Effects of Nutrient Dynamics on the Abundance of Some Zooplanktons in Wasai Reservoir in Kano, Northern-Nigeria

The distribution, relative abundance and species diversity of some zooplanktons and the changes in nutrients composition and concentrations was studied for the period of three months in Wasai reservoir Kano, Nigeria. Protozoa, Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda were identified. Protozoan number was dominant over the other zooplankton group throughout the period of sampling and in all the sampling points; then followed by Rotifera, Cladocera and Copepoda was represented by few species. Total individuals of Rotifera and Cladocera observed were 236 and one hundred and thirty six respectively. Highest and least occurred Rotifera Cladocera and Rotifera were observed have 79 species and twenty-nine, while Cladocera has fifty and twenty species respectively. The reservoir was within small range of pH 7.8 to 8.5 of mild alkaline condition, PH values decrease from the sampling point I down the sampling point V. Surface water temperature variations recorded was minimal. Maximum temperature observed was 23℃, and the least was 16℃. These slight variations  resulted in a weak relationship ( r =0.398) with zooplankton Physical parameters (e.g. transparency) in this research work was fairly uniform, ranges from 0.30m to 0.35m at all the sampling points, and throughout the period of this research there was no rainfall which might increase the level of  reservoir water and its transparency. This slight variation in the water transparency among the sampling points when correlated with zooplankton counts were found to have a weak relationship (r=0.382). It has no influence on the distribution and abundance of zooplankton. The value of dissolved oxygen (DO) was observed to be increasing gently from sampling point I to V (3.7 mg/l to 4.4 mg/L), although there was sharp rise in sampling point III (4.6 mg/L). While Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) decreases from sampling point I to V (2.7 to 2.4 mg/L), unlike DO, there was sharp decline in sampling point III (2.1 mg/L). The increase in dissolved oxygen and decreased in biochemical oxygen demand along the sampling point II, III, IV, V), and (I was due to nutrient enrichment from the continuous influx of sewage from the Jakara River. It revealed that highest phosphate ion concentration recorded was in sampling point I. This might be because of incoming domestic wastewater from Jakara River Keywords: Jankara, Rotifera, Cladocera, Copepoda, , Wasa

Effects of the Inclusion of Chicken Egg Shells in the Meals of Captive Archachatina marginata (Giant West African Snail) on the Growth and Fecundity of the Species

Eighteen giant West African land snails (Archachatina marginata) were collected and identified. The snails  were put in a single cage and allowed to acclimatize. The snails were then randomly selected and put in two cages, each containing 9 snails. The experimental samples  and control were both fed with the same food. To the experimental samples however, egg shell was added to test for its effect on growth and fecundity of snails. Measurements of weight, shell length and shell width were taken for a period of seven weeks. These readings were subjected to One-way Analysis of Variance (One-way ANOVA). The difference in shell length gained was not statistically significant (P>0.05) between the control and the experimental samples. Shell width gain however, was significantly different (P<0.05) between the control and the experimental samples. Snail weight gain was similar to that of shell length and the difference in shell length gained by the control and experimental samples was not statistically significant (P>0.05). Snails in the experimental group laid five clutches of eggs with a total of 27eggs, 3 eggs hatched. However, those in the control did not lay any eggs. The result obtained from the experimental group shows that the chicken egg shells had positive influence on the fecundity of the snails. This result has implication for snail farmers and for snails as intermediate hosts where they can have access to chicken egg shells in their environment. Keywords: Archachatina marginata, Fecundity, Egg shell, Inclusion, Congo mea

Proximate Composition and Amino Acid Profile of Raw and Cooked Black Variety of Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) Grown in Northeast Nigeria

Tiger nut (Cyperus esculentus L.) is an underutilized tuber of family Cyperaceae which produces rhizomes from the base of the tuber that is somewhat spherical. The three varieties of yellow, brown and black tiger nut are grown in Nigeria. Proximate and amino acid compositions of raw and cooked black variety of Cyperus esculentus were investigated using standard analytical techniques. The respective proximate composition values (%) for the raw and cooked samples were: Moisture (3.73 and 4.66), ash (2.57 and 3.38), crude fat (8.94 and 9.92), crude protein (12.09 and 9.25), crude fibre (7.02 and 4.52), and carbohydrate (65.66 and 69.29). The calculated fatty acids and metabolizable energy for the raw and cooked samples were 7.15 and 7.94%; 1652.53 and 1702.22 kJ/100g, respectively. The values of metabolizable energy in this study showed that both samples have energy concentrations more favourable than cereals. The amino acid profile revealed that raw and cooked samples of Cyperus esculentus contained nutritionally useful quantities of most of the essential amino acids with total essential amino acid (TEAA) (with His) were 45.69 and 48.25%, respectively. The value of predicted protein efficiency ratio (P–PER) for the raw tuber was 2.77, the value is higher than the reported P–PER values of some legumes in the literature. However, essential amino acid supplementation may be required in Ile, Leu, TSAA and Val when comparing the EAA in this report with the recommended FAO/WHO provisional pattern. The limiting EAAs in the raw and cooked Cyperus esculentus tuber were Leu and TSAA, respectively. Keywords: Proximate, amino acids, tigernu

Urinary Schistosomiasis among Children in Murbai and Surbai Communities of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area, Taraba State, Nigeria

Background. This cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the prevalence, intensity of infection, and risk factors associated with urinary schistosomiasis among children in Murbai and Surbai communities of Ardo-Kola Local Government Area (LGA), Taraba State, Nigeria. Methods. Urine samples were analysed by the standard filtration technique using 10 ml syringe, Swinnex polypropylene filter holder (13 mm diameter), and polycarbonate membrane filters (12 μm porosity). Sociodemographic data and water contact activities were collated from children using structured questionnaires. Results. A point prevalence of 58.54% was reported out of the urine samples examined. Males were significantly more infected than their female counterparts (71.15% versus 43.66%, χ2 = 89.12, p=0.000). The age-related prevalence showed 6–10 and 11–15 years significantly infected with 78.70% and 73.02%, respectively (χ2 = 89.12, p=0.000). Light intensity of infection, 62.51%, was significantly higher than heavy intensity, 37.48%, among the infected children (χ2 = 365.8, p=0.000). Water contact activities such as fishing (OR = 4.01, CI = 3.04–5.61, p=0.000), rice farming (OR = 4.01, CI = 2.96–5.36, p=0.000), and dry season farming (OR = 4.78, CI = 3.68–6.22, p=0.000) were the risk factors exposing children to infection in the area. Conclusion. There is an urgent need to undertake a large scale deworming control programme using praziquantel in the area

Evaluation of falciparum parasitemia and urogenital schistosomiasis co-infection on haemoglobin and nutritional status of children and adolescents in riverine communities of southern Taraba State, Nigeria.

Malaria and urogenital schistosomiasis are parasitic infections usually acquired unknowingly and sometimes cause anaemia and affect the  nutritional status of persons in endemic areas. This study assessed asymptomatic Plasmodium falciparum, Schistosoma haematobium and their co-infection status with respect to the association of haemoglobin level and nutritional status in children and adolescents resident at Takum Local Government, a rural suburb of Taraba State, Nigeria. Thick blood films and urine filtration technique were used respectively to determine P. falciparum and S. haematobium species. Haemoglobinometer measured haemoglobin concentration and Body Mass Index determined nutritional status for each participant. The study reported 32.9% (87/264), 28.7% (76/264) and 30.3% (80/264) respectively for asymptomatic malaria, urogenital schistosomiasis and co-infection. Participants in Chanchanji community significantly had the highest asymptomatic P. falciparum infection, 56.4% (22/39) (p=0.003). Sufa and Manya communities respectively had the highest S. haematobium infection, 39.4% (15/38) (χ2= 41.3, p=0.000) and coinfection, 32.1% (12/37) (χ2= 52.45, p=0.000). A negative association was observed between anaemia and co-infection (r = -0.77, p=0.000) as well as between nutritional status and co-infection (r = -0.63, p=0.000). Participants who did not use LLTNs and lived close to water bodies were predisposed to co-infection with adjusted OR=0.003 (%95CI: 0.00 – 0.03; p=0.000). Birama and Manya areas highly predicted participants to co-infection with respective adjusted OR = 13.20 (%95CI: 2.34-74.38; p=0.003) and adjusted OR=57.9, (%95CI: 4.92-681.24, p=0.001). The co-infection predisposed participants to moderate and severe anaemia with respective adjusted OR of 2.198 (%95CI:1.307-3.696, p=0.021) and 1.192 (%95CI:0.355-4.009, p=0.017). Undernutrition was significantly affected with co-infection adjusted OR=3.732 (95%CI:1.003-7.393, p=0.011). Co-infection was significantly associated with anaemia and nutritional status at p≤0.05. It is recommended that the State and NGOs should provide malaria Intermittent Prevention Treatment as well as deworm the children and adolescents in Takum LGA