Infleunce of branching angles on the crown shape of some savannah trees in Kano, Nigeria

The relationships between height of the first branching, first and second angles of branching and the shape of tree crowns of eight tree species (Parkia biglobosa Jacq. Benth.; Khaya senegalensis (A. Juss); Eucalyptus species, Adansonia digitata Linn.; Cassia siamea Lam.; Azadirachta indica (A. Juss.); Delonix regia (Boj. Ex. Hook) and Acacia nilotica (Linn) growing in Kano were examined. Twenty trees of each species, deemed to be free from obvious ecological disturbances, were selected for the study. The first and second angles of branching are on the average the same for any particular tree species. It was evident that the differences in branching are on the average the same for any particular tree species. It was evident that the differences in branching angles accounted for particular the different shapes shown by the trees. The result also indicated that the effect of first branching angle or canopy width, is very large one (P<0.05). Most of the trees did not show dependence of first angle of branching on height of branching. It was concluded that most of the relationships had a positive adaptive significance in most of the trees (P<0.05; r = 0.4438). These relationships could adequately define the various patterns of branching in trees as well as crown shapes

Antimicrobial susceptibility profile of class D Oxa B-lactamases producing bacteria in Kano state, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the antibiotic susceptibility profile of Gram negative bacteria obtained from three different hospitals for class D Oxa β-lactamases in Kano metropolis. The clinical isolates include: Escherichia coli, Klebsiella y pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp and Salmonella spp. A total of 500 clinical isolates were screened phenotyphically using double discs synergy test. Confirmatory tests were performed among the suspeced isolates according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institutes guidelines (CLSI). A total of 13 antibiotic discs were used for sensitivity test including: Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceffazidime, cefepime, cepatozime, cefuruxime, imipenem, meropenem, ciprofloxacin, genetamicin, levoflaxacin, nitrofuranton, tigercyline and ofloxacin. Nine antibiotic discs were used on lactose fermenters and seven antibiotics were used on non–lactose fermenters. The result of the prevalence of class D oxa β lactamases producing bacteria among the clinical isolates revealed that, 26.40% of the clinical isolates were confirmed positive for class D oxa Beta lactamases production with the highest prevalence in E. coli (37.88%) and absent in K. oxytoca. The isolates producing this enzyme were sourced mainly from urine (55.17%) or wound swabs (26.44%). The antibiotic susceptibility profile using class D blaOxa showed that E. coli has overall resistance to clavulanic acid and third generation cephalosporins, with high susceptibility profile to tigercycline. (52.0%) and nitrofuranton (49.00%). K. pneumoniae has the highest susceptibility with tigercyclin and Nitrofuranton (56.7% and 56.4% respectively). The most active agents against non–lactose fermenters were meropenem, tigercycline and levofloxacin. The data highlighted the widespread of antibiotic resistance associated with bla OXA among the Gram –negative bacterial isolates in hospitals from Kano metropolis. The attention of the authorities and healthcare sectors is needed urgently towards the rising spate and widespread resistance due to class D oxa βlactamases so as to device a method to curb this threatening trend.Key words: Antibiotic susceptibility, resistance, lactose fermenters, non–lactose fermenters

Effect of indole-3-acetic acid and coconut milk on vegetative growth of amaranthus hybridus Linn

Studies were carried out on the effect of Indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) and coconut milk on the vegetative growth and chlorophyll contents of Amaranthus hybridus Linn. Subsp. Cruentus (L.) Thell. The various treatments of IAA and coconut milk considerably enhanced plant height, stem circumference, number of leaves, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, leaf area and chlorophyll contents. Of all the IAA and coconut milk treatments, 15% coconut milk was the most effective. As the concentration of IAA was increased from 50ppm to 200ppm, corresponding increases were observed in plant height, stem circumference, number of leaves, chlorophyll content, shoot and root dry weights and leaf content. As for coconut milk, there were increases in these parameters with increase in concentration from 5% to 15% but a decrease at 25%

Self-Medicated Broad Spectrum Antibiotics in Rural Communities in Kano-Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Abuse of antibiotics through self-treatment is of public health concern, especially in rural communities of low income countries. This study evaluates the prevalence of self-medication with five broad spectrum antibiotics (ampiclox, amoxillin, co-trimoxazole, metronidazole and tetracycline) commonly used to treat infections among non-health workers living in rural communities in Kano, Nigeria. A cross-sectional survey of 300 randomly selected adult villagers was conducted with self-administered questionnaire. The prevalence of self-medication with at least one of the antibiotics was 70.3%. The most self-medicated antibiotic is ampiclox followed by tetracycline, amoxicillin, co-trimoxazole and metronidazole. Over 50% of the respondents purchased substandard antibiotics, which cost between $0.1-0.5 per dose from illegal drugs sellers in their communities. While only 29 respondents ever completed the dosage of the self-medicated antibiotics, about 22% took the antibiotics for 2 days and 41% took only 1 dose. A total of 154 (51.3%) self-used tetracycline and metronidazole for treating diarrhea, while 30.6% and 62% used ampiclox and amoxicillin to treat undiagnosed urinary tract infections and typhoid fever respectively. Only 33% have used antibiotics previously prescribed by health care workers, but the majority used them as a result of family and friends’ recommendations. Surprisingly, only 19 out of 300 believed that self-medication is a problem, but the majority (168) has contrary believe and 35 have no idea. Self-medication with five commonly used broad spectrum antibiotics is very high in rural communities and will require the development of a viable antibiotic stewardship programs to arrest the situation

Distribution of culturable endophytic bacteria in lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Endophytic bacteria are currently being harnessed as potential sources of bioactive compounds, potential biofertilizers, and as tools for bioremediation. This therefore stresses the importance of searching for these noble bacteria in various plants. In the present study, fresh and apparently healthy leaves and roots of lemon grass were collected and surfacesterilized using 70% (v/v) Ethanol, 3% sodium hypochlorite solution and sterile distilled water. Isolation of endophytic bacteria was achieved using culture technique, while identification was done based on morphological, biochemical and microscopic characteristics. A total of 16 endophytic bacteria were isolated and identified as Bacillus spp. (3 isolates), Escherichia coli (1 isolate), Klebsiella pnuemoniae (3 isolates), Micrococcus spp. (3 isolates), Pseudomonas spp. (1 isolate), Rhizobium (2 isolates) and Staphylococcus aureus (3 isolates). The root portions of the plant harbour 10 (62.5%) of the entire endophytic bacteria isolated, while the leaves harbour the remaining 6 (37.5%). Gram negative rod- shaped bacteria are the dominant of all the bacteria in the roots (50%), whereas, in the leaves, Gram positive cocci are the dominant (50% of all). No Gram negative cocci were isolated from the plant. In conclusion, Lemon grass harbours diverse genera of endophytic bacteria present both in the roots and leaves of the plant, but the roots harbour higher populations of the bacteria.Keywords: Endophytic bacteria, Lemon grass, Root, Leaf, Isolatio

Isolation and characterization of partially furified bacteriocin of Bacillus cereus (CF1) soil isolate

Bacteriocins are proteinaceous antimicrobial substances produce by bacteria against closely related bacterial species. However their broad spectrum inhibitory activity has been observed against other microorganisms such as fungi. The aim of this study was to isolate and determine physical, chemical and biological characteristics of bacteriocin from B. cereus of soil origin. A Gram-positive spore forming bacilli coded as CF1 was isolated by pour plating technique from the soil sample of the cereal farm land of Kura local government area, Kano State Nigeria and identified as Bacillus cereus based on cultural, microscopic and biochemical characteristics. Bacteriocin was isolated from this B. cereus and partially purified by solvent method (cold acetone) and had broad spectrum inhibitory activity with MIC of 64 AU/ ml. This bacteriocin was thermo stable up to 121°C for 15 minutes and its activity was maintained at wider pH value of 2-12. Although, the bacteriocin isolated by this B. cereus was not affected by some chemical such as Urea, EDTA and Tween 80, other chemical such as SDS and trypsin enzyme deactivated its activity. It is therefore recommended that further studies be carryout on this bacteriocin to purify the bacteriocin using Poly Acryl Amide Gel Electrophoresis PAGE and to elucidate its sequence, to determine its molecular conformation and antibacterial activity on multi drug resistant pathogens. Key words: Bacteriocin, Bacillus cereus, Broad spectrum, Tween 80 and Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate