Phytochemical analysis, antioxidant, antibacterial potentials and chemical composition of methanol extract of Oscillatoria sp.

Background: Algae contains some useful phytochemicals and Oscillatoria sp. is a green microalga which has various applicationsObjectives: Phytochemicals, antioxidant, antibacterial potential and chemical composition of methanol extract of Oscillatoria sp. were evaluated.Materials and Methods: Extraction of bioactive compound from Oscillatoria sp., determination of phytochemicals, antioxidant, antibacterial potential and chemical composition of the methanol extract.Results: Saponin, alkaloids and flavonoids were detected in the methanol extract while glycosides and phenols were absent. The scavenging assay for the antioxidant increased in a dose dependent (100 -1000 μg/mL) manner. The DPPH scavenging activity, Total phenolic content, Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power Assay (FRAP) and hydrogen peroxide scavenging activity ranged from 21.8 - 44.9%, 9.09 -21.46%, 0.43 - 42.49% and 19.4 - 74.4% respectively. The methanol extract had inhibitory activity against the test pathogens in which Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 (24.0 mm) had the highest susceptibility. GCMS chromatogram of the methanol extract of Oscillatoria sp. shows fifteen major peaks which indicated the presence of Oleic acid, stearic acid, aracidic acid, methyl laurate, methyl myristate, oxirane and palmitic acid.Conclusion: Oscillatoria sp. methanol extract contain some phytochemicals and some heterocyclic compounds. The extract had good antioxidant capability and appreciable antibacterial activity against the test pathogens.Keywords: Oscillatoria sp.; methanol extract; Phytochemical; Antioxidant; GC-MS; Antibacteria

Bacteria organisms in grow out Clarias gariepinus mortality in Jos Area

The investigation of bacteria in grow-out catfish was carried out from February to June, 2008. 100 dead Clarias gariepinus were collected from ten ponds (A-J) distributed in Jos and its environs. Results from the various ponds showed that Escherichia coli were present in all the location found, while 87.0% of the total samples obtained were positive with bacteria isolates. The isolates were shown to include Aeromonas species (11.5%), Escherichia coli (35.6%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.0%), Streptococcus faecalis (13.8%) and Klebsiella aerogenes (18.4%) of which pond F had 16.1 % of bacteria organisms while ponds B, G and H were both 9.2%, respectively

Effects of gender-based roles on farm households’ food security status in rural areas of Kogi State, Nigeria

Gender is one of the key issues of discourse among policy experts, research scholars and government as part of the sustainable development goals. In this paper, we examined gender roles in food security among farming households in Kogi state, Nigeria. First, we assessed the food security status of the farm households. Second, the contributions of gender in household security status were identified. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 farm households and data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. In the study we employed the use of food security index, chi square test and logistic regression analysis. The results revealed that only about 35% of the households are food secure (>2470 kcal/AE/day). The logistic regression model shows that fitted model is statistically significant with the log likelihood of 118.691 and Chi-square of 59.19 (P value < 0.05) with the R2 of 0.61. Household size, access to credit and membership of social groups are significant factors influencing households’ food security status. Therefore, the study recommends that women empowerments should be inculcated into the mainstream of any government policy targeted at ensuring food security of rural households

Target organ damage in canine and feline systemic hypertension: a review

Hypertension is a state of persistent elevation of arterial blood pressure and a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Chronic exposure to blood pressure results in target organs damage (TOD). Hypertension may be primary or essential and symptoms may be subclinical, insidiously causing damages to the target organs. It is often diagnosed when condition relating to the organ dysfunction are presented to the clinic. On the other hand, hypertension can be secondary when it is caused by an underlying condition and it may eventually damage some other vital organs (Target organs) in the body of the affected animal. These target organs include the eyes, brain, kidneys and heart causing hypertensive retinopathy, neuropathy, nephropathy and cardiomyopathy, respectively, in the organs. This review elucidates the occurrence and manifestation of hypertension and pathophysiology and clinical manifestation of target organ damage in small animals. There is therefore, the need for comprehensive cardiovascular examination and measurements of renal function, echocardiography and electrocardiography to diagnose hypertension and target organ damage early in order to promptly and properly manage the health abnormality. This will reduce the economic loss, organ damage and mortality caused by hypertension and its associated organ dysfunction

Surveillance for African Swine fever in Nigeria, 2006-2009

African swine fever (ASF) has had significant economic and social impact in Nigeria since 1997. However, there has been no effective national response to bring it under control. In this report, we confirm that ASF is still prevalent and widespread in Nigeria. Results from both serosurveillance and virological analyses indicated that ASF is present in most of the agro-ecological zones of the country. Nine per cent (9%) of serum samples and 48% of tissue samples were positive for ASF virus antibody and genome, respectively. Areas with high pig-related activities (marketing, consumption and farming) have higher prevalences compared with areas with less pig activities. Farm-gate buyers, marketing systems and transport of untested pigs within the country assist with the circulation of the virus. Only by putting in place a comprehensive routine surveillance and testing system, reorganizing the market and transportation systems for pigs, implementing on-farm bio-security protocols and considering the option of compensation will it be possible to achieve a significant reduction in ASF prevalence in Nigeria