Mycotic loads’ determination of non-sterile pharmaceuticals in Lagos state and 16S RDNA identification of the fungal isolates

Pharmaceuticals are medicinal products used in the prevention, treatment, and diagnosis of diseases. As such, the presence of microorganisms’ especially fungal toxins can reduce or eliminate the product's therapeutic activity and constitute a potential danger to patient health. This study attempts to determine the fungal loads of liquid preparation used as medication in Lagos State and its environs and identify the fungal isolates. 252 different types of oral liquid drugs (200syrups and 52 suspensions) which included paracetamol syrup, cough syrup and antibiotics suspension manufactured in five different pharmaceutical industries in Nigeria were methodically sampled and analyzed for fungi contamination using standardized method. The isolated fungi were identified using morphological characterization as well as 16SrDNA sequencing. 13% of the sampled syrups were found to be contaminated with fungi where thecolony forming units for paracetamol syrup, cough syrup and antibiotics suspension ranges from 2.0x101 - 9.6×104; 1.0x102- 7.5x104 and 1.0x101- 8.8×104cfu/ml respectively while87% yielded no growth.Thirteen (13) morphologically different species of fungi were identified which included Aspergillus niger strains, A. tamari strains, A. japonicas, A. flavus, A. awamari, A. ellipticus, A. tubingensis, Meyerozyma aaribbica, Candida carpophila and  Eurotiomycetes spp, The presence of microorganisms in oral liquid samples might explain the treatment complicacy of the diseased children. Therefore, microbiological quality of such drugs is thus suggested

Immunologic and inflammatory responses in mice after intranasal instillation of spores of Aspergillus and Penicillium isolated from outdoor air in South West Nigeria

In this study, a mice model was devised to elucidate and compare the adverse effects caused by fungi isolated from outdoor locations in Lagos, Nigeria. The effects caused by Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus penicilloides, Penicillium chrysogenum and Penicillium citrinum were investigated. Both the doseresponse and time-course of the inflammatory and toxic responses were investigated and histopathological analysis was also performed on the lungs. Biochemical parameters and histopathology revealed that all the microbes studied provoked inflammation after a single dose, but the magnitude and its characteristic features were different. The spores of P. chrysogenum provoked the most intense acute inflammation indicated by a strong and rapid monocytes cells production in the lungs. In summary, the results show that the different fungus have different potential to cause inflammatory and toxic responses after airway exposure in mice and suggest that fungi present in the environments can induce inflammation in lungs and cause systemic toxicity

Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress as Indicators of Fungi Environmental Pollution in Balb/c Albino Mice Monitored from South West, Nigeria

The presence and detection of common airborne fungi in an area are important for the prevention and treatment of allergic fungal diseases. Because of the ubiquitous nature of fungi, the effect of four different fungal species in production of antioxidant and reactive oxygen species production in balb/c albino mice was investigated. Fifty-four balb/c mice were randomly divided into eight groups (n = 6) and a normal control group. Four different fungal plates, comprising Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus penicillioides, Penicillium citrinum, and Penicillium chrysogenum, which were the most abundant fungi species sampled in the environment were cultured for one week to make 2.3 x 107 and 3.2 x 105 spores and injected intranasally in sterile saline into the nostrils of each of the mice. Results showed that all fungal inoculated organism produced statistically (P<0.05) significant reactive oxygen species while antioxidant parameters were significantly decreased in a dose dependent manner compared with normal control mice. It is therefore concluded that Aspergillus flavus, Aspergillus penicillioides, Penicillium citrinum, and Penicillium chrysogenum can alter and decrease immune function in balb/c mice. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the most common airborne fungal species present in Southwest Nigeria and to study their allergic reactions

Fungal Spore Diversity and Abundance in Five Areas in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Background: Airborne fungal spores may pose as a potential high risk of fungalrelated health problems in humans, animals, and plants which necessitated the need to constantly monitor the presence and diversity of fungi spores in the atmosphere regularly. This study aims to investigate diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores across multiple locations for two years in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. Subjects dan Method: Study descriptive cross-sectional are used to investigate diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores across multiple locations. The variable in this study were Airborne fungi spores diversity sampled monthly from five different locations in Ibadan, Oyo State, SouthWest Nigeria for two years using the open plate sedimentation method with the petri dishes of Dichloranglycerol 18 (DG18) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Monthly Meteorological parameters were equally taken during the duration of sampling. The data were collected and graphical presented using histograms. Results: A total of 39 fungal species were identified throughout duration of study. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most abundant fungi genera isolated while few Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, and Basidiomycetes were found. Rainy season period favours high number of fungi in the atmosphere. The highest abundance of fungal spores was recorded in June and July while lower fungi concentration was recorded between December and February. Conclusion: the study revealed the most dominant and abundant spores belong to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. The results show the need for people suffering from fungi sensitivity and allergies to be well informed. Keywords: fungi, health, Ibadan, airborne. Correspondence: Adeyinka Odebode. Department of Basic Science, Kampala International University, Uganda. Email: [email protected]

Fungal Spore Diversity and Abundance in Five Areas in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria

Background: Airborne fungal spores may pose as a potential high risk of fungalrelated health problems in humans, animals, and plants which necessitated the need to constantly monitor the presence and diversity of fungi spores in the atmosphere regularly. This study aims to investigate diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores across multiple locations for two years in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria. Subjects dan Method: Study descriptive cross-sectional are used to investigate diversity and abundance of airborne fungal spores across multiple locations. The variable in this study were Airborne fungi spores diversity sampled monthly from five different locations in Ibadan, Oyo State, SouthWest Nigeria for two years using the open plate sedimentation method with the petri dishes of Dichloranglycerol 18 (DG18) and Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Monthly Meteorological parameters were equally taken during the duration of sampling. The data were collected and graphical presented using histograms. Results: A total of 39 fungal species were identified throughout duration of study. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most abundant fungi genera isolated while few Zygomycetes, Ascomycetes, and Basidiomycetes were found. Rainy season period favours high number of fungi in the atmosphere. The highest abundance of fungal spores was recorded in June and July while lower fungi concentration was recorded between December and February. Conclusion: the study revealed the most dominant and abundant spores belong to the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium. The results show the need for people suffering from fungi sensitivity and allergies to be well informed. Keywords: fungi, health, Ibadan, airborne. Correspondence: Adeyinka Odebode. Department of Basic Science, Kampala International University, Uganda. Email: [email protected]

Information seeking behaviour of pregnant women in selected hospitals of Ibadan Metropolis

This study sought to ascertain the information seeking behaviour of pregnant women in selected hospitals of Ibadan Metropolis. The study adopted the survey design. The study's population encompassed of 1900 pregnant women in selected hospitals. Proportional random sampling technique was used to draw samples from each hospital. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was analyzed using the frequency distribution and percentage counts. Findings revealed that information on environmental cleanliness and immunization were mostly needed by the respondents. Doctors and nurses were also identified as the most available and utilized sources of health information. Libraries were, however, found to be the least available and utilized source of health information. Challenges facing information seeking were attributed mainly to libraries, lack of income and time. The study concludes by noting that the availability, access to, and utilization of health information would translate to a safe delivery thereby reducing maternal mortality and recommends that government provides libraries and free medical care to encourage women to seek health information, among others.Keywords: Health information; Information seeking behaviour; Maternal mortality; Pregnancy; Pregnant wome

Effect of leaf extract of Lantana camara with Maize-based coating on the quality of fresh-cut fruits of Ananas comosus and Musa acuminata

Fresh-cut fruits of Ananas comosus (pineapple) and Musa acuminata (banana) have a relatively short shelf-life hence the need to enhance their quality. Preservation effect of ethanolic extract of leaf of Lantana camara (10%w/v) incorporated with maize-based edible coating on fresh-cut fruits of banana and pineapple were determined. To achieve the objective of this study, the pH, total carotenoid content, ascorbic acid, total phenolic content, fungal load, antioxidant activity, total soluble solids, and browning potential of coated fruits at ambient temperature (PEC); untreated fruits (NTS), sodium benzoates (BSB) at ambient temperature and a coated sample (PEC@4) at 4°C were analysed at intervals for 15 days. The quantitative phytochemical constituents of the extracts were assayed. The phytochemical analysis of the extract shows high yields of tannins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and low yields of alkaloids and cardiac glycosides. The quality assessment of the test fresh-cut fruits revealed that there was higher preservation activity in PEC@4 of banana and pineapple, followed by a considerable efficacy of PEC of banana and pineapple. This study shows the great potential of the extract of L. camara for the preservation of Ananas comosus and Musa acuminata, with incorporation of maize-based coating as the carrier of its functional property

Airborne fungi spores distribution in various locations in Lagos, Nigeria.

Exposure to outside air microorganisms especially fungi has been linked with illness such as allergic respiratory symptoms, rhinitis, asthma, and infection such as mycosis. Airborne fungal composition was sampled from five locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, between May 2014 and April 2016. Fungi spores were collected using the sedimentation plate method with the Petri dishes of dichloran-glycerol 18 (DG-18) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungi sporulated faster on DG-18 agar plate as compared with PDA. The abundances of fungal spores collected monthly at the locations varied. The most abundant spores came from the fungi were Aspergillus niger (14.47%), Aspergillus sydowii (10.37%), and Aspergillus flavus (7.93%). Additional species were present in the collections including Ascomycetes: Penicillium funiculosum (5.49%), Neurospora crassa (5.32%), Penicillium oxalicum (4.71%), Penicillium pinophilum (2.88%), Fusarium verticillioides (3.05%), Penicillium simplicissimum (1.83%), Aphaderanum sp. (0.22%), Curvularia sp. (0.22%), Aspergillus oryzae (0.22%), and Paecilomyces sp. (0.61%) and the Mucoromycotina Zygomycetes: Rhizopus oryzae (4.10%) and Mucor sp. (3.44%). Fungal concentrations were significantly higher (P&nbsp;≤ 0.05) during the rainy season compared with the dry season. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most predominant airborne fungal genera while Mucor, Alternaria, and Cladosporium were some of the least observed. Generally, abundance of fungi was significantly high during the wet season in all the studied locations

Airborne fungi spores distribution in various locations in Lagos, Nigeria.

Exposure to outside air microorganisms especially fungi has been linked with illness such as allergic respiratory symptoms, rhinitis, asthma, and infection such as mycosis. Airborne fungal composition was sampled from five locations in Lagos State, Nigeria, between May 2014 and April 2016. Fungi spores were collected using the sedimentation plate method with the Petri dishes of dichloran-glycerol 18 (DG-18) and potato dextrose agar (PDA) media. Fungi sporulated faster on DG-18 agar plate as compared with PDA. The abundances of fungal spores collected monthly at the locations varied. The most abundant spores came from the fungi were Aspergillus niger (14.47%), Aspergillus sydowii (10.37%), and Aspergillus flavus (7.93%). Additional species were present in the collections including Ascomycetes: Penicillium funiculosum (5.49%), Neurospora crassa (5.32%), Penicillium oxalicum (4.71%), Penicillium pinophilum (2.88%), Fusarium verticillioides (3.05%), Penicillium simplicissimum (1.83%), Aphaderanum sp. (0.22%), Curvularia sp. (0.22%), Aspergillus oryzae (0.22%), and Paecilomyces sp. (0.61%) and the Mucoromycotina Zygomycetes: Rhizopus oryzae (4.10%) and Mucor sp. (3.44%). Fungal concentrations were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) during the rainy season compared with the dry season. Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most predominant airborne fungal genera while Mucor, Alternaria, and Cladosporium were some of the least observed. Generally, abundance of fungi was significantly high during the wet season in all the studied locations