Survey of parasites of the blue-billed malimbe Malimbus nitens (Gray)

A survey of the parasites of blue-billed malimbus, Malimbus nitens was carried out from January to December 1999 in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. A total of 182 specimens of the host bird were examined and 13 species of parasites were recovered. 58.3% were infected with 7 species of parasites. Concurrent infections of Columbicola sp; Phylopterus sp and Ornithornyssus bursa were very common. 4 specimens of the host had multiple infections of Leucocytozoon sp; Columbicola sp; Phylopterus sp; Ornithonyssus bursa and Cnemidocoptes sp. Cnemidocoptes had the highest (88.7 ± 15.3) mean intensity of infection while Prosthogonimus macrorchis had the least (2.0 ± 0.7). There were no significant differences in the prevalaneces of infections between the sexes (P>0.05) but parasite intensities were significantly different among the adult and sub-adults. Six of the 13 recorded parasites had higher prevalences during the dry season while only 2 of the recorded parasites had high prevalences during the rainy season, with seasonal prevalences of infection being statistically significant (

Birds of the sewage stabilization ponds at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

A qualitative study of aquatic macroinvertebrates and birds associated with sewage stabilization ponds was carried out on the campus of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Thirteen macroinvertebrate species were recorded out of which Ephemeroptera, Chironomus larvae, mosquito larvae and pupae and Notonecta sp. accounted for 95.4% of the total number of macroinvertebrates. All were found within the littoral region except Chironomus which occurred in both littoral and benthic samples. They serve as food, either directly or through the cyprinodont fish and tadpoles found in the receiving stream, for the twenty-nine bird species belonging to sixteen families that were identified. Ten of these were palaearctic visitors and African migrants. The dry season comparatively favoured increased number of bird species as opposed to lower numbers of aquatic macroarthropods recorded during the same period. The absence of predators on birds, little disturbance to the surrounding habitat and the traditional aversion man has for human sewage coupled with the offensive odour has created a relatively safe haven for the birds in and around the sewage stabilization ponds

In vitro antimicrobial and phytochemical properties of crude extract of stem bark of Afzelia africana (Smith)

Afzelia africana is used in folklore remedies for the treatment of diarrhoea, gastrointestinal disorders and gonorrhoea among other ailments; hence we assessed the in vitro antimicrobial activities of thisimportant medicinal plant. Thirty bacterial isolates as well as four fungal isolates were tested in this study. The crude extract of the stem bark of the plant exhibited antimicrobial activities at a concentration of 25 mg/ml against twenty-one of the bacterial isolates, (i.e. 72.41% of the tested isolates) comprising both Gram positive and Gram negative strains. The zones of inhibition exhibited by the extract against the test bacterial species ranged between 13 and 22 mm. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MIC) of the extract vary between 1.56 and 12.50 mg/ml while the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) ranged between 3.13 and 25.00 mg/ml. However, the extract lacked activity against all four tested fungal species. Phytochemical assay revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids and saponins in the extract. We conclude that the stem bark of A. africana is a promising candidate as source of new antibacterial compounds

The bioactive potentials of two medicinal plants commonly used as folklore remedies among some tribes in West Africa

Jatropha curcas and Newboulda laevis are medicinal plants used for the treatment of ailments such as diarrhoea, dysentery, sexually  ransmitted diseases, jaundice and several other diseases caused bymicro-organisms. The antibacterial activities of the leaves of the plants were assessed against a panel of selected bacterial pathogens. Methanolic leaf extracts of J. curcas and N. laevis exhibited antibacterial activity against eight of the thirteen tested bacterial isolates at a final concentration of 20 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition exhibited by J. curcas ranged between 12 and 17 mm while that of N. laevis varied between 10 and 23 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of J. curcas extract ranged between 0.625 and 10.00 mg/ml, while that of N. laevis extract varied between 0.313 and 10 mg/ml. The standard antibiotic – streptomycin had MIC values of between 0.0313 and 0.0625 mg/ml. Phytochemical compounds present in the extract of J. curcas include alkaloids, saponins, steroids and tannins, while those present in N. laevis extract includes alkaloids, flavonoids and tannins

The bioactive and phytochemical properties of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seed extract on some pathogens

In vitro antimicrobial activities of crude extract of Garcinia kola was investigated against some bacterial isolates comprising of both Gram-positive and Gram-negative organisms. The methanolic crude extract exhibited significant inhibitory action against eleven out of fifteen bacterial isolates tested at a final concentration of 20 mg/ml. The zones of inhibition exhibited by the extract against the tested organisms ranged between 10 and 23 mm, while the zones of inhibition exhibited by streptomycin and tetracycline used as standard antibiotics ranged between 15 and 25 mm; 12 and 25 mm respectively. On the other hand, the minimum inhibitory concentrations exerted by the extract against the bacterial isolates ranged between 0.079 and 5.00 mg/ml while the ranged exhibited by streptomycin was between 0.0157 and 0.50 mg/ml. The plant extract compared favourably with the two standard antibiotics used in this study. The following phytochemical compounds were present in the plant extract: flavonoids, tannins, cardiac glycoside, saponins, steroids and reducing sugars

Biocidal activity of partially purified fractions from methanolic extract of Garcinia kola (Heckel) seeds on bacterial isolates

The in vitro antibacterial activity of crude methanolic extract of the seeds of Garcinia kola was investigated. The extracts exhibited antibacterial activities with zones of inhibition ranging from 10 mm to 25 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration of the diethyl ether fraction was between 0.313 and 5.0 mg/ml, while that of butanol fraction varied from 0.157 to 5.0 mg/ml. The butanol fraction killed about 77% of Bacillus anthracis and 79% of Escherichia coli cells within 120 min at a concentration of 5.0 mg/ml. Protein leakage from the B. anthracis and E. coli cells when exposed to the butanol and diethyl ether fractions was observed. We conclude that Garcinia kola seed extract has a broad spectrum antibacterial activity, with the butanol and diethyl ether fractions being bactericidal as exemplified by the killing rate and protein leakage regimes, which suggest cell membrane disruption as a mechanism of action of the extract