A SURVEY OF AFLATOXIN CONTENTS IN MAIZE, SORGHUM

ABSTRACTUsing the Thin Layer Chromatographic (TLC) methods of the AOAC procedures, the aflatoxin content of 486 samples of six cereal varieties was determined and 71 (14.6%) of these were found to be positive, anging from 9 mcg/kg to 39.0 mcg/kg. Of these, 23 (32.4%) were maize grains followed by the white sorghum, 12 16.9%) and mixed sorghum, 11 (15.5%). The positive numbers of white, mixed and red teff samples were significantly as low as 7 (9.8%),8(11.3%) and 10 (14.1%), respectively. Similarly, out of the 60 injera samples tested only 1 (5%) sample of teff injera was positive at the 7th day of storage, while 5 (25%) and 7 (35%) samples of maize and sorghum respectively, were positive after the 4th day of storage. In all cases, it was observed that some environmental factors like temperature, moisture content and relative humidity have influenced the aflatoxin formation in the examined samples. It was also confinned that poor storage conditions like open sacs in market areas and warehouses were more conducive to aflatoxin formation than the modern silo bin storage systems. Although the maximum level of aflatoxin yield (39 mcg/kg) determined in this study is not much greater than the accepted standard limit (30 ppb ), it is possible to deduce that maize and sorghum are more susceptible to aflatoxin accumulation than teff grains both before and after baking. In view of these results, therefore, we consider it necessary to recommend some essential measures of controlling food materials for aflatoxin contamination

ISOLATES OF STDs CAUSATIVE AGENTS FROM SEX WORKERS ADDIS ABABA (A PRELIMINARY REPORT)

ABSTRACT: Cervical and vaginal discharge samples, collected from282 randomly selected prostitutes of Addis Ababa, were examined for Sill causative agents. The subjects represented 900 females included in the 1990 sero-survey-for HIV infection. The results of the laboratory tests indicated that 117 (41.5%) of the examined females had a single infection by one of the five organisms tested for, while the others 18.1 % had experienced mixed infections of two organisms, and 4.2% of three organisms. The five organisms included Neisseria gonorrhoea isolated from 78 subjects (28.1 %), Trichomonas vaginalis -from 56 (20.6%), Candida albicans -from 40 (14.7%), and Gardnerella vaginosis -associated clue cells -from 27 individuals (9.9%). The presence of syphilis infection was indicated by the TPHA test in 72 subjects, representing 37.3% of the study samples. Among the N. gonorrhea isolates, PPNG strains comprised 57 (73.0%). Resistant strains were obtained to penicillin in 100.0%, ampicillin in 96.0%, bactrim (sxt) in 80.7%, among the PPNG strains; 19.1% of the NPPNG strains to penicillin, 38.1% to kanamycin, 66.6% of a bactrim and 66.7% of ampicillin. Both groups were, however, sensitive to erythromycin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, norfloxacin, spectinomycin and ceftriaxone. Significant correlation was observed between these results and the MIC values obtained for each drug

Anti-bacterial activity of Plumbago zeylanica L. roots on some pneumonia causing pathogens

The anti bacterial activity of polar and non-polar extracts prepared from the roots of Plumbago zeylanica L. (Plumbaginaceae), a plant widely used in Ethiopian traditional medicine for various ailments were investigated using hole plate diffusion method against some pneumonia causing pathogens. The aqueous extract did not exhibit any activity while petroleum ether extract was found to have strong anti-bacterial effects as compared to the ethanol extract which showed a significant activity. Activity guided chromatographic purification of the petroleum ether extract led to the isolation of three compounds, of which the compound identified as 5-hydroxy-2-methyl-1, 4-naphthoquinone, plumbagin, found to be the active component on the tested microorganisms. Minimum inhibitory concentration value of this particular compound showed comparative activity resembling the commonly used broad spectrum antibiotic, tetracycline. The strong antibacterial effect of the petroleum ether extract is discussed to show that it was attributable to this compound rather than the other two that were found to have trace of activities. Key words/phrases: Anti-bacterial activity, Minimum inhibitory concentration, Plumbago zeylanica, pneumonia SINET: Ethiopian Journal of Science Vol.25(2) 2002: 285-29

PREVALENCE OF STD AND STD RELATED RISK FACTORS IN SEX WORKERS OF ADDIS ABABA

ABSTRACT: The distribution and frequency of some Sills among 282 female sex workers in Addis Ababa randomly selected out of a larger group subjected to HIV serosurvey was studied. Demographic and social information, clinical examination including use of speculum and laboratory detection of Sill pathogens were performed following an informed consent of all participants. An alarmingly high prevalence of Sills was found in the study population. Gonorrhoea was detected in 78 subjects (30.1%), trichomoniasis in 62 (23.9% ), vaginal candidiasis in 51 (19.7% ) and out of 203 sera studied 76 (37.4% ) were positive for syphilis. The duration in sex work was found to have a significant association with seropositivity for syphilis (p < 0.001). Neither the marital status nor regular intake of oral pills influenced the prevalence of Sills. Further laboratory investigation on a broader panel of STDs along with KAPB studies for assessment and evaluation of social and behavioral determinants related to sex work are recommended

Drug susceptibility pattern of bacterial isolates from children with chronic suppurative otitis media

Background: In Ethiopia, as most developing countries, there is little information on chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) in children. Awareness about the seriousness of the condition is limited among the caretakers. Treatment is largely empirical owing to lack of microbiological data. Objectives: The study was conducted to identify bacterial isolates associated with the chronic suppurative otitis media in children and determine their antibiotic susceptibility pattern. Methods: Children consecutively seen for chronic otitis media at Department of Pediatrics and Child Health of the Tikur Anbessa Hospital during January - May 2000 were included in the study. Clinical/demographic data were collected using in a pre-formed questionnaire. Ear swabs were collected, transported, and cultured using standards methods. Biochemical tests were used in identifying Gram-negative bacteria. All isolates were tested for their susceptibility to different antibiotics. Results: A total of 158 bacterial agents were isolated from 120 ear swabs collected from 112 patients aged between 3 months and 12 years. The most frequent isolates were Proteus species (31%), Staphylococcus aureus (18%), Escherichia coli (16%), Klebsiella species (12%), and Pseudomonas species (6%). Most of the isolates were resistant to commonly used antibiotics but sensitive to kanamycin (72%), augmentin (84%) and gentamycin (88%). Triple antibiotics resistance was most common resistance pattern. Conclusions: The high rate of multiple drug resistance, particularly to cheap and frequently used antibiotics, raises serious concern. More comprehensive studies are required to define the true magnitude of CSOM, to determine the microbiological profile of isolates and produce data for policy decision on optimal intervention modalities. (Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 2001, 15(2): 89-96

Prevalence of acute respiratory bacterial pathogens in children in Gondar

A study was conducted in Gondar, North-Western Ethiopia, during 1997-1998 to determine the prevalence of bacterial etiologic agents of acute respiratory infection (ARI) in children. A total of 390 subjects were studied out of which 63% were cases from Gondar Hospital and Gondar Health Center and the rest (37%) were controls from different schools and kindergartens in Gondar Town. From each case and control throat and nasopharyngeal specimens were collected, and cultured and biochemical tests done to isolate the bacterial etiologic agents of the disease. Clinical findings, such as cough, raised respiratory rate, difficult breathing, and fever were correlated with laboratory findings. S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b were the dominant isolated pathogens in both throat and nasopharyngeal specimens obtained from 71% and 68% of the cases and 5% and 1% of the controls, respectively. About 20% of the cases had diarrhea as concurrent illness. Even though different bacteria are known to cause ARI, S. pneumoniae and H. influenzae type b were found to be the dominant etiologic agents of acute respiratory infection. This paper discusses the association of bacteria isolated with acute respiratory infection in children in Gondar. (Ethiopian Journal of Health Development, 2000, 14(2): 191-197