Studies on the Efficacy of \u3cem\u3eBridelia Ferruginea\u3c/em\u3e Benth. Bark Extract in Reducing the Coliform Load and BOD of Domestic Wastewater

The efficacy of Bridelia ferruginea bark extract in reducing the coliform load and BOD of wastewater was investigated. Phytochemical screening and chromatographic techniques revealed the bark to contain five major compounds; polyphenols, steroids, Saponins, Tannins terpenoids and alkaloids. Comparative studies in the reduction of coliform load using varying concentrations (0.5% w/v, 1.0% w/v, 2.5% w/v, and 5.0% w/v) with Alum and Ferric chloride showed that the bark extract was effective. The optimum dose achieved was 2.5% w/v with a minimum of 24 hours contact time. The coliform loads were reduced by 63% after 24 hours when the extract was used whereas Ferric chloride achieved 64% reductions and Alum achieved 68% reduction under similar conditions. Comparative studies of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) removal from the wastewater using varying concentrations (1%w/v, 5% w/v) with Alum and Ferric chloride showed that the bark extract achieved 100%. The feasibility of using the bark extract as an additional coagulant is therefore discussed

The Effect of \u3cem\u3eBridelia ferruginea\u3c/em\u3e and \u3cem\u3eSenna alata\u3c/em\u3e on Plasma Glucose Concentration in Normoglycemic and Glucose Induced Hyperglycemic Rats

A total of 30 female albino rats were used in this study. The plasma glucose levels in these subjects were estimated after administration of methanol extracts of Bridelia ferruginea and Senna alata. The mean ages of the rats were 8 weeks old and mean weights were 165g. Phytochemical screening of the methanol bark extract of Bridelia ferruginea and methanol leaves extract of Senna alata revealed the presence of tannins, polyphenols, steroids, triterpenes, and alkaloids. Methanol extract of Bridelia ferruginea bark achieved statistical significant difference in the normoglycemic rats and glucose induced hyperglycemic rats (P\u3c0.05). There was no statistical significant difference observed in the control rats (P\u3c0.05). However, Senna alata did not achieve any significant difference statistically in normoglycemic, hyperglycemic and control rats (P\u3e0.05). The effect of Bridelia ferruginea and Senna alata methanol extracts on plasma glucose concentration in normoglycemic and glucose induce hyperglycemic rats is therefore discussed

Traditional Preparations and Uses of Maize in Nigeria

Maize is a cereal plant that produces grains that can be cooked, roasted, fried, ground, pounded or crushed to prepare various food items like pap, ‘tuwo’, ‘gwate’, ‘donkunu’ and host of others. All these food types are readily available in various parts of Nigeria among different ethnic groups, notably among which are Yorubas, Hausas, Ibos, Ibiras, Ishas, Binis, Efiks, Yalas etc. Preparations and uses of the maize grains varied from group to group, though at time with some similarities. Apart from food, maize is also useful as medicines and as raw materials for industries. About 28 food items or dishes and 6 medicinal values of maize are discussed with aim of making available the divergent methods of preparations of maize from various ethnic groups

Genotyping Of Uropathogenic Escherichia Coli In Offa, Kwara State

Background: There has been an increase in the occurrence of infections due to Extended Spectrum Beta lactamases (ESBL) producing bacteria. ESBLs exhibit an enhanced capacity to hydrolyze the extended spectrum Beta-lactams, which has led to an increase in the antibiotic resistance capability of uropathogenic microorganisms. This study was aimed at determining the production of beta lactamase and extraction of beta lactamase genes from urinary tract infection due to Escherichia coli. Methods: Plasmid curing was carried out using sub inhibitory concentration of 0.10 mg/ml of acridine orange to determine the location (plasmid-borne or chromosomal) of the drug resistance marker(s). Beta-lactamase test was performed using the Starch Paper Method, while DNA extraction, genomic gene analysis and polymerase chain reaction were done to determine the presence and analysis of beta lactamase genes. Results: Ninety-eight (98) Escherichia coli isolates analyzed, thirty-one (31) were plasmid mediated and of this, Sixteen (16) was resistant to amoxillin, six (6) to augmentin, three (3) to nitrofurantoin and six (6) to tetracycline. Results further revealed that out of the E. coli isolates that were plasmid mediated only nine (9) were beta lactamase producers. None of the ESBL producing E. coli contained SHV beta-lactamase genes. However, three (3) and five (5) strains of ESBL producing E. coli contained TEM and CTX-M beta-lactamase genes respectively. Conclusion: This study shows that the resistant of urinary tract infection (UTI) isolates to beta-lactams were due to production of TEM and CTX-M beta-lactamases. Identification of these genes provides for accurate treatment and further understanding of the mechanism of resistance. Key Words: Extended Spectrum Beta-lactamase, Escherichia coli, Antibiotics, Plasmid mediated

Distribution Profile of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Asa River (Nigeria)

Escherichia coli are known pathogenic organism that has caused diseases which has led to severe morbidity and increased death rate. The occurrence of extended spectrum beta Lactamase (bla) producing Escherichia coli has been on the rise. Water samples were investigated as a potential reservoir for the Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ESBL) - producing E. coli using phenotypic (culture-based) and molecular methods. Double disc synergy test was determined between a disc of amoxicillin-clavulanate (20μg/10μg) (augmentin) and a 30-μg disc of each  thirdgeneration cephalosporin antibiotic placed at a distance of 20 mm from centre to centre on a Mueller-Hinton Agar plate streaked with the isolate. An isolate was considered to be ESBL negative if there was no enhancement between any of the cephalosporin and the clavulanate-containing discs and were then subjected to specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Eighty-four environmental E. coli was isolated. 58(69.04%) showed positivity for ESBL production. E. coli isolates positive for ESBL-production selected and subjected to plasmid curing were all plasmid mediated. 16 isolates subjected to PCR to identify the presence of blaSHV (Sulphydryl Variable), blaTEM (Temoneira) and blaCTX-M  (Cefotaximase) genes revealed that 11(68.7%) of these had at least one ESBL gene (either blaCTX-M or blaTEM, or both), 5(31.3%) isolates do not have any of the three ESBL genes, and blaSHV was not detected in any of the isolates. The results of this study indicate the widespread prevalence of ESBLs in E. coli. Therefore, beta-lactam antibiotics and beta-lactamase inhibitors should be prescribed based on an antibacterial susceptibility test.Keywords: WATER, E. coli, ESBL, DDST, PLASMID CURING and ASA RIVE

Molecular epidemiology of Zika virus and Rubella virus in pregnant women attending Sobi Specialist Hospital Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Zika virus and rubella virus are viruses of concern to public health owing to their independent ability to cross the placenta causing congenital defects and complications. This study aims to determine the molecular epidemiology of these viruses amongst pregnant women attending Sobi Specialist hospital in Ilorin, Kwara state.Methods: After ethical approval and duly completed informed consent form, blood sample and respondent data were collected for Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay after which the respective IgM positive samples were molecularly analyzed independently.Results: The recorded immune status to the individual viruses were 32 (16.0%) and 14 (7.0%) for zika virus IgM and IgG while rubella virus IgM and IgG had 24 (12.0%) and 118 (59.0%) prevalence respectively. The molecular analysis of the rubella virus yielded a partial sequence of its E1 glycoprotein which was assigned accession number MT153585 after GenBank deposition while zika virus had no detectable molecular result. Further analysis of serostatus revealed coinfection (3.5% and 3.7%) and mono (1.0% and 36.0%) for IgM and IgG respectively and sero-conversion of 17.5%. The unexposed respondent was 38.0%. Amongst the evaluated demographic/risk factors, the viruses were statistically significant (p<0.05) for age, type of marriage, occupation, parity and frequency of contact with people while mosquito prevention strategy and its implementation were also significant for zika virus acquisition.Conclusions: Awareness of respondent to the viruses was very low with 97.0% unaware prior to this study. Vaccination for the vaccine preventable rubella virus should be implemented while adherence to mosquito prevention strategies and discouragement of breeding site should be is encouraged. There is need for the enactment of surveillance route for these viruses to ascertain the extent of the silent burden on the health of the baby in Nigeria

Prevalence of human rhinovirus infection in children with acute respiratory symptoms in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: Human rhinoviruses are positive-strand RNA, non-enveloped virus detected mostly in the early phase of infection showing symptoms in children experiencing mild upper respiratory tract infections.Method: In this study, 200 patients were screened for rhinovirus infection using Human Rhinovirus antigen (Rh V-Ag) Elisa Kit (MBS269914).Results: Demographic characteristics revealed that the prevalence of rhinovirus infection in children showed 38% positivity of which 20 (10.0%) were males while 17 (8.5%) were females. Children between the ages of O-24 months have the highest prevalence of 45.9% while those older than 96 months have the least prevalence of 5.4%. No significant difference was observed between the genders and rhinovirus infection (p = 0.622). A total of 54.0%, 2. 7%, 29.7% and 13.5% of the children attend daycare, creche, nursery and primary school respectively. A total of 140 (70%) in the urban recorded a positivity value of 11.0% and 59.0% negativity as against 60 (30%) who lived in the rural area with a value of 7.5% positivity and 22.5% negativity. Forty (20.0%) of the tested subjects had genotype AA out of which 6 (3.0%) was positive for rhinovirus infection, the remaining 34  (17.0%) were negative for the rhinovirus infection.Conclusion: This study established the detection of rhinovirus infection in children attending the pediatrics clinic in florin. This may become useful for diagnosing respiratory illness in high-risk populations with immune compromised individuals.Keywords: Rhinovirus, ELISA, prevalence, risk factors, Human Rh V-Ag, flori

Discovery of 20 Novel Bio-Flocculants Producers and 19 New Bacterial Strains from Three Surface Water In Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria

Plummeting the burden that is increasingly posed by water related diseases is amongst the major public health goals for a developing country. The required growth and development experienced in developing countries will always weigh on this important component of earth from either industrial waste, sewage or domestic waste. A general estimate from WHO global evidence synthesis on water related complications and diseases posits that about 94% could be preventable through environmental modification and applica-tion of simple techniques to treat water1,2. Amongst other explored purification protocols, flocculation and chlorination as a chemical process has been linked to few health conditions after long time of exposure3. This has been largely adduced to the synthetic source and thus the need to explore flocculants of biological origin that can effectively purify water and presents little or no health risk. Surface water, which is often cate-gorized as harbor of large numbers of microorganisms amongst other characteristics was, explored for the presence of bacteria flocculants producers from three surface water in Ilorin, Kwara State in Nigeria

Emergence and Associated Risk Factors of Vector Borne West Nile Virus Infection in Ilorin, Nigeria

Background: West Nile Virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne viral pathogen that is the causative agent of West Nile fever and encephalitis. Diagnostic tools for WNV infection in Nigeria are not well established hence the current prevalence rate of WNV infection in Nigeria is unknown. We aimed to establish the serological prevalence of WNV infection in febrile patients in Ilorin, Nigeria in 2016, and to assess the risk factors associated with the acquisition of the virus. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving the screening of subjects presenting with febrile illnesses. While specific IgM ELISA was used to determine the seroprevalence, a closed-ended questionnaire was used to as­certain the risk factors associated with this viral infection. Results: Fifteen (7.5%) of the respondents were positive for WNV infection. Subjects living in areas in close prox­imity to trees and bushes (P= 0.011) and stagnant water (P= 0.001) were at a higher risk of having WNV infection. Other risk factors associated with WNV among the respondents include the none use of insecticide (P= 0.001), sitting out at night (P= 0.044), HIV positivity (P= 0.003) and having an organ transplant (P= 0.002). Conclusion: This study clearly shows a considerable WNV infection in Ilorin, with the presence of factors that can promulgate an outbreak, hence a need for further surveillance in the study area

Hydrocarbon-degrading Capability of Bacteria isolated from a Maize-Planted, Kerosene-contaminated Ilorin Alfisol

In an effort at discovering autochthonous and active bacterial strains that could be of relevance in biodegradation and/or bioremediation of petroleum contaminated systems in Nigeria, twenty four bacterial species were isolated from kerosene treated Ilorin alfisol. The traditional method of identifying bacteria was complemented by using MicrobactTM ID 24E system for the identification of Enterobacteriaceae and common miscellaneous Gram-negative bacilli (MGNB). The results show appreciable increase in optical densities and total viable counts contemporaneous with decrease in pH of the culture media. The most promising organisms in this study are Leclercia adecarboxylata , Pseudomonas aeruginosa , Proteus mirabilis , Micrococcus luteus , Arthrobacter sp. and Streptococcus sp. The results obtained in this study showed that kerosene spillage posses a great threat to the survival and development of Zea mays . It also revealed that some bacteria survive and even thrive in kerosene contaminated soil and hence have the potential to be used in biodegradation and/or bioremediation of oil contaminated soils and water