Environmental and Public Health Perspective of the Prevalence of Intestinal Helminths Infection of Cattle in Gubi and Galambi Ranches in Bauchi, Nigeria

Faecal samples were collected from cattle in Gubi and Galambi cattle ranches and examined for eggs of intestinal helminths. The ages of the cattle ranged from 1-10 years and were grouped into two - 1-4 years and 5-10 years representing younger and older cattle respectively. A total number of 600 cattle (300 from each farm) were examined for intestinal parasites out of which 355 cattle were found to be infected in the two cattle ranches. Out of the 355 infected cattle, 50.99% were from Galambi, while Gubi had slightly lower cases of 49.01%. Out of the 10 helminths species identified in the two cattle ranches the most prevalent was Oesophagostomum radiatum. Female cattle were more infected (60.66%) in Gubi than their male counterparts in which 55.32% infection rate was recorded. Similar trend was also observed in Galambi where the rate of infection recorded in the female (62.00%) was higher than 58.62% recorded in the male cattle. Among the younger cattle aged 1-4 years, 29.36% were infected in Gubi while 26.00% of the same age group were harbouring the parasites in Galambi. It is recommended among others that penn should not be overstocked and cattle farmers should be educated on the importance of environmental sanitation and hygiene in cattle ranches management. Key words: Intestinal, Helminths, Cattle Ranches, Bauch

Potentials of Sludge from Drinking Water Treatment Plant for Use as Source of Soil Nutrients for Reclamation of Degraded Land

The residuals from Gubi drinking water treatment plant are usually discharged directly into the nearby streams without any form of treatment. The decomposition of the organic materials contained in the untreated sludge has caused the production of malodorous gases and unsightly condition in the area. The disposal of this sludge in an environmentally friendly manner is therefore not only desirable but necessary. The aim of this investigation was to assess the feasibility of utilizing the residuals from Gubi water treatment plant as a source of nutrients for reclamation of degraded lands especially those arising from mining activities. The study was carried out at Gubi water treatment plant located in the vicinity of Gubi Dam water reservoir.Ten sludge samples were collected from each of the three clerifiers. Important sludge properties that are known to aid nutrients status of soil were analyzed using standard laboratory procedures. The means of various soil quality parameters recorded in the WTRs were 6.8, 20.06g/kg, 34.90g/kg, 1.65g/kg, 2.30g/kg, 13.45mg/kg, 2.50Cmol/kg, 2.10Cmol/kg and 28Cmol/kg for pH, Organic C, Organic Matter, K, Total N, Olsen P, Ca, Mg and CEC respectively. The means of all the parameters analysed falls within the ranges considered good for vegetation growth. The heavy metals concentrations recorded in the residual were 1.8mg/kg, 0.1mg/kg, 2mg/kg, 29mg/kg, 66mg/kg, 15mg/kg, 8.7mg/kg, 6.2mg/kg and 0.03mg/kg for As, Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, Cr and Hg respectively. The concentrations of all the metals did not exceed the acceptable threshold limits recommended by regulatory authorities. Considering the enormous amount of plant nutrients and absence of excessive toxic metals in Gubi WTRs, it is safe to conclude that the residual can be use as a source of soil nutrients for reclamation of degraded land. Key words: Sludge, Soil Nutrients, Degraded Land, Reclamatio

Geochemical Partitioning of Some Heavy Metals in Bottom Sediment of River Delimi in Jos, Nigeria

The determination of total metal content is usually insufficient to fully assess the environmental impacts of contaminated sediments. In order to differentiate metals of lithogenic from those of anthropogenic origin and assess their bioavailability and potential toxicity, detail information on their partitioning to various geochemical fractions of the sediment is necessary. In recent times there has been a lot of concern on the rate at which River Delimi ecosystem deteriorate as it passes through Jos city. This study was aimed at determining the geochemical partitioning of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in River Delimi sediment with a view to determining the extent to which they might be remobilized and affect the quality of the river ecosystem. The study was conducted at three sites along River Delimi and one control site at Lamingo Dam all within Jos city. The total metals content in sediment were extracted using aqua-regia. A five-step sequential extraction procedure was used to determine the partitioning of the metals into different geochemical fractions of the sediment. The metals extracted were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The total metals content in sediment were generally higher at the study compared to the control site. The mean values of Cd in sediment (1.330mg/kg, 1.515mg/kg, 1.301mg/kg and 0.900mg/kg) respectively for stations I, II, III and IV were all above the limit of 0.68mg/kg recommended by USEPA. Sediment samples obtained from River Delimi had more metals associated with the non-residual fractions compared to those from Lamingo Dam. The high amount of these metals recovered in non – residual fractions mean that the metals are in potentially available forms and could pose a serious threat to the river ecosystem. Measures should therefore be put in place by the relevant authorities to curtail indiscriminate dumping of domestic and industrials wastes into the river

Nanocomposites transformed from polystyrene waste/antimony, barium and nickel oxides nanoparticles with improved thermal and electrical properties

In this experiment, the oxide nanoparticles were synthesized via chemical precipitation and the nanocomposites were produced using in situ polymerization method with varying nanoparticles contents ranged from 0.1 g to 1.0 g for electrical conductivity and from 0.05 g to 0.25 g for thermal conductivity. The electrical and thermal conductivities of nanocomposites were investigated and compared with the values obtained for untreated polystyrene. It was observed that the electrical and thermal properties were higher for the nanocomposites and increase with increasing nanoparticle concentrations in the samples. It can be observed that nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticles gave a better electrical and thermal conductivity followed by nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles and nanocomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticles respectively. It can also be observed that nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticle showed increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.60 W to 2.60 W, while nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles recorded increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.40 W to 2.45 W and nanoomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticle showed increase in rate of heat transfer from 1.07 W to 2.21 W, as concentration of nanoparticles increased from 0.05 g to 0.25 g respectively. Conclusively, with these results, the nanocomposite containing NiO nanoparticles gave a better thermal and electrical conductivity by having a better conducting filler network inside the matrix than nanocomposite containing BaO nanoparticles and nanocomposite containing Sb2O3 nanoparticles. It is recommended that during the production of polymer nanocomposite, PS/NiO, PS/BaO and PS/Sb2O3 nanocomposites could be used in electrically conductive devices as well as suitable materials for heat transfer applications

Prevalence and Speciation of Non-albican Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Zaria

Candida species are versatile microorganisms which live normally in the skin, mouth, gastrointestinal tract, and genitourinary tract. In healthy people, Candida species usually live as benign commensals and produce no disease. However, they are the most common cause of fungal infections in immunosuppressed individuals, leading to a range of non-life threatening mucocutaneous diseases to threatening invasive systemic diseases. Among Candida spp, the more important pathogenic species are Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C.krusei. The research set out to determine the prevalence of non albicans vulvovaginal candidiasis and pattern of distribution of the different Candida species in Zaria.A cross sectional study of female genital swabs collected from 400 women with features suggestive of vulvovaginal candidiasis attending Gynaecology clinics in four selected hospitals in Zaria. The swabs collected between a period of February 2012 to March 2013 were analysed by microscopy and culture in the Medical Microbiology laboratory, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.  Data on demographic details were also obtained; using structured questionnaires. Of the 400 patient samples examined 163(40.8%) were culture positive for Candida spp. Of these 163 isolates, 84 were germ-tube negative giving a prevalence of 21% for non albicans candida (NAC). Of the 84 isolates of NAC, 51(60.7%) were Candida parapsilosis, 18 (21.4%) were Candida tropicalis, while 15 (17.9%) were Candida glabrata. Vulvovaginal candidiasis was found to be more prevalent among the age group 21-30 years in general. Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a prevalent infection among women. More than half of the infections are due to non-albicans Candida.  NAC is becoming increasingly relevant in the aetiology of Vulvovaginal candidiasis and health providers need to be aware of this as the treatment options differ. Keywords: Non albicans Candida, Vulvovaginal candidiasis, Vulvovaginiti