Checklist and Comparison of Butterfly Species found in Zoological and Botanical Gardens, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria

Butterflies are creatures of nature with great economic importance as pollinators and bio-indicators. This study provides checklist of butterfly species present in Zoological and Botanical gardens of University of Nigeria, Nsukka and was conducted for three Months. Butterflies were sampled twice a week between 7.00 -10.00am from May to July 2019; using sweep net along existing transects within the gardens. Non-invasive method was adopted, butterflies were captured, photographed and released. Photographed samples were identified to species level by cross matching with relevant keys. A total of 91 butterflies belonging to 16 species, 10 genera and 3 families were sampled. Alpha diversity test showed a significant difference (p<0.05) in terms of Relative Abundance, Diversity and Dominance of butterfly species between the two gardens. The Botanical garden had Relative Abundance of 63.73%, Dominance of 0.23 which was higher compared to Zoological garden which had 36.16% and 0.10; but these was contrary to species diversity where Zoological garden was more diverse (H1=2.48) than botanical garden (H1=1.82). The differences observed could be attributed to variations in vegetation composition

Medicinal plants effectiveness against helminths of cattle

Objective: A study was carried out to determine the antiheminthic properties of three medicinal plants namely Gongronema latifolium (Utazi), Piper guineense (Uziza) and Ocimum gratissimum (Scent leaf) on cattle faeces obtained from two (2) abattoirs in Owerri Zone of Imo State, Nigeria.Methodology and Results: Representative faeces samples were treated with ethanolic extracts of the medicinal plants stored in concentrations of 25%, 50%, 75% and the system maintained at time schedules of 2h, 4h and 8h. Control tests were also set up consisting of no extracts. Results obtained show that all the helminthes were susceptible but differed on times taken to achieve maximum mortality (measured by  distortion/paralysis of helminths). At 25% concentration, the highest and lowest mortality rates of 80% against Trophozoites of Giardlia lamblia was by P. guineese at the time of 4hr, and 50% (each of ova of Taenia saginata & trophozoites of G. lamblia) by G. latifolium after optimum time of exposure respectively. There was however no significantdifference in the mortality rates observed at this concentration level of the different extracts (P < 0.05 = 10.260). At 50% concentration,  O.gratissimum recorded 100% mortality after optimum time of exposure against each of ova of Taenia saginata & trophozoites of G. lamblia, while Faciola gigantic, Ascaris lumbricoides and Schistosama spp received 70% mortality by both G. latifolium and O. gratissimum. There was a significantdifference in the mortality rates at this concentration level of the different extracts (P < 0.05 = 11.444). Finally, at 75% concentration, P. guineese effected 100% mortality after the shortest time of exposure (4hr) on Ascaris, Faciola and Giardia. There was no significant difference in the mortality rates at 75% concentration of the different extracts (P < 0.05 = 5.443). Similarly, results of the study carried out to determine the phytochemical properties of the medicinal plants revealed that out of the six properties tested for, only terpenoids was absent in O. gratissimum, but it contained other components. P. guineense and G. latifolium had all the six phytochemicals present.Conclusion and application of results: This method of helminthiasis control/eradication is cheap and easy to practice and could be adopted to replace conventional use of anti-helminthic drugs because of recentdevelopment of resistance of the helminthes to these drugs. The formulation of the plant extract regimen could be carried out without much technical know-how and the use of highly sophisticated equipments. Consequently, rural dwellers could access this nascent method of  eradication of helminthiasis with little training/orientation.Key Words: Antihelminthic, Phytochemical, Gongronema latifolium, Piper guineense, Ocimum gratissimum, Cattle, Owerri

Urethral Prolapse in a Five-year-old Girl

Urethral prolapse is a rare cause of vaginal bleeding in prepubertal females and occurs most commonly in black people. It is characterized by a sliding outward of the urethral mucosa around the entire urethral meatus. Because it can present with vaginal bleeding in a child, it can be mistaken for sexual abuse. We report a five-year-old girl with urethral prolapse that was mistaken for complications of sexual abuse. She was treated by complete excision of the urethral prolapse with satisfactory result. Key words: Urethral prolapse, Vaginal bleeding, Female, Prepubertal. Nigerian Journal of Paediatrics Vol.31(1) 2004: 29-3

Functional properties of chemically modified amylose and amylopectin fractions isolated from 'achi' Brachystegia eurycoma Starch

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The Impact Of Community-Directed Administration Of Various Formulations Of Pre-Packaged Chloroquine In Umuahia South Local Government Area Of Abia State Nigeria

The high patronage of Patent Medicine Vendors (PMV's) to the detriment of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), the uncontrollable habit of home treatment and self-medication by rural dwellers, have necessitated the need to improve on the knowledge and awareness of malaria exhibited by these target groups. A community-directed intervention programme to effect prompt and adequate treatment of presumptive episodes of clinical malaria in a rural community (Ubakala, population 15,600) in Ummuahia South Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Abia State, Nigeria has therefore been studied. The instruments of implementation were based on (a) training the rural dwellers, 3 Community Malaria Committees (CMC's) and the Patent Medicines Vendors (PMVs) in the community and (b) supplying the CMCs and PMVs with the essential antimalarial drug, chloroquine (CQ) packaged in various age-specific plastic bottles, compartmentalized polythene bags and blister packs. Of the 3,000 pre-packs delivered in 4 instalments from January to November 1998, 2503 were sold under a subsidized cost-recovery scheme. The progress of 510 patients was followed up 4 days after treatment and 250 mothers/carers of children under 6 years in each of the test and control (Olokoro, population: 11,800) communities were interviewed in-depth. Results showed a significant increase (

FREQUENCY OF NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES IN BUCCAL CELLS OF ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA: NUCLEAR ABNORMALITIES IN ROAD CONSTRUCTION WORKERS

Objective: The objective of this study is to assess the frequency of nuclear damage in the buccal cells of road construction workers in Anambra state, Nigeria. Methods: In this study, the frequency of nuclear abnormalities – cells with micronuclei (CMN), total MN (TMN), binucleate (BN) cells, cells with nuclear bud, and karyorrhectic cells, in exfoliated buccal cells of 33 road construction workers and 33 control subjects consisting of healthy persons was evaluated. Demographic data and exposure characteristics of the participants were obtained using a structured questionnaire. Buccal smears were obtained from both cheeks for each participant. The smears were stained using papanicolaou staining technique. At least 1000 cells in each smear were assessed and scored. The frequency of nuclear abnormalities in both road construction workers and control subjects was then compared. Results: The results obtained show a significant increase in the frequency of CMN (p=0.005), TMN (p=0.008), and BN (p=0.006) in buccal cells of road construction workers compared with control subjects. Factors such as age, years in occupation, and work days per week, use of protective materials, on-going medication, smoking habit, and alcohol consumption did not significantly affect the frequency of nuclear abnormalities among the road construction workers. Conclusion: Road construction workers may be exposed to substances capable of inducing nuclear damage in buccal cells