Microbiological evaluation and antimicrobial resistant pattern of bacteria isolated from surface drinking water sources in Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Nigeria

Water is vital for life, but in contrast, it might serves as the commonest route of transmission for many infectious diseases. This study was carried out to examine the quality of drinking water from two selected surface water within Ogbomoso. Water samples were collected from both water bodies at different points. Most Probable Number (MPN) techniques and pour plate method were used to estimate the bacteriological quality of water samples. The antibiotic sensitivity test was carried out on the isolated organisms, while heavy metals parameters were assessed with standard methods. Water samples were analyzed for faecal sterols. Results of MPN counts (49 to 1600 MPN per 100ml) and total heterotrophic counts (0.15×106 to 1.36×107 CFU/mL) revealed a high level of microbial pollution. Ten genera of bacteria; Shigella, Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus, Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Citrobacter and Klebsiella were isolated and they all showed multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR) to all the antibiotics used. The multiple antibiotics resistant (MAR) index ranged from 0.63 to 0.75 and 0.63 to 0.88 for the isolates from Papa –Osiagoro and Oke- Baaki water works respectively. The heavy metals analyzed fell within the limits set by Nigerian Standards for potable waters with exception of Zn which had high concentrations across the sampling points. Water samples showed the presence of high concentrations of feacal sterols. The presence of coliforms and other pathogenic organisms present in these surface water bodies have shown that they are highly contaminated. Thus, the water is not fit for human consumption due to feacal contamination.Keywords: Ogbomoso, Microbial pollution, Antibiotic resistance, Heavy metals, feacal sterol

Improving Hydrophobicity of Tropical Hardwood along Axial Positions

Wood is hygroscopic and is considered dimensionally unstable materials when exposed to wet conditions. To increase the hydrophobicity of wood, this study focused on the modification of tropical hardwood (Triplochiton scleroxylon) along different positions of the stem using acetic anhydride The weight percent gain (WPG) was determined and acetylation reaction was confirmed with FTIR. The dimensional stability of the wood was characterized by water absorption (WA), volumetric swelling (VS), anti-swelling efficiency (ASE), and water repellent efficiency (WRE). Data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance at α0.05. It was observed that the weight gain (WG) by acetylation increases along the axial position (base to top) of T. scleroxylon wood. IR-spectra confirmed properly the substitution of the acetyl group. The treatment resulted in a marked improvement in the WA and VS, ASE, and WRE of acetylated T. scleroxylon wood were also found to improve considerably from base to top of the wood. It could be said that the WPG and hydrophobicity increased, but the percentage of water absorption and volumetric swelling diminished. Hence, the modified wood showed good hydrophobicity and improved dimensional stability

Experimental Optimization of Lead (II) Bioadsorption from Aqueous Solution onto Banana Stalk using Central Composite Design

This study investigated the effect of operating parameters on the bioadsorption process of Pb(II) from its aqueous solution using three Banana Stalk (BS) bioadsorbents [Raw (RBS), Acid Activated (AABS) and Base Activated (BABS) ]. A five-factor, three-level Central Composite Design (CCD) was applied to determine the effects of independent variables (initial metal concentration, contact time, temperature, adsorbent dosage and solution pH) on percentage Pb(II) removal. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the parameters in the experiment. AABS had the highest percentage removal (96.13%) from the preliminary experiment and was then used for the optimisation experiment. Data analysis showed that all the variables significantly affected the percentage Pb(II) removal at p < 0.05. The square of the adjusted coefficient of determination for regression model of percentage Pb(II) removal is 0.9355. Optimum percentage removal of 96.41% was obtained using AABS when the Pb(II) concentration, contact time, temperature, dosage and solution pH were 21.83g/mL, 152.21minutes, 50oC, 0.90g and 8.00,  respectively. There absolute error between the experimental and the predicted optimum percentage removal was less than 1%. Keywords: Banana stalk, optimization, bioadsorption, acid, base

Comparison of glycaemic indices of some local beans (Vigna unguiculata [Linn] Walp varieties) in Nigerians

Background: Beans are recommended for their richness and for their salutary effect  on blood glucose. Inter-species differences impact on blood glucose. What appeared unknown is whether varieties of beans of the same species (Vigna unguiculata [Linn] Walp) have differential effects on blood glucose when equal amounts are consumed.Objective: To perform proximate analysis and compare the glycaemic indices on  consumption of Vigna unguiculata (Linn) Walp species.Setting and subjects: This was an experimental study and subjects consisted of 12 healthy consenting participants at Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) in Lagos, Nigeria.Outcome measure: Fibre contents and the glycaemic indices of Vigna unguiculata (Linn) Walp varieties ‘oloyin’, ‘drum’ and ‘Sokoto’ white.Results: The mean (±SD) crude fibre content of Vigna unguiculata (Linn) Walp varieties ‘oloyin’, ‘drum’ and ‘Sokoto white’ are 2.75% (± 0.00), 2.64% (± 0.14) and 2.94% (± 0.17) respectively. The median (95% CI) glycaemic index (GI) of Vigna unguiculata (Linn) Walp variety ‘oloyin’ was 12.10% (6.0–16.31), variety ‘drum’ 17.64% (9.22–48.93) and variety ‘Sokoto white’ 12.04% (5.54–28.94) respectively. The GI of the bean meals differed significantly (Friedman’s test, χ2 (2) = 6.500, p = 0.039).Conclusion: The fibre content of intra-species beans, together with their GI, differs. ‘Drum’ bean meal has the lowest fibre content and highest glycaemic response.  ‘Oloyin’ and ‘Sokoto white’ bean meals are recommended for persons with DM as some beans are more diabetic friendly than others.Keywords: beans (Vigna unguiculata [Linn] Walp), diabetes mellitus, fibre, glycaemic index, Nigeria

Evaluation of Indigenous Poultry Improvement Project in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara State

The study assessed an indigenous poultry improvement project carried out at Irepodun LGA of Kwara State. The focal objective of the project was to facilitate traditional backyard poultry development through improved chicks’ survivability. Ten (10) indigenous backyard poultry farmers were selected based on willingness to participate in the project from Rore Village of Irepodun LGA and were trained on the rudiments of the projects and improved poultry management practices. Baseline data were collected at the onset of the project on the level of chick survivability and other parameters. Cages, feeds, medication were supplied while each farmer was to provide five laying hens. Upon hatching, the chicks were reared in cages for six weeks without the mother hen. The project was found to yield 70 – 90% chick survival up to 6 weeks of age. Bird mortality was noticed to decline considerably after 6 weeks of age when the birds are turned to scavengers. It is concluded that the innovation is result-oriented and therefore recommended for extension dissemination and farmers` trials

Erythrocytic parameters as indicators for differentiating between the pregnant and pseudopregnant bitches in Nigeria

The erythrocytic parameters during pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches were studied and compared in 8 bitches aged 2 -3 years and weighing 10–12 kg. Blood samples were collected from the bitches before mating, during the three trimesters of pregnancy and the post partum period. The packed cell volume (PCV %), haemoglobin concentration (Hb gm/dl), red blood cell count(x106/μl) were determined using standard methods. The mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) were then calculated. Six of the bitches were pregnant and 2 were pseudopregnant. The results showed that in pregnant bitches, the PCV decreased significantly from the premating values of 51.37+0.94% to 34.00+8.04% during the third trimester of pregnancy (P<0.05). There was also a significant decrease in Hb values (P<0.05) from the premating period (16.30 ± 0.20gm/dl) to the third trimester of pregnancy (11.25±1.80gm/dl). The values of Red blood cells (RBCx106/μl) during the premating period (12.70+3.15) were not significantly different from the values during the first second and third trimesters (11.13+3.87, 10.38+4.54 and 12.24+3.15, respectively). The trend of decrease in PCV and Hb values were not observed in the bitches with pseudopregnancy. This shows that these erythrocytic parameters can be used to detect and differentiate between pregnancy and pseudopregnancy in bitches as early as the first 20 days post mating

Complete regression of Transmissible Venereal Tumour (TVT) in Nigerian Mongrel Dogs with Vincristine Sulphate Chemotherapy

Intravenous administration of 0.025mg/kg body weight vincristine sulphate, in normal saline, in four weekly doses led to complete regression of lesions, within 35 days, in 4 mongrel dogs and 6 bitches with histologically diagnosed transmissible venereal tumour (TVT). Early side effects observed in the dogs, such as anorexia and dehydration disappeared after complete regression of the tumours. There was a progressive decrease in the number of mitotic figures, intercellular edema, bacterial contamination and inflammatory reaction within the tumour masses indicating that vincristine sulphate has direct effects on tumour cell division and bacterial multiplication. The tumour cells, initially very large (18-25µ; average 21.8±3.2µ diameter), with very abundant vacuolated cytoplasm and fine nuclear chromatin pattern, progressively became smaller cells (10-12µ; average 11.2±10.9µ) with heterochromatic nuclei and scant cytoplasm. Arrangement of tumour cells ranged from the initial glandular appearance to pallisading and compacted cells, which disappear as islands within thick fibrous connective tissue. Vascularization of the tumour masses also progressively waned. The presence of large numbers of lymphocytes, plasma cells and activated macrophages in the regressing tumours strongly suggests a role for immune-mediated control of TVT complimentary to that of vincristine sulphate. The slight and transient normocytic normochromic anaemia and leucopenia observed in the dogs may be related to the anti-mitotic effect of vincristine on bone marrow haemopoiesis. These untoward effects of vincristine may have been tolerated by the dogs because of the low dosage, short and well-spaced duration of therapy; an advantage over the adverse effects of some previously used combined anti-tumour drugs

Double Cervix in a five-year-old white Fulani Cow

A case report of true double cervix in a five-year-old white Fulani cow is presented. The condition is known to cause infertility which might be the reason why the cow was brought to the slaughterhouse at this critical age

Case report - Achondroplastic Syndrome in a West African Dwarf Lamb

A three week old, male, West African Dwarf (WAD) lamb presented with disproportionate hind limb was diagnosed of having achondroplastic syndrome by physical and radiological examination. Physical examination showed the right hind limb was deformed at the level of the tarsus, metatarsus and phalanges. Radiological examination showed that the tarsal bones were small and laterally compressed, while the lateral sesamoid bone was absent. The right metatarsal bones were rudimentary while the phalanges were only represented by soft tissue structure. The serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP), aspartate transaminase (AST) and alanine transarninase (ALT) were higher in the achondroplastic lamb than the normal flock mate used as control. Based on the radiographic findings, it was concluded that ectrodactyly was the only feature of the achondroplastic syndrome in the lamb