Microbial flora of oil-spilled sites in Egbema, Imo State, Nigeria

The microbial flora of areas with and without oil spillage within the Egbema oil field in Ohaji/Egbema of Imo State was determined by standard microbiological methods. Preliminary results show moderatebiological activities in both environments studied. The average microbial population of the area with oil spillage was 3.08 x 107 cfu/g, while that of the adjoining environment was 3.14 x 107 cfu/g for bacteria. Fungi population was of the order 106. The microorganisms isolated were identified to species level. Majority of the microorganisms were true bacteria. Actinomycete species were also found. In general,species difference between the two environments tended to be considerably significant. Since species and microbial population differences in soils are directly proportional to the availability of carbonsource (nutrient), soil acidity, oxygen level and other factors, the significant variation in species and slight difference in microbial population observed are indicative of the effects of oil spillage onmicrobial flora of a given area

Physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of rainwater in Egbema, Imo state, Nigeria

Egbema is one of the oil-producing communities in Nigeria and has no access to pipe-borne water, and thus resorts to rainwater as a source of water supply mainly during the rainy season. Physico-chemical and bacteriological quality of rainwater in Egbema was determined with samples harvested directly, from zinc roof, thatched roof and asbestos roof, at different periods of the rainy season namely, Early, peak and late rains. The values of the physico-chemical parameters were on the higher side at the early rains, but moderate (within acceptable range) at the peak and late rains. The values of copper, turbidity, total iron, total hardness and total solids were lowest in rain water harvested directly and highest in that harvested from asbestos roof throughout the rainy period. Generally, the values of the parameters measured in samples from different sources tended to increase in this order: asbestos > thatched roof > zinc roof > direct. The heterotrophic bacterial load was highest at the commencement of rains ranging from 0.45 x 103 cfu/ml to 7.40 x 103 cfu/ml. Also the total coliforms count and fecal coliforms (Escherichia coli) count ranged highest at the early rains between 10 – 22 cfu/100ml and 2 –4 cfu/100ml respectively. The values of heterotrophic bacterial load, total coliforms and fecal coliforms, were within the acceptable range in rainwater samples collected at the peak and late rains. However the bacterial count recorded highest in the samples harvested in the thatched roof and lowest in samples harvested directly direct at the early, peak and late rainy season. This study reveals that rainwater collected at the peak and end of rains from zinc roof and directly if well handled, can be used for drinking and any other domestic purposes. International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (4) 2006: pp. 372-37

Relationship between Malaria Vector Densities in Artificial Container Habitats, Land-Use Changes and Temperature

Urbanisation and land-use changes are believed to be responsible for the rising spread of mosquitoes across the country. Three distinctive study areas were used in this investigation, representing rural, semi-urban and urban areas in Owerri, Imo State. 30 eggs of Anopheles gambiae were bred evenly in six artificial containers, with their daily temperature recorded. There was speedy rate of development in the life stages of Anopheles sp in the urban area with its peak of complete metamorphosis occurring at the 7th day of the study whereas in the rural area, the peak of its complete metamorphosis occurred at the 12th day. Statistically, there existed significant differences between daily temperatures taken at the different study areas and also in the number of mosquito larvae becoming adult at the different study areas. This suggested however, that some factors associated with the urban areas may have facilitated the breeding rate of the Anopheles sp such as houses that radiate heat and other agents that cause global warming like emission of gases from vehicles. The study recommended residential houses to be built far away from commercial areas to avoid exposure to mosquito bites so that the control of mosquitoes may start from the urban areas.Keywords: Malaria, Vectors, Anopheles mosquito, metamorphosis, global warmingNigerian Journal of Parasitology, Vol. 32 [2] September 2011, pp. 283-28