Lead, Zinc and Nitrite Levels of Staple Crop Cultivars in Ameka and Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The levels of Lead (Pb) and Zinc (Zn) were quantitatively determined in staple crop cultivars in Ameka using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The survey was conducted to establish a base line pollution index for lead and zinc in Ameka environment and also to evaluate the role of foods as an exogenous source of these metals among the inhabitants. Crops harvested from the area were classified as cereals, tubers, leafy-vegetables, and fruits and analyzed. The recorded metallic mean values were Pb:0.03±0.01mg/g; 0.05±0.01mg/g; 0.17±0.03mg/g; 0.27±0.04mg/g and Zn: 0.38±0.05mg/g; 0.54±0.11mg/g; 0.80±0.21mg/g; 0.58±0.14mg/g respectively. Similarly, nitrite levels in vegetables and corn (maize) were determined spectrophotometrically in Abakaliki . The vegetables analyzed were spinach, garden egg leaf, bitter leaf, pumpkin and flutedpumpkin leaf, while corn (maize) included yellow-corn, white-corn and pop-corn. Nitrite levels showed a decline from bitter leaf > pumpkin > garden egg leaf > spinach >flutedpumpkin (P<0.05) with the highest and lowest concentrations of 4.92mg/g and 2.82mg/g found in bitter leaf and fluted-pumpkin, respectively. Yellow-corn and white-corn gave nitrite mean concentration of 3.52±0.30ppm and 2.80±1.50ppm, while 1.17±0.90ppm was obtained in pop-corn. Exceedingly low level of these metals characterized the staple crops. The concentration of lead in fruits and leafy-vegetables were below the 1ppm tolerable limit in plants.Key words: Lead, Zinc, Nitrite, Crop Cultivars, Cereals, Tubers, Leafy vegetables and Fruit

Transmission Dynamics of Urogenital Schistosomiasis in the Rural Community of Ebonyi State, South Eastern Nigeria

This study accessed the dynamics of urogenital schistosomiasis transmission in Nkalagu Community. A total of 500 mid-day urine samples were collected and transported to Microbiology Laboratory, Ebonyi State University, for analysis. 10ml each of the urine samples was centrifuged at 2500 rpm for 5 minutes. Transmission potential of snail intermediate host of Schistosomes collected from different sampling station at the transmission sites within the study community was equally accessed. The snail species collected were placed individually into a clean beaker with little quantity of water and then subjected to shedding light for 2 hours. Data obtained were entered in excel spread sheet and analyzed using chi square test. The result obtained shows that 205 (41%) out of 500 individuals examined were excreting S. haematobium ova in their urine. The highest prevalence of infection (23%) was found among 11-20-year age groups. Males were more infected (25.4%) than their female counterparts (15.6%), although this was not statistically significant (p > 0.05). A total of 283 snails belonging to two Bulinus species (B. globosus and B. truncatus) were collected from the four sites sampled. Bulinus globosus recorded the highest species abundance (177) with the highest occurrence in site A. 52 (18.4%) out of 283 snails collected were infected with cercariae, and the highest cercariae infection (12.0%) was recorded among B. globosus. With prevalence of 41% among the human population and the prevalence of 18.4% patent infection among the snail intermediate hosts, urogenital schistosomiasis is still a public health problem in the study area and falls within the WHO classification of endemic area. Public health campaign is recommended in order to educate the people on the mode of transmission and control of the disease

ISOLATION, ANTIBIOGRAM AND CHARACTERIZATION OF VANCOMYCIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS FROM CLINICAL AND COMMUNITY ISOLATES IN ABAKALIKI, EBONYI STATE, NIGERIA

This study was aimed at isolating and characterizing vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from clinical and community samples in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Seven hundred and nine (709) clinical and community samples were obtained for this study. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method. Vancomycin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) isolates were detected using Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion method with vancomycin antibiotic disc (30 μg). Isolates were also screened for β-lactamase enzyme production. A total of 84 (27.7 %) and 120 (29.5 %) Staphylococcus aureus isolates were obtained from the clinical and community samples respectively using standard microbiological techniques. Results showed that 55 VRSA isolates were obtained from the samples with prevalence frequency of 36.9 % and 20 % for clinical and community isolates respectively. The clinical isolates were completely resistant (100 %) to nitrofurantoin, clindamycin, ceftazidime, tetracycline and penicillin. Gentamicin was the most effective antibiotic against the S. aureus isolates obtained from clinical samples as all the isolates were completely susceptible (100 %). Ciprofloxacin was the most effective antibiotic against the S. aureus isolates obtained from community samples with a susceptibility frequency of 100 %. This was closely followed by gentamicin (75 %) and erythromycin. Exactly 38.1 % and 24.2 % of the clinical and community S. aureus isolates were positive for beta-lactamase production respectively. The HA-VRSA and CA-VRSA isolates had MARI values within the range of 0.5 to 1.0. This present discovery of multi-drug resistant VRSA with high multiple antibiotic resistance indices is in Abakaliki is a serious public health issue. Therefore, there is an urgent need to keep a strict watch on VRSA emerging from Abakaliki. Keywords: CA-VRSA, HA-VRSA, MARI, beta-lactamase, antibiotic

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Fecal Contamination and Inadequate Treatment of Packaged Water

<div><p>Background</p><p>Packaged water products provide an increasingly important source of water for consumption. However, recent studies raise concerns over their safety.</p><p>Objectives</p><p>To assess the microbial safety of packaged water, examine differences between regions, country incomes, packaged water types, and compare packaged water with other water sources.</p><p>Methods</p><p>We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis. Articles published in English, French, Portuguese, Spanish and Turkish, with no date restrictions were identified from online databases and two previous reviews. Studies published before April 2014 that assessed packaged water for the presence of <i>Escherichia coli</i>, thermotolerant or total coliforms were included provided they tested at least ten samples or brands.</p><p>Results</p><p>A total of 170 studies were included in the review. The majority of studies did not detect fecal indicator bacteria in packaged water (78/141). Compared to packaged water from upper-middle and high-income countries, packaged water from low and lower-middle-income countries was 4.6 (95% CI: 2.6–8.1) and 13.6 (95% CI: 6.9–26.7) times more likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria and total coliforms, respectively. Compared to all other packaged water types, water from small bottles was less likely to be contaminated with fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.32, 95%CI: 0.17–0.58) and total coliforms (OR = 0.10, 95%CI: 0.05, 0.22). Packaged water was less likely to contain fecal indicator bacteria (OR = 0.35, 95%CI: 0.20, 0.62) compared to other water sources used for consumption.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>Policymakers and regulators should recognize the potential benefits of packaged water in providing safer water for consumption at and away from home, especially for those who are otherwise unlikely to gain access to a reliable, safe water supply in the near future. To improve the quality of packaged water products they should be integrated into regulatory and monitoring frameworks.</p></div