Search Results (591)

While mechanical dewatering is widely used in faecal sludge treatment, the agricultural potential of mechanically dewatered faecal sludge (MDFS) combined with anaerobic digestion (AD) remains underexplored, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where nutrient recovery is critical for food security. This study provides the first comprehensive characterisation of MDFS from Ghana’s largest treatment facility and evaluates anaerobic digestion effectiveness for agricultural application. Over six months, 182 composite MDFS samples from Lavender Hill Faecal Treatment Plant were analysed for physicochemical properties, nutrients, heavy metals, and microbial contaminants before and after AD treatment. MDFS demonstrated exceptional nutrient density, with total nitrogen (2141.05 mg/kg), phosphorus (190.08 mg/kg), and potassium (4434.88 mg/kg) concentrations comparable to commercial organic fertilisers. AD achieved significant pathogen reduction, decreasing total coliforms from 148,808.70 to 493.33 cfu/100 g (p < 0.001) and Ascaris lumbricoides eggs from 12.08 to 3.33 eggs/L, while maintaining nutrient integrity and keeping heavy metals within safe agricultural limits. Statistical modelling revealed a significant correlation between treatment duration and pathogen reduction efficiency. Despite substantial improvements, treated MDFS still exceeded some regulatory thresholds, indicating a need for complementary post-treatment strategies. This research establishes AD as an effective primary treatment for converting MDFS into a nutrient-rich organic fertiliser, supporting circular economy principles in urban sanitation systems and providing a sustainable pathway for agricultural nutrient recovery in resource-constrained settings. Full article

Preterm birth remains a significant global health challenge and is strongly associated with heightened risks of long-term neurodevelopmental impairments, including cognitive delays, behavioural disorders, and emotional dysregulation. In recent years, accumulating evidence has underscored the critical role of the gut microbiota in early brain development through the gut–brain axis. In preterm infants, microbial colonisation is frequently delayed or disrupted due to caesarean delivery, perinatal antibiotic exposure, formula feeding, and prolonged stays in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), all of which contribute to gut dysbiosis during critical periods of neurodevelopment. This review synthesises current knowledge on the sources, temporal patterns, and determinants of gut microbiota colonisation in preterm infants. This review focuses on the gut bacteriome and uses faecal-sample bacteriome sequencing as its primary method of characterisation. We detail five mechanistic pathways that link microbial disturbances to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes: immune activation and white matter injury, short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-mediated neuroprotection, tryptophan–serotonin metabolic signalling, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis modulation, and the integrity of intestinal and blood–brain barriers (BBB). We also critically examine emerging microbiota-targeted interventions—including probiotics, prebiotics, human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), antibiotic stewardship strategies, skin-to-skin contact (SSC), and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT)—focusing on their mechanisms of action, translational potential, and associated ethical concerns. Finally, we identify key research gaps, including the scarcity of longitudinal studies, limited functional modelling, and the absence of standardised protocols across clinical settings. A comprehensive understanding of microbial–neurodevelopmental interactions may provide a foundation for the development of targeted, timing-sensitive, and ethically sound interventions aimed at improving neurodevelopmental outcomes in this vulnerable population. Full article

Zoonotic Campylobacter species (ZCS), particularly C. jejuni and C. coli, cause major foodborne gastroenteritis and poultry is the principal reservoirs. However, there is limited data on Campylobacter transmission risk practices and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Nigeria. Therefore, this study determined the prevalence, AMR, and risk practices aiding Campylobacter transmission in two major slaughterhouses processing poultry carcasses in Enugu State, Nigeria. Four hundred poultry faecal samples were analysed for zoonotic Campylobacter organisms using standard protocols. Antimicrobial resistance was profiled via Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion technique, against eight antimicrobial agents. Risk practices were assessed through slaughterhouse observations and interviews with 56 workers. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter infections was 14.5% (58/400), while the species-specific prevalence were 13% (52/400) and 1.5% (6/400) for C. coli and C. jejuni, respectively. Campylobacter colonisation was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in broilers, and during the wet season. The AMR profile of the isolates against the eight antibiotics tested was: Amoxicillin/clauvlanic acid (100%), vancomycin (100%), tetracycline (96.6%), ciprofloxacin (55.2%), chloramphenicol (44.8%), ceftazidime (10.3%), azithromycin (3.4%) and streptomycin (3.4%). All the 58 Campylobacter isolates were multidrug-resistant. The multiple antibiotic resistance indices ranged from 0.4 to 0.9, with a mean of 0.7. Major risk practice associated with ZCS transmission include non-use of personal protective equipment (100%), slaughtering on unsanitary surfaces (100%), using visibly unclean water for meat processing (100%), improper manual evisceration (75%), eating or drinking during processing (64.4%), slaughtering sick animals (37.5%), inadequate cleaning of surfaces and equipment after use (21.4%) and consuming raw meat during carcass processing (19.6%). The findings reflect critical gaps in food safety, occupational health, prudent antimicrobial use in poultry farming and zoonotic disease control, emphasizing the need for antibiotic regulation, training on hygienic meat processing, public education, infrastructural development of slaughterhouse facilities, and inter-sectorial collaboration to curb Campylobacter contamination and spread of antimicrobial resistance. Full article

Social behaviour plays a crucial role in the dynamics of parasitic infections in wild bird populations. The red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax), a corvid undergoing notable population declines, shows contrasting social structures linked to reproductive status: non-breeding individuals aggregate in communal roosts during winter, whereas breeding pairs often maintain territorial pair-bonds and roost at nesting sites. This study tested whether differences in sociality (communal roosting vs. territorial pairs) affect intestinal parasite infections. Fresh faecal samples were collected during winter in central Spain and analysed using flotation and McMaster techniques to detect and quantify coccidian oocysts and helminth eggs. The results revealed a relatively high positive rate of Isospora (36.2%, n = 116) and a low positive rate of helminths (9.5%, n = 116) among communally roosting non-breeders, while no parasites were detected in samples from territorial pairs. One communal roost in the Southern Plateau showed higher coccidian positive rate, possibly influenced by structural features that facilitate faecal contact. Although sample size for pairs was limited, the absence of parasites in this group suggests reduced infection risk, likely reflecting superior condition and immune defences rather than differences in exposure alone. These findings highlight the value of non-invasive parasite monitoring as an early-warning tool in wildlife health assessments and stress the importance of considering social behaviour and environmental heterogeneity into conservation strategies for threatened species. Full article

The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiology of Fasciola hepatica in Cervus elaphus kept in natural conditions in the Riaño Regional Hunting Reserve, north-west of Spain, where several species of domestic and wild animals coexist. One hundred red deer were examined and classified according to age, sex, and sampling season. After the necropsy of the animals, the liver was removed and inspected to obtain the adult parasites of F. hepatica. Faecal samples were collected and processed using the coprological sedimentation technique. The prevalence of this trematode by necropsy was 12%, with a low number of specimens per animal ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 2.7 ± 1.5; range 1–6). The young animals and the males had a higher prevalence than the adults and the females, finding statistically significant differences only according to the host age. Significant variations were also observed when considering the seasons of the year, with the highest number of infected animals in spring. The histopathological study revealed the presence of lesions compatible with a chronic fasciolosis similar to that found in domestic animals. The shedding of F. hepatica eggs was quite low in terms of prevalence (6%) and mean intensity of infection ($\overline{\mathrm{x}}$ = 27.3 ± 20.6, range 4–60 epg), being in young animals, in males, and in spring, where the greatest excretion of eggs was observed. These results suggest that the deer are suitable definitive hosts for F. hepatica in the northwest of the Iberian Peninsula, but they are unusual hosts. The serum samples were analysed using a native excretory/secretory antigen (FhES) and a 2.9 kDa recombinant protein (FhrAPS) used for diagnosis of early and current fasciolosis in livestock. A commercial kit for serodiagnosis of F. hepatica in sheep and cattle, based on a monoclonal antibody (BIO K 211), was also evaluated in red deer. The seroprevalence of seropositivity of F. hepatica by FhES-ELISA was 32%, by FhrAPS-ELISA 13%, and by BIO K 211, 9%. In the three serological tests, the seroprevalence obtained was higher in adult animals, in males, and in spring. In the three serological tests used to understand the epidemiology of F. hepatica in red deer, we have observed that the sensitivity was low, perhaps due to the use of an anti-bovine IgG1 as a conjugate, so in future immunodiagnostic tests, it would be more desirable to obtain an anti-deer IgG, probably achieving better results. Due to these results, it is essential to investigate other serological or molecular tests that allow us to know the real importance of F. hepatica in deer and other wild animals. The role of deer as a reservoir of this trematode does not appear to be very important. Full article

Haemonchus contortus and Haemonchus placei infect different species of ruminants, but when small ruminants and cattle share the same pasture, cross-infections can occur. Weather conditions and the herbage microenvironment influence the development and survival of larvae during the free-living stage. Development of free-living stages (eggs, L1, L2, and L3) for both nematode species in sheep faeces deposited on short grass (4 cm) and tall grass (60 cm) ground was evaluated during nine days at the beginning of the rainy season. Rainfall occurred during five of the nine days assessed, and the tall and short grass environments demonstrated different temperatures, with a maximum of 34.0 °C to 42.0 °C and 31.0 °C to 38.0 °C and a minimum of 12.0 °C to 17.0 °C and 10.0 °C to 24.5 °C for the short and tall grass, respectively. Due to the development of eggs into infective larvae (L3), decreased egg counts were observed over time in faecal samples from both species and environments. However, some eggs were still present in samples until eight days post-deposition among tall grass. In both environments, the development times for all larval stages were similar. Small numbers of H. contortus larvae were found in the soil and grass, whereas no H. placei larvae were found. In conclusion, the trend of development in different environments was similar for both nematode species; however, the tall grass environment provided better conditions for the development of larval stages of both Haemonchus species. Full article

Bacillus paranthracis, a species of the genus Bacillus, is a Gram-positive bacterium classified as an opportunistic pathogen that can cause foodborne diarrhea and other intestinal diseases in humans and various animals. To date, there has been limited research on B. paranthracis, and there are few records of this bacterium being isolated from animal intestines. In this study, a strain named Qf-1 was isolated and purified from faecal samples of mink. Through culturomics, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, whole-genome sequencing, and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, the strain was confirmed to be B. paranthracis. Whole-genome sequencing revealed that the strain has a genome size of 5.27 Mb, comprising one chromosome (5,224,739 bp) and one plasmid (51,964 bp). Functional annotation of its genome identified multiple potential pathogenic factors associated with pneumonia, including the key genes AsbD and AsbF, which facilitate bacterial colonisation of the lungs and trigger inflammatory responses, as well as EsxB and EsxL, which exacerbate lung inflammation and promote infection spread. Comparative genomics analysis revealed that this strain shares a close evolutionary relationship with previously reported B. paranthracis strains. The structure and function of the bacterial genes were analyzed in depth using multi-omics methods. Through mouse pathogenicity experiments, it was found that this bacterium may cause pneumonia and enteritis in mice. We predict that it may also pose a threat to the health of the mink. These research findings contribute to the establishment of a stable experimental model between pathogens and mink hosts, laying the foundation for further elucidating their pathogenicity and pathogenic mechanisms. This is of great significance for the diagnosis and prevention of bacterial diseases in mink in the future. Full article

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) represents a threat to human, animal, and environmental health. This study evaluated the potential role of birds as AMR dispersers in white storks as a model species investigating dispersal between locations connected by their movements. Throughout a year, 346 samples were collected from two landfills (225 fecal samples) and two wetlands (93 fecal/28 water samples) based on satellite tracking data that confirmed continuous stork movements between foraging (landfill) and nighttime roosting (wetlands) locations. Samples were seeded in selective media with antibiotics for the isolation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A total of 313 isolates from 35 different bacterial species were obtained, with an AMR prevalence of 43.1% in fecal samples from landfills, 7.5% in fecal samples from wetlands, and 21.4% in water from wetlands. Multidrug resistant bacteria were only found in fecal samples (19.6% landfills/4.3% wetlands) and extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing-bacteria were found exclusively in fecal samples from landfills with a marked presence during the fall migration period. Our study reveals marked differences in AMR prevalence and resistance phenotypes between study locations and fecal and water samples throughout the year, thus not supporting a clear role of storks as AMR dispersers. Nevertheless, similar changes in AMR phenotype prevalences during fall migration in stork faecal samples from one of the tested landfills and its paired wetland, and the significant increase in ESBL-producing Enterobacterales prevalence matching the arrival of migratory white storks in fall, underline the need for more in-depth genome-based studies to elucidate the role of white storks as dispersers or sentinels of AMR. Full article

Introduction: Gut dysbiosis has been associated with the development of autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although previous studies suggest microbial alterations in SLE, evidence at the species level and its clinical relevance remain limited. This study aimed to characterise the gut microbiota at species level in SLE patients and evaluate its association with clinical features. Materials and methods: A total of 57 SLE patients and 57 matched controls were included. Faecal samples were collected using the OMNIgene-GUT kit, and microbial DNA was extracted with the Maxwell RSC PureFood GMO kit. Metagenomic sequencing was performed using the Illumina MiSeq platform, and the data was analysed with QIIME2. Microbial diversity and relative abundance were assessed using the phyloseq package, and differentially abundant taxa were identified using DESeq2. Clinical subgroups among SLE patients were identified via k-means clustering. Results: SLE patients exhibited significantly different beta diversity compared to controls (p = 0.001), with increased abundance of Pseudomonadota (3.81% vs. 6.80%, p < 0.05) and decreased Bacteroidota (53.42% vs. 38.04%, p < 0.05). Only 10 bacterial species were consistently present across all SLE samples, including Akkermansia muciniphila, Bacteroides dorei, and Lactobacillus gasseri. Hypertensive patients and those treated with corticosteroids presented a marked depletion of key microbial taxa. Conversely, Belimumab-treated patients displayed a distinct microbiota enriched in species such as Alistipes shahii and Prevotella corporis. Conclusions: This study confirms significant gut microbiota alterations in SLE and pinpoints microbial profiles associated with clinical subgroups. These findings suggest gut dysbiosis may contribute to SLE pathogenesis and indicate biomarkers for disease stratification. Full article

Diet and gut microbiota are significant determinants of host health, but how dietary quality modulates gut microbiota in Blastocystis-colonised individuals remains underexplored. We studied two contrasting cohorts: university students (FACSA, n = 46) and institutionalised children with their caregivers (PAVILA, n = 37), representing distinct dietary and sociodemographic contexts. Eight participants from each cohort tested positive for Blastocystis; however, two PAVILA samples could not be sequenced, resulting in a final microbiota subcohort of 14 individuals (FACSA n = 8, PAVILA n = 6). Dietary quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020), and faecal microbiota was characterised through 16S rRNA sequencing. Alpha and beta diversity were analysed, and genus-level transformed data were further evaluated using permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA), principal coordinates analysis (PCoA), and distance-based redundancy analysis (db-RDA). The FACSA cohort exhibited higher microbial richness and diversity (Shannon and Simpson indexes, p < 0.01) compared to PAVILA, with marked differences in microbial composition (PERMANOVA R² = 0.39, p = 0.002). Total diet quality correlated with microbial structure (R² = 0.26, p = 0.016), with protein (R² = 0.23, p = 0.017) and vegetable components (R² = 0.17, p = 0.044) as primary contributors. Multivariate analysis showed that higher protein and vegetable intakes were associated with genera such as Sellimonas, Murimonas, Alistipes, and Desulfovibrio (FACSA group). In contrast, Hydrogenoanaerobacterium, V9D2013_group, and Haemophilus were linked to lower-quality diets (PAVILA group). Our results indicate that diet quality significantly influences gut microbiota composition in individuals colonised by Blastocystis, underscoring its potential as a target for nutritional interventions in vulnerable populations. Full article

The lack of improved sanitation in rural areas of developing countries, including South Africa, exacerbates open defecation, leading to the significant contamination of water sources by human and animal waste. This study aimed to establish the association of Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium, Shigella flexneri, and Yersinia enterocolitica in open defecation sites and animal waste with the contamination of water sources in Vhembe District, South Africa. A total of 1032 water samples and 111 faecal samples from the Collins Chabane and Thulamela municipalities were analysed using qPCR. Regression models were used to assess associations, with S. Typhimurium (19–60%) and S. flexneri (11–44%) being the most prevalent bacteria in faecal matter and water, showing detection rates of 4–100% and 5–100%, respectively. Strong associations were found during the wet season between faecal waste and water contamination for S. flexneri (R² = 0.7, p = 0.005) and S. Typhimurium (R² = 0.619, p = 0.091). Urgent measures are needed to address the contamination of rural water sources due to open defecation and livestock waste. Full article

Water quality monitoring is a key requirement for fulfilling various national environmental policies, but with many competing needs and limited resources, data collected can suffer from both spatial and temporal deficiencies. Modelling offers the potential to substitute estimated values into observational gaps, but model validation often requires the very data that are lacking. In this paper we present the results of a pilot study to investigate spatial and temporal issues around the monitoring of faecal indicator bacteria (Escherichia coli) in rivers of the Taw and Torridge catchments in the UK. Statistical analysis of in situ measurements versus simulated data from the catchment models reveals similar seasonal associations between riverine bacterial counts and rainfall patterns. Furthermore, spatial apportionment of livestock to better reflect land use was found to be important in the models, especially in upstream reaches of the catchments. In conclusion, successful monitoring of faecal bacteria levels in UK rivers requires risk-based monitoring (sufficient to identify possible seasonal trends) and informed spatial consideration of sampling sites. Catchment models can be useful aids for directing and augmenting such monitoring programmes, but these models should undergo rigorous validation, particularly in upper catchment areas, to ensure correct model response to changes in land use and/or climate. Full article

Apples and pears are among the most popular and frequently consumed fruits worldwide. The polyphenol and dietary fibre components of these fruits are known to influence the gut microbiota and the subsequent human health outcomes. This study investigated the effects of New Zealand grown apples and pears with differing polyphenol contents on the structure and function of the human gut microbiota. Five apple and two pear cultivars underwent in vitro human digestion and microbial fermentation. Samples taken at 0 and 18 h were analysed for changes in pH, microbial composition, and organic acid production. The change in pH after faecal fermentation was influenced by the type of fruit (apple or pear), with lower pH being observed in the apples. Significant apple or pear cultivar effects were observed for the gut microbiome and organic acid production. The apple cultivar ‘Golden Hornet’ produced the least butyrate and the greatest microbial alpha diversity, while the pear ‘PremP009’ showed greater butyrate production with increases in a butyrogenic species (Acidaminococcus intestini). Further studies are needed to investigate the effect of cultivar and type of fruit on nutrient absorption and microbial fermentation and the impact of these on human health. Full article

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a global health epidemic with rising prevalence within Asian populations, particularly amongst individuals with high visceral adiposity and ectopic organ fat, the so-called Thin-Outside, Fat-Inside phenotype. Metabolomic and microbiome shifts may herald T2D onset, presenting potential biomarkers and mechanistic insight into metabolic dysregulation. However, multi-omics datasets across ethnicities remain limited. Methods: We performed cross-sectional multi-omics analyses on 171 adults (99 Asian Chinese, 72 European Caucasian) from the New Zealand-based TOFI_Asia cohort at 4-years follow-up. Paired plasma and faecal samples were analysed using untargeted metabolomic profiling (polar/lipid fractions) and shotgun metagenomic sequencing, respectively. Sparse multi-block partial least squares regression and discriminant analysis (DIABLO) unveiled signatures associated with ethnicity, glycaemic status, and sex. Results: Ethnicity-based DIABLO modelling achieved a balanced error rate of 0.22, correctly classifying 76.54% of test samples. Polar metabolites had the highest discriminatory power (AUC = 0.96), with trigonelline enriched in European Caucasians and carnitine in Asian Chinese. Lipid profiles highlighted ethnicity-specific signatures: Asian Chinese showed enrichment of polyunsaturated triglycerides (TG.16:0_18:2_22:6, TG.18:1_18:2_22:6) and ether-linked phospholipids, while European Caucasians exhibited higher levels of saturated species (TG.16:0_16:0_14:1, TG.15:0_15:0_17:1). The bacteria Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum, Erysipelatoclostridium ramosum, and Enterocloster bolteae characterised Asian Chinese participants, while Oscillibacter sp. and Clostridium innocuum characterised European Caucasians. Cross-omic correlations highlighted negative correlations of Phocaeicola vulgatus with amino acids (r = −0.84 to −0.76), while E. ramosum and C. innocuum positively correlated with long-chain triglycerides (r = 0.55–0.62). Conclusions: Ethnicity drove robust multi-omic differentiation, revealing distinctive metabolic and microbial profiles potentially underlying the differential T2D risk between Asian Chinese and European Caucasians. Full article

This study investigates the implications of sewage contamination in the coastal and riverine environments of Hout Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Chemical analyses were applied to quantify the presence of pollutants such as pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in sentinel marine organisms such as mussels, as well as microbial indicators of faecal contamination in river water and seawater, for estimating the extent of impact zones in the coastal environment of Hout Bay. This research investigated the persistent pharmaceuticals found in marine outfall wastewater effluent samples in Hout Bay, examining whether these substances were also detectable in marine biota, specifically focusing on Mytilus galloprovincialis mussels. The findings reveal significant levels of sewage-related pollutants in the sampled environments, with concentrations ranging from 32.74 to 43.02 ng/g dry weight (dw) for acetaminophen, up to 384.96 ng/g for bezafibrate, and as high as 338.56 ng/g for triclosan. These results highlight persistent PPCP contamination in marine organisms, with increasing concentrations observed over time, suggesting a rise in population and pharmaceutical use. Additionally, microbial analysis revealed high levels of E. coli in the Hout Bay River, particularly near stormwater from the Imizamo Yethu settlement, with counts exceeding 8.3 million cfu/100 mL. These findings underscore the significant impact of untreated sewage on the environment. This study concludes that current sewage treatment is insufficient to mitigate pollution, urging the implementation of more effective wastewater management practices and long-term monitoring of pharmaceutical levels in marine biota to protect both the environment and public health. Full article