Enumeration, Isolation and Antibiotic Susceptibility Profile of Bacteria Associated With Mobile Cellphones in a University Environment

A study was carried out between February and March, 2012, to enumerate, isolate and identify bacteria associated with mobile cell phones in a University environment. This was with a view to determining the bacterial load and their susceptibility pattern to some commonly-used antibiotics. Samples were collected from mobile cell phones of staff, marketers and students in Bayero University, Kano, Nigeria using aseptic swab technique. A total of thirty-five (35) mobile phones were randomly sampled from the following study groups: 10 University staff, 12 marketers and 13 students. For each mobile phone, two sterile swabs moistened with normal saline were rotated over the surface of both sides of the mobile phone and soaked in 10 ml peptone water. Enumeration of the bacterial counts was carried out using pour-plate technique while the bacterial isolates wereidentified using cultural, morphological and biochemical techniques. The results showed that marketers, students and University staff had the overall mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts of 5.25 x 102, 4.48 x 102 and 2.50 x 102 cfu/ml respectively. Twenty-eight bacterial isolates belonging to four genera: Escherichia coli 7(25.0%), Staphylococcus aureus 15(53.6%), Salmonella species 2(7.1%) and Klebsiella species 4(14.3%) were identified. Generally, S. aureus was the most isolated with 15(53.6%) while the least was Salmonella species with only 2(7.1%). Antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates indicated that S. aureus species had the highest susceptibility of 14(93.3%) against cipfloxacin while Salmonella species had 1(50.0%) against augmentin whereas Klebsiella species had 1(25.0%) each against gentamycin and streptomycin. On the other hand, Salmonella species was not susceptible to gentamycin, perfloxacin and streptomycin each with 0(0.0%). Overall susceptibility was highest against ciprofloxacin with 24(85.7%) while the least was recorded against  gentamycin with 6(21.4%). The identified bacteria have pathogenic potential and hence their presence on the cell phones surfaces could serve as a source of cross-transmission of bacterial infections in the University community and its environs.Keywords: Bacteria, Contamination, Cell phones, Susceptibility profile, Antibiotics, University

A patient with complete androgen insensitivity syndrome (CAIS) presenting as a case of indirect inguinal hernia: A case report

No Abstract. Sudan Journal of Medical Science Vol. 1 (2) December 2006: 153-15

Relationships Among Live Body Weight and Some Body Measurements in Sudanese Kenana Bulls

Abstract. The phenotypic relationship between live body weight (kg) and body measurements (cm) for Sudanese bulls is explored. In this research, data from one visit survey were used to estimate the relationships between live body weight and some body measurements of Sudanese Kenana bulls. General linear model analysis with multivariate ANOVA when all physical variables were response and animal live body weight groups (kg) as independent, and simple linear Pearson's correlation were formed between live body weight (Bwt), Heart girth (HG), Heart girth at hump (HTH), Body length (Bl) and Abdominal girth (ABG). The results revealed the best linear correlation between body weight and measurements was heart girth at hump (0.65, 0.66 and 0.73) respectively, for live body weight groups. The obtained linear correlation coefficients were relatively highly accurate indicators of live body weight. This suggests that live body weight could be estimated accurately by body measurements in Sudanese Kenana Bulls. Keywords: live body weight, body measurements, correlation, Kenana bulls, Sudan Abstrak. Dikaji hubungan fenotipik antara bobot badan hidup (kg) dengan beberapa ukuran tubuh (cm) pada sapi Sudan. Data diperoleh dari survei untuk menduga hubungan antara bobot badan hidup dengan beberapa ukuran tubuh sapi Kenana Sudan jantan. General Linier Model (GLM) dengan anova multivariat diterapkan pada semua peubah fisik sebagai respon dan kelompok bobot badan hidup ternak (kg) sebagai peubah bebas. Analisis korelasi linier Pearson digunakan untuk bobot hidup tubuh (BWT), lingkar dada (HG), lingkar dada pada punuk (HTH), panjang tubuh (Bl) dan lingkar perut (ABG). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan hubungan linear terbaik antara bobot badan dengan lingkar dada pada punuk masing-masing 0,65, 0,66 dan 0,73 berturut-turut pada kelompok bobot badan.  Koefisien korelasi linear yang diperoleh menunjukkan indikator yang relatif akurat dari bobot badan hidup. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa bobot badan hidup dapat diduga secara akurat dengan ukuran tubuh pada sapi jantan Kenana Sudan.Kata kunci: bobot hidup badan, ukuran tubuh, korelasi, sapi Kenana, Sudan AM Musa et al/Animal Production 14(3):187-191, September 201

Relationships Among Live Body Weight and Some Body Measurements in Sudanese Kenana Bulls

Abstract. The phenotypic relationship between live body weight (kg) and body measurements (cm) for Sudanese bulls is explored. In this research, data from one visit survey were used to estimate the relationships between live body weight and some body measurements of Sudanese Kenana bulls. General linear model analysis with multivariate ANOVA when all physical variables were response and animal live body weight groups (kg) as independent, and simple linear Pearson's correlation were formed between live body weight (Bwt), Heart girth (HG), Heart girth at hump (HTH), Body length (Bl) and Abdominal girth (ABG). The results revealed the best linear correlation between body weight and measurements was heart girth at hump (0.65, 0.66 and 0.73) respectively, for live body weight groups. The obtained linear correlation coefficients were relatively highly accurate indicators of live body weight. This suggests that live body weight could be estimated accurately by body measurements in Sudanese Kenana Bulls. Keywords: live body weight, body measurements, correlation, Kenana bulls, Sudan Abstrak. Dikaji hubungan fenotipik antara bobot badan hidup (kg) dengan beberapa ukuran tubuh (cm) pada sapi Sudan. Data diperoleh dari survei untuk menduga hubungan antara bobot badan hidup dengan beberapa ukuran tubuh sapi Kenana Sudan jantan. General Linier Model (GLM) dengan anova multivariat diterapkan pada semua peubah fisik sebagai respon dan kelompok bobot badan hidup ternak (kg) sebagai peubah bebas. Analisis korelasi linier Pearson digunakan untuk bobot hidup tubuh (BWT), lingkar dada (HG), lingkar dada pada punuk (HTH), panjang tubuh (Bl) dan lingkar perut (ABG). Hasil penelitian menunjukkan hubungan linear terbaik antara bobot badan dengan lingkar dada pada punuk masing-masing 0,65, 0,66 dan 0,73 berturut-turut pada kelompok bobot badan.  Koefisien korelasi linear yang diperoleh menunjukkan indikator yang relatif akurat dari bobot badan hidup. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa bobot badan hidup dapat diduga secara akurat dengan ukuran tubuh pada sapi jantan Kenana Sudan.Kata kunci: bobot hidup badan, ukuran tubuh, korelasi, sapi Kenana, Sudan AM Musa et al/Animal Production 14(3):187-191, September 201

Prevalence of Cryptosporidiosis in diarrhoeal stools of children under-five years seen in Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital Zaria, Nigeria

Introduction: Human cryptosporidiosis is a zoonotic disease and is increasingly recognized as a major public health problem. It is associated with significant effects on growth, physical and cognitive functions and excess mortality especially among children.Aim: To determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocyst excretion in children less than 5years with diarrhoea in ABUTH Zaria.Methods: Children aged 0 to 59 months managed in paediatrics wards of ABUTH for diarrhoea were studied between July 2008 and June 2009. Stool specimens obtained from these subjects were analysed for Cryptosporidium oocysts using the modified ZN staining technique.Results: A total of 185 children were enrolled. There were 78 (42.2%) boys and 107(57.8%) girls. A total of 33 children studied excreted oocysts in their stools, giving a prevalence of Cryptosporidium oocysts of 17.8%. Thehighest rate (21.7%) was observed in children aged between 13 and 36 months, and no oocysts were observed in stools of neonates. Oocyst excretion was observed to be commoner in the rainy season.Conclusion: Cryptosporidium is a common cause of diarrhoea among under-five children in our environment. It was commoner after infancy and in the rainy season. Recommendation: Routine screening for  Cryptosporidium should be part of evaluation of diarrhoeal illness especially in children beyond the neonatal age group.Key words: Cryptosporidiosis; diarrhoea; under-five; childre

Audit of laparoscopic cholecystectomy Omdurman teaching hospital

Objectives: To review and audit our experience in laparoscopic cholecystectomy [LC] at Omdurman Teaching Hospital, Sudan. Methods: A prospective study for patients who underwent laparoscopic cholecystectomy in the period, from January 2006 to October 2007. Demographic data, indications for surgery, rate of conversion to open cholecystectomy, morbidity, and mortality rates were noted. Results: A total of 114 patients underwent LC in 21 months, They were female 100 patients and 14 males, age range from 25 to70 years, mean age 44 years. Indications for surgery were biliary colic 65.8%, fatty dyspepsia 37.7%, and acute cholecystitis 3.5%. The range of operative time was 25-90 minutes. Conversion rate was (7.9%). The reasons for conversions were bleeding, extensive dense adhesions, severe inflammation. Conclusion: Our findings were consistent with the literature, demonstrating that LC is a safe minimal invasive technique Keywords: Laparoscopic, cholecystectomy, minimal invasive surgery, surgical audit, Sudan.Sudan Journal of Medical Sciences Vol. 3 (1) 2008: pp. 21-2

Prevalence of hepatitis C Antibody in Human Immunodeficiency Virus infected children

Background: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major public health problem for Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected population. Both infections share same routes of transmission, and quite often co-exist, with dual infections associated with reciprocal and mutually more rapid progression than either infection alone. Co-infection also adversely impacts on the course and management of both infections. This study was carried out to document the prevalence and determinants of HCV sero-positivity in HIVinfected children.Methodology: A total of 132 HIVinfected children attending the Paediatric Antiretroviral Clinic were recruited as subjects. Another 132 HIV negative children matched for age and sex were recruited as controls. Relevant demographic data was taken from each child. Blood samples were also obtained from each child and from their mothers when available, and assayed for the presence of anti-HCV using a membranebased immune-assay kit.Results: The sero-prevalence of HCV antibodies was 9.8% among HIV-infected children and 3.0% among the controls. This was a statistically significant difference (p = 0.042, Fisher exact). HCV sero-postivity was more frequent in children after 5 years of age in both subjects (92.3%) and controls (100.0%). Injection at patent medicine vendor (PMV) was noted to be the most risky practice leading to HCV in children, with more than thrice the chances of HCV sero-positivity than in those who didn’t receive injections at PMV. Four mothers of the HIV-infected children were co-infected with HCV and none in the control group. All 4 children of these dually infected mothers were also co-infected. Controlling for other factors, children of HIV infected mothers were more than twice as likely to have HCV antibody as children whose mothers were HIV negative (RR = 2.67). Similarly, HCV infected mothers have 12% greater chance of transmitting HCV to their children than noninfected mothers and children delivered vaginally were 1.6 times more likely to have HCV antibody than those delivered via caesarean section.Conclusions: The prevalence of anti-HCV in HIV-infected children is significantly higher than that of HIV uninfected peers. Factors strongly associated with HCV sero -positivity identified are maternal HIV and HCV infections, vaginal delivery and injections at patent medicine vendor.Keywords: HCV; HIV; childre

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Crude Saponin Extracts from Five Nigerian Medicinal Plants

Crude saponin extracts of five medicinal plants used in the treatment of inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, gout and haemorrhoids were screened for anti-inflammatory activity using carrageenan-induced rat paw oedema test. These plants were the whole plant of Schwenkia americana Linn (WSA), the rhizomes of Asparagus africanus Lam (RAA), the leaves of Dichrostachys cinerea Linn (LDC), the stem bark of Ficus iteophylla Miq (BFI) and the leaves of Indigofera pulchra Willd (LIP). A modify traditional method of crude saponins extraction was used to give the following percentage yields: WSA-2.74%, RAA-3.59%, LDC-1.62%, BFI-0.81% and LIP-1.57% respectively. Thin-layer chromatography was used to identify the type of saponins present in the extracts. The acute toxicity study of the crude saponin extracts in mice gave the following intraperitoneal LD50: WSA-471.2mg/kg, RAA- 1264.9mg/kg, LDC-1264.9mg/kg, BFI-118.3mg/kg and LIP-1264.9mg/kg respectively.  The antiinflammatory study of the extracts showed statistically significant (P<0.05) decreases in the rat paw-oedema as compared to the control. The percentage inhibitions of the extracts after four hours were as follow: WSA-61%, RAA-55%, LDC-72%, BFI-66% and LIP-40% respectively. These values were found to be comparable to that of ketoprofen-63%. The study showed that the antiinflammatory properties attributable to these plants may be due to their saponins contents.Keywords: - Asparagus africanus, Dichrostachys cinerea, Ficus iteophylla, Indigofera pulchra, Schwenkia americana, Saponin,Anti-inflammatory activity, Carrageenan, TLC

Antifungal Resistance Among Candida species From Patients with Genitourinary Tract Infection at Muhammad Abdullahi Wase Specialist Hospital, Kano - Nigeria

The increasing incidence of Candidiasis affecting the genitourinary tracts as well as the introduction of new antifungal drugs has recently highlighted the need for performing fungal susceptibility tests. To determine the antifungal resistance among Candida species from the genitourinary tracts, 689 Urine and High vaginal swab (HVS) samples were collected from female patients clinically diagnosed with genitourinary tract infection between September 2011 to January 2012. The samples were inoculated onto Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA). Isolates from SDA were placed on Corn Med agar (CMA) to ensure detection of mixed cultures. Germ tube tests were performed for identification of the isolates. Susceptibility tests were carried on the isolates using broth dilution method. The occurrence rate of Candida species were as follows: Candida albicans 124 (48.4%), Candida glabrata 89 (34.8%), Candida krusei 23 (9.0%) and Candida Tropicalis 20 (7.8%). The rate of occurrence of Candida species in high vaginal swab 76 (61.3%) was significantly higher than that of urine 48 (38.7%). Distribution of Candida species among different age groups show that, the highest incidence was in age brackets 20 – 30 158 (61.7%), while that of 41-50 and above 8 (3.1%) had the least. High rate of susceptibility was observed for each isolate against Fluconazole 23 (65.7%) and Ketoconazole 22 (62.9%). The resistance rate was 12 (34.3%) for Fluconazole and Ketoconazole 13 (37.1%). These results incriminate C. albicansas the most common Candida species causing genitourinary tract infection in women. This surveillance study has established Fluconazole and Ketoconazole as very effective antifungal agents for the treatment of genitourinary tract infections caused by Candida species.Keywords: Antifungal resistance, Candida species, Genitourinary tract and Infections