Effects of Aluminium–Magnesium Silicate on Newcastle Disease Virus and on recovery of infected chicks

Effect of a synthetic Aluminium – Magnesium Silicate (AMS) on Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV) was tested. Equal amounts, of the AMS and of NDV, on a volume to weight (v/w) basis, were incubated for one hour at room temperature, and then centrifuged. The supernatant was tested for NDV titre. Portions of a virulent NDV were similarly incubated with the AMS, and their supernatants tested for morbidity rates on infected chicks. Also, two groups of chicks were infected with virulent NDV intramuscularly (I/m), and by introduction of infected chicks, respectively. Their subgroups were treated by administering AMS through drinking water, to assess its effect on mortality. Incubating NDV with AMS, reduced the viral titre from mean HA, 613 ±86 to 4. 5 ±0.72 (P < 0.05). Also, incubating virulent NDV with the AMS, reduced its morbidity rate from 100% to 20% (P< 0.05) when incubated once, and from 100% to zero, when incubated twice. NDV- infected chicks treated with AMS, had same 100% mortality as the controls, when route of infection was I/m (P > 0.05) but when infection was by introduction of infected chicks, mortality reduced from 20% to zero (P < 0.05).These results suggest AMS as NDV’s antiviral agent

Effect of fungi associated with foliar diseases of Ficus capensis on the proximate, anti-nutrient and mineral composition of leaves

 The Ficus capensis Thunb leaves are affected by some foliar diseases, which could reduce the nutrient benefits from these leaves. This study aimed at isolation and characterization of fungal pathogens associated with the plant's foliar diseases, analysis of the proximate and phytochemical composition of healthy and diseased fruits and leaves. The effect of isolated fungal species on these proximate and phytochemical contents of leaves was also investigated. Hendersonula sp., Didymeria conferta, Rhizopus stolonifer and Fusarium oxysporium were isolated and characterized as fungi associated with the leaves. Proximate analysis revealed the presence of protein, carbohydrate, lipid, ash, fiber, and moisture. Mineral nutrient analysis revealed the presence of copper, zinc, lead, manganese, magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium, while that of anti-nutrients revealed saponin, alkaloid, flavonoid, tannin and cyanogenic glycoside, both in the diseased and the healthy leaves and fruits of the plant. The values of the food nutrients and minerals in healthy leaves were significantly different from those of the infected fruits and leaves, with the value of non-nutrients in infected leaves were higher than those in health ones. The non-nutrients in the infected leaves were higher than those in the healthy leaves and fruits of the plants, while the proximate and mineral composition of the supposedly healthy leaves was greater than those of diseased leaves.  &nbsp

University of Nigeria Nsukka research and post-2015 development agenda

This Special Issue of African Population Studies/Etude de la Population Africaine brings together current research of faculty members at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka on topics relevant to the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs) but which have tended to be overlooked in population and development research. It pays particular attention to issues of vulnerable children including alternative care system and placement decision, attitude and determinants of exclusive breastfeeding, and socio-environmental justice in children’s (almajirai) involvement in waste management. Adults also received some attention in a paper on the role of the church in the support and care of older adults, human trafficking and domestic violence, determinants of physical intimate partner violence, and determinants of fertility rate among women in Ghana and Nigeria.  Another cross-cultural analysis engages with issues of climate change through examination of newspaper framing of climate change mitigation in two West African countries. Topical issues of census activities and incidents of infant mortality arising from gastroenteritis were also examined using spatial analysis. In sum,   all the papers in this special issue relate to any of the three major dimensions of sustainability and culture. Thus, this special issue would be relevant in proffering solutions to some of the pressing challenges in Ngeria and in other African countries when development practitioners, governments and communities integrate the findings of these studies in their plans and interventions to enhance social cohesion, economic progress, environmental protection, and cultural diversity.

Exiles in their region: pastoralist-farmer conflict and population displacements in North Central, Nigeria

Background: Over the past two decades, pastoralist-farmer conflicts have become a pressing security challenge in Nigeria, especially in the North Central region. This study analyzed how pastoralist-farmer conflicts fuel population displacements in the North Central, Nigeria. It also assessed the livelihood of the internally displaced persons in the region.Data Source and Methods: The study employed primary data comprising key informant interview of 37 stakeholders and field observations. It also utilized secondary data on pastoralist-farmer conflicts and population displacement largely sourced from Centre for Democracy and Development. We used simple percentage, frequency tables and content analysis of the qualitative data.Results: The failure of the Nigerian state to manage pastoralist – farmer conflicts escalated the attacks and the forceful displacement it engendered. The displacements have worsened the humanitarian crisis as it has increased the number of people in immediate need of food, security, health, school, livelihood, shelter, protection, non food items, water, sanitation and hygiene.Conclusion: The study concluded that building inclusive societies is relevant for de-escalating pastoralist-farmer conflicts, reducing population displacements, mitigating humanitarian crisis and achieving sustainable development goals in Nigeria and beyond

Political distrust and the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria

While studies have explored how health sector corruption, weak healthcare system, large-scale immune compromised population, misinformation and prevalence of highly congested slums contribute to the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria, they have glossed over the impact of political distrust on the spread of the virus. This study explores the impact of political distrust on the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria. The study utilised qualitative dominant mixed methods approach comprising telephone interviews and a survey of 120 educated Nigerians purposively selected from four COVID-19 most affected states including Lagos, Oyo, Kano and Rivers as well as the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The study also relied on secondary data on the spread of COVID-19 in Nigeria sourced from Nigeria Centre for Diseases Control from 27 February to 31st August 2020. The study found that political corruption motivates large-scale political distrust. This undermines public compliance to government protocols, limits the outcomes of government responses to COVID-19 and facilitates the spread of the virus in Nigeria. The paper concludes that improving government accountability in the public sector management is relevant for building public trust, promoting citizens’ compliance to COVID-19 safety measure and mitigating the spread of the pandemic in Nigeria and beyond

Evaluation of the antimicrobial activities of the crude methanol and aqueous extracts of Millettia aboensis on selected strains of organism

This study was conducted to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of aqueous and methanol root extracts of M aboensis. The roots of M aboensis were cut into small pieces, air dried and milled. The resulting powder was subjected to extraction by cold maceration using methanol and water. The antimicrobial activities of the extracts were evaluated against five bacterial species (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumonia) and Candida albicans using agar well diffusion method. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of crude methanol extract of Millettia aboensis was determined using agar diffusion method. The phytochemical analysis was to determine the secondary metabolites and the analysis shows the presence of saponins, reducing sugars etc. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests show that the aqueous extract exhibited more effect against both bacteria and the fungus than the methanol extract. The inhibition zone diameter (IZD) of the aqueous extract at different concentrations showed activity against all the bacteria species at 333.33 mg/ml and 166.67 mg/ml, while at 83.34 mg/ml concentration, only Klebsiella pneumoniae was inhibited. Their IZDs were in the range of 18-21mm. The MICs ranged from 10.0-79.4 mg/ml. The study provides a scientific basis for the folkloric use of Millettia aboensis roots. Keywords: Millettia aboensis, antimicrobial activity, phytochemical analysis methanol extract, aqueous extract