Diversity and response of Benthic Macroinvertebrates to Natural and Induced Environmental Stresses in Aiba Stream, Iwo, Southwestern Nigeria

Aiba stream, a tropical stream in southwestern Nigeria, was investigated on monthly basis from November 2012 to April 2013 with a view to comparing their response with the Biological Monitoring Working Party (BMWP) score system already in use in some eco-regions. The diversity and response of benthic macroinvertebartes were used in assessing the biological water quality and health status of the stream. Samples were collected from four different stations using the Kick Sampling Technique. All the specimens collected were preserved in 70% alcohol solution and later identified in the laboratory using relevant identification guides. Predatory invertebrates like water scorpions (Nepa and Rana spp.) and dragonfly nymphs (Macromia sp.) were sorted out in-situ and stored separately. Nineteen taxa of macroinvertebrates were recorded comprising three Phyla, four classes and 17 families. The overall Shannon-Weiner diversity and Margalef’s indices of the stream indicated that the stream was organically polluted, as evidenced by the presence of some pollution-tolerant macroinvertebrates (e.g. Families Stratiomyidae, Nepidae, Planorbidae, Chironomidae and Syrphidae). Although there were some similarities between the BMWP score system and the response of the benthic macroinvertebrate families to environmental stress, a disparity was also observed between the two which underscores the need to carry out intensive research in this regard and adapt a BMWP score system for regional freshwaters in the tropics

Composition and distribution of dragonflies and damselflies (Insecta: Odonata) in Iloyin Forest, Akure, Southwestern Nigeria

Odonate fauna of Iloyin Forest was studied from October to December 2009 to have an overview of the species composition and distribution with the threat of deforestation in the area. Adult species were collected once a week using a sweep net throughout the period of the study from three study sites (denoted as I, II and III) with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance. A total of 76 species belonging to eight families were recorded in the forest. The two most abundant families in the forest were the Libellulidae (Anisoptera) and Coenagrionidae (Zygoptera).  Palpolpeura portia, P. lucia and Congothemis dubia were the dominant species of Libellulidae, while Pseudagrion kersteni was the dominant coenagrionid.   Some species of Odonata usually associated with shaded forests were encountered in two of the study sites. The highest diversity and evenness indices were recorded at Site I, followed by Site II and the least recorded at Site III. Although shade-loving species recorded in the study area was an indication of its richness in forest Odonata, some may have however become locally endangered or extinct as a result of deforestation. A check in the rate of deforestation could preserve the few forest (endangered) species and restore the locally extinct ones that changed habitats. Key Words:     Biodiversity, Conservation, Disturbance, Forest, Freshwater, Odonat

Treatment Outcomes among Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Tuberculosis Co-Infected Pregnant Women in Resource Poor Settings of South-western Nigeria

The complex interactions between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Tuberculosis (TB) infections may be magnified, in the presence of another potentially stressful condition like pregnancy. Though co-infection among pregnant women is rare, treatment outcomes may depend on accessibility to comprehensive treatment modalities. The objective of this study is to determine treatment outcomes among pregnant HIV and TB co-infected pregnant women in Lagos, South-western Nigeria. This retrospective, analytical study was carried out among ninety four (94) eligible pregnant women co-infected with HIV and TB at selected health-care facilities in Lagos state between January, 2008 and December, 2009. A standard checklist for data collection was used and analysis was carried out using the EPI info software. Mean age of respondents was 30.8 (±3.9) years. Sixteen (17.1%) TB cases were clinically diagnosed for tuberculosis. Among tuberculosis cases identified through sputum microscopy, 60(63.8%) were acid fast bacilli (AFB) positive and 21(22.3%) were identified in the first trimester. The mean percentage adherence to anti-retroviral drugs was 95.9% (±5.3). None of the participant smoked cigarette. Seventy three {73 (77.7%)} had contact with TB infected or suspected person in the last three months. Treatment outcome in mother showed that 74(78.7%) were cured, 8(8.5%) relapsed while 12 (12.8%) had treatment failures. Among the babies, 83(88.3%) were born alive. Women with both poor adherence (<90%) and with positive TB contact, but neither factor alone, were half-fold less likely to be cured compared with women with both good adherence (>95%) and no TB contact (OR=0.59, CI=0.45-0.95 and p=0.014). Cure rate was substantially lower in this study. This calls for extra strategies such as routine TB screening in antenatal clinics, strict adherence to national guidelines in the treatment of HIV/TB co-infections, focused antenatal care and comprehensive Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTCT) care and treatment

Intestinal Helminthiasis among School Children in Ilie, Osun State, Southwest, Nigeria

A cross sectional study of intestinal helminthiasis among school pupils was undertaken in three primary schools in Ilie in Olorunda Local Government Area of Osun state in order to determine the prevalence and intensity of helminthic infections. The relationship between intestinal helminths and anthropometric indices and the factors that could favour the infection were also studied. Faecal samples from three hundred and four (304) randomly selected out of the four hundred and seven (407) school children in the study area were collected and analysed with the semi-quantitative Kato Katz technique and concentrated method. The intensity of infection was classified into light, moderate or high according to World Health Organisation (WHO) thresholds. The overall prevalence rate was 52.0% while five species of intestinal helminths were identified. Ascaris lumbricoides (36.2%) was the most common, followed by Hookworm (10.5%), Schistosoma mansoni (4%), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.7%) and Hymenolepis nana (0.7%). Multiple helminthic infection were recorded with Ascaris –Hookworm (6.58%) having the highest prevalence among the children. Female (56.6%) were more infected than male (46.4%) and the difference was statistically significant (P=0.0019). Seventeen percent (17%) of the children were below the third percentile for weight (wasted) while fourteen percent (14%) were below the third percentile for height (stunted). There was a relationship between intensity of infection and wasting since there were fewer underweight pupils (13%) with normal stool than those moderately infected (35%) (

Cervical Cytology in Sagamu Nigeria

Cervical cancer is the commonest female genital tract cancer and second to breast in cancer deaths worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa it is the commonest cancer and most common cause of cancer deaths in women. The incidence keeps declining in the advanced and industrialized countries of the world due to effective screening programme. The gold standard tool for effective screening programme is the cytology based Pap smear test. The human and material requirements for Pap smear and cytology make it less practicable for effective coverage in poor resource countries thus resulting in less than 5% of women needing screening being covered. The incidence of CIN has been variously quoted between 2% and 12.5% worldwide. To determine the incidence of CIN in women who attend the well women clinic for cervical cancer screening in our hospital. Case records and cytology results of all women who attended Well Women Clinic of our hospital between January, 2005 and December, 2013 were reviewed and analysed using the SPSS version 16.0 statistical package. Four hundred and sixty-seven women had cervical cancer screening using Pap smear and cytology during the study period. Twenty-nine (6.5%) had smear showing intraepithelial neoplasia and 19 (4.1%) of these were high grade lesions. Finding of 6.5% prevalence rate of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, and with over half of these being high grade lesions in this study, justifies the need to intensify screening of women, especially those in the reproductive age group.Keywords: Cervical; Cytology; Sagamu; Nigeria

Prevalence of malaria among the nomadic Fulani in Osun state, southwest Nigeria

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of malaria among the nomadic Fulani in Osun state, Nigeria. In this study, 102 blood samples were collected from male and female nomads and assayed by Giemsa staining of thick and thin blood film for detection and identification of plasmodium species and parasitaemia count for determination of parasitaemia load. Malaria prevalence was 55.9%. All infection was diagnosed as Plasmodium falciparum infection. Malaria prevalence was high in children, while location, age, sex, the use of bed net and the type of prophylaxis and therapeutic drugs used had no significant influence on prevalence.Keywords: Malaria, Plasmodium falciparum, nomadic Fulani, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences, 6(2): 223-227, 201

Haemorheological factors in diabetes mellitus patients in Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC), Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A study on haemorheological factors in diabetes mellitus patients was carried out. Fifty blood samples were analyzed, comprising of thirty (30) diagnosed diabetes mellitus patients attending chemical pathology Clinic in OAUTH Ile-Ife and twenty (20) from apparently health individuals. The haemorheological parameters determined in this study were Packed cell volume (PCV); Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Plasma Fibrinogen Concentration (PFC), whole blood viscosity (WBV), Plasma Viscosity (PV), and plasma glucose. Microhaematocrit, the Westergren's and Ingram's (1961) methods were used respectively for analysis, while technique of Reid and Ugwu (1987) was used for whole blood and plasma viscosity. Glucose-oxidase method was used for plasma glucose estimation. The mean ± S.E.M values obtained for the patients are: PCV 39%, ESR 35mm Westergren in 1 hour, PFC 55.50g/m., WBV 6.12, PV 1.97 and glucose 7.39mmol/L while those of controls are: PCV 42.45%, ESR 6.80, PFC 31.60g/ml, WBV 3.84, PV 1.56 and glucose 3.94mmol/L. All the parameters were statistically significant (

Design and construction of solar-powered smart garbage disposal unit

Cities with developing economies experience exhausted waste collection services, and inadequately managed and uncontrolled dumpsites; which is an ongoing challenge and many struggles due to weak institutions and rapid urbanization. The purpose of the research is to design and construct a smart garbage disposal system using a two-way power supply unit (that is, the electrical power supply unit and solar power supply unit) based on Arduino Nano that utilizes ATMEGA 328p microcontroller. Two pairs of ultrasonic sensors, the pair that faced upward detects the presence of garbage disposal agent at a close distance of (5 - 50) cm and then opens the lid while the other pair faced the inside of the container senses when the container is filled up and then closes the container until it is emptied are used

Knowledge of emergency contraception among students in a tertiary institution in a developing country

Abiodun Adeniyi Adewunmi,1 Kabiru Afolarin Rabiu,1 Adetokunbo Olufela Tayo,1 Tawakwalit Abimbola Ottun,1 Bolu Sunday Adeboye,2 Raheem Akinwunmi Akindele31Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Ikeja-Lagos, 2Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, State Specialist Hospital Akure Ondo State, 3Department Of Physiology, Obafemi Awolowo College Of Health Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State, NigeriaBackground: Emergency contraception (EC) has been available in developing countries without prescription for some time. There is, however, little research into the extent of the knowledge of mode of action, effectiveness, and availability of this form of contraception in rural areas.Objectives: To assess the knowledge of EC with respect to mode of action, effectiveness, and availability in rural areas among students in a tertiary institution in a developing country.Methods: A questionnaire was distributed to tertiary students in a university in rural area in a developing country. This questionnaire asked about their knowledge of the mode of action of EC, its availability over the counter, its cost, and the student's willingness to purchase it.Results: Some 488 of the 500 questionnaires were returned. One hundred and eight (22.1%) of the students had used EC or bought it for a girlfriend at some stage in the past. Two hundred and forty four (50.0%) knew the correct timeframe for its use, while 201 (41.2%) were not aware of its availability over the counter in pharmacies, and 150 (30.7%) felt unable to purchase EC in a pharmacy where they are known. One hundred (20.5%) of the participants were aware of the cost of EC.Conclusion: The students had good knowledge of the timeframe for the use of EC, but lacked information regarding the availability and the cost of EC in the community.Keywords: developing country, emergency contraception, knowledg