Evaluation of the bacteriological and physicochemical quality of water supplies in Nsukka, Southeast, Nigeria

The bacteriological and physicochemical quality of various water samples from bore hole, dug well and spring, collected from ten different locations within Nsukka were determined. Total viable and coliform counts were evaluated using the standard plate count method and the most probable number (MPN) technique, respectively. The physicochemical parameters were analyzed using standard methods. The mean total bacteria count of the water samples ranged as follows: bore hole (0.92 × 104 to 1.41 × 104) cfu/ml, well water (1.80 × 104 to 2.40 × 104) cfu/ml and spring water (0.78 × 10,4 to 1.06 × 104) cfu/ml. The mean total coliform count of the samples in (MPN/100 ml) ranged as follows: bore hole (10 to 15), well water (14 to 18) and spring water (8 to 10). The isolated and identified bacteria were Enterobacter spp., Alcaligenes spp., Escherichia coli, Proteus spp., Klebsiella spp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus sp. The physicochemical values of the water samples ranged as follows: pH (5.6 to 6.4), dissolved oxygen (DO) (5.4 to 6.4), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) (10.0 to 20.4), chloride (1.6 to 2.3) mg L-1, total hardness (48.6 to 68.0) mg L-1, total dissolved solids (6.3 to 9.7) mg L-1, sulphate (2.0 to 3.4) mg L-1 and nitrate (1.2 to 4.1) mg L-1. The water supply sources in the present study have good physicochemical attributes for human consumption but the presence of E. coli and other potential enteric pathogens indicated faecal matter contamination of the water implying that they are not suitable for human consumption.Keywords: Drinking water, bacteriological and physicochemical quality, coliform

Biodegradation of glyphosate herbicide in vitro using bacterial isolates from four rice fields

Glyphosate is a compound used as herbicide in the control and/or killing of grasses and herbaceous plants. It can be used in no-till agriculture, to prepare fields before planting, during crop development and after crop harvest. Because of its toxicity to non-target organisms, there is need to decontaminate glyphosate contaminated soils and bioremediation is a very useful alternative to conventional cleanup methods. The success of this will depend on isolating bacteria with the ability to degrade glyphosate in achanging environment. The abilities of five bacterial species (Escherichia sp, Azotobacter sp., Alcaligenes sp., Acetobacter sp. and Pseudomonas fluorescens) to degrade glyphosate herbicide under varying environmental conditions were evaluated in this study. The isolates were screened forglyphosate utilization using mineral salt medium containing glyphosate as carbon and/or phosphorus source. Of the five bacterial isolates, P. fluorescens and Acetobacter sp. showed the capacity to utilize glyphosateefficiently and were therefore used for further biodegradation studies. Time course of growth of the isolates on mineral salt medium containing glyphosate showed that both grew significantly (P < 0.05). Microbial growth during the study was monitored by measuring the optical density at 660 nm. The comparative effects of glyphosate as carbon and/or phosphorus source on the growth of the isolates showed that there was significant (P < 0.05) growth in the medium containing glucose and glyphosate. The effects of different concentrations of glyphosate on the growth of the isolates (P. fluorescens and Acetobacter sp) were evaluated. Significant (P < 0.05) growth was observed at lower concentrations (7.2 - 25 mg/ml) of glyphosate. No inhibition of growth was observed at high concentrations (100 - 250 mg/ml), indicating that the isolated bacteria can tolerate up to 250 mg/ml of glyphosate. However, there was subsequent decrease in growth of both isolates as the concentration of glyphosate increased. This study showed that P. fluorescens and Acetobacter sp. exhibited a high capacity to efficiently degrade glyphosate under the environmental conditions studied. Thus, the organisms can be exploited for biodegradation of glyphosate and should be studied for their ability to degrade other organophosphates

Occurrence of haemolysin antibodies among sickle cell anaemia patients within Calabar metropolis of Nigeria

The role of alpha () and beta () haemolysins in blood transfusion has been well documented. However, the occurrence of haemolysins and its attending problems in sickle cell anaemia (SCA) patients has limited appearance in the literatures especially in black Africa. This study was therefore designed to investigate the occurrence of and haemolysins in SCA patients within Calabar metropolis. A total of 50 normal controls and 54 SCA patients attending the sickle cell clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State of Nigeria, were screened for haemolysins and quantitated using standard techniques. The distribution of haemolysins in the SCA patients was (16.7), (11.1) and + (16.7%). Their ABO blood groups were normally distributed in this order O>>A>B>AB (61.1, 20.4, 11.1 and 7.5%, respectively). The occurrence of haemolysin among the Ogroup was 15.2%, while haemolysin was 12.1% and + haemolysin was 30.3%. Control samples gave non-significantly lower haemolysin values than in SCA patients (P>0.05), but in the same order (, 9.0, , 7.0, and +, 9.0%). The higher prevalence of haemolysins in SCA could be a major limiting factor in donation of blood, blood selection and transfusion into SCA patients. Consequently, greater care should be taken during cross match of blood for SCA patients especially in multiple transfusion procedures

The Comparative Economics of Catch-Up in Output per worker, total factor productivity and technological gain in Sub-Saharan Africa

After investigating the effect of external financial flows on total factor productivity and technological gain, we use the beta catch-up and sigma convergence to compare dispersions in output per worker, total factor productivity and technological gain in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) for the years 1980-2010. The comparative evidence is articulated with income levels, years of schooling, and health factors. We find; first, a positive association between foreign direct investment, trade openness, foreign aid, remittances and total factor productivity. However, when foreign direct investment is interacted with schooling, it is direct effect becomes negative on total factor productivity. Second, beta catch-up is between19.22% and 19.70% per annum with corresponding time to full catch-up of 25.38 years and 26.01 years respectively. Third, we find sigma-convergence among low-income nations and upper-middle income nations separately, but not for the entire sample together. Fourth, schooling in SSA is not yet a significant source of technology, but it can make external financial inflows more effective. Policies to induce external financial flows are not enough for development if absorptive capacity is low. More policy implications are discussed

Fungal Contaminants of Powdered Herbal Drugs Sold in Parts of Enugu State, Southeast, Nigeria

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the fungal contamination of powdered herbal medicinal preparations sourced from some herbal retail outlets in some parts of Nsukka and Enugu metropolis in Enugu State. The assessments of the contamination of the herbal products were carried out using standard procedures: measurement of some phytochemical components, viable fungal plate count, isolation and characterization of predominant fungal colonies etc. The results showed that all of the herbal preparations had the presence of fungal contaminants. The total fungal plate count results showed that the highest average count of 104 cfu/g was found in two of the preparations, while average plate count of 103 cfu/g was found in the remaining samples. Several fungal genera were isolated from the herbal preparations and they included Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Mucor spp., Candida spp., Trichosporium spp., etc. Members of Aspergillus spp. were found predominating, occurring in 58.3% of the herbal samples, followed by Penicillium spp. occurring in 41.6% of the samples. Most traditionally prepared herbal medications in some parts of Enugu State are likely to be contaminated with a wide variety of potentially pathogenic fungi. The quality assurance of these products should be thoroughly monitored and enforced in the production and distribution of herbal preparations.Key words: Herbal preparations, traditional medicine, fungal contaminatio

Microbiological Quality Assessment of Ready-To-Eat Kilishi Sold in Abuja, Nigeria

A total of twelve samples of ready-to-eat dried meat product, kilishi, were purchased from different sale-points in Abuja, Nigeria and a study conducted on them to assess their microbiological quality. Microbial counts obtained ranged from 2.8 x 104 to 4.0 x 106 for total aerobic, 1.0 x 104 to 6.1 x 105 for coliforms, 1.6 x 104 to 3.5 x 104 for staphylococci and 2.7 x 103 to 5.5 x 104 for fungi. Bacteria isolated from the kilishi were identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus spp., Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., Proteus spp. and Streptococcus spp. while the fungi were Aspergillus niger, Rhodotorula spp, Cladosporium spp. and Saccharomyces spp. Of the bacterial isolates, Bacillus spp. constituted the highest while Streptococcus spp. showed the least occurrence. Saccharomyces spp showed the highest frequency of occurrence for the fungi while Cladosporium spp. exhibited the least. The high microbial count and the diversity of microorganisms obtained in the present study indicated that most of the samples examined did not meet microbiological quality standards which may make the product potential source of food infection. Emphasis on maintaining standard hygiene practices during the production processes is needed to reduce potential hazards.  &nbsp

Effects of Different Carbon Sources on Biosurfactant Production by a Pseudomonas fluorescens Isolate

The production and surface active properties of biosurfactants synthesized by a strain of Pseudomonas fluorescens using different carbon sources were investigated. Biosurfactant synthesis was determined by measuring surface tension and emulsifying index of the product. The microorganism was able to grow and produce biosurfactants on the various carbon sources. Maximum production of biosurfactants, based on CMC-1, was obtained with soybean oil as carbon source. The minimum surface tension value of 40.3 dynes/cm was obtained with glucose as carbon source while soybean oil gave the highest surface tension value of 48.2 dynes/cm. The biosurfactants produced by the microorganism were able to form stable emulsions with various oils. The emulsification index ranged between 55% and 76%. The Pseudomonas fluorescens isolate used in the present study is a good microorganism for production of biosurfactants that have useful properties for many industrial applications.Keywords: Biosurfactant, Carbon sources, Microbial isolate, Pseudomonas fluorescen

Microbial contamination of contact surfaces at eating houses in Nsukka, southeast, Nigeria

A study of five highly patronized eating houses in a university community was conducted to assess the microbiological quality of some food contact and non-food contact surfaces in order to determine the effectiveness of cleaning and sanitization procedures within the eating houses. Samples were taken at lunch period on three different occasions. Bacterial aerobic plate counts (APC) of the sampled surfaces were determined using standard microbiological swabbing methods. The predominant bacterial contaminants were isolated, characterized and identified as E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus spp., Salmonella spp. and Micrococcus spp., while the fungal isolates were Candida albicans, Aspergillus spp., Penicillium spp., Mucor spp. and Fusarium spp. The isolates E. coli, S. aureus and Aspergillus spp. were detected in all the eating houses while the eating house designated FT harbored all the predominant bacterial isolates. Of the bacterial isolates, S. aureus was the most encountered with a frequency occurrence of 31.1% while Aspergillus spp. were the fungi encountered most with a frequency of 39.3%. The findings of this study demonstrated that the extent of microbial  contamination was dependent on the eating house and the surface sampled. While no direct correlation between contamination and illness canbe made, given the high risk of food-borne illness associated with eating houses, microbial contamination of food contact or non-food contact surfaces is an aspect of food safety that requires more attention. Emphasis on training and the development of standard sanitation operating procedures for eating houses are needed to reduce potential hazards.Keywords: Eating house, contact surface, food safety, hygiene, infections, pathogen

Isolation and characterization of lipoxygenase from Fusarium oxysporum

No Abstract.Bio-Research Vol. 3(2) 2005: 17-2