<i>In-vitro</i> evaluation of probiotic potential of gut microbes isolated from retail chicken

by Sangram Biswas, Lutfor Rahman, Md. Taofiqur Rahman, Susmita Chowdhury, Fahmida Khatun, Azimun Nahar, Sabina Yasmin

Probiotics are live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that help to improve the host’s gut health when administrated in sufficient proportions and are now serving as effective alternatives to antibiotics for managing animal infections and enhancing production. The objective of this study was to isolate, identify and characterize lactic acid bacteria (LAB) strains with excellent probiotic properties from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of retail broiler chickens. Samples were enriched in MRS broth at 37°C and plated on MRS agar to isolate distinct colonies of potential probiotic candidates. The isolates underwent a series of standard morphological and biochemical analysis to fulfill the criteria for presumptive identification of LAB and probiotic characteristics. These analyses included Gram staining, catalase testing, hemolytic activity assays, tolerance assays to NaCl, simulated gastric juice and bile salts, antagonistic activity assays, antibiotic susceptibility testing, cell adhesion assay and genotypic identification through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. A total of 40 microbial strains were isolated from the GIT of 20 retail broiler chickens. Among these, 4 LAB strains showed the best probiotic results and were genotypically identified as Enterococcus faecium MCI7, Pedicoccus pentosaceus MCI10, Pediococcus pentosaceus MCC6 and Pediococcus pentosaceus MCC12. The selected strains exhibited non-hemolytic activity and were able to survive in simulated gastric juice at pH 3. Furthermore, the strains displayed bile salt tolerance in the presence of 0.3% bile salt for 4 hours, ranging from 21.91 to 32.77% and a wide range of antimicrobial activities against various pathogenic bacterial strains with inhibition zones ranging from 10 to 16.5 mm. Moreover, three P. pentosaceus strains (MCI10, MCC6, MCC12) were sensitive to most of the tested antibiotics and demonstrated good adherence abilities. Our study identified four LAB strains as promising probiotic candidates for poultry feed additives to effectively establish intestinal microflora, enhance meat quality and growth, and control pathogens.

Frailty and disability among older adults residing in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh

by Afsana Anwar, Mahmood Parvez, Farhan Azim, Uday Narayan Yadav, Saruna Ghimire, Ateeb Ahmad Parray, Shovon Bhattacharjee, ARM Mehrab Ali, Rashidul Alam Mahumud, Md Irteja Islam, Md Nazmul Huda, Mohammad Enamul Hoque, Probal Kumar Mondal, Abu Ansar Md Rizwan, Suvasish Das Shuvo, Sabuj Kanti Mistry

Background

Frailty and disability often emerge with ageing and affect quality of life. Older adults residing in Rohingya refugee camp in Bangladesh are particularly susceptible to frailty and disability due to adverse physical and social environment along with limited health and social care services available in the camp. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and factors associated with frailty and disability among Rohingya older adults living in Bangladesh.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was conducted among older adults aged ≥60 years residing in the Rohingya refugee settlement in Bangladesh. The primary outcomes were frailty and disability, explored using the ‘Frail Non-Disabled (FiND) questionnaire. Data were collected face-to-face during November-December 2021, using a semi-structured questionnaire. A multinomial logistic regression model was used to identify the factors associated with frailty and disability.

Results

The majority of participants (n = 864) were aged 60–69 years (72.34%), male (56.25%), married (79.05%), and without formal education (89.0%). The study revealed a high prevalence of frailty (36.92%) and disability (55.21%) among the participants. The multinomial regression analysis showed that the likelihood of experiencing disability was significantly higher among participants who were aged 70–79 years (RRR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.25, 5.66) and ≥80 years (RRR = 8.06, 95% CI: 1.05, 61.80), were female (RRR = 3.93, 95% CI: 1.88, 8.1.9), had no formal education (RRR = 4.34, 95% CI: 2.19, 8.63), were living in a large family (RRR = 1.82, 95% CI: 1.05, 3.18) and were suffering from non-communicable diseases (RRR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.32, 4.22) compared to their respective counterparts. The regression analysis also revealed that frailty was significantly higher among participants who were female (RRR = 2.82, 95% CI: 1.34, 5.94), were suffering from non-communicable diseases (RRR = 2.28, 95% CI: 1.27, 4.09), and had feeling of loneliness (RRR = 2.16, 95% CI: 1.11, 4.22).

Conclusions

The findings underscore the need for long-term care and health promotion activities to alleviate the burden of frailty and disability among older adults in humanitarian settings. Efforts should particularly target the most vulnerable groups- older individuals (≥80 years), women, those without formal education, those living in large families, and those with non-communicable diseases.