In vitro antibacterial activity of Synclisa scabrida whole root extracts

Ethanolic, cold water and hot water extracts of the root of Synclisia scabrida were tested, by the agarwell diffusion and macro-broth methods, for activity against clinical and typed strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus sp. and Bacillussubtilis. The ethanolic extract was bactericidal at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against 8 of the 10 test organisms (MIC, 3.125 to 12.50 mg/ml and MBC, 3.125 to 25.00 mg/ml). The cold water extract was bactericidal against E. coli (clin) and B. subtilis ATCC 6051 strains and bacteriostatic against 5 others while the hot water extract was bacteriostatic against 2 of the organisms at MIC. Three column chromatographic fractions of the crude ethanolic extract, Fss-1, Fss-2, and Fss-3, were active against 5 to 8 of the 10 test bacterial strains. Fss-3 was bacteriostatic against the Proteus sp. (clin), which was not susceptible to the crude ethanolic extract. Conversely, the crude ethanolic extract was bactericidal against P. aeruginosa ATCC 10145 to which none of the fractions showed activity. Thus, the results justify the folklore application of extracts of S. scabrida in treatment of bacterialgastroenteritis among other diseases

Incidence of Faecal coliforms Isolated From Different Foods Sold Locally in Nsukka, Enugu State

Sixty-six (66) food products and ten water samples were collected from food vendors and restaurants and examined for bacteriological quality using both the most probable number (MPN) technique and the plate count of Escherichia coli on Eosin Ethylene Blue (EMB) and lactose fermenters on MacConkey agar. All results obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test. Out of the 66 food samples, 55.6% were positive for Escherichia coli as follows: beans (22.6%), Yam (44.4%), garri (50%) pears (83.3%), cassava “foo-foo” (16.7%), “abacha” (83.3%), “okpa” (56%), rice (56%), “agidi” (83.3%) and moi-moi (66.7%). Out of the ten water samples, six were also positive for Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli high proportion of food (75.9%) and water (80%) respectively showed the presence of coliforms in general including Escherichia coli Geometric mean count (GMC) for MPN ranged from 1-180 and GMC for coliforms in various foods ranged from 1.0 x 101-1.0 x 106cfu/g. About 42.4% human coliforms(Escherichia coli), 37.4% of faecal coliforms (Klebsiella pneumonia) and rest (20.2%) showed other coliforms in food and water samples.Keyword: Food, Water, Coliforms, Most Probable Number, Geometric Mean Coun

Effects of fractionation on antibacterial activity of crude extracts of Tamarindus indica

Column chromatographic fractionation of the crude ethanolic extract of the stem bark of Tamarindus indica yielded six fractions (TiA - TiF). Among these, TiB showed about five tracks: TiC, TiD and TiE, two tracks each, on thin layer chromatography (TLC). Fractions TiC, TiD and TiE were re-eluted with different solvent systems and each yielded two sub-fractions, while fraction TiB yielded four. All fractions and sub-fractions tested for antibacterial activity in vitro using the agar well diffusion technique. TiA showed activity against 100% of the test gram negative bacterial strains and 60% of the gram positive strains; TiB, TiC, and TiD each showed activity against 71.4% of the gram negative test strains and 100, 80 and 60%, respectively, of the gram positive strains. Fractions TiE and TiF, respectively, showed activity against 42.9 and 14.3% of the gram negatives and 60 and 20% against the gram positives bacteria. The crude extract and Ciprofloxacin (control), respectively, were active against 57.1 and 100% of the gram negatives; and 80 and 100% of the gram positives. The activities of the subfractions of TiB, TiC, TiD and TiE against the test strains varied from those of the parent fractions. The phytochemistry of these fractions showed varied contents of tannins, saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, antroquinone, glycosides and terpene.Key words: Fractionation, chromatography, plant extract, Tamarindus indica, antibacterial activity,phytochemistry

Delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine to chickens with broken millet grains as the vehicle

The efficacy of treated broken millet grains as a carrier for delivery of thermostable Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine HRV4 to free-range chickens in three locations was assessed by haemagglutinationinhibition (HI) test and challenge experiment. Out of 256 birds fed with first dose of the vaccine, 130 (50.8%) produced detectable HI antibody but only 16 (6.3%) attained serum antibody level of log2 3.0adjudged protective. From the locations, Igumale (74 birds), Kuru (88 birds) Riyom (94 birds), only 1 (1.4%), 8 (9.1%) and 7 (7.4%) attained log2 titre 3.0, respectively. A booster vaccine dose 2 weeks lateron 236 of the birds led to 126 (53.4%) attaining HI (log2) titre 3.0 [Igumale (63 birds), Kuru (86 birds) Riyom (87 birds) had 33 (53.5%), 46 (53.5%) and 42 (48.3%) respectively attaining log2 titres of 3.0]. Out of a total of 70 buy-back chickens challenged, 49 (70.0%) survived. The break down showed that from Igumale (20 birds), Kuru (25 birds) Riyom (25 birds), the survivors were 13 (65.0%), 19 (76.0%) and 17 (68.0%), respectively. Out of 28 unvaccinated control birds challenged, only 4 survived. The overall results showed that millet, if properly treated, could be a good vaccine carrier and that the method of vaccination was relatively efficacious.

Estimation and Characterization of Coliforms in Vended Food and Water Samples in Nsukka Area

Sixty–six (66) food and ten (10) water samples from Nsukka metropolis were screened for the presence of coliforms using the Most probable number (MPN) technique and direct plate count on MacConkey agar/broth and Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar for isolating those from both faecal and human origin. The isolates were characterized biochemically analysed using standard conventional methods. The geometric mean counts (GMC) using MPN ranged from 1-180 faecal coliforms per 100 ml for both food and water samples. However, food samples (66.7%) served in plates and water sources (83.3%) showed apparent signs of contamination probably from the human and water sources, handling and storage unlike foods from the pots that had no trace of contamination. Faecal coliforms were E. coli (42.4%) and Klebsiella pneumonia (37.4%) and others(20.20%)of non-human origin. The E. coli count ranged between 22.2% (“abacha”) and 83.3% (beans ,rice, yam) as well as water(50.0% ).Thus, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the indicator organisms (E. coli) in the food, storage vats and water sources. The faecal and human coliforms in foods and water were indications of foodborne diseasesKeywords: Food, Water, Coliforms, Vending, Contaminatio

Identification of mild strains of Newcastle disease virus(NCV) in free-living pigeons and turkeys in Nsukka, Nigeria

No Abstract

Prevalence of Acid-Fast-Bacillus-Positive Cases Among Patients Attending a Chest Clinic in Aba, Eastern Nigeria

Three sputum smears were made from each of the 440 patients, (182 females and 258 males), presenting with bronchopulmonary symptoms at three hospitals in Aba, Nigeria. The smears were stained by Ziehl-Neelsen\'s method and examined microscopically for acid-fast bacilli. The bacilli were detected in 143 (32.5%) of the patients, with more cases occurring among females patients (38.0%) than males (28.7%). The 15 - 20 year age group, which was the most affected (40.0%), consisted mainly of apprentices, the occupational/social group with the highest prevalence, (45%). The next occupational/social group with high prevalence rate consisted of the hairdressers (42.8%). The risk factor common to these groups was overcrowding in poorly-ventilated accommodation. The prevalence rate of 32.5% is high and the attention of the Nigerian Tuberculosis Control Programme is extensively needed in this region, with more emphasis on the improvement of the life style of the groups with the risk factors. Key words: tuberculosis, surveillance, acid-fast-bacilli Journal of Medical Laboratory Science Vol.13(1) 2004: 30 - 3

Isolation of virulent newcastle disease virus(NDV) strain among apparently healthy free-roaming local chickens (Galus Domesticus)in Nsukka, Nigeria

No Abstract

Antibiotic resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from five major geopolitical zones of Nigeria

Information on the resistance profiles of clinical and non clinical human bacteria isolates in the developing countries can serve as important means of understanding the human pathogens drug resistance interactions in the zone. Escherichia coli isolated from five geopolitical zones of Nigeria were screened for anti-microbial resistance profile against 14 antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. Overall, the 89 isolates tested, were 94,4% that showed resistance to Ampicillin; 85.5% to Cotrimaoxazole, 92.1% to Cephalothin; 78.7% to Streptomycin, 70.8% to Nitrofurantoin; 79.8 to Tetracycline; 67.4% to Chloramphenicol; 74.2% to Amoxicillin clavulanic acid; 61.8 to Cefpirome; 52.8% to Cefpodoxime; 46.1 % to Cefotaxine; 46.1% to Ceftriaxone; 31.5% to Cefoxitin; 38.2% to Nalidixic acid and 24.7% to Gentamycin. These isolates showed a total of 42 different antibiotics resistance profiles, with all the isolates showing resistance to at least four or more of the drugs tested. Statistical analysis showed there was no statistical difference in the proportion of isolates that were resistant to >1 antibiotic for human clinical (84.6%) and non-clinical (91.7%) isolates. This results indicates that antimicrobial use in humans has driven the emergence of multi-drug resistant clones in developing countries such as Nigeria that has resulted in an increasingly high prevalence of multiple resistance

Distribution of blood group antigens and isoagglutinins among women of varying parity levels in Owerri, Nigeria: implications for maternal and child health

No Abstract.Bio-Research Vol. 3(2) 2005: 11-1