Introduction Pigeon droppings are among the major environmental sources of Cryptococcus neoformans AFLP1/VNI, from where the organism infects susceptible humans and animals resulting in cryptococcosis. Until now, C. neoformans AFLP1B/VNII was the only molecular type reported in Nigeria. Effective clinical treatment of this infection has occasionally been stymied by the emergence of antifungal non-susceptible, and resistant strains of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI. Hypothesis/Gap Statement Pigeon droppings harbour C. neoformans and HIV/AIDS patients are among the susceptible population to develop cryptococcal infection. Epidemiological data on cryptococcal prevalence is limited in Nigeria. Aim To investigate the environmental prevalence of C. neoformans in South-eastern Nigeria and compare the isolates with other lineages by using molecular and microbiological tools. Methodology A total of 500 pigeon droppings and 300 blood samples of HIV/AIDS patients were collected, respectively, from five market squares and three tertiary healthcare centres within the Nsukka area of South-eastern Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility of the C. neoformans isolates to amphotericin B, fluconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and isavuconazole was investigated based on the CLSI M27-A3 protocol. Yeasts were identified by MALDI-TOF MS, thereafter Cryptococcus MLST was performed according to the International Society for Human and Animal Mycology (ISHAM) consensus scheme. Results C. neoformans was recovered from 6 (1.2 %) pigeon droppings and 6 (2 %) blood cultures of HIV/AIDS patients. Molecular analyses indicated that all cryptococcal isolates belong to serotype A and the AFLP1/VNI molecular type with sequence type (ST)32. Infection with C. neoformans was independent of sex and age of the patients investigated. All C. neoformans isolates were susceptible to the seven antifungal agents. Conclusion This is the first report on the prevalence of C. neoformans AFLP1/VNI (ST32) in environmental and clinical samples from Nigeria. The antifungal susceptibility indicates that antifungal resistance by C. neoformans is yet a rare occurrence in Nigeria.

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Background and Objective: Globally, river water remains an important source of water for drinking, domestic and other uses. This study aimed to assess the bacteriological and physicochemical properties of Asata River water. Materials and Methods: A total of 72 water samples were collected, over 12 months (September, 2017 to August, 2018, from six different sites along the river course, following standard methods. The physicochemical properties were determined in situ using appropriate measuring instruments. Total coliform counts (TCC) and Escherichia coli counts (EC) were determined using Chromocult Coliform Agar following the membrane filtration technique. Studentʼs t-test statistic was used to compare the variations in mean values obtained during the rainy and dry seasons. Results: Temperature, total dissolved solids, pH and electrical conductivity had mean values ranging from 24.8-26.8EC, 10.8-20.1 mg LG 1 , 4.0-7.1 and 15.8-29.5 µS cmG 1 , respectively. Mean values of bacteriological parameters ranged from 5.0×10 1 -5.9×10 6 (TCC) and 1.0×10 1 -4.6×10 6 (E. coli counts). Bacterial counts in the rainy season were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than counts during the dry season. A significant correlation existed between EC and other water quality parameters, temperature, pH, TDS, E. coli and TCC. Bacteriological properties were high and beyond the acceptable standard limits. Conclusion: Asata River water quality is poor and may constitute a serious public health risk if used without treatment. Adequate provision and use of suitable sanitary infrastructure will help protect this water source from further faecal contamination.

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The epidemiological consequences of co-infections by enteric, wound, opportunistic, and drug-resistant pathogens, underscore the need for alternative and multi-target therapeutic approaches. Phytochemical properties of some plants are widely known but their potential utility as cheaper multi-target therapeutic options, have rarely been investigated. In the current work, Gongronema latifolium, Psidium guajava, and Aspilia africana extracts were studied for their potential utility as multi-target therapeutic alternatives. The plants were screened for phytochemical constituents. Based on the CLSI disc diffusion assay, the sensitivities of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterococcus faecalis, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to the plants’ extracts were tested. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the extracts against susceptible bacteria was determined by CLSI broth microdilution protocols. The major families of plant bioactive compounds were detected, with alkaloids, terpenoids, and flavonoids common to the three plants investigated. The plant extracts showed variable activity against the test bacteria (activity index, AI range = 0.43 – 2.59), while the highest activity based on the MIC was recorded for P. guajava (MIC range = 25- 100mg/ml). These results provide the basis of the plants’ therapeutic uses in folk medicine. Their activity index suggests the need for further investigation of their phytochemical components for potential medicinal application. The P. guajava methanolic extract with consistent activity across the test bacteria suggests its potentials in the formulation of multi-target antibiotic therapies