The Toxicity Effect of N. P. K. Agro -Fertilizer on Oreochromis Niloticus Fingerlings, the Pysiological Impact.

The study on the acute toxicity level of inorganic fertilizer (N. P. K., 20: 10: 10) to the fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticus (mean weight 0.9 ± 0.6g) was investigated using static bioassays over a period of 96hrs intervals. The 96 hours LC50 of the exposed fishes was also determined to be 0.82sg/L with lower and upper confidence limits of 0.6 and 1.15g/L respectively. However certain stressful behavioural changes like erratic swimming with inconsistent jumping, incessant gulping of air, loss of balance, were commonly observed before death, which occurs with increase in the time of exposure. Water quality determined during the investigation showed fluctuation in oxygen content and increase in Ph, Conductivity and total dissolved solute as the concentration of the fertilizer was increased. The increased stress behavioral pattern among this fish is as a result of the increased effect of the fertilizer. Keywards: Effects, fertilizer, Oreochromis Niloticus, fingerlings, water

Helminth Parasites of Fruits and Vegetables Planted in Crop and Landscape Managent Garden College of Agricultural Sciences, Ebonyi State Universityabakaliki, Implication for Public Health.

The parasitological examination of soil samples extracted from the roots of pre-nursery crops of fruits and vegetables for the prevalence of soil transmitted helminths was conducted using Zinc-Sulphate floatation, centrifugation methods and microscopy respectively. Out of 1,400 soil samples and 1000 fruits examined 58% and 42% respectively were positive. The study revealed that soil transmitted parasites where implicated in their full developmental stage of adultworms, larvea and eggs respectively. These include Capillaria, Strongyloides stercoralis, Trichuris trichuria, Hookworms, and Ascaris lumbricoides. Their presence could be as a result of using animal dungs/feaces as organic fertilizer, direct urination and open defeacation on the farmland by students, staff, and other student farmers in the nursery. Thus contaminating the nursery and posing health problems to students, farm workers in the campus and consumers of the contaminated fruits and vegetables. However, infected students could be treated with antihelminthics while avoidance of the use of animal dungs/feaces, open defeacation and urination on the farmland will reduce the parasite presence. Students treatment on infection, can be achieved through public health awareness scheme and provision of toilet facilities and finally teach them how to wash their fruits and vegetables with salt or potassium iodide which are predisposing factors for infection. Keywards: Helminths, Parasites, Soil, Fruits, Vegetables, EBSU

Antiplasmodial activity of the ethanol extract of Dacryodes edulis leaf in Plasmodium berghei infected mice

Background: Malaria treatment in Africa is increasingly becoming difficult resulting from Plasmodium falciparum resistant to available antimalarial agents. Therefore, evaluating plants used in traditional medicines can lead to alternative treatment against malaria.Methods: This study evaluated the antiplasmodial activity of ethanol extract of Dacryodes edulis in chloroquine sensitive Plasmodium berghei NK65 strain in mice. The 4-day suppressive test, repository and curative effect against established rodent malaria infection models were assayed in this study. The oral acute toxicity test and phytochemical screening were also carried out on the ethanol leaf extract.Results: The ethanol leaf extract of Dacryodes edulis (D. edulis) at varying doses of 100 mg/kg, 200 mg/kg, 400 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) exhibited dose-dependent decrease in parasitaemia at suppressive, repository and curative studies. Chloroquine 10 mg/kg significantly (p<0.05) decreased parasitaemia levels in the three models of malaria infections. The antiplasmodial activity of the leaf extract is comparable with the standard drug. The extract was found to be non-toxic acutely in mice.Conclusions: The findings show that D. edulis ethanol leaf extract demonstrated high antiplasmodial activity in a dose-dependent fashion. Thus, supporting claims of the plant traditional therapeutic importance for malaria treatment, and can be developed as an alternative therapy against the disease

A Novel Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus t11469 and a Poultry Endemic Strain t002 (ST5) Are Present in Chicken in Ebonyi State, Nigeria

Background. The changing epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) from a hospital-associated pathogen to an organism commonly found in the community and in livestock reflects an organism well-equipped to survive in diverse environments and adjust to different environmental conditions including antimicrobial use. Methods. We investigated the molecular epidemiology of S. aureus and MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Samples were collected from 1800 birds on 9 different farms within the state. Positive isolates were tested for antibiotic susceptibility and molecular typing. Results. Prevalence in birds was 13.7% (247/1800). MRSA prevalence in poultry was 0.8%. The prevalence of MRSA in broilers and layers was 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively. All tested isolates were susceptible to vancomycin. Molecular analysis of the isolates revealed 3 spa types: t002, t084, and a novel spa type, t11469. The novel spa type t11469 belonged to sequence type ST5. Conclusion. The detection of t002 in chicken suggests the presence of livestock-associated MRSA in poultry in Ebonyi State. The detection of the new spa type t11469 in poultry that has not been characterised to ascertain its pathogenic potential remains a cause for concern, especially as some were found to carry PVL genes, a putative virulence factor in staphylococcal infection