Wild vertebrate pests activities on agricultural crops at Gashaka Gumti National Park, Nigeria

A survey was conducted among 57 farmers at three different ranges in Gashaka Gumti National Park to identify wild vertebrate pests that raided and destroyed agricultural crops. The results showed that 16 wild faunaspecies were identified as crop pests. Six of them, Ceropithecus aethiops, Papio anubis, Heliosciurus gambianus, Thryonomys swinderianus, Tragelaphus scriptus, and Numida meleagris raided crops ubiquitously in the park. The number of wild vertebrate pest species and crops cultivated were not significantly different at Mayo-Selbe versus Gashaka; and Gashaka versus Filinga ranges of the park (P > 0.05). Out of 14 agricultural crops, Zea mays > Sorghum spp > Manihot esculenta > Oryza sativa > Dioscorea spp were the most widely cultivated and also mostraided crops in the park. A test of association between the number of wildlife species sighted destroying crops in the three surveyed range areas of the park, and the number of crops raided was not significant ( ÷2 = 0.95, df = 2, P = 0.62). In order to reduce losses associated with wild fauna raids on crops, and prevent the killing of wildlife to curb raids, local farmers should be educated on the need to use non lethal means of preventing crop raids such as effigies, guard animals, and reflective objects, and be encouraged to cultivate crops further away from wildlife refuge at the Gashaka Gumti National Park

Diversity of mesofauna and macrofauna in protected and disturbed soils of Ngel Nyaki forest, Nigeria

High biodiversity of the soil fauna can be an indicator of soil fertility and its ability to sustain complex food chain, but fauna diversity alone is rarely used as a measure of these attributes. In this study we investigated the mesofauna and macrofauna diversity in protected and disturbed soil habitats as a measure of the soil ability to sustain high biodiversity, using the Shannon-Weiner’s index (H). It was observed that H = 1.4049 < 1.6494, maximum diversity (Hmax) = 3.1781 < 3.6889, species evenness (H/Hmax) = 0.4421 < 0.4771, species richness (S) = 24 < 40 and equivalently common species (eH) = 4.0751 < 5.2039 were consistently lower in the disturbed soil compared to protected soil site. The distribution of fauna species was significantly different between the sites (Kolmogorov-Smirnov: Dmax = 0.233, Dcrit = 0.0282, P < 0.05). 17 fauna species identified in the protected soil were absent in disturbed soil habitat. These species could be used as indicator species in determining soil habitats that have been depleted by human activities in ecological areas with similar characteristics. These results demonstrate the need for proper soil management practices to restore biodiversity loss in disturbed soils.Keywords: Fauna, species, biodiversity, community, abundanc

Wildlife Raids on Agricultural Crops: Orders of Species and Farmers Perspectives at Gashaka Gumti National Park Nigeria

This study investigated the orders of class mammalia and class aves among the species of wildlife that destroyed agricultural crops, at the Gashaka Gumti National Park, and farmer's perception concerning the raids. Order: primates (12.5%), rodentia (18.75%), artiodactyla (50.0%), pholidota (6.25%), and lagomorpha (6.25%) were the major mammalian orders. Order galliformes (6.25%) was the only avian order identified. Farmers perception of the most destructive wildlife species correlated significantly with an independent assessment r = +0.84, df = 5, P < 0.05. Most raids were carried out in the morning and evening however the observed period of raids on crops among farmers differed significantly, ÷2 = 23.74, df = 6, P < 0.05. 68.42% - 84.21% of farmers guarded their farms as the most common strategy toward off raids by wild animals, while 84.21% - 94.74% of farmers advocated killing the animals as a control strategy to curb wildlife raids. This indicates that without adequate preventive measures in place, local farmers would extirpate the population of wildlife species that frequently raid grains, tuber and other crops at Gashaka Gumti National Park

Biodiversity Conservation: Why Local Inhabitants Destroy Habitat In Protected Areas

This review identifies some intrinsic and extrinsic factors that tend to drive the destruction of habitat, game poaching and unsustainable utilization of plants products by communities surrounding many protected areas around the world, leading to wildlife and plant species decline. Intrinsic factors are basic needs of the locals; those needs are intricately tied to land and poverty. Other factors also exist such as increased population, trade in endangered species and deforestation that are extrinsic and not the immediate needs of the local communities in protected areas but nevertheless contribute in forcing the communities to abandon the path to sustainable utilization of natural resources in protected areas leading to habitat fragmentation, depletion and loss of wildlife and plants species. Key words: Protected areas, wildlife, habitat, biodiversity, conservatio

Molecular markers of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistant malaria prior to intermittent preventive treatment among pregnancies in Makurdi, Nigeria

Molecular markers of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) resistance were monitored in pregnant women of mean age 28 ± 11years in Makurdi, Nigeria. A total of 82 Plasmodium falciparum malaria positive blood samples were obtained prior to commencement of intermittent preventive treatment with SP (IPTp-SP) during antenatal visits. Of the 82 samples, 71 were successfully genotyped at the dihydrofolate reductase (dhfr) loci51, 59, 108 and 164; and dihydropteroate synthase (dhps) loci 436, 437, and 540. The genotyping was accomplished by means of polymerase chain reaction, and restriction fragment length polymorphisms. The aim was to determine the percentage frequencies of P. falciparum single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with resistance to SP in vivo. The results show that both the dhfr and dhps genes each produced 5 different haplotypes with varying percentage frequencies. All genotyped gene loci had SNPs except dhfr 164 and dhps 540. Haplotype combination of dhfr/dhps alleles yielded 15 different genotypes of P. falciparum parasites. The combined frequencies of triple/quadruple mutant haplotypes associated with in vivo SP resistance was 35.21%, but was significantly lower than single/double mutant haplotypes not associated with SP resistance (χ2 = 6.21, df = 1, p = 0.01). These results suggest a possible rise in in vivo SP resistance during IPTP-SP. There is a need for continuous monitoring of SP efficacy, for effective intermittent preventive treatment with the drug in the area.Keywords: Malaria, antimalarial drug resistance, single nucleotide polymorphisms, haplotype

The in vitro Assessment of Drug Resistant Malaria In Makurdi, North Central Nigeria

Multi-drug resistant malaria parasite strains have spread to new areas that were once free of such strains. This study evaluated the specific in vitro sensitivities of some standard antimalarial drugs, against Plasmodium falciparum isolates in Makurdi, North Central Nigeria. The standard schizonts growth inhibition assays was used to study the in vitro activities of quinine, artesunate, and amodiaquine against 146 isolates in children aged 2-14 years. 100 % of isolates were in vitro sensitive to quinine, geometric mean effective concentration (EC)50 = 241.55 nM, EC90 = 676.08 nM, and EC99 = 993.12 nM; and artesunate, EC50 = 1.05 nM, EC90 = 2.42 nM, and EC99 = 3.16 nM. 1.37 % of isolates were resistant to amodiaquine, EC50 = 22.08 nM, EC90 = 66.22 nM and EC99 = 100.23 nM. Significant in vitro cross resistance was found at EC50 values of quinine-amodiaquine drug pair (r = + 0.342, P < 0.05), but not quinine – artesunate (r = + 0.057, P > 0.05) or artesunateamodiaquine (r = + 0.088, P > 0.05). These results call for constant surveillance, to curb the spread of P. falciparum resistance to amodiaquine in Nigeria. Keywords: Drug resistance, Plasmodium falciparum, Malaria, Nigeria

Screening of fruit pulp extracts of Picralima nitida against in vitro cultures of Plasmodium falciparum and acute oral toxicity in white albino mice

The increasing resistance of Plasmodium falciparum to available  antimalarial drugs currently justifies the quest for potential antiplasmodial  agents from plants. Picralima nitida is used as a traditional remedy against malaria in Nigeria. In this study, phytochemical constituents of methanolic and aqueous extracts of P. nitida fruit pulp were screened, and tested in vitro against 20 clinical isolates of P. falciparum using the schizont growth inhibition assay. Acute oral toxicity of each extract was also evaluated in white albino mice. The results showed the presence of alkaloids,  anthraquinones, flavonoids, saponins, and tannins in both extracts. Terpenes were only present in the methanolic extract. In vitro growth inhibition of P. falciparum by each extract was dose dependent. The methanolic extract exhibited moderate, but higher antimalarial activity with IC50 = 23.33 ± 0.76 µg/ml, compared to the aqueous extract with IC50 = 28.25 ± 0.95 µg/ml. The difference was significant (t = 16.72, df = 19, P &lt; 0.001). The LD50 of each extract was 3807 mg/kg body weight. The moderate antiplasmodial, and toxicity of these extracts, may justify the use of P. nitida, fruit pulp for the treatment of malaria in Nigeria.Keywords: phytochemical constituents, malaria, inhibitory concentration, lethal dose

High prevalence of HIV infection, increased tendency to malaria burden and development of AIDS at the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi, Nigeria

No Abstract. Nigerian Journal of Parasitology Vol. 26, 2005: 7-1

Behavioural Patterns of a Troop of Olive Baboons (Papio Anubis) Foraging on Maize Crops at the Borders of Gashaka Gumti National Park Nigeria

Olive baboons forage viciously on agricultural crops causing huge losses of farm produce to farmers. In this study, behavioural pattern of a troop of crop raiding olive baboons, Papio anubis which dwell at the periphery of Gashaka Gumti National Park and forage on crops were studied as they raided maize farms. Successful raids were significantly higher than unsuccessful raids (t = 4.54, df = 3, P = 0.02), and increased from early morning hours to peak between 1200-1500hours. The same behavioural activities of the troop differed significantly while raiding maize crops from when not raiding the crops (&#967;2 = 17.66, df = 5, P = 0.003). The adult male olive baboon was the most successful member of the troop that raided maize crops, while the infant baboon was the least successful member of the raiding party. Farmers guarded their farms, and yelled at the baboons, threw stones and chased the baboons as they attempted to raid maize crops, but 73.74 &#177; 7.43 % of attempted raids were successful indicating that farmers could not prevent the olive baboons from raiding their crops. It was suggested that in order to prevent these raids, farmers should coordinate their activities while guarding farms by constantly moving in groups and communicating with nearby groups, informing them in advance of the direction in which the raiding party is heading; also farms should not be cultivated close to wildlife refuge in the park. KEYWORDS: Olive Baboons, Troop, Raids, Maize Crop

In vitro Aantimalarial Activity of the Extracts of Vernonia amygdalina Commonly Used In Traditional Medicine In Nigeria

Malaria is one of the most important of infectious diseases in the tropics and sub-tropics. The search for antimalarial compounds has been necessitated by P. falciparum resistance to almost all antimalarial drugs. In this study, the in vitro antimalarial activities of the aqueous and ethanolic crude extracts of Vernonia amygdalina, a plant used by traditional healers to treat malaria and other diseases, was evaluated against 14 fresh isolates of P. falciparum from Damboa, Borno State, Nigeria. Acute toxicity test and antiinflammatory activity of the extracts were also determined. There was a significant inhibition in schizont maturation relative to control (P = 0.05). Ethanolic extract exhibited higher antimalarial activity of 78.10%, IC50 of 11.2 &mu;g/ml and aqueous extract had an activity of 74.02 %, IC50 of 13.6 &mu;g/ml. Both extracts showed moderate antimalarial activity. The extracts exhibited negligible toxicity in rats and showed a good measure of anti-inflammatory activity. This result justifies the traditional use of the plant in malaria treatment. Further work is suggested to isolate, identify and characterize the active principles from the plant.Keywords: Antimalarial activity, Plasmodium falciparum, Extract concentration, Malaria, Nigeria