1.Comparative insect fauna succession on indoor and outdoor monkey carrions in a semi-forested area in Malaysia
Ahmad Wasi Nazni ; Lim Han Lee ; Dhang Chee Chen ; Chin Chong Heo ; AG Abdullah ; Mustaffa Wan Wan-Norjuliana ; Kian Wai Chew ; Jeffery John ; Hashim Rosli ; Azirun Mohd Sofian
Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Biomedicine 2011;(z2):232-238
Objective: To study the occurrence of insects fauna obtained in a semi forested area in Malaysia using the carcass of the monkey Macaca fascicularis, Raffles, and to compared the wave of insect succession collected from the carcass placed outdoor and indoor. Methods:The outdoor and indoor studies were conducted at a location of 3o17’57.86”N, 101o47’00.78”E. The euthanized monkeys were placed indoor and outdor. The insect seccession visited the carcass, the envirenmental temperature and relative humidity were recorded. Results:The main insects attracted to specific stages of decomposition were mainly members of Diptera and Coleoptera. There was a delay of fly arrival by two days in indoor carcass. Nocturnal oviposition behaviour was not observed in this study. The flies left the carcass during the twilight zone as noted during a 3 days observation period in outdoor study. The dipteran species found outdoor and indoor were similar but more diverse coleopteran species was found indoor. Conclusions:Information and evidence from this study can be used to improve the estimation of the post mortem interval in forensic cases.
2.Molecular identification of antibiotic-resistant bacteria isolated from used contact lens cases
Siti Nor Khadijah Addis ; Nurfarhana Rosli ; Fatimah Hashim ; Amina Rusli ; Dharane Kethiravan ; Asmadamia Abdul Aziz
Malaysian Journal of Microbiology 2021;17(3):305-312
Aims:
The contact lens (CL) has become one of the most convenience refractive devices used in vision correction,
occupational and in cosmetics purposes. Despite the convenience of CL usage, poor hygiene might cause eye infections
due to microbial contamination. In this work, a random collection of used CL cases among Universiti Malaysia
Terengganu (UMT) students had shown the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria towards commonly used
antibiotics to treat eye infections.
Methodology and results:
The study was carried out from 28 CL cases samples with the duration of one to three
months of use. Bacteria that were successfully isolated from the CL cases were then exposed to the commonly
prescribed antibiotics followed by identification through the partial 16S rDNA sequencing. Our finding exhibited that the
rate of contamination is over 50% where 32 bacteria were isolated, with 20 (62.5%) of the isolates were Gram-positive
bacteria. Approximately 31% of the isolated bacteria are resistant and intermediate resistant to the commonly used
antibiotics to treat eye infection, especially erythromycin and chloramphenicol. The isolated bacteria were genotypic
identified as Bacillus cereus, B. anthracis, Acinetobacter variabilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Serratia marcescens.
These bacteria are known as a common cause for microbial keratitis, except for A. variabilis, where the association of
this bacteria in causing microbial keratitis is relatively rare.
Conclusion, significance and impact of study
This study highlights the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria that
can cause severe eye infections among CL wearer. The high percentage of contamination (>50%) found from the
isolates reflected on the lack of hygiene practice on the CL handling. Thus, it is crucial to perceive this study as microbial
contamination will lead to more serious eye infection disease such as conjunctivitis and keratitis.
Drug Resistance, Bacterial
;
Contact Lenses