Economic implications of pastoralists -farmers’ conflicts on agroforestry farming in North Central Nigeria

This study examines the escalating conflict between the farmers and the pastoralists in the North Central region of Nigeria. The  conflicts have reached an alarming rate in recent times as examined. It has not only led to social disorder but has also left an unfortunate indelible mark on the agroforestry farmers in terms of their productivity. The study examines the pastoralists-farmers’ conflicts in north central Nigeria with regard to the economic implication the conflicts specifically have on the agroforestry farmers as well as their productivity in general. North Central Nigeria was purposely selected for the study because of the severity of the prevailing conflicts between the farmers and the pastoralists (Abugu and Onuba, 2015). Out of the six states that make up the North Central in Nigeria, three (3) states: Benue, Nasarawa and Plateau states were purposely chosen being the most affected states (Abugu et. al., 2015). ne hundred and eighty (180) questionnaires were prepared and administered to the selected agroforestry farmers within the region. The questionnaires solicited for the following information: demographic characteristics of the respondents, causes of farmer- pastoralist conflicts, economic implication of farmer- pastoralist conflicts, frequency of conflict, among others. Keywords: Economic Implication, Pastoralist, Farmers, Conflic

Biological Resolution of Virulence Genes of Salmonella Species from different Microbiomes

The pathogenic promiscuity of virulence associated macromolecules in Salmonella infection is a key driver to their wide epidemiology and curtailing  such distribution is contingent upon proper clarification of these virulence genes. This study was therefore aimed at determining the virulence  genes of Salmonella species from different microbiomes. To achieve this, a total of three hundred (300) biological specimens were aseptically  collected and processed for Salmonella presence using the BAM USFDA technique prior to their genotypic characterization while virulence gene  detection was carried out in a primer specific polymerase chain reaction. Results obtained depict the distribution of the following Salmonella species  viz; Salmonella gallinarum 19(26.39%), Salmonella heidelberg 19(26.39%), Salmonella enteritidis 18(25%) and Salmonella typhimurium  16(22.22%) while the occurrence of the virulence genes (InvA, SopE, AgfA and SpvC) were Salmonella enteritidis ( 7(38.8), 6(33.3), 9(50), 3(16.7),  Salmonella typhimurium ( 5(26.3), 3(15.8), 2(10.5), 7(36.8)), Salmonella heidelberg (0(0), 8(50), 4(25), 4(25), and Salmonella gallinarum (12(63.2),  6(31.6), 2(10.5), 7(36.8)) respectively. It was however found that the different microbiomes analyzed were ubiquitously rich in virulence genes  associated Salmonella species.   La promiscuité pathogène des macromolécules associées à la virulence dans l’infection à Salmonella est un facteur clé de leur large épidémiologie  et la réduction de cette distribution dépend de la clarification appropriée de ces gènes de virulence. Cette étude visait donc à déterminer les gènes  de virulence des espèces de Salmonella de différents microbiomes. Pour ce faire, un total de trois cents (300) échantillons biologiques ont été  collectés et traités de manière aseptique pour la présence de Salmonella à l’aide de la technique BAM USFDA avant leur caractérisation génotypique  tandis que la détection du gène de virulence a été effectuée dans une réaction en chaîne par polymérase spécifique à l’amorce. Les résultats  obtenus décrivent la distribution des espèces de Salmonella suivantes, à savoir ; Salmonella gallinarum 19(26,39%), Salmonella heidelberg  19(26,39%), Salmonella enteritidis 18(25%) et Salmonella typhimurium 16(22,22%) alors que la présence des gènes de virulence (InvA, SopE, AgfA et  SpvC) était Salmonella enteritidis ( 7(38,8), 6(33,3), 9(50), 3(16,7), Salmonella typhimurium ( 5(26,3), 3(15,8), 2(10,5), 7(36,8)), Salmonella heidelberg (0(  0), 8(50), 4(25), 4(25) et Salmonella gallinarum (12(63.2), 6(31.6), 2(10.5), 7(36.8)) respectivement. différents microbiomes analysés étaient  ubiquitairement riches en gènes de virulence associés aux espèces de Salmonella  &nbsp

Quality assessment of selected drinkable yoghurt brands sold in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria

Background: Yoghurt is increasingly becoming a popular snack among children, adults and the elderly in Nigeria because of the ease of consumption and digestion. During local fermentation process of milk to produce yoghurt, there are conditions that encourage contamination and unintended adulteration of the yoghurt.Objective: This study examined the quality of four drinkable yoghurt brands (coded LVY, DDY, FPY and FYY) sold in Iwo metropolis in Nigeria.Methods: Four different drinkable yoghurt samples in plastic bottles displayed for sale at temperature of 22 - 36 0C were randomly purchased. Physicochemical, proximate; and microbial qualities of the yoghurts were analyzed using standard methods. The data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis.Results: All the yoghurt samples exceeded 2 months of storage. The pH of ranged from 3.31- 4.23 total titratable acidity 0.28 - 0.88 % and total soluble solids 18.9-38.9%. The fat content ranged from 2.97±0.01 to 9.85±0.01 %; protein 1.37±0.11 to 3.19±0.2 %; moisture 57.4±4.7 to 84.1±2.7 % and ash 0.18±0.02 to 0.43±0.0 %. Fibre was not detected in the samples. The microbial analysis indicated that the FPY had the highest total viable count of 2.7±0.1×106 CFU/ml and staphylococcal of 1.4±0.2×105 CFU/ml counts; the DDY had the highest enteric bacteria of 2.1±0.2×106 CFU/ml; the LVY the highest yeast and mold of 2.6±0.3×106 CFU/ml and lactic acid bacteria (4.5±0.4×105 CFU/ml) counts. Bacterial species isolated included Lactobacillus spp., Proteus spp., Enterococcus faecalis and two fungal species.Conclusion: The physicochemical and proximate quality of yoghurts analyzed were within international standards but showed high microbial contamination.Keywords: Yoghurt, local production, quality, microbial loa

Farmers’ knowledge and attitude towards the adoption of agroforestry practices in Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan, Nigeria

This study presents farmers’ knowledge and attitudes towards the adoption of agroforestry in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State. A multistage random sampling technique was used to administer the questionnaires to a total of 50 respondents. Data collected were analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. The demographic factors analyzed showed that the majority of respondents were males (60.8%) and possess married (54.2%). Majority of the respondents (66%) do not practice agroforestry and possessed low knowledge of agroforestry practices. Respondents’ attitudes towards the practice were inadequate. Furthermore, knowledge of agroforestry was found to influence the willingness to adopt the practice, attitudes towards agroforestry practice also influence its adoption in the study area. Based on the findings, this study recommends that extension agents and other stakeholders should intensify effort to pass down adequate knowledge on the practice and advantages of agroforestry to farmers in the simplest form it can be well understood, to improve their attitudes and increase their rate of adoption of agroforestry practices. Keywords: Farmers, Knowledge, Attitude, Adoption, Agroforestry and Akinyele LG

Histopathological study of soft tissue malignancies in a teaching hospital, Sagamu, South-West Nigeria.

No Abstract

Vasoformative Neoplasms in a Teaching Hospital, Sagamu, Ogun State: A Histopathological Review.

Objective: To determine the pattern of occurrence and histopathologic characteristics of vasoformative tumours in Sagamu, South- West Nigeria, over a period of four years. Design: A cross-sectional retrospective study from January 2003 to December 2006. Setting: Department of Morbid Anatomy & Histopathology of Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital, Sagamu with efficient laboratory services. Methods: All the pathological reports and slides of submitted vasoformative tumour biopsies were retrieved and reviewed. The relevant clinical information from the case notes, histopathology registers and reports included biodata of the patients, site of the lesions, and histological types were retrieved and analyzed. Results: Vasoformative tumours constituted 1.4% of all surgical biopsies and 37.7 % of all soft tissue tumours. Among the vasoformative tumours, 90.0% were benign and 20.0% malignant tumours. The male to female sex distribution was 0.8:1 for benign tumours with slight female preponderance whilst male preponderance existed in malignant vasoformative tumours. The age of patient ranged from 11days to 60years with peak age incidence in the age group 0-10 years. The mean ages for benign and malignant neoplasms were 18.0 years and 41.5 years respectively. Haemangiomas were the predominating benign vasoformative tumours (94.4%), of which the majority is capillary haemangioma. Angiofibroma was also seen in 5.5 % cases and located in the nasopharynx. Malignant vasoformative tumours accounted for 20.0% of vasoformative tumours, of which all were angiosarcomas. However, there was no case of Kaposi , sarcoma. Head and neck region are the most vulnerable anatomic sites for both benign and malignant vasoformative tumours in 70.0% and 50.0% cases respectively. No multicentric tumours were found in this series. Conclusion: Vasoformative tumours were common soft tissue tumours of childhood in Sagamu, South –West Nigeria. Haemangiomas were the most common vasoformative tumours and they share similar characteristics with those seen elsewhere. Also, there seems to be no relationship between malignant vascular tumours and AIDS infection but further future investigations will unravel this misery.KEY WORDS: Histopathological review, Haemangioma, Angiosarcoma