Antibiotic usage pattern in selected poultry farms in Ogun state

A survey was conducted from March 2011 to July 2011 on antibiotic usage pattern in selected poultry farms in Ogun State. Using a well-structured questionnaire, a total of 58 poultry farms were randomly surveyed from the four geo-political zones of Ogun State. All the 58 (100%) poultry farms used one or more antibiotics. Antibiotics were commonly administered either for therapy (36.2%), prophylaxis (29.3%), or both (32.8%) and to lesser extent for growth promotion (6.9%). While NeocerylR (a commercially prepared broad spectrum antibiotics consisting of neomycin, erythromycin, oxytetracycline, streptomycin and colistin), Enrofloxacin and Furazolidone were the commonest antibiotics used in the study area. Fluoroquinolones were the class of antibiotics commonly used. Thirty-three different patterns of antibiotic usage were observed among the poultry farms, 70.7% multi-drug usage practices (MDUP) was also observed among the poultry farms. In this study, 50% of poultry farmers have their antibiotics prescribed by veterinary doctors while 91.4% acquired antibiotics from veterinary stores. This study has provided information on commonly used antibiotics and reasons for their use in the study location. It is anticipated that the findings of this survey will contribute to the development of strategies for prudent use of antibiotics in poultry farms.Keywords: Antibiotics, Antibiotic usage pattern, Ogun State, Poultry farms, Surve

Classification of genetic diversity and choice of parents for hybridization in cowpea Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp for humid savanna ecology

Thirty-one accessions of cowpea of diverse eco-geographic origins were evaluated for genetic diversity using principal component analysis (PCA), single linkage cluster analysis (SLCA) and canonical techniques. The accessions were classified into six groups by PCA and SLCA while canonical technique identified five vector groups. There was no relationship between the clustering pattern and eco-geographic distribution. PCA and canonical techniques can be jointly used in multivariate analysisas both techniques performed complimentary role in identifying characters responsible for variation in cowpea. SLCA alone provided a clearer and more informative display of the group of accessions basedon character performance. The three techniques revealed most distant accessions as having widest variation and possible choice of parent stocks in hybridization

The effects of peer influence on adolescent pedestrian road-crossing decisions

Objective: Adolescence is a high-risk period for pedestrian injury. It is also a time of heightened susceptibility to peer influence. The aim of this research was to examine the effects of peer influence on the pedestrian road-crossing decisions of adolescents. Methods: Using 10 videos of road-crossing sites, 80 16- to 18-year-olds were asked to make pedestrian road-crossing decisions. Participants were assigned to one of 4 experimental conditions: negative peer (influencing unsafe decisions), positive peer (influencing cautious decisions), silent peer (who observed but did not comment), and no peer (the participant completed the task alone). Peers from the adolescent’s own friendship group were recruited to influence either an unsafe or a cautious decision. Results: Statistically significant differences were found between peer conditions. Participants least often identified safe road-crossing sites when accompanied by a negative peer and more frequently identified dangerous road-crossing sites when accompanied by a positive peer. Both cautious and unsafe comments from a peer influenced adolescent pedestrians’ decisions. Conclusions: These findings showed that road-crossing decisions of adolescents were influenced by both unsafe and cautious comments from their peers. The discussion highlighted the role that peers can play in both increasing and reducing adolescent risk-taking

Seroprevalence Survey of Rubella Antibodies among Pregnant Women in Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria

Rubella is a vaccine- preventable viral infection. Its etiologic agent, rubella virus was identified as a human teratogencapable of causing spectrum of birth defects described as congenital rubella syndrome (CRS) if the pregnant mother isinfected within the first trimester of pregnancy. A total of 90 pregnant women attending a secondary health carefacility in Maiduguri were screened for IgM and IgG antibodies using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)kit (Cortez Diagnostics Inc. USA). Of these, 37.8% (34/90) and 83.3% (75/90) were seropositive for anti-rubella IgM (x2Cal 5.1; p=0.05) and IgG respectively. Chi-square analysis (x2 Cal 38.38, p=0.05// x2 tab 31.41, p=0.05) revealed anassociation between miscarriage and IgG antibody level in twenty-one subjects. Pregnant women within 20-24yearshad the highest prevalence of 40% (36/90)( x2 Cal 4.22, p=0.05) : 44.4% (16/36) of them were seropositive for IgM (x2 Cal4.31, p=0.05). A marked surge in IgG antibody level, which tantamount acute infection, was observed in 15.6% (14/90)(x2 Cal 19.85, p=0.05) of the pregnant women. Pregnant women in the first trimester seropositive for anti-rubella IgMwere 36.4% (4/11), inferring that the fetuses of these women are susceptible to sequelae of rubella. This resulthighlights the consequence of rubella infection and confirms continuous circulation of rubella virus in the study area.There is need for vaccination of vulnerable population in order to ensure the control /elimination of rubella virus inNigeria.Key words: Rubella virus, teratogen, antibodies, Maiduguri La rubéole est une infection virale évitable par la vaccination. Son agent étiologique, virus de la rubéole a été identifiécomme un tératogène humain capable de provoquer le spectre de malformation congénitale décrite comme lesyndrome de rubéole congénitale (SRC) si la femme enceinte est infectée au cours du premier trimestre de lagrossesse. Au total, 90 femmes enceintes fréquentant un établissement de soins de santé secondaires à Maiduguri ontété dépistées pour le dosage des anticorps IgM et IgG à l'aide de kit immunoenzymatique (ELISA) (CortezDiagnostics Inc. USA). Parmi elles, 37,8% (34/90) et 83,3% (75/90) étaient séropositives respectivement pour lesanticorps anti-IgM (X2 Cal. 5,1, p=0,05) et IgG de la rubéole. L’analyse Chi-carré (X2 Cal. 38,38, p=0,05 /X2Tab. 31,41,p=0,05) a révélé une relation entre la fausse couche et le niveau d'anticorps IgG dans vingt-et-un sujets. Les femmesenceintes de 20 à 24 ans ont eu la plus forte prévalence de 40% (36/90) (X2 Cal. 4,22, p=0,05): 44,4% (16/36) d'entre ellesétaient séropositives pour les IgM (X2 Cal. 4,31, p=0,05). Une augmentation remarquable de taux d'anticorps IgG, équivalent à l’infection aiguë, a été observée chez 15,6% (14/90) (X2 Cal. 19,85, p=0,05) de femmes enceintes.Les femmesenceintes au premier trimestre, séropositives aux IgM anti-rubéole, ont été de 36,4% (4/11), déduisant que les foetus deces femmes sont sensibles aux séquelles de la rubéole. Ce résultat souligne la conséquence de la rubéole et confirme lacirculation continue du virus de la rubéole dans la zone d'étude. Il est nécessaire de vacciner la population vulnérableafin d'assurer le contrôle et/ou l’élimination du virus de la rubéole au Nigeria.Mots clés: virus de la rubéole, tératogènes, anticorps, MaiduguriArticle in English

Bioassay guided isolation of active phytochemicals from hyphaenethebaica (L) mart fruit pulp methanol extract responsible for hypoglycaemic activity

Active phytochemical responsible for hypoglycaemicactivily from Hyphaenethebaica (L) Mart were separated using Bioassay guided fractionation. Methodology: Five hundred grams (500g) methanolic fruit extract of H. thebaicawas suspended in water, filtered and sequentially partitioned with hexane, chloroform, ethyl acetate and n-butanol. The n-butanol fraction was subjected to column chromatography, sub-fraction A, B, C, D, E, F and G were obtained. Further separation using preparative TLC of fraction C afforded sub-fraction C, C, and 1 2 C. Finally, C gaveRF value. Diabetes was induced to albino rats of both sexes by intra muscular 3 1 injection of 120mg/kg Alloxan monohydrate. The diabetic rats were grouped according to the number of fractions and sub-fractions with 3 rats each. Each fraction was tested for hypoglycaemic activity. The one with highest activity was used for next study and phytochemical constituents analysed. Results: The phytochemical screening of70% methanol extract of Hyphaenethebaicafruit pulp were reported to contain saponins, tannins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides with the exception of alkaloid, combined anthraquinone, free anthraquinone and soluble starch. The n-butanol portion showed hypoglycaemic activity (66.37±1.03% reduction) compared to other fractions at 400mg/kg. The n-butanol portion similarly contained phytochemicals found in crude extract except forsaponins which is absent. The column fraction C of the n-butanol portion has maximum reduction (45.33± 2.80%) of fasting blood glucose of diabetic rats at a lower dose of 200 mg/kg. Sub-fraction C has more hypoglycaemic activity of 1 60.50%while phytochemical evaluation showed the presence of flavonoids. Conclusion: Flavonoids may be responsible for the observed hypoglyceamic effect of H. thebaicsfruit pulp

An electron microscopy study of the effect of Ce on plasma sprayed bronze coatings

The Cu-Al eutectoid alloy is an excellent material for mould due to its superior low friction. The conventional sand casting technique, however, is not feasible to fabricate high Al bronze because of high hardness and brittleness. Plasma arc spray has been used to produce high Al/Fe bronze coatings for mould. The inherent impurities such as H, O, N, S during the spray, however, may affect the coating's mechanical strength. One approach is to utilise the active rare earth Ce to clean up these impurities. The study is to investigate the effect of Ce on the microstructure, which has few reported in the literature<br/

Genetic by environment interaction on fresh root yield, dry matter content and total carotene concentration of yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes in five major cassava growing agroecological zones in Nigeria

Eighteen yellow-fleshed cassava genotypes and two released white-fleshed clones (check) were evaluated in five locations representing the major cassava growing agroecological zones of Nigeria to access their performance for fresh root yield, dry matter content, total carotene content and genotypes by environment interaction effects. The aim of the study was to identify stable cassava genotypes that combine high root yield, and high dry matter with high beta carotene content in storage root. The study was conducted in two cropping seasons (2008/2009 and 2009/2010) at Ikenne (humid forest), Ibadan (forest-savanna transition), Ubiaja (sub-humid forest), Mokwa (sub-humid southern-Guinea savanna) and Zaria (moist northern-Guinea savanna). At all locations, the trials were conducted in a randomised complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The combined analysis of variance showed that fresh root yield (t ha-1), dry matter content (%) and total carotene content (μg g-1 fresh weight) was significantly affected (P &lt; 0.001) by Genotype (G), Environment E, and G × E interaction. For fresh root yield, the best genotype was IITA TMS I050024 followed by IITA TMS I050998 and IITA TMS I050286. For dry matter content of the storage roots, the genotype IITA TMS 1051570 had the highest score followed by IITA TMS 1051740 and IITA IMS I050998. For total carotene content, the best genotypes across the 10 environments in decreasing order of carotene content were IITA TMS I051601, IITA TMS I050311, IITA TMS I050998 and IITA TMS I050099. When combining fresh root yield and dry matter content (dry yield), the genotypes IITA TMS I050998 and IITA TMS I051740 ranked highest. The Environment effect accounted for most of the variation of the total sum of squares (SS) for fresh root yield (55.0%), dry matter content (42.3%) and dry yield (57.9%). The genotype accounted for most of the SS for total carotene content (67.9%)

Metabolic flexibility as a major predictor of spatial distribution in microbial communities

A better understand the ecology of microbes and their role in the global ecosystem could be achieved if traditional ecological theories can be applied to microbes. In ecology organisms are defined as specialists or generalists according to the breadth of their niche. Spatial distribution is often used as a proxy measure of niche breadth; generalists have broad niches and a wide spatial distribution and specialists a narrow niche and spatial distribution. Previous studies suggest that microbial distribution patterns are contrary to this idea; a microbial generalist genus (Desulfobulbus) has a limited spatial distribution while a specialist genus (Methanosaeta) has a cosmopolitan distribution. Therefore, we hypothesise that this counter-intuitive distribution within generalist and specialist microbial genera is a common microbial characteristic. Using molecular fingerprinting the distribution of four microbial genera, two generalists, Desulfobulbus and the methanogenic archaea Methanosarcina, and two specialists, Methanosaeta and the sulfate-reducing bacteria Desulfobacter were analysed in sediment samples from along a UK estuary. Detected genotypes of both generalist genera showed a distinct spatial distribution, significantly correlated with geographic distance between sites. Genotypes of both specialist genera showed no significant differential spatial distribution. These data support the hypothesis that the spatial distribution of specialist and generalist microbes does not match that seen with specialist and generalist large organisms. It may be that generalist microbes, while having a wider potential niche, are constrained, possibly by intrageneric competition, to exploit only a small part of that potential niche while specialists, with far fewer constraints to their niche, are more capable of filling their potential niche more effectively, perhaps by avoiding intrageneric competition. We suggest that these counter-intuitive distribution patterns may be a common feature of microbes in general and represent a distinct microbial principle in ecology, which is a real challenge if we are to develop a truly inclusive ecology

The role of cardiac troponin T quantity and function in cardiac development and dilated cardiomyopathy

Background: Hypertrophic (HCM) and dilated (DCM) cardiomyopathies results from sarcomeric protein mutations, including cardiac troponin T (cTnT, TNNT2). We determined whether TNNT2 mutations cause cardiomyopathies by altering cTnT function or quantity; whether the severity of DCM is related to the ratio of mutant to wildtype cTnT; whether Ca2+ desensitization occurs in DCM; and whether absence of cTnT impairs early embryonic cardiogenesis. Methods and Findings: We ablated Tnnt2 to produce heterozygous Tnnt2+/ mice, and crossbreeding produced homozygous null Tnnt2-/-embryos. We also generated transgenic mice overexpressing wildtype (TGWT) or DCM mutant (TGK210Δ) Tnnt2. Crossbreeding produced mice lacking one allele of Tnnt2, but carrying wildtype (Tnnt2+/-/TGWT) or mutant (Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ) transgenes. Tnnt2+/-mice relative to wildtype had significantly reduced transcript (0.82 ± 0.06 [SD] vs. 1.00 ± 0.12 arbitrary units; p = 0.025), but not protein (1.01 ± 0.20 vs. 1.00 ± 0.13 arbitrary units; p = 0.44). Tnnt2+/-mice had normal hearts (histology, mass, left ventricular end diastolic diameter [LVEDD], fractional shortening [FS]). Moreover, whereas Tnnt2+/-/ TGK210Δ mice had severe DCM, TGK210Δ mice had only mild DCM (FS 18 ± 4 vs. 29 ± 7%; p < 0.01). The difference in severity of DCM may be attributable to a greater ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript in Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ relative to TGK210Δ mice (2.42±0.08, p = 0.03). Tnnt2+/-/TGK210Δ muscle showed Ca2+ desensitization (pCa50 = 5.34 ± 0.08 vs. 5.58 ± 0.03 at sarcomere length 1.9 μm. p<0.01), but no difference in maximum force generation. Day 9.5 Tnnt2-/-embryos had normally looped hearts, but thin ventricular walls, large pericardial effusions, noncontractile hearts, and severely disorganized sarcomeres. Conclusions: Absence of one Tnnt2 allele leads to a mild deficit in transcript but not protein, leading to a normal cardiac phenotype. DCM results from abnormal function of a mutant protein, which is associated with myocyte Ca2+ desensitization. The severity of DCM depends on the ratio of mutant to wildtype Tnnt2 transcript. cTnT is essential for sarcomere formation, but normal embryonic heart looping occurs without contractile activity. © 2008 Ahmad et al

Estimation of greenhouse gas emissions from spontaneous combustion/fire of coal in opencast mines – Indian context

There are a significant number of uncontrolled coal mine fires (primarily due to spontaneous combustion of coal), which are currently burning all over the world. These spontaneous combustion sources emit greenhouse gases (GHGs). A critical review reveals that there are no standard measurement methods to estimate GHG emissions from mine fire/spontaneous combustion areas. The objective of this research paper was to estimate GHGs emissions from spontaneous combustion of coals in the Indian context. A sampling chamber (SC) method was successfully used to assess emissions at two locations of the Enna Opencast Project (OCP), Jharia Coalfield (JCF), for 3 months. The study reveals that measured cumulative average emission rate for CO2 varies from 75.02 to 286.03 gs−1m−1 and CH4 varies from 41.49 to 40.34 gs−1m−1 for low- and medium-temperature zones. The total GHG emissions predicted from this single fire affecting mines of JCF vary from 16.86 to 20.19 Mtyr−