Kamaruzaman K, Irniza Rasdi*
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

The aim of this study was to show that the presence of mosquito predators in the ecosystem decreased the incidence of dengue cases. Data was obtained by daily inspection of 85 Aedes mosquito potential breeding point at 15 dengue outbreak hotspot localities with at least one mosquito predator present at the locality and the VEKPRO programme used in the monitoring of dengue cases in Malaysia. The mosquito predators identified were dragonfly, dragonfly nymph, gambushia fish, tadpole and frog. The study was done at the district of Petaling from 4th January, 2015 to 4th July 2015. The results show that the presence of mosquito predators hinder the breeding of Aedes mosquito in the ecosystem which is related to a decrease in dengue cases
Keywords: Aedes mosquito, Aedes larvae, Dengue cases, Mosquito predators, Breeding point

Noor Shaeda Ismail1, Irniza Rasdi*1, Emilia Zainal Abidin1, Sarva Mangala Praveena1
1Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

Calcium carbide (CaC2) is used as a chemical fruits ripening agent. A specific amount of phosphine gas (PH3) released from the CaC2 reaction with moisture is known to be toxic to respiratory system. This study was carried out to evaluate the potential risk of the CaC2 and PH3 among mango farmers and fruit sellers. The sample size was 200 respondents recruited by universal sampling in Perak, Kedah and Perlis. The procedure to perform chemical health risk assessment (CHRA) was based on the Use and Standard of Exposure of Chemical Hazards to Health Regulations 2000. The permissible exposure limit for PH3 is 0.3 ppm 8. The average TWA for carbide wrapping and ripening in the farm (C) and at the fruit stall (D) was 0.033 ppm while for sales activities at the fruit stall (E) was 0.017 ppm. Thus, the magnitude rating for C and D was ≥ 0.1 O.E.L but < 0.5 O.E.L and for E was < 0.1 O.E.L. It was found that for respondents who were directly involved with the ripening process, the risk is significant for both CaC2 and PH3 and the risk were also found significant for those who were not involved directly with these chemicals such as staffs who only involved in sales especially in fruit stall. This study will be beneficial to famers where it can be used for them to understand the effect of carbide to human health and to increase awareness on the health impact of the use of CaC2 to workers.
Keywords: Calcium carbide, phosphine, Risk assessment

Umi Raihana Abdul Rahman, Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail*, Emilia Zainal Abidin, Sarva Mangala Praveena
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Landfill leachate contains many contaminants and it has been a concern due to its toxicity to the environment. This study aims to measure the heavy metals concentration (Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni and As) and physicochemical characteristic of the crude leachate discharged from municipal waste landfill. Leachate samples from a young landfill (less than five years old) and old landfill (10 years of age) were analysed for its physicochemical properties and heavy metals to the Malaysian wastewater standards and other international standards. Samples were analysed for heavy metals analysis using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) Optima 8300. The physicochemical characteristics of the leachate in young landfill were significantly higher (p< 0.05) than the old landfill. Cu (0.0265 ± 0.0007 mg/l) and Ni (0.1773 ± 0.0004mg/l). Significant relationship between physicochemical characteristic with Pb. From the results it was concluded that physicochemical characteristics and heavy metals showed that both landfill leachates had significant difference except for Cd, Pb and As.
Keywords: Municipal solid waste, Leachate, Landfill, Physicochemical properties, Heavy metals

Umi Raihana Abdul Rahman, Sharifah Norkhadijah Syed Ismail*, Emilia Zainal Abidin,
Sarva Mangala Praveena
Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia

Abstract

Objective of this study was to measure heavy metals accumulation in Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) exposed to crude leachate. Tilapia was exposed to leachate from municipal landfills at the volume of 2% to 20% v/v for 96 hours. Heavy metals were measured using inductive coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) Optima 8300. All heavy metals were higher in the gills compared to the muscles and the concentration was higher in old leachate. The highest element detected in fish gills was Cu (22.72 ± 0.60 mg/kg) followed by Ni (1.66 ± 0.021 mg/kg) and Pb (0.50 ± 0.011 mg/kg). Ni also was highly detected in fish muscle with the mean of 1.32 ± 0.024 mg/kg. Cd was commonly detected in muscle and gills of young and old leachate (0.14 ± 0.01 mg/kg). It was concluded that heavy metals detected pose a risk of metals exposure through Tilapia consumption.
Keywords: Heavy metals, Crude leachate, Tilapia, Bio-accumulation, Municipal waste

Qamarul Haziman Abdullah, Amir Izzwan Zamri* Tuan Zainazor Tuan Chilek, Fisal Ahmad, Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak, Wan Najma Farhaten
Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Extraction of chitin and chitosan from natural sources are universally acknowledged as they can be used in many applications. This study aims to determine the optimum extraction condition of the chitosan from moon crab (Matuta lunaris) and to determine the yield and chemical properties of the extracted chitosan. Chitosan from moon crab (Matuta lunaris) was extracted and optimized by using response surface methodology (RSM) using two variables with five levels which were the deacetylation temperature (60, 70,80, 90 and 100ºC) and deacetylation time (2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 h). Three major steps which were demineralization, deproteination and deacetylation were involved in the extraction process. A full factorial of optimal randomized design was implemented using Design Expert 11 software. Four responses of chitosan extracted were evaluated which were yield, degree of deacetylation, molecular weight and ash content in order to determine the optimum condition of extraction. The deacetylation temperature and time for optimum chitosan extraction condition were suggested at 84.62 ºC and 9.46 h, respectively. The selected conditions (84.62 ºC and 9.46h) gave actual response values28.96 ± 0.93% of chitosan yield, 56.68 ± 1.66% of deacetylation, 567.17± 13.91 kDA of molecular weight and 10.59 ± 0.62% of ash content in chitosan powder. The extracted chitosan will be used as clarifying agent injuice production in the future studies.
Keywords: Matuta lunaris, Moon crab, Extraction, Chitosan, Response surface methodology

Amir Izzwan Zamri*, Farhana Sukor, Fisal Ahmad, Tuan Zainazor Tuan Chilek, Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak, Qamarul Haziman Abdullah, Najma Farhaten Latiff
Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science,University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

In this study, hydrolysate was produced from Asiatic hard clam (Meretrix meretrix) meat by enzymatic hydrolysis using Alcalase® 2.4 L and the optimum hydrolysis condition was determined. Optimization was carried out with face centred central composite design in response surface methodology. The optimum condition of hydrolysis conditions was determined by three levels and four independent variables, which were temperature °C (45, 55, 65°C), enzyme to substrate level, % v/w, (1, 1.5, 2%) time, (60, 120,180 mins) and pH of the substrate (7.5, 8.5, 9.5). Degree of hydrolysis (%) (DH) was chosen as the dependent variable. The optimum conditions for enzymatic hydrolysis of Asiatic hard clam meat were obtained at temperature ºC, enzyme to substrate concentration (ES), hydrolysis time and pH of 65°C, 1%, of 60 minutes and pH 7.5 respectively. In this condition, the predicted and actual value of degree of hydrolysis (DH) obtained were 25.79% and 26.32 ± 0.35% respectively. Suggested model for the enzymatic protein hydrolysis of Asiatic hard clam meat was a two-factor interaction (2FI) model. Asiatic hard clam hydrolysate powder contained of moisture, crude fat, ash, crude protein of 60.09 ± 0.88%, 7.36 ± 0.10%, 2.18 ± 0.29%, and 8.12 ± 0.02% respectively. DH (%) and proximate analysis of hydrolysate from Asiatic Hard clam was compared with hydrolysate of two different species of mollusk which was green mussel (Perna viridis) and blood cockle (Anadara granosa) from previous studies.
Keywords: Protein hydrolysate, Meretrix meretrix, Hydrolysis

Mohd Ikhsan Khalid1, Tuan Zainazor Tuan Chilek1*, Fisal Ahmad1, Shamsul Bahri Abd Razak1,
Adam Tan Mohd Amin2
¹Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terenganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
2Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

Abstract

Bacterial contamination in a product of stingless bee is a major risk factor for the increased incidence of honey contamination by pathogenic bacteria. The main aim of the study was to compare microbial air contamination in the different meliponiculture farm by settling plate method. In this study, the quality of air in the form of bacterial load in meliponiculture site was monitored. Two meliponiculture farms were studied weekly for a month and were divided into two factors; i) radius distance from the hive, and ii) time of harvesting. There was a comparable amount of bacterial load measured between both farms. Range of index of microbial air contamination (IMA) value of Farm I and Farm II were around 26-50 and above 76, indicating fair and poor performance of its air quality respectively. Thus, the location of meliponiculture farms that located near to the road and construction site could pose a threat to the stingless bee product by its airborne-risk.
Keywords: Settle plate method, Index of microbial air contamination, Pathogenic bacteria, Meliponiculture

Fauziah Tufail Ahmad1,3*, Mohd Nizam Lani1,3, Syazwani Ahmad Nazari1, Nur Hazirah Mohd Hajar1, Khairiah Nur Ain Mohammed Hassan1, Shamsul Bahri Abdul Razak1,3, Zaiton Hassan2
1Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
2Faculty of Science and Technology, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Bandar Baru Nilai, 71800 Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia
3Special Interest Group Apis and Meliponi, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Stingless bee (Geniotrigona thoracica) honey is stored in cerumen pots and it has been made from wax combined with propolis. Stingless bee propolis is resin that is collected by foraging worker from plants while bee bread is the pollen that has been stored in wax combs by bee’s colony. The aim of this study is to determine antioxidant properties of honey, propolis, and bee bread of stingless bee and their antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Listeria spp., Pseudomonas spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli. The physical properties of these samples were significantly different (p<0.05) on color and pH value. There were significant differences (p<0.05) on moisture, ash, protein, reducing sugar and vitamin C content among samples. Based on antioxidant properties, there were also significant difference (p<0.05) between the three different samples. Propolis showed the highest amount of antioxidant content compared to honey and bee bread. Propolis and honey shared the highest total phenolic content (TPC) level which was 5.86±0.01 mg GAE/100g for propolis and 5.47±0.26 mg GAE/100g for honey. On the other hand, DPPH radical scavenging analysis indicated that propolis had the highest value which was 88.8±0.43%, followed by bee bread (59.38±0.64) and honey (57.60±1.20). FRAP assay also showed the highest value in propolis (38.88±0.81 μmol/g). Honey, propolis and bee bread showed different effect of antimicrobial activity (p<0.05) against five bacteria including Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Listeria spp., Salmonella spp., and Escherichia coli except Pseudomonas spp. (p>0.05). This indicated that different product of stingless bee showed different beneficial properties.
Keywords: Honey, Propolis, Bee bread, Stingless bee, Antioxidants, Antimicrobial

Tuan Zainazor Tuan Chilek^1,3*, Noor Aimi Shazana Mohd Yusoff ¹, Fisal Ahmad^1,3, Amir Izzwan Zamri¹, Noraznawati Ismail², Shamsul Bahri Abdul Razak^1,3

¹Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Institute of Marine Biotechnology, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

3Special Interest Group Apis and Meliponi, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

Abstract

Blood cockles (Anadara granosa) are the natural inhabitants of the marine environment that were harvested from the seawater and can be contaminated with the Vibrio species bacteria as well as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. V. parahaemolyticus is one of the major seafood-borne disease that leads to human acute gastroenteritis due to consumption of raw or undercooked seafood. Peeled blood cockles from five different supermarkets around Kuala Terengganu were sampled. A total of thirty samples of peeled blood cockles were obtained and the V. parahaemolyticus were identified. Eleven out of thirty of the samples acquired were positive with V. parahaemolyticus when streaked on selected agar (TCBS and CHROMagarTM Vibrio) which then confirmed by biochemical test (API 20E strips test) and specific-PCR method (Vp-toxR genes). Eleven V. parahaemolyticus isolates were tested for susceptibility to various antibiotics using the disk diffusion method according to guidelines set by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standard. Eight types of antibiotics tested which selected randomly from the main group such as Aminoglycosides, β- lactams, Cephalosporins, Glycopeptides, Microlides, Quinolones and Tetracyclines. Antibiotics tested were Streptomycin (25g), Penicillin (10g), Cefuroxime (30g), Teicoplanin (30g), Erythromycin (10g), Ciprofloxacin (5g), Tetracyclines (30g) and Chloramphenicol (50g). All the isolates (100%) were found to be resistance to penicillin, chloramphenicol and teicoplanin. However, no isolates (0%) were resistance to streptomycin, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, tetracyclines and cefuroxime. The results of this study provided useful information in the search for safe and efficient antibiotics in treating food poisoning patient due to V. parahaemolyticus.
Keywords: Peeled blood cockles, Anadara granosa, Antibiotic susceptibility, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Food poisoning

Fisal Ahmad^1*, Mohamad Fauzi Mahmud¹, Nor Suhaida Che Ali¹, Mohd Nor Azman Ayub², Siti Norita Mohamad⁴, Noraznawati Ismail³, Tuan Zainazor Tuan Chilek¹, Amir Izzwan Zamri¹, Mohd Ikhsan Khalid¹

¹Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Universiti Malaysia Terenganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

²Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Batu Maung, 11960 Batu Maung, Pulau Pinang, Malaysia

³Institute of Marine Biotechnology, University Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia

⁴Fisheries Research Institute (FRI) Glami-Lemi, 71660 Titi Jelebu, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

Abstract

This study was conducted to determine the proximate composition and amino acid profile of anchovy sauce (Budu) produce in Terengganu and Kelantan, since there were only a few studies on this fermented product from Malaysia. Six samples of Budu which is three samples from Setiu (Terengganu) and three samples from Tumpat (Kelantan) respectively were collected and analyzed. Results showed that Budu contained high amount of protein with average between 9.69% – 15.02 %. Present data also indicated that Budu contained low amount of fat and carbohydrate, where fat content was less than 1%, and carbohydrate was between 0.07% and 6.51%. However, salt content were recorded high at around 38 to 51% in all samples. The data also showed that ash and moisture content in Budu were not significantly different. It contained about 15.75% – 18.81% of ash, and 64.27% – 69.46% of moisture. For the amino acids profile, glutamic acid showed the highest concentration in all of the samples from both states. The content of essential amino acids (lysine and leucine) was found to be dominant in Budu. Therefore, these results suggest that Budu can be an important protein supplement in the diet.
Keywords: Fermented, Proximate analysis, Acid amino profile, Anchovy sauce