Unilorin don identifies new Listeria species

Unilorin don identifies new Listeria species

Species
By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
Ilorin, March 9, 2020 (NAN) The Management of the University of Ilorin (Unilorin) has stated that an Associate Professor in the department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Raufu Adisa, has identified new Listeria species.

Listeria species are a genus of bacteria and until 1992, only 10 species were known worldwide, each containing two subspecies. By 2019, however, 20 species had been identified.

According to the University of Ilorin bulletin issued on Monday, this development is contained in a letter addressed to the Dean of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Ilorin, Prof. Suleiman Salami.

It stated that it was issued by the Head, Biology of Infection Unit, National Reference Centre and WHO Collaborating Centre, Paris, France, Dr Marc Lecuit.

“This is in furtherance of the characteristic commitment of the University of Ilorin to finding enduring solutions to human challenges through thorough teaching, painstaking research and inspiring community services.

“An Associate Professor at the department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Dr Raufu Adisa, has secured a golden space for himself and the institution in the annals of global scientific discoveries following his identification of a new Listeria species.

“The identification was consequent upon an intensive research on evaluation of Quality of cow milk and milk products in Ilorin, Kwara State, North Central Nigeria and comparative study with Indian milk and milk products – from microbial perspectives carried out by the scholar,” the publication said.

The publication stated that consequently, the botanical name, Listeria ilorinensis, has been proposed, out of two alternatives, for the species identified.

It explained that this is “considering the fact that the species was isolated from milk products locally called ‘Wara’ (cheese) collected from Ilorin town”.

“In his reaction, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof Sulyman Abdulkareem, welcomed the development as a worthy addition to the chain of glory of the University.

“Abdulkareem said that the scientific attainment was highly commendable and another feather in the University’s cap of honour,” it stated. (NAN)
FATY/ESAN/DCU
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Edited by Donald Ugwu