DISTRIBUTION OF BIFIDOBACTERIA IN SALIVA OF INFANTS ATTENDING POSTNATAL CLINIC IN THREE PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES IN KADUNA METROPOLIS, KADUNA STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

This research is aimed at evaluating the distribution of Bifidobacterium species in the saliva of infants from three selected public health facilities providing postnatal services in Kaduna Metropolis, Kaduna State.  Samples were randomly collected by oral swabs method from 96 male and female infants taken for postnatal clinic in the three hospitals. Sample population is infants within the age range of 0-2yrs attending postnatal clinic. Demographic information on each infant was obtained through questionnaire that was completed by the mothers. Initial identification of Bifidobacteria was carried out by subjecting sampled saliva to biochemical test of Catalase, indole and fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase. Based on the biochemical characteristics, the isolated bacteria were reduced to 12 isolates. Using genus specific primers for Bifidobacterium, molecular characterization was carried out on the 12 isolates obtained by biochemical test for Biofidobacterium. Out of the 12 isolates subjected to molecular analysis, five were confirmed to be Bifidobacterium while sequence analysis of two of the samples carried out identified the species as Bifidobacterium longum. All the five isolates of Bifidobacterium longum were from saliva samples collected from male infants aged between 1 – 6 months. In conclusion, Bifidobacterium longum appears to be present in male infants within the age group 1 – 6 months than females within the same age group.