Introduction: This study reported the concentration of bacterial and fungal bioaerosol at an animal house and hospital laboratories with the aim to compare the concentration levels at library and administrative offices. The bioaerosol levels between mid-shift (afternoon) were also compared to the concentration measured during pre-shift (morning). Methods: The NIOSH 0800 method utilising microbiological air sampler collecting airborne bacterial and fungal samples via impaction technique on Nutrient agar (NA) and Sabouraud Dextrouse agar (SDA) as culture medium, respectively. Sampling was done twice daily; before (pre-shift) and during working (mid-shift) hour. Results: The highest bacteria and fungi concentration was recorded at the animal house with median concentration of 2477 CFU/ m3 (IQR=121-2477) and 791 CFU/m3 (IQR = 379-2081), respectively. Higher-risked workplaces such as animal house and hospital laboratories have significantly higher bioaerosol concentrations compared to control workplaces such as library and administrative offices (p<0.05). Interestingly, there were significantly higher fungi concentrations during the pre-shift compared to the mid-shift, for both high risk and control workplaces. Conclusion: Animal research room had exceeded the recommended bioaerosol level of 500 CFU/m3, but all the other sites had concentrations below the recommended level. Appropriate control measures should be adhered such as practicing hygiene practices and housekeeping to minimise the bioaerosol exposure among the workers and occupants.

Aedes mosquito-borne diseases such as dengue, chikungunya and Zika are classified as emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases across the globe. There is no permanent treatment or vaccine developed and the effort is still on-going. Several mitigation methods were introduced to control Aedes mosquitoes and the outbreak of these diseases. However, they had only been temporarily effective due to the lack of practices and participation of all community members who can contribute to the prevention of Aedes mosquito-borne diseases. Awareness on these diseases is still limited while the knowledge, attitude and practice of an individual strongly determines their level of involvement at community level towards prevention. This review highlights an overview of knowledge, attitude and practice studies on Aedes mosquito-borne diseases among different communities in Malaysia, the limitation in the knowledge, attitude and practice studies and the improvement that can be made to the knowledge, attitude and practice approach to encourage a more inclusive community involvement in Malaysia.

Introduction: The outbreaks of foodborne diseases have been linked to the consumption of contaminated seafood. This research aims to screen the bacteria from the sea cucumbers Acaudina molpadioides collected from Pulau Langkawi. Methods: A total of 22 sea cucumber samples were collected randomly from Pulau Langkawi, Kedah, Malaysia. The samples were isolated and identified for the presence of bacteria using the conventional culture-based method. Presumptive bacteria colonies were subjected to various biochemical and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. Results: There were no bacterial growth in Hektoen Enteric (HE) agar and Thiosulphate-Citrate-Bile Salt (TCBS) agar. Positive samples were isolated from MacConkey (MAC) agar with 6 samples were Staphylococcus spp. (27.27%), 14 samples were Proteus spp. (63.63%) and 2 samples were Bacillus spp. (9.01%). Among these isolates, highest resistance was found against Ampicillin (45%) followed by Tetracycline (40%). Conclusion: The results indicate that the sea cucumbers Acaudina molpadioides were contaminated with potential bacteria. There is a need for adequate consumer protection measures.

Aims: The natural coexistence of high humidity and warm temperatures in Malaysia and Nigeria and poor storage facilities used by most poultry feed vendors provide suitable conditions for the proliferation of aflatoxigenic fungi and aflatoxigenesis. This study aims to characterise and evaluate the toxigenicity of Aspergillus section Flavi (ASF) from Malaysian and Nigerian poultry feeds. Methodology and results: This study utilised standard mycological techniques to determine the bioburden and distribution of mycoflora in 132 and 144 Malaysian and Nigerian poultry feeds, respectively. The ASF isolated from the samples were tested for aflatoxigenicity by thin-layer chromatography (TLC) and then characterised by multivariate using attenuated total reflectance fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). A total of 128 and 75 mould fungal isolates belonging to 12 and 11 species were obtained from the Malaysian and Nigerian samples with a bioburden ranging from 2.0 to 6.97 log CFU/g and the highest overall mean count of 5.66 ± 4.51 log CFU/g and 5.6 ± 4.76 log CFU/g, respectively. Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus felis, Aspergillus flavus/parasiticus and Fusarium graminearum were predominant in poultry feeds from both countries. Overall, 16 ASF were isolated (Malaysia = 7, Nigeria = 9), of which only three produce aflatoxins. The multivariate cluster analysis of ATR-FTIR spectra showed 97.78% similarity between the toxigenic and atoxigenic ASF with primary differences at 600 to 800 cm-1 and 2927 to 4000 cm-1 only. Conclusion, significance and impact of study The bioburden of fungal flora in the samples was higher than the ICMSF's acceptable range of 2.0 to 5.0 log CFU/g, indicating that they could be hazardous to poultry and necessitate stricter control measures. Irrespective of the country/source of samples, the ATR-FTIR has discriminated the toxigenic from atoxigenic ASF, implying its promising prospects for rapid identification of toxigenic ASF.

Aims: Acaudina molpadioides is a highly valued sea cucumber that is distributed on the muddy shores on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia and is considered a local delicacy. Carnobacterium maltaromaticum is a type of lactic acid bacteria commonly found in meat, fish and dairy products and is usually isolated from the intestine of aquatic animals. It is scarcely reported from the intestine of A. molpadioides. This species is known to be pathogenic in fish but unknown in humans. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize C. maltaromaticum from the intestine of A. molpadioides. Methodology and results: Using standard methods, the strains were tested for their biochemical and carbohydrate properties, antibiotic sensitivity tests, temperature sensitivity tests and molecular identification. A total of 1642 isolates were obtained, out of which three strains were chosen as they were catalase-negative, Gram-positive bacilli, negative to IMViC tests, γ-hemolysis, and positive to lactose and glucose tests. Molecular identification was made to strain AM47e and 16S rRNA genes sequence showed 99.93% similar to C. maltaromaticum. The sequence was submitted to GenBank as Carnobacterium maltaromaticum (Accession No: MZ 934727). The optimum growth temperature for the strains was 37°C and the antibiotic susceptibility showed they were sensitive to tetracycline, ampicillin and meropenem. Conclusion, significance and impact of study In conclusion, C. maltaromaticum can be isolated from the intestine of A. molpadioides with the potential of the probiotic applications and less potential vulnerability for consumers.