Plasmid profile and antimicrobial resistance ratings of enterococci isolates from pigs and poultry birds in Abia state, Nigeria

Our aim was to isolate and investigate the resistance ratings of enterococci poultry and pig isolates to various antimicrobial agents as well as to determine their plasmid profiles. Antimicrobial resistance ratings and the plasmid profiles of Enterococci isolated from poultry birds and pigs were analyzed. Three hundred and thirty enterococci isolates from poultry birds and pigs were obtained from the three zones in Abia State. Antimicrobial resistance ratings, transformation, curing and plasmid extraction for enterococci were done. The result showed that in both animal species multi-resistance to antimicrobials occurred in more than 40% of enterococci isolates. The enterococci isolates were resistant to floxapen (90%), ceprofloxacin (70%) and norfloxacin (80%). It also showed that the organisms were sensitive to lincocin (100%), chloramphenicol (85%) and gentamicin (75%). There were significant differences (P<0.05) in some reactions of some Enterococcus isolates to certain antimicrobial agents especially to chloramphenicol, rifampicin and gentamicin. Some isolates that was sensitive to gentamicin, rifampicin and chloramphenicol during pre-curing were resistant after curing though not significant (P>0.05). There was significant difference (P<0.05) among the isolates during pre-transformation and post-transformation process. Plasmid profile analysis of Enterococcus spp. revealed plasmid DNA bands ranging in size from 800 to 2000bp which appeared as bright bands. Large plasmid were lost during cell storage, some were plasmid less. No correlation could be made between plasmid patterns and antimicrobial resistance. The studies show good prospects for further research in the same area to explore and assign definite cause for antimicrobial resistance and multi-drug resistance.Keywords: Enterococcus spp., plasmid, poultry birds, pigs, antimicrobial resistance.French AbstractNotre but était d'isoler et d'examiner les évaluations des isolats entérocoque des volailles et des porcs aux plusieurs agents antimicrobiens aussi bien que déterminer leurs profils plasmidique. Les évaluations de la résistance aux microbiens et les profils plasmidiques d'Entérocoque isolé des volailles et des porcs ont été analysés. Trois cent trente entérocoque isolats des volailles et des porcs ont été obtenus de trois zones différentes a l'État d'Abia. Les évaluations de la résistance aux antimicrobiens, la transformation durcissement et plasmide extraction pour entérocoques ont été faits. Le résultat a montré que dans les deux espèces animales, multirésistance aux antimicrobiens se produit dans plus de 40% des isolats d'entérocoques. Les isolats d'entérocoques étaient résistants a floxapen(90%), également Ceprofloxacin (70%), et norfloxacin(80%). Il a aussi montre que les organismes étaient sensibles a Lincocin(100%), Chloramphenicol(85%) et la gentamicine(75%). Il y avait des différencessignificatives (P<0,05) dans certaines réactions des isolats d’enterolocoques aux certains agents antimicrobiens en particulier achloramphénicol, a rifampicine et gentamicine. Certains isolats qui étaient sensibles a la gentamicine, a rifampicine et chloramphénicol pendant pré- durcissement étaient résistants après le durcissement bien qu'insignifiant (P>0,05). Il y avait une différence significative (P<0,05) parmi les isolats lors de la pré- transformation et post-transformation. L'analyse du profil plasmidique d'Enterococcus spp. a révélé les bandes d'ADN plasmidique allant de la taille de 800 a 2. 000 bp qui semblait bandes brillantes. Les grands ont été perdus lors de stockage de cellules,, certains étaient moins plasmide. Pas de corrélation entre schémas de plasmides et la résistance aux antimicrobiens. Les recherches montrent de bonnes perspectives pour  des recherches plus approfondies dans la même domaine d'explorer et d'attribuer la cause précise pour la résistance. Aux antimicrobiens et la multirésistance.Mots- clés: Enterococcus spp., Plasmide, Volailles, Porcs, la résistance aux antimicrobiens

Exploring Barriers to Women Entrepreneurs in Enugu State, Nigeria

Women play an important role in the development of their families and communities economically; however, in comparison to men, they disproportionately experience barriers such as low income households, poverty, unemployment, lack of training, and discrimination. The purpose of this mini-ethnographic case study was to explore the perceptions of women entrepreneurs in Enugu State, Nigeria on what information they need to overcome possible barriers in their business and economic development. The 5M (market, money, management, motherhood, meso, and microenvironment) framework provided the theoretical lens for this investigation. The data gathering process involved face-to-face semistructured interviews with 15 women entrepreneurs in 3 local markets in Enugu State, in addition to direct observation, field notes, and reflective journal entries. Data were inductively analyzed and then triangulated to ensure trustworthiness of findings. The major themes revealed that these women needed information in the areas of marketing, customer relations, accounting procedures, financing strategies, and formal business training to grow their businesses. Embracing the results of this research may contribute to positive social change by providing information on how small scale women entrepreneurs could reduce their dependence on their husbands, partners, and relatives

The Gulf War as a fall out of the changing global balance

Certainly, Iraq’s invasion and annexation of Kuwait in 1990 constituted a breach of international law. But the swiftness and might with which the US-led UN forces bombarded Iraq out of Kuwait in 1991 left much to be desired. This paper is of the position and tries to prove that the procedural prerequisites for such interventions, as contained in the UN Charter, were not adhered to. This could be traced to the over-bearing influence and interest of the West and especially the then US regime which acted without the hitherto encumbrances that marred UN intervention attempts during the Cold War era. Invariably, the hasty resort to war was a mere fall-out of the collapse of the Eastern bloc and the emergence of the US as a sole super power, and so points to the looming negative effects of a uni-polar global balance. Key words: Gulf war, Global balance, Iraq, UN interventio

Comparative study of the intraocular pressure elevation potentials of dexamethasone phosphate and fluoro-metholone acetate on normotnsive Nigeria

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The Rationale for an African Epistemology: A Critical Examination of the Igbo Views on Knowledge, Belief, and Justification

The idea of African epistemology just like the larger discourse of African philosophy (especially in its early beginnings) still faces some challenges. One of the challenges centers on the proper meaning and adequacy of the idea. No doubt this difficulty has instigated some misgivings about the discourse prompting some philosophers to either reject it outright or accept it with reservations. I believe that part of the misgivings of African epistemology borders on the meaning ascribed to it by the advocates of the concept which is fluid and inappropriate with the present realities of Africans in their interaction with the rest of the world.Part of our business in this paper is to dispel this unfortunate attitude and perception towards African epistemology through a careful reconstruction and delineation of the meaning and nature of African epistemology in a way that accords with the true situation of Africans and as such reflects their correct ontological and epistemological conceptualization. This is buttressed by some insights drawn from Igbo traditional thought system which in all intents and purposes chimes with other epistemological systems elsewhere

Case Checking in Igbo Serial Verb Constructions

This paper has focused on serial verbs in Igbo. The aim was to find out how Case is checked by the series of verbs that make up a serial verb construction to their argument DPs. This syntactic interaction was analyzed with the Minimalist Program. A major finding of this study is that Igbo attests more serial constructions than those postulated in earlier literature and that verbs in serial constructions may (and not necessarily must, as defined by some scholars like Welmers (1973) and Bamgbose (1974)) share core argument (subject) and other arguments. It was also found that serial constructions do not create problem for the Case theory. The direct object of the first verb in a serial construction gets it original accusative Case, while the object of the second verb gets a genitive Case as checked by the Open Vowel Suffix in Igbo on the verb. Keywords: Case, Igbo, serial verb, noun, subject, objec

Indigenous language implementation and nation building: the Nigerian experience

This paper dwells on the use of indigenous languages in the Nigerian education sector. The Nigerian Government at various times has proposed various forms of language policies to encourage and stimulate the growth and development of her over 400 indigenous languages, in order to free its citizens from the yoke of an imperial language, i.e., English. The National Policy on Education did well to cover education levels ranging from the early childhood/pre-primary, to the primary and up to the secondary school levels. It even emphasized the use of mother tongue at the kindergarten and nursery school levels, yet our educators at the kindergarten and nursery school merely pay lip-service to it. Despite the fact that the language policy on education emphasized the use of mother tongue at these levels as a medium of instruction, the English language continues to dominate our indigenous languages because it has been adopted at the kindergarten and nursery school levels. The paper therefore submits that, as a way to protect Nigeria’s indigenous languages, there is need for proper implementation of the indigenous language policy in the kindergarten and nursery schools, not just being hypocritical about it. Consequently, a standard curriculum should be developed as well as utilized for this level and must be properly supervised by government agencies to ensure compliance and quality control. The paper concludes that implementing the policy on indigenous language teaching and use in the early child education stages can enhance nation building.Key words: Indigenous languages, policy implementation, nation building, kindergarten, Nigeria

Dimensions of Epistemology and the Case for Africa’s Indigenous Ways of Knowing

The debates within African philosophical practice have concerned its status, relevance and methodology appropriate or usable for doing it. Many African philosophers still express reservations concerning the importance of Africa’s indigenous ways of knowing. Paulin Hountondji, a leading African philosopher, famously denies that African traditional thought is true philosophy, classifying it as mere ethnophilosophy, since it deals with orality and other ethnographical materials like proverbs, parables, folklores, fables, songs etc. Hountondji’s position is, to say the least, exclusionist, since it denies traditional heritage a position in the on-going philosophical conversation or discourse. The paper suggests that Hountondji’s position rests on one-sided conception of epistemology. And wishes to show that philosophical practice is as old as the history of mankind in Africa

Democratization in Nigeria: nation – building versus state –building

Nigerians were highly excited by the inauguration in 1999 of the democratic regime, especially the termination of the protracted military stranglehold on the society, and the progressively widening political space. The freedom that followed opened the door to agitations and expectations. It is the position of this paper that much remains to be done because the transition or successful elections only mark the beginning of the democratization process and not the attainment of ‘full-fledged democracy’. It is only through a procedural identification of the problems of the nation and its ‘people’ as well as the setting up of necessary institutions and framework by the state that the latter can be attained. In favour of the indispensability of history, the paper argues that the previous democratization efforts failed due mainly to ethnicity, bad leadership, corruption, poverty, unwholesome ‘transplanting’ of foreign concepts of democracy without reference to local imperatives, and the inability of the state to rediscover the socio-political cum religious bases that sustained the traditional democracies of old. It avers therefore, that unless these problems are solved by the setting up of appropriate institutions and framework, with normative acceptance by different sections of the country, ‘democracy’ cannot be attained in Nigeria. Key Words: Democracy, Democratization, Nation-building, State-building

Translog Model Of Employment Substitution And Economies Of Scale In The U.S. Steel Industry, 2003

The period of 1963-1988 witnessed a tremendous decline in U.S. steel employment while the real wage rate increased slightly in the industry.  There is a popular notion that the nominal wage rate is the major factor in explaining the declining steel employment.  This study examines the decline in a system of input demand equations based on time series data.  The study identifies a heavy cap-italization in the industry as the driving factor for the steel employment decline.  This result supports the claim that the high wage rate in the industry is backed up by high productivity and therefore is not responsible for the steel employment decline.  Also, the study finds a lot of input substitutions.  The study finds diseconomies of scale in the industry, which may explain the decline of the industry