Microbial diversity of molasses containing tobacco (Maassel) unveils contamination with many human pathogens

M.A.A. Alqumber

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Albaha University, Saudi Arabia. dr.alqumber@gmail.com

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• Microbiology

OBJECTIVE: Tobacco smoking remains a worldwide health issue, and the use of flavored varieties (maassel) embedded in glycerine, molasses, and fruit essence via shisha paraphernalia (waterpipe) is growing globally. 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing was conducted on 18 different varieties representing 16 flavors and three brands in order to study the microbiota of maassel and find whether it contains pathogenic bacteria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: The samples were selected randomly from the most utilized brands within Albaha, Saudi Arabia as determined through a questionnaire of 253 smokers. In addition, ten-fold serially diluted samples were inoculated on blood agar, MacConkey agar, half-strength trypticase soy agar and malt agar for the enumeration of mesophilic microorganisms, coliforms, Bacillus, thermophilic bacteria, and fungi.

RESULTS: A core microbiota was recognized consisting of three phyla (Firmicutes, Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria) and a total of 571 different species were identified including many pathogens, such as Mycobacterium riyadhense, M. chelonae, Shigella sonnei, S. flesneri, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella bongori, Coxiella burnetii, Acinetobacter spp., Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Streptococcus pseudopneumoniae, and Streptococcus sanguinis, showing the contamination of maassel.

CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that flavored tobaccos are potentially infectious. However, further risk assessment is required to determine transmission occurrence.

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