Phytochemical composition and acute toxicity evaluation of aqueous root bark extract of Securidaca longipedunculata (Linn)

This study was carried out to determine the phytochemical constituents and acute toxicity of the aqueous root bark extract of Securidaca longipedunculata Linn. The result of phytochemical screening revealed the presence of some secondary metabolites of pharmacological significance in the aqueous root bark extract including alkaloids, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, saponins and tannins with saponins and tannins in larger quantities. The extract was found to have an LD50 value of 771mg/kg body weight when it was orally administered to rats, which indicate the root bark to be slightly toxic to the experimental animals. The toxicity of the root bark is attributed to some of the phytochemicals present in the plant.Key words: Securidaca longipedunculata, root bark, aqueous extract, phytochemicals, acute toxicity

Antibacterial and haematological activity of Moringa oleifera aqueous seed extract in Wistar albino rats

The phytochemical, antibacterial and haematologic activity of aqueous seed extract of Moringa oleifera (Moringaceae) were evaluated. Phytochemicals such as tannins, carbohydrates, alkaloids, cardiac  glycosides, anthraquinones and flavonoids in low, moderate and high concentrations were present in the seeds. The extract exhibited significant In vitro antibacterial and In vivo haematologic effects. Bacterial isolates such as Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus subtilis, Corynebacterium pyogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeroginosa were inhibited. The  minimum inhibitory concentration of the extract for all the sensitive isolates is 100 mg/ml and 50 mg/ml as minimum bactericidal  concentration of the extract on Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli. The extract administered per os at 100-400 mg / kg body weight significantly (P<0.05) increased, neutrophil, eosinophil, basophil and monocytes counts at second and third week of administration except for lymphocyte that significantly (P<0.05) decreased throughout the period of administration when compared to the rats in control group. The study supports the folkloric application of Moringa oleifera seed extract in the management of various forms of bacterial infection, anaemia and immuno – modulation in north eastern Nigeria.Keywords: Antibacterial effect, Haematology, Moringa olifera, Phytochemical analysis, Wistar albino rats

Isolation and characterisation of Listeria species from ruminants in Maiduguri north–eastern Nigeria

A cross sectional study was carried out to determine the prevalence of Listeria species in ruminants in Maiduguri. Three hundred faecal samples were randomly collected from ruminants at the Maiduguri central abattoir from January – March, 2011. One hundred faecal samples each were collected from cattle, sheep and goat at ante mortem by balloting comprising of fifty samples each from male and female animals. Forty (13%) of the three faecal samples were identified as positive Listeria species.  Out of the forty positive samples, 15(37.5%) were from cattle, 16(40%) from sheep and 9(22.5%) were from goats, the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). The sex distribution of the animals positive for Listeria species showed that 21(7%) of the positive samples were from males and 19 (6%) were from females. The sex specific prevalence in the animal species sampled was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Biochemical characterisation of the Listeria isolates showed Listeria monocytogenes 4(10%), Listeria innocua 17 (42.5%), Listeria ivanovii 12 (30%), Listeria seeligeri4(10%), and Listeria welshimeri 3(7.5%). This study affirms the isolation of Listeria species in the faeces of ruminants brought for slaughter at the abattoir which could serve as a source of contamination of meat meant for human consumption.Keywords: Listeria species, ruminants, north-eastern Nigeria Afr. J. Biotechnol. Vol. 12 No. 5

Prevalence of Brucella,/i> antibodies in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Borno and Yobe states, Nigeria

A cross-sectional study was designed to study the serological prevalence of antibodies against Brucella spp by using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Microtitre Serum Agglutination Test (MSAT). A total of six hundred (600) adult donkeys comprising of 393 males and 207 females were sampled from three local government areas each, of Konduga, Monguno and Ngala in Borno state and Bursari, Geidam and Machina in Yobe state. Overall prevalence of brucellosis was 33 (5.50%), out of which 14 (2.33%) male and 19 (3.17%) female donkeys were positive by both RBPT and MSAT. There was statistically significant association between female sex of donkeys and positive serological reaction (p<0.05). Out of the 300 sera sampled from Borno state, comprising of 193 male and 107 female donkeys, 18 (6.0%) tested positive. Whereas, 15 (5.0%) of the 300 (200 males and 100 females) sera sampled from Yobe state were positive. It can be concluded that the overall prevalence of brucellosis among donkeys in Borno and Yobe states in north eastern Nigeria in this study was 5.5%. The prevalence rate was higher among female donkeys than in males.Keywords: Borno, Brucellosis, Donkey, Nigeria, Yobe