Prevalence and public health implications of the microbial load of abused Naira notes

A hundred and forty (140) pieces of abused Naira notes were randomly and aseptically collected in Kano metropolis and examined microbiologically for the load and type of microorganisms (bacteria and fungi) using swab-rinse and standard plate count techniques. The mean average bacterial counts on the notes ranged between 3.59 x 102 cfu/ml and 1.29 x 105 cfu/ml while fungal counts ranged between 3.24 x 102 cfu/ml and 1.59 x 106 cfu/ml. The lowest and highest counts for both bacteria and fungi were found in the N500 and N5 abused naira denominations respectively. The bacteria isolated include the genera of Bacillus, Brucella, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Listeria, Micrococcus and Staphylococcus while fungi include the genera of Aspergillus, Fusarium, Mucor, Penicillium and Rhizopus. There was no recovery of both bacteria and fungi in the control. The implications of the results have been discussed. Keywords: Microbiological load, abused naira notes, public health, Kano

Chloroquine-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria

Three patients, 30, 2 and one and a half years, were diagnosed as having falciparum malaria and were placed on chloroquine therapy which failed. They were then placed on quinine therapy that then cleared the parasitaemia. This case report seeks to draw the attention of the presence of possible chloroquine-resistant falciparum malaria in Sokoto, North Western Nigeria. (African Journal of Biotechnology: 2003 2(8): 244-245

Performance Indices and Physiological Changes in Pearl Guinea Fowls (Numida Meleagris) Supplemented with Molasses Through Drinking Water

. The study was aimed at evaluating the performance indices and physiologic changes in pearl Guinea fowls (Numida meleagris) supplemented with molasses through drinking water. A total of thirty-two (n=32) day-old pearl Guinea fowls raised to 12-week-old were used for the study. The fowls were randomly allocated to two groups (control and experimental) of 16 fowls each, with each having two replicates. Experimental fowls were given 5 mL molasses per litre of drinking water for 8 weeks, while control fowls were given only drinking water. Performance indices which include: feed consumption, water intake and percentage weight gain were measured. Rectal temperature was measured and blood samples were collected to evaluate the changes in haematological parameters, serum triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4) concentrations. Results revealed that the molasses-treated fowls had significantly (P<0.05) higher percentage weight gain, blood total protein, packed cell volume and mean corpuscular volume compared to control. However, the feed consumptionwas significantly lower (P<0.05) in the molasses-treated fowls compared to control. In both groups, rectal temperature increased significantly (P<0.05) during the afternoon hours and was lower (P<0.05) in molasses-treated fowls than control during the evening hours. There was no significant difference in other haematological parameters, serum glucose, T4 and T3 betweengroups. In conclusion, molasses supplementation decreased feed consumption, improved body weight gain and enhanced nutritional status and erythropoiesis in Guinea fowls

Preliminary phytochemical screening, proximate and elemental composition of Moringa Oleifera lam seed powder

The seed powder of Moringa oleifera was analysed for its phytochemical, proximate and elemental composition using Folin-Denis spectrophotometric method, gravimetric method and energy dispersing X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) transmission emission technique respectively. The seed powder had the following proximate composition: nitrogen (2.98%), crude protein (18.63%), tannins (322.9 mg/100g), alkaloids (8.24 mg/100g) and saponins (9.13%). The predominant mineral elements in the seed powder were: Al (144 ± 4 ppm), Ca (602 ± 122 ppm), K (732 ± 164 ppm), P (0.619 mg/kg), Na (86.2 ± 4.9 ppm), Mn (17.5 ± 0.4 ppm), Br (0.62 ± 0.09 ppm), La (0.73 ± 0.13 ppm), Sm (0.14 ± 0.01 ppm), Rb (37.5 ± 6.7 ppm) and Sc (0.17 ± 0.03 ppm) while Mg, Fe, Cr, As, Th and Zn were all beyond detection limits. The results of the study suggest the pharmacological and nutritional potentials of M. oleifera seeds for human and other animal uses. Keywords: Moringa oleifera, seed powder, phytochemical, nutritional composition