Microbial and physicochemical properties of ground water of Ilaro, South-West, Nigeria

The present study was carried out to determine the microbial quality and physicochemical properties of ground water in Ilaro, a semi-urban settlement. Plate count agar (PCA), MacConkey broth and eosin methylene blue agar (EMB) were used in the microbial analysis. The results showed that the most probable number (MPN) ranges from 0 – 50 per 100 ml while the total viable count (TVC) ranged from 0.07 x 10² – 4.12 x 10² cfu ml-1. Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli,Enterobacter aerugenosa and Micrococcus luteus were isolated. The physicochemical properties measured using their respective meters showed that the water was acidic. It was concluded that treatment before consumption is necessary to avoid borne diseases

The use of plants in the traditional management of diabetes in Nigeria: Pharmacological and toxicological considerations

Ethnopharmacological relevance: The prevalence of diabetes is on a steady increase worldwide and it is now identified as one of the main threats to human health in the 21st century. In Nigeria, the use of herbal medicine alone or alongside prescription drugs for its management is quite common. We hereby carry out a review of medicinal plants traditionally used for diabetes management in Nigeria. Based on the available evidence on the species׳ pharmacology and safety, we highlight ways in which their therapeutic potential can be properly harnessed for possible integration into the country׳s healthcare system. Materials and methods: Ethnobotanical information was obtained from a literature search of electronic databases such as Google Scholar, Pubmed and Scopus up to 2013 for publications on medicinal plants used in diabetes management, in which the place of use and/or sample collection was identified as Nigeria. ‘Diabetes’ and ‘Nigeria’ were used as keywords for the primary searches; and then ‘Plant name – accepted or synonyms’, ‘Constituents’, ‘Drug interaction’ and/or ‘Toxicity’ for the secondary searches. Results: The hypoglycemic effect of over a hundred out of the 115 plants reviewed in this paper is backed by preclinical experimental evidence, either in vivo or in vitro. One-third of the plants have been studied for their mechanism of action, while isolation of the bioactive constituent(s) has been accomplished for twenty three plants. Some plants showed specific organ toxicity, mostly nephrotoxic or hepatotoxic, with direct effects on the levels of some liver function enzymes. Twenty eight plants have been identified as in vitro modulators of P-glycoprotein and/or one or more of the cytochrome P450 enzymes, while eleven plants altered the levels of phase 2 metabolic enzymes, chiefly glutathione, with the potential to alter the pharmacokinetics of co-administered drugs. Conclusion: This review, therefore, provides a useful resource to enable a thorough assessment of the profile of plants used in diabetes management so as to ensure a more rational use. By anticipating potential toxicities or possible herb–drug interactions, significant risks which would otherwise represent a burden on the country׳s healthcare system can be avoided

High Presence of Toxigenic Aspergillus spp. in Commercial Poultry Feeds in Ilaro, Nigeria

Background: Several health problems may be occurred due to consumption of mycotoxin-contaminated foods and feeds. The maize and oilseeds, as the main components of poultry feeds are susceptible to mould contamination and mycotoxin production. The aim of this study was to determine the presence of toxigenic Aspergillus spp. in poultry feeds from Ilaro, Nigeria. Methods: A total of 60 poultry feed samples were collected from five (A-E) feed millers in Ilaro, Nigeria. The feeds were classified into four groups, including broiler super starter, broiler starter, boiler grower mash, and broiler finisher mash. Moulds were isolated by spread plate technique and were identified using the conventional morphological method. The toxigenic potentials of the isolates were determined by ammonia vapor test. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 20. Results: The results showed that all feed samples (100%) were contaminated with Aspergillus spp. Out of 93 Aspergillus spp. isolates, A. flavus (40 of 93) had the most prevalence, while A. parasiticus (8 of 93) was the least. Totally, 15 out of 93 (16.1%) Aspergillus spp. strains showed toxin production potentials. Conclusion: The presence of toxigenic Aspergillus in the feed leads to the secretion of hazardous toxins especially aflatoxins which can contaminate poultry meat endangering food chain. Consequently, there is an urgent need to create more awareness on the health implications of feeding poultry with mycotoxins-contaminated feeds in this region of Nigeria. DOI: 10.29252/jfqhc.5.4.

Assessment of Caregivers/Mothers Knowledge, Attitude and Practices in Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Malaria in Yewa South Local Government Area of Nigeria

This study assessed mothers’/caregivers’ knowledge, attitude and practices concerning home treatment  and prevention of malaria in children with a view to ascertaining the determinants of adherence to the current  treatment guidelines on drug therapy and ITN use.The study employed a cross-sectional design. Three hundred and thirty mother-child pairs were recruited for the study through multi-stage sampling method. The results showed that sizeable proportions of the respondents were able to identify the more common symptoms of uncomplicated malaria – headache (67%), body weakness (50.9%), fever (44.2%) and 92.9%  reported mosquito bite as the cause of malaria, while 90.7% considered it as serious illness. One hundred and eighty-five (55%) respondents first treated malaria at home with orthodox medicines, herbs or provided other traditional forms of care. Artemisinin combination therapy was mentioned by only 43.8% of the respondents but the proportion of mothers’/caregivers who administered it to children was 14%. Moreover, 96.3% of mothers/caregivers still gave Chloroquine, when they treated malaria at home. Respondents with higher educational attainments were more likely to use ITN compared with those of lower educational attainments (.2=15.6, p<0.05).Furthermore,  occupation was the only statistically significant predictors of ACT use (OR= 0.824, p<0.05).In conclusion, Kknowledge about the change of recommended drug for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria at home and the use of ITN was still poor, therefore effort must be intensified toward encouraging new recommended drug and ITN use.Keywords: Malaria,mothers/caregivers, childhood, ACT, ITN