Prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium among residents of Gwong and Kabong in Jos North Local Government Area, Plateau State, Nigeria

Schistosomiasis is a disease of great pathological effects in human especially during teenage years. The disease is a major public health problem with deepen economic consequences particularly in endemic areas. This study was conducted to determine the level of Schistosoma haematobium infection among the residence of Gwong and Kabong areas of Plateau State, Nigeria. Consent was obtained  from the traditional heads and the subjects in the study areas. Ethical clearance was obtained from the ethical committee of Our Lady of Apostle (OLA) hospital Jos and Primary Health Care (PHC) clinics Nabor. A total of two hundred and forty two urine samples were collected and prepared using the sedimentation method. Slides were examined for S. haematobium ova under the microscope. Of all the samples examined, five (2.07%) all from Gwong area were infected. Male had a higher prevalence (3.85%) and mean intensity (32 ± 7.23) of ova compared with female. Infection was observed only in age groups 10-14 and 35-39 years. The prevalence was highest among those that obtained water from rivers/stream than those who used well water, while there was no infection among those that obtained water from borehole. The study showed that there was no significant difference (P> 0.05) between infection and the study area, sex, age and occupation. However, there was a significant (P< 0.05) relationship between the infection and their source of water. Though there was low to none prevalence and intensity of S. haematobium in Gwong and Kabong respectively, there is need to intensify integrated control measures to reduce or completely eradicate the disease

Pengaruh Pertumbuhan Penduduk Terhadap Tingkat Pengangguran Dan Pendidikan Di Kota Medan

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis jumlah penduduk terhadap tingkat pengangguran terbuka di kota medan Sumatera utara,metode yang digunakan adalah korelasi untuk (membuktikan) sejauh mana keterkaitan atau keeratan hubungan suatu variabel dengan satu atau lebih variabel lain.data yang digunakan adalah data sekunder darp BPS tahun 2016 sampai 2020.Hasil penelitian bahwa nilai sig 0,001 < 0,05  maka pertumbuhan penduduk dengan pengangguran terbuka memiliki hubungan posistif sebesar “r” 0,994 nilai tersebut setelah dikonsultasikan  dengan tabel interprestasi angka “r” (0,994) berada antara (0,81-1,000) yang interprestasinya termasuk dalam kategori adanya korelasi yang sangat kuat dan sempurnabahwa peningkatan Pertumbuhan penduduksangat berpengeruh terhadap tingkat pengangguran dikota medan,bertambah Pertumbuhan penduduk di kota medan  mengakibat meningkatnya penganggura terbuka di kota tersebut. &nbsp

Evaluation of Land Suitability for Oil Palm Plantations in Gunung Tuleh District

The purpose of this study was to determine the suitability of oil palm plants in the Gunung Tuleh sub-district and overlay mapping of the suitability level of oil palm plants. The technique used is scoring analysis to provide an assessment of each land unit, the data used is secondary data processed from soil type map data. rainfall maps, slope maps, elevation maps, land use maps, geomorphological maps and river distance maps. Based on the results of map overlays or a combination of several land suitability maps in Tuleh Mountain, it is classified into 4 classifications namely; 1) not suitable (S1) has an area area around 23547.02 ha; 2) very suitable (S2) has an area of ​​10462.06 ha; 3) quite suitable (S3) has an area of ​​5245.81 ha; 4) According to the marginal area, it has an area of ​​9915.20 ha. So planting oil palm in Gunung Tuleh is not all areas that can be planted with oil palm because it has to consider the assessment of the valuation of a land so that the results of oil palm fruit production are maximized

In vivo antimalarial activity of the ethanolic leaf extract of Hyptis suaveolens poit on Plasmodium berghei in Mice

The ethanolic leaf extract of Hyptis suaveolens was evaluated for antimalarial activity against Plasmodium berghei in infected mice. In the 4 day suppressive test, 60 male and female albino mice (weight: 18-23 g) were infected and treatment began immediately (Day 0), while administration started 72 hours post infection in the curative test. For each test, mice were divided into 5 groups of 12 animals; each group was administered one of the following: 10 mg/kg, 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg of the crude extract, 5 mg/kg of chloroquine phosphate or 0.2 ml normal saline for four consecutive days. Thin blood smears were prepared and examined microscopically under x 100 objective on day 4 to day 7 and the percentage parasitaemia were recorded. On day 7 the red blood cells (RBC), white blood cells (WBC), haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) were evaluated. The extract demonstrated dose-dependent inhibition effect on the parasites with 42.76% and 18.03% at 50 mg/kg, 33.69% and 10.22% at 25 mg/kg for suppressive and curative tests respectively, while at 10 mg/kg, 22.39% and 6.06% suppression were recorded in the suppressive and curative tests respectively. The RBC, HB and PCV values decreased while there was an increase in WBC compared with that of the control.Keywords: Hyptis suaveolens, Malaria, Screening, Rodent

INSECTICIDAL EFFECTS OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACT OF PSEUDOCEDRELA KOTSCHYI AGAINST DERMESTES MACULATUS (COLEOPTERA: DERMESTIDAE) ON TREATED DRIED CATFISH (CLARIAS GARIEPINUS)

This research work was carried out to assess the insecticidal properties of the ethanol extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi in the control of Dermestes maculatus infesting dried fish (Clarias gariepinus) in storage. Ethanol extract of P.kotschyi was administered in different concentrations to dried fish infested with larvae and adult stages of D.maculatus. 96 gram of dried fish sample was divided into 12 groups of 8 g each and each group was subdivided into three (3) replicates of 2.7g of dried fish in each treatment. For the bioassay test, groups 1-6 were infested with 10 larvae of D. maculatus each and treated with 0.1, 0.5, 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, and 9.0g of plant extract respectively. Groups 7 and 8 were infested with 10 adult D.maculatus and treated with 3.0 and 9.0g of plant extract respectively. Groups 9 and 10 were infested with 10 larvae and adult D.maculatus respectively and treated with 9.0g of standard insecticide each. Groups 11 and 12 were infested with 10 larvae and adult D. maculatus respectively but not treated with either the plant extract or pestox (standard insecticide) but as controls. The set-up was monitored daily for seven days. In the groups treated with the plant extract, the highest mortality rate was observed in smoked fish treated with 0.1g (2.23%) plant extract while the mortality rate of 1.1 % each was recorded in smoked fish treated with 1.5g and 9.0g plant extracts, compared 4.44 % recorded in the untreated (control). The extract had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the mortality of the insects. The groups treated with 9 g pestox (standard insecticide)recorded the highest mortality 25 (27. 78 %) compared to the groups treated with the plant extract. The ethanol stem bark extract of P.kotschyi reduced the activities of D.maculatus larvae and adults

Research priorities in international agricultural development as perceived by United States landgrant university faculty engaged in international development activities: A Delphi study

The purpose of this study was to identify, categorize, and prioritize research needs in international agricultural development over the next ten years as perceived by U.S. landgrant university faculty engaged in international development activities. A three round Delphi technique was used to generate responses and achieve consensus from selected experts in international agricultural research developmental activities from 22 randomly selected landgrant universities. The Deans of Colleges of Agriculture in each participating university were requested to nominate three faculty he/she considered experts in the area of international agriculture as possible participants. Selection by Deans was based on experts having a full time appointment in agriculture with some experience in international agricultural developmental activities. The experts (participants) were also expected to have a rank of professor, associate professor, or assistant professor or be employed as researchers in the field of international agricultural development. In Round 1, experts were requested to suggest topical issues that needed to be researched or investigated in international agriculture during the next ten years. In Round 2, the same experts were requested to rate the importance of topics identified during Round 1. In Round 3, the experts were requested to compare their ratings to group ratings and reevaluate the importance of the topics. Descriptive statistics (mean, and standard deviations) were used to analyze the responses. An analysis of variance test was used to determine differences in round two and round 3 mean ratings. Major findings revealed both differences and similarities in research priority between the expert participants and major international development agencies (FAO, World Bank, and USAID). The findings also revealed that the categories regarded as being most important to research were literacy and education, international trade and marketing, health and nutrition, sustainable agricultural practices, management/decision making, and crop/fiber production

Effects of Level of Feeding During Early to Mid-Pregnancy on Placental and Fetal Development in the Sheep

Objective: This study was designed to determine the effect of maternal undernutrition during early to mid-pregnancy (i.e. 28 – 80 days gestation; term ≈ 147 days) on placental and fatal development in the sheep. Materials and Methods: Singleton and twin- bearing ewes were malnourished between 28 to 80 days of pregnancy and its effects on both placental and fatal components determined. Malnourished ewes were fed 3.2 - 3.8 MJ day-1 of metabolisable energy (ME) (~ 60% of ME requirements). Diet comprised of chopped hay and barley-based concentrates. Results: Maternal malnourishment had no effect on total placental weight, but caused a significant increase (P<0.05) in the weight of the fetal placenta of the uterine horn occupied by the fetus in singleton bearing ewes. Fetal development in singletons was not affected, but limb length was significantly reduced (P<0.05). Total placental weight and fetal placental weight were significantly reduced (P<0.05) in the twin-bearing ewes. Undernutrition caused a reduction (P<0.05) in fetal weight in the twins. Maternal malnourishment had no effect on cell development in the maternal placenta of the twin-bearing ewes, but blood supply to the maternal placenta was stimulated. In contrast to the maternal placenta, undernutrition did not only cause a reduction (P<0.05) in cell number in the fetal placenta, but also a reduction (P<0.05) in the supply of blood. Undernutrition had no effect on cell size or blood supply to the maternal liver. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the differential effects of maternal malnourishment on placental and fetal development in singleton and twin-bearing ewes.Key words: Feeding level, Early to mid pregnancy, placenta, fetal development, ew

Anti-trypanosomal activity of the methanolic leaf extract of Pseudocedrela kotschyi (dry zone cedar) in mice infected with Trypanosoma brucei brucei

Trypanosomiasis is a fatal disease placing both human and livestock at risk of infection if not treated. The aim of this study is to assess the effectiveness of Pseudocedrela kotschyi in the treatment of trypanosomiasis. This research work was carried out in the Animal House unit, University of Jos. Dry zone cedar (Pseudocedrela kotschyi) family: meliaceae, leaf powder was extracted using methanol, and the yield was 18.25 g (6.08%). A total of 32 mice used for the study were divided into 8 groups of 4 animals each. They were inoculated with 0.2 ml of the inoculums containing 1.2 x107 trypanosome. The mice were treated daily with 0.2 ml dose of the extract and standard drug (Diminazene aceturate) and normal saline for 4 consecutive days. Mice in group one was not treated, groups two to four were treated with plant extract, Diminazene aceturate and extract/D. aceturate respectively 72 hours after innoculation, groups five and six were treated after two hours with extract and D. aceturate respectively, while group seven and eight were administered the extract and D. aceturate respectively and then inoculated after 72 hours. Thin Blood films were prepared and examined and the percentage parasitaemia were evaluated. The acute toxicity test indicated that the crude leaf extract caused no mortality in all the three doses (500 mg/kg, 1,000 mg/ kg and 1,500 mg/kg) tested within the 24 hours. Animals in group two had the highest mean parasitaemia of 40 followed by animals in group one and four which had 38.6 and 38 respectively. There was reduction in mean parasitaemia of mice in group five and seven with mean of 35 and 29 respectively. However reduction in mean parasitaemia was recorded progressively in those of Groups of 3, 6 and 8 tending towards zero parasitaemia. There is a significant difference (p<0.05) in parasitaemia within the groups. This study showed that the methanolic leaf extracts reduced trypanosomal load, with some animals lived longer than the control group. Therefore the plant should be explored for treatment of trypanosomiasis.Keywords: Trypanosomiasis; mice; methanol leaf extract; Pseudocedrela kotschyi