The Abilities of Four Species of Nigerian Aquatic Phycomycetes to Utilize Petroleum and Petroleum Products as Sole Carbon Sources

Studies were carried out on the abilities of four aquatic phycomycetes species isolated from crude oil polluted marine , brackish and fresh water environments in Nigeria to utilize refined Petroleum and Petroleum products as sole sources of carbon. The said species of fungi included Brevilegnia indica, Protoachyla paradoxa, Saprolegnia bhargavi and Thraustotheca clavata. They were grown on fungal culture media which contained mineral salts solution, refined petroleum, kerosene and diesel as sole sources of carbon and agar as a solidifying agent. Two concentrations of each of the resulting oil agar media were used vis 1% and 2%. The resultant medium was then used to culture each of the test fungi in triplicates. The resultant culture plates were then incubated at 25 OC and left for daily observation. The test fungi that grew on each medium were observed for their abilities to emulsify the refined petroleum or its products (diesel and kerosene). Control experiments were also set up using Malt Extract Agar medium. Brevilegnia indica grew on 1% petroleum and diesel growth media but did not grow on kerosene medium. Protoachyla paradoxa grew minimally on diesel medium at 1% and 2% compositions. Saprolegnia bhargavi did not grow on the petroleum agar medium or petroleum products media. Thraustotheca clavata grew minimally on the kerosene medium at both 1% and 2% compositions. The four test fungi emulsified the diesel agar medium at both 1% and 2% compositions. Brevilegnia indica emulsified only petrol at 1% while Non of the isolates emulsified the kerosene medium at both 1% and 2% compositions. Oil globules were also observed in the vegetative hyphae of the test fungi which grew on the experimental culture media. This means that such fungi either degraded or accumulated the petrol or petroleum products in their systems

Serum Antiphospholipid Antibodies Among Healthy Adults In Northeastern Nigeria

Background: Antiphospholipid antibodies have been associated with variety of conditions. There is no standard health associated reference values required for the interpretation of antiphospholipid antibodies result available among adults in North- eastern Nigeria and Nigeria in general. The aim of this study is to determine the normal serum level (cutoff point) in healthy adult Nigerians. The need or otherwise for stratification of the reference values by sex would also be determined. Methods: Seventy-six healthy adults\' medical students and health workers were enrolled in the study over the period of twelve consecutive months. Blood samples were taken for quantification of antiphopholipid antibodies using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) technique. Apparently healthy adults age between 16-50years who are neither human immunodeficiency virus positive nor VDRL positive were included in the study. Reference values were calculated by parametric method. Results: The mean serum concentration of IgG Antiâ2GP1 for the sample population was 21.43 ± 9.43 U/ml. The mean serum concentration of IgG Antiâ2GP1 for males was 18.6 ± 7.6 U/ml while for the female sample population was 22.7±10.2U/ml. There is no gender variation (P > 0.05). Conclusion: The reference value for serum antiphospholipid antibodies in healthy adults in Northeastern Nigeria was 21.43 ± 9.43 U/ml. The reference values should be used in this environment for both sexes. Extension of the scope of the study to cover the entire homogenous society of Northern Nigeria is recommended. Nigerian Journal of Clinical Practice Vol. 10 (3) 2007 pp. 213-21

Study of Hepatic functions and prevalence of Hepatitis B surface Antigenaemia in Nigerian children with human immunodefiency virus infection

No Abstract

Cognitive deficits and their relationship to other neurological complications in Nigerian Chronic Alcoholic subjects

No Abstract. Nigerian Medical Practitioner Vol. 52 (1) 2007: pp. 3-

Serological and Virological Evidence of Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus Circulation in the Human Population of Borno State, Northeastern Nigeria

BACKGROUND:Despite several studies on the seroprevalence of antibodies against Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever virus (CCHFV) from humans and cattle in Nigeria, detailed investigation looking at IgG and IgM have not been reported. Additionally, there have been no confirmed cases of human CCHFV infection reported from Nigeria. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:Samples from sera (n = 1189) collected from four Local Government Areas in Borno State (Askira/Uba, Damboa, Jere and Maiduguri) were assessed for the presence of IgG and IgM antibodies. The positivity rates for IgG and IgM were 10.6% and 3.5%, respectively. Additionally, sera from undiagnosed febrile patients (n = 380) were assessed by RT-PCR assay for the presence of CCHFV RNA. One positive sample was characterised by further by next generation sequencing (NGS) resulting in complete S, M and L segment sequences. CONCLUSIONS:This article provides evidence for the continued exposure of the human population of Nigeria to CCHFV. The genomic analysis provides the first published evidence of a human case of CCHFV in Nigeria and its phylogenetic context

Maximum-Likelihood phylogenetic tree showing relationship distances obtained by comparing CCHFV S-segment open-reading frames.

<p>Different CCHFV clades are indicated by coloured lines.</p

Number of samples tested from the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Borno State, Nigeria.

<p>Number of samples tested from the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Borno State, Nigeria.</p

Serosurveillance results of CCHFV-specific antibody responses in populations from different areas in Borno State, Nigeria.

<p>Serosurveillance results of CCHFV-specific antibody responses in populations from different areas in Borno State, Nigeria.</p

Coverage of reads from next-generation sequencing to the segments of CCHF virus.

<p>Coverage of reads from next-generation sequencing to the segments of CCHF virus.</p