Prevalence of microflora in trachea of NDV challenged broiler following supplementation with extracts of Aloe vera, Alma millsoni, Archachantina marginata and Ganoderma lucidum

An attempt was made to enumerate the micro-flora in trachea of broiler chickens challenged with Newcastle disease virus (NDV) following supplementation with different extracts of local sources. After 30 days of treatment with extracts of Aloe vera (AV), Alma millsoni (ALM), Archachatina marginata (AM) and G. lucidium (GL) ad libitum as supplement to various groups they were challenged with intramuscular administration of 0.2 ml of 106 ELD50 of NDV. Following clinical signs and symptoms in the birds, trachea swab samples were collected and cultured. Of the 95 swabs, 65 (68.4%) yielded mixed growth of bacteria spp. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (23.1%), Enterococcus feacalis (23.1%) and Staphylococcus spp. (23.1%), coliform bacteria (30.8%). Only 9 (13.9%) of the total population isolated resisted either cerofloxacin or genticin. There was no statistically significant difference (P<0.05) in the occurrences of bacteria in trachea of chickens supplemented with different concentration of extracts, both challenged with NDV and unchallenged groups. These organisms may not be pathogenic to the birds as there were no signs of bacterial infection on the trachea. Though, 86.1% of the isolates were sensitive to test drugs, evolution of strains resistant to common antibiotics by some of these bacteria could be of public health risk to handlers and the community. Thus, domestic birds keeping and poultry sited in close proximity to human dwellings should be outlawed. Key words: Bacteria, Bacteria isolation, Broilers, Resistance

Kidney Transplant Candidates’ Views of the Transplant Allocation System

OBJECTIVE: The point system used to distribute scarce transplantable kidneys places great emphasis on antigen matching. This contributes to increased waiting times for African Americans, who have a disproportionate share of rare antigens. We conducted a pilot study to explore the understanding and attitudes of kidney transplant candidates toward the way the transplant allocation system trades off between antigen matching and waiting time. MEASUREMENTS MAIN RESULTS: We performed semi-structured interviews of a convenience sample of 33 patients awaiting transplants in Philadelphia and its surrounding suburbs. Patients had a number of misconceptions about the transplant allocation system. Many incorrectly thought, for example, that quality of life and financial status influence which patients on the waiting list receive available organs. Despite these and other misconceptions, the majority of patients thought the allocation system was fair. However, many African Americans thought the system was biased against them because of their race. After hearing about how the transplant system factors antigen matching and waiting time into organ allocation, the majority of subjects still felt the system was fair. After hearing that the emphasis on antigen matching causes African Americans to wait twice as long as whites, a larger number of subjects thought the system was unfair. Nevertheless, few thought the system should be changed. Even African American patients who felt the system was unfair still approved of the emphasis on antigen matching out of a desire to have a successful kidney transplant. CONCLUSIONS: We found that most of the interviewed patients awaiting kidney transplant thought the system should continue to emphasize antigen matching. Although attitudes toward the allocation system differed by race, with African American patients more suspicious of the system, the importance patients placed on antigen matching did not appear to differ by race

Evaluation of groundwater quality in a rural community in North Central of Nigeria

Evaluation of water quality of nine boreholes and three open hand-dug wells in a rural community in North Central Nigeria revealed relative abundance of cations Na > k > Ca >Mg> Zn > Pb and anions Cl− > PO4 2 − > SO4 2 − > NO3− in the boreholes and cations Ca>Na>K>Mg>Pb and anions NO3− > PO4 2 − > SO4 2 − > Cl− in the wells. The major contaminants exceeding SON and WHO permissible limits were NO3−, Mg, TH, pH and Mg, Pb, TH, pH and DO in the wells and boreholes, respectively. They are attributable to anthropogenic sources such as domestic waste water and poor waste disposal and natural sources such as mineral dissolution from clayey aquifer which made the acidic groundwater unsuitable for consumption unless they are appropriately treated. Correlation studies revealed existence of three major mineral groups in the aquifer Ca-Fe group, Na-Mg group, Zn-K group, as well as a minor group Pb-group, and they determine the chemical composition of the groundwater and the ionic exchange between the groundwater and mineral-bearing clayey aquifer. In order to curb microbial contamination by Enterobacter aerogenes and Escherichia coli, it is recommended that proper latrines and drainages be provided while domesticated animals should be restricted from boreholes and well. Further, treatment with water guard and pur purifier is recommended