceptible strain and leaves resistant strain to multiply. Metronidazole is a broad spectrum antibiotic whose effectiveness depends up on a dose administered to the patient. Objective: The aim of the study is to assess the quality of different brands of metronidazole Benzoate oral suspension available in Jimma town, West Ethiopia. Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted in Jimma town, West Ethiopia from Feb 08 – Mar 28, 2018. The assay result of all the seven brands of Metronidazole Benzoate oral suspensions was entered to statistical package for social sciences software version 24.0 for windows. Then, one way analysis of variance was performed using Tukey test to determine whether there exists significant difference in assay result of the brands (p&lt;0.05). Result: All the seven Metronidazole benzoate oral suspensions assessed in this study passed British Pharmacopoeia 2013 specification of identity test of the drug. All the brands passed the assay test and total aerobic microbial count specification United States Pharmacopoeia 2015. The highest percentage of drug content was obtained for Metrolag, 105.56%, while the least content for Mizel, 93.12%. However, statistical comparison of drug contents at 95% confidence interval indicates that there is significant difference in drug content within and among the seven brands of Metronidazole benzoate oral suspensions (p&lt;0.05). The pH of all the brands was with in United States Pharmacopoeia 2015 specification limit.

Dissolution time and shelf life quality of Ficus deltoidea powder and granule

Lyophilized from plants extract is a process to prolong the amounts of phytochemicals in a solid form. The bioactive compound in Ficus deltoidea (FD), which is isovitexin should be stable and bioavailable during the downstream processing such as drying process to achieve its optimum health benefits. Therefore, this study focuses on the impact of lyophilizing methods such as spray drying followed by a granulator method to determine the stability of the bioactive compound in FD during drying and storage. After the powdered produce, it will test on the model of human digestion (dissolution study) either the amounts of phytochemicals remain stable. Finally, shelf-life quality analysis and the dissolution rate (capsule size 0 and 1) were carried out. The results obtained show the methods employed in this study can be used for the analysis of quality content and dissolution tests of FD capsules. For FD in the shelf-life quality study, parameters for appearance and Total Yeast Microbial Count (TYMC) showed no significant difference after 3 months. For pH, the slight decrease in pH level will increase the number of Total Aerobic Microbial Count (TAMC) in powder form. Compared to granule form, the pH level more consistent and the number of TAMC also in a control condition. The dissolution of capsules containing powder and granulated of FD showed a high percentage of bioactive compound released into the dissolution medium, although the bioactive compound content of herbal products (capsule size 1) was found to be half that of capsules size 0. Through observation for both capsules size content of FD, the maximum dissolution was achieved after 100 min.

Investigation of the Physical, Chemical and Microbiological Stability of Losartan Potassium 5 mg/mL Extemporaneous Oral Liquid Suspension.

Extemporaneous oral liquid preparations are commonly used when there is no commercially available dosage form for adjustable dosing. In most cases, there is a lack of stability data to allow for an accurately assigned shelf life and storage conditions to give greater confidence of product safety and efficacy over its shelf life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the physical, chemical and microbiological stability of an extemporaneous oral liquid suspension of losartan potassium, 5 mg/mL, used to treat paediatric hypertension in Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin, Ireland. The losartan content of extemporaneous oral suspensions, prepared with and without addition of water, was measured by UV and confirmed by HPLC analysis. Suspensions were stored at 4 °C and room temperature (RT) and were monitored for changes in; pH, colour, odour, re-dispersibility, Total Aerobic Microbial Count, Total Yeast and Mould Count and absence of E. coli. Results showed that suspensions prepared by both methods, stored at 4 °C and RT, were physically and microbiologically stable over 28 days. Initial losartan content of all suspensions was lower than expected at 80–81% and did not change significantly over the 28 days. HPLC and NMR did not detect degradation of losartan in the samples. Suspensions prepared in water showed 100% losartan content. The reduced initial losartan content was confirmed by HPLC and was related to the acidic pH of the suspension vehicle. Physiochemical properties of the drug are important factors for consideration in the selection of suspension vehicle for extemporaneous compounding of oral suspensions as they can influence the quality, homogeneity and efficacy of these preparations.

Risk factors related to bacterial contamination by &lt;i&gt;Enterobacteriaceae&lt;/i&gt; and fecal coliforms and the prevalence of &lt;i&gt;Salmonella spp.&lt;/i&gt; in Algerian farms, slaughterhouses and butcheries: a two-year follow-up study

<abstract> This study was conducted to investigate first the bacterial contamination by <italic>Enterobacteriaceae,</italic> fecal coliforms and the prevalence of <italic>Salmonella spp.</italic> and second to identify the main associated risk factors in Algerian farms, slaughterhouses and butcheries during a two-years period. Thus, a cross-sectional study was performed using a simple random sampling method to target 20 farms, 10 slaughterhouses and 5 butcheries. A structured questionnaire was further used to assess hygienic status of the farms and slaughterhouses. A total of 265 samples were collected from wall, floor, litter, food, water and animals' samples composed mainly of meat, neck skin and liver. Samples from walls and floors, from different sites were analyzed to evaluate the overall contamination and the hygiene of sites for Total viable bacteria, <italic>Enterobacteriaceae</italic> counts and Fecal coliforms counts. Furthermore, <italic>E.coli</italic> and <italic>salmonella spp</italic>. were identified in all samples. The overall contamination by sampling sites expressed as log_{10 CFU/g} (mean ± SD) for Total Aerobic Microbial Count, Enterobacteriaceae count and fecal coliforms counts were around 4.71 ± 1.1, 4.73 ± 1.3 and 4.68 ± 1.2 respectively. The findings evidenced that the prevalence of <italic>E.coli</italic> and <italic>Salmonella spp.</italic> were 63.40% and 18.49% respectively. The highest rate of <italic>E.coli</italic> contamination was for poultry farms (70%), beef farms (64%) and butcheries (74.54%) followed by poultry meat slaughterhouses (60%) and sheep farms (48%) while beef slaughterhouses have the lowest rate of contamination (33.84%). For <italic>salmonella spp.</italic> the contamination was found to be mainly in poultry meat slaughterhouses (31.11%), butcheries (25.45%), followed by poultry farms (22%), beef farms (20%) and sheep farms (12%) while beef slaughterhouses have the lowest rate of contamination (4.61%). This study evidenced multifactor effects of microbial contamination in farms such as animal density, litter hygiene and scraping, manure storage, water and pest control, contact with other animals and decontamination process. Overall, this trial indicated a high rate of microbial contamination for which further studies are needed to determine all the potential risk factors in order to evaluate the corrective effects. </abstract>

Evaluation of Heavy Metal and Microbial Contamination in Green Tea and Herbal Tea Used for Weight Loss in the Palestinian Market.

The use of green tea and herbal tea for weight loss is increasing worldwide owing to the rising rates of obesity. There are concerns about the safety and quality of these herbal products owing to their increased consumption worldwide. In this study, we evaluated randomly collected samples of green tea and herbal tea and tested them for heavy metal and microbial contamination. Eighteen samples of green tea or herbal tea of widely used brands in Palestine were tested for heavy metal and microbial contamination. The results showed that 7 of the samples had toxic heavy metals such as chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb), and their concentrations were above the allowable limits set by the World Health Organization (WHO). Moreover, 6 of the samples that were tested had microbial contamination with high total aerobic microbial count (TAMC) and total yeast and mold count (TYMC). This could be due to improper handling and storage conditions of these herbal products. This study is the first of its kind in Palestine, and its results are forewarning to all the responsible authorities, including the Ministry of Health (MoH), to take immediate corrective actions such as quality control testing, auditing, and registration of marketed tea products.