Effect of abattoir wastes on selected soil properties in Abakaliki and Ezzamgbo southeastern Nigeria

This research was conducted in 2015 and 2016 at Abakaliki and Ezzamgbo Southeasern Nigeria to evaluate the effect of abattoir wastes on soil properties in Abakaliki Southeastern Nigeria. Four replicate auger and core soil samples were collected as follwos: 1m-donkey = 1 m away from donkey abattoir waste dumpsite at Ezzamgbo; 10m-donkey = 10 m away from donkey abattoir waste dumpsite at Ezzamgbo; 1m-cow = 1 m away from cow abattoir waste dumpsite at Abakaliki and 10m-cow = 10 m away from donkey abattoir waste dumpsite at Abakaliki while non-dumpsite at Mile – 4, Ishieke was used as Control. The data obtained was analysed using analysis of variance based on CRD and difference between treatments means were dictated using F-LSD. The result obtained showed significant higher improvement in soil bulk density, total porosity, mean weight diameter, aggregate stability, pH, available P, total N, organic C, exchangeable bases & acidity, effective cation exchange capacity and base saturation in soil near abattoir sites than control. Generally, the order of improvement in soil properties studied was 1m-donkey > 1m-cow > 10m-donkey > 10m-cow. Also, the improvement of soil properties was higher in the second year of the study when compared to the first year of the study. From, the results we can understand that the improvement in soil properties is directly depended on the type of animal slaughter in an abattoir, that is why at distance of 1 m away from abattoir and 10 m away from abattoir, donkey abattoir showed higher improvement in soil properties when compared to cow abattoir.Therefore, the study recommended the use of abattoir wastes as soil amendment to increase soil productivity and as means of waste disposal and nutrient recycle.Keywords: Abattoir, Butcher, Improvement, Sanitation and Waste

Comparative Analysis between Monophasic and Biphasic Methods of Blood Culture

A biphasic blood (BiPB) culture bottle (GIBCO Laboratories, North Andover, USA) with an architectural design that physically separates the agar slant from the broth was compared with a conventional vented monophasic bottle (MPB) (GIBCO Laboratories, North Andover, USA) for routine blood culture. Monophasic bottles contained thioglycollate broth (BioAmerica Inc., USA) while the biphasic contained Brain heart infusion agar-BHIA/Brain heart infusion broth-BHIB (BioAmerica Inc., USA). 120 blood cultures were examined on either of monophasic and biphasic blood culture experimental set up.  Out of 240 sets collected, 157(65.4%) were positive for bacterial growth while 83(35.6%) were negative. After subculture a total of 8 isolates (from 154 plates for BiPB and 117 plates for MPB) were recovered during the study. Of these isolates, 4 (from 126 plates for BiPB and 91 plates for MPB) were recovered, 2 isolates (from 28 plates) grew in the BiPB but not in MPB, 2 isolates (from 26 plates) grew only in the MPB but not in BiPB. The BiPB allowed more rapid recovery of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Klebsiella spp., Salmonella spp. and Proteus spp. While Pseudomonas spp. and Enterococcus faecalis were more readily isolated using MPB. BiPB subcultures was easy enough to permit both early and daily subculture which provided isolated colonies sooner than could be done by using the MPB. Bacteria organisms were recovered at a non-significantly (P > 0.025) more frequent rate in the BiPB than in the MPB-A. Either bottle, however, should be used in conjunction with an anaerobic bottle for optimal recovery of anaerobic bacteria. Key words: Biphasic, Monophasic, Thioglycollate, Brain Heart Infusion Agar/Broth, blood culture