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A case of onychomycosis caused by Aspergillus terreus in India

Asit Baran De^1* , Amlan Mahata²

¹Guest Lecturer, Department of Microbiology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan– 713104, West Bengal, India,

e-mail: abde.brc@gmail.com, ORCID ID: 0000–0003–2481-0879

*Corresponding email ID: abde.brc@gmail.com

²Technical Asst. Gr.II, Department of Microbiology, The University of Burdwan, Burdwan -713104, West Bengal, India,

ORCID ID:0000-0002-5082-3502

e-mail ID: amlanmahata@gmail.com

Abstract: A case of onychomycosiss caused by Aspergillus terreus (a non-dermatophyte) has been reported for the first time from India. The person was 78 years old housewife having a history of paronychia and she was suffering from diabetes. Advanced age, diabetes and paronychia were the predisposing factors of her onychomycosis.

[Asit Baran De, Amlan Mahata. A case of onychomycosis caused by Aspergillus terreus in India. Life Sci J 2026;23(3):1-3]. ISSN 1097-8135 (print); ISSN 2372-613X (online). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 01. doi:10.7537/marslsj230326.01

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EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF POST HARVEST PATHOGENS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum) GRAINS AND ATTENDANT EFFECTS OF PATHOGENIC INFECTION ON NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF WHEAT GRAINS

Ijato J. Y ¹*, Aiyelari T.A² & Ojo B. O³

^1* Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

²Department of  Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

³The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Department of Biology, P.M.B. 22, U.I. Post Office, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Corresponding author: Ijato J. Y, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Email: considerureternity@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the biological control of post-harvest fungal pathogens affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum) and examined the impact of fungal infections on the grains’ nutritional composition. Wheat is a global staple and vital source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals; it is highly susceptible to storage spoilage due to fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria species. Chemical fungicides are effective but pose environmental and health hazard, this necessitates search for biocides as alternatives. The study made use of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis as biological control agents (BCAs). In vitro antagonism was assessed using the dual culture method, while in vivo tests evaluated proximate, mineral, and vitamin compositions of infected and treated wheat grains. Results obtained showed that T. harzianum exhibited superior inhibitory activities against fungal isolates, with up to 74.2% growth suppression; this was followed by B. subtilis with 59.8%. Pathogen-infected grains showed significant nutrient degradation which was marked by reductions in protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents while biocontrol-treated grains maintained near-normal nutritional values. Similarly, results of mineral and vitamin analyses demonstrated that BCAs effectively preserved essential micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B and E. The study concluded that biological control using T. harzianum and B. subtilis is an efficient, sustainable, and health-safe strategy for mitigating post-harvest losses in wheat while maintaining nutritional integrity. This study recommends integrating bio-control methods into grain storage systems to enhance food safety, quality, and long term food security.

[Ijato J. Y, Aiyelari T.A & Ojo B. O. Life Sci J 2026;23(3):4-15]. ISSN 1097-8135 (print); ISSN 2372-613X (online). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 02. doi:10.7537/marslsj230326.02

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EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF POST HARVEST PATHOGENS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum) GRAINS AND ATTENDANT EFFECTS OF PATHOGENIC INFECTION OF NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF WHEAT GRAINS

Ijato J. Y ¹*, Aiyelari T.A² & Ojo B. O³

^1* Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

²Department of  Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Faculty of Agricultural Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

³The Polytechnic, Ibadan, Department of Biology, P.M.B. 22, U.I. Post Office, Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Corresponding author: Ijato J. Y, Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science, Ekiti State University, P.M.B 5363, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Email: considerureternity@gmail.com

ABSTRACT: This study investigated the biological control of post-harvest fungal pathogens affecting wheat (Triticum aestivum) and examined the impact of fungal infections on the grains’ nutritional composition. Wheat is a global staple and vital source of carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, and minerals; it is highly susceptible to storage spoilage due to fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria species. Conventional chemical fungicides, though effective but pose environmental and health challenges, this necessitates search for biocides as relative alternatives. The study made use of Trichoderma harzianum and Bacillus subtilis as biological control agents (BCAs). In vitro antagonism was assessed using the dual culture method, while in vivo tests evaluated proximate, mineral, and vitamin compositions of infected and treated wheat grains. Results obtained showed that T. harzianum exhibited superior inhibitory activities against fungal isolates, with up to 74.2% growth suppression; this was followed by B. subtilis with 59.8%. Pathogen-infected grains showed significant nutrient degradation which was marked by reductions in protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents while biocontrol-treated grains maintained near-normal nutritional values. Similarly, results of mineral and vitamin analyses demonstrated that BCAs effectively preserved essential micronutrients such as calcium, iron, zinc, and vitamins B and E. The study concluded that biological control using T. harzianum and B. subtilis is an efficient, sustainable, and health-safe strategy for mitigating post-harvest losses in wheat while maintaining nutritional integrity. This study recommends integrating bio-control methods into grain storage systems to enhance food safety, quality, and long term food security.

[Ijato J. Y, Aiyelari T.A & Ojo B. O. EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF POST HARVEST PATHOGENS OF WHEAT (Triticum aestivum) GRAINS AND ATTENDANT EFFECTS OF PATHOGENIC INFECTION OF NUTRITIONAL VALUES OF WHEAT GRAINS.  Life Sci J 2026;23(3):16-27]. ISSN 1097-8135 (print); ISSN 2372-613X (online). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 03. doi:10.7537/marslsj230326.03

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Meat Hygienic Practice, Staphylococcus aureus Isolation and its Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Beef at Municipal Abattoir and Retail Beef Shops in Assosa Town, Western Ethiopia

Zelalem Worku

Benishangul Gumuz regional state, Assosa tsetse fly and Trypanosomosis control and surveillance center, Asossa, Ethiopia.

Email: workufeleke1000@gmail.com

Abstract: The meat is potentially subjected to contamination from a range of sources within and outside animal during the slaughter of animal, processing, transportation and at retail shops.  A cross-sectional study was conducted from September 2024 to March 2025 to assess meat hygienic handling practices at the Assosa abattoir and retail beef shops and to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of S. aureus from beef of the Assosa abattoir and retail beef shops in Assosa town. 240 meat swab samples were taken from the abattoir and retail beef shops randomly. A structured questionnaire survey was used to assess meat hygienic handling at the municipal abattoir and retail shops. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted on 30 randomly selected isolates of S. aureus using the disc diffusion susceptibility method. From total 240 swab samples taken from the abattoir and retail shops, 73 (30.42%) were positive for S. aureus. Depending on the source of sample, contamination of retail beef shop with S. aureus was 2 times more likely to occur compared to abattoir (OR=2; CI=1.169 - 3.824; p value= 0.013), showing statistically significant variation in the prevalence of S. aureus among sample sources. Similarly, depending on the types of sample, contamination of utensil swab sample with S. aureus was 4.2 times more likely to occur compared to carcass (OR=4.2; CI=1.95-9.05; p value = 0.000), which was statistically highly significant, and contamination of hand swab sample with S. aureus was 2.5 times more likely to occur compared to carcass (OR= 2.5; CI=1.159 - 5.383; p-value = 0.020), which was statistically significant. It was noted that factors such as lack of training, wearing inappropriate clothing, inappropriate and inadequate hand, equipment and surface washing as well as not using sterilizing material might have contributed to contamination with S. aureus. The large proportions of S. aureus isolates were resistant to Cefoxitin, Penicillin G, Chloramphenicol and Nalidixic acid. S. Aureus was a major meat contaminant in abattoir and butcher shops due to inadequate food safety knowledge and low level of hygienic practices. Therefore, improving the food safety knowledge and handling practice of meat handlers is important to prevent S. aureus foodborne intoxications.

[Zelalem Worku, Meat Hygienic Practice, Staphylococcus aureus Isolation and its Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Beef at Municipal Abattoir and Retail Beef Shops in Assosa Town, Western Ethiopia.

[Zelalem Worku. Meat Hygienic Practice, Staphylococcus aureus Isolation and its Antimicrobial Susceptibility in Beef at Municipal Abattoir and Retail Beef Shops in Assosa Town, Western Ethiopia. Life Sci J 2026;23(3):28-43]. ISSN 1097-8135 (print); ISSN 2372-613X (online). http://www.lifesciencesite.com. 04. doi:10.7537/marslsj230326.04

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