Molecular Detection of Bacillus anthracis from Soil in Niger Delta University and Environs, Bayelsa, Nigeria

Abstract

Bacillus anthracis is an aerobic or facultative anaerobic, Gram-positive Bacilli which is naturally found in soil. Bacillus anthracis is known as the most dangerous bacterium which is used as a biological weapon causing cosmopolitan disease condition called anthrax infection. The study aimed at detecting Bacillus anthracis from Niger Delta University (NDU) Amassoma and her environs soil sample. Twenty soil specimens were collected randomly and processed, characterized by Microbiological and Polymerase Chain reaction technique. Disk diffusion method was used for Antimicrobial susceptibility testing. Findings from this study revealed that out of the 20 samples collected, 8(40%) were Staphylococcus species, 5(25%) were Mucor species while 7(35%) were Bacillus species, of the 7 positive for Bacillus 4(20%) had Mannitol fermentation while 3(15%) showed no fermentation, 3(15%) of the 7 also showed gamma hemolysis while 4(20%) showed complete (beta) hemolysis and 4(57.1%) showed turbidity while 3(15%) did not show turbidity. Antibiotic Susceptibility testing showed that Septrin, Ampicillin, Ceporex, Nalidixic acid and Gentamicin had total resistance to Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus cereus and other species. From the sequencing, other species of Bacillus were observed apart from Bacillus anthracis. This showed an advantage of genotypic identification over the phenotypic features. Hence proper identification of Bacillus anthracis from NDU and her environs soil sample must be put in place to create awareness for the students, staff, farmers, children and others who constantly have contact with the soil. Anthrax infection can also be controlled by improved personal hygiene.