Impact of ImarsilTM Adsorption on Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) Levels in Cow's Milk: Analyzing Hematological Parameters and Histopathological Alterations

The efficacy of ImarsilTM in mitigating the effects of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) in cow's milk on hematological and histopathological parameters was investigated in this study. Seventy-two albino rats were randomly allocated to four treatment groups A - D in a six-week study. Rats in all groups were fed standard ration. In addition, 2 mL of clean distilled water, 2 mL of milk, 2 mL of AFM1 contaminated milk (456 ng/L), and 2 mL of AFM1 contaminated milk (456 ng/L) treated with ImarsilTM at 2% dosage rate were added to the ration of animals in groups A, B, C, and D respectively. The results of the investigation showed that rats in Group C developed a significant (p0.05) among the different groups. In group C, a significant reduction (p<0.05) occurred in the white blood cell (103/mm3) (12.90 - 8.63), and lymphocytes (87.00 - 74.33%) counts while the neutrophils (%) increased from 13.00 to 25.67. In contrast to those in Group C, tissue sections from Group D showed no histological lesions. Therefore, ImarsilTM represents an effective and safe adsorbent for the remediation of AFM1-contaminated milk

Assessment of microbiological and residual antibiotics status in milk sold in Abeokuta, Ogun State. Nigeria

This study investigated the prevalence and concentration of antibiotic residues in twenty brands of milk. Determination and quantification of antibiotic residues was done using High Performance Liquid Chromatography. Aerobic plate count was carried out and the associated bacteria isolated. Identification of bacteria was done using standard microbiological methods. Molecular characterization and identification of bacterial isolates was done using 16S rRNA gene sequencing method. Antibiotic sensitivity was carried out on bacterial isolates using disc diffusion method. Plasmid profile of drug resistant isolates was done using alkaline analysis method. Comparison of means was done using Analysis of Variance. Antibiotic residues were detected in 10 (50%) of the 20 milk brands analyzed. The residual levels of tetracycline, oxytetracycline and chlortetracycline ranged between 5ng/kg and 1569ng/kg while none of the samples had doxycycline residues. The prevalence of tetracycline residues in evaporated milk brands and powdered milk samples were 100 and 23 % respectively. The aerobic plate counts ranged from 2.5 × 102 to 6.5 × 102 CFU∕mL for evaporated milk and 2.5 × 101 to 6.0 × 101 CFU∕mL for powdered milk. A total of ten bacterial species were isolated and identified. Susceptibility result showed that 95% of the isolates were sensitive to erythromycin, cefuroxime and gentamycin; 12.5% were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin, 10% were resistant to ofloxacin and 7.5% to doxycycline and penicillin. Five of the bacterial isolates were resistant to more than one class of antibiotics. Resistant isolates subjected to plasmid profiling had detectable plasmids with estimated sizes between 120bp and 1000bp. The obtained results provide evidence that the presence of antibiotic residues in evaporated and powdered milk is an indication that the public is exposed to the harmful effects of the residues

Antimicrobial Effect of Phyllanthus amarus and Parquetina nigrescens on Salmonella typhi

Phyllanthus amarus and Parquetina nigrescens are economic plants grown in West Africa for antimicrobial properties. Crude aqueous (hot and cold water) and ethanolic extracts of the plants were investigated for antimicrobial activity against Salmonella typhi . The organism was collected from the University College Hospital, lbadan, Nigeria and was exposed to ten standard different antibiotics and also to crude extract of P. amarus and P. nigrescens. Agar cup diffusion method was employed fro the plants extracts while disk diffusion method for the standard antibiotics. Ethanolic extracts of P. amarus had the strongest activity against Salmonella typhi with 8.0mm zone of growth inbibition followed by hot water (4.7mm) and cold water (3.8mm). This was statistically significant at P= 0.05 when compared with hot and cold water extracts. Amongst the commercial antibioticis examined, ciprofloxacin had the highest zone of growth inhibition of 9.0mm; Oflxation (6.0mm) Amoxycillin, (4.0mm) while other antibiotics had on effect on test organism. Screening carried out on P. amarus and P. nigrescens using standard methods revealed the presence of saponins, alkaloids, tannins and cardiac glycosides. P. amarus possesses significant antimicrobial activity and confirms the justification by herbalists as extract used for treatment of typhoid fever

A Study on the Impact of Aflatoxin on Human Reproduction

Infertillity among couples in Nigeria is causing increasing concern. Investigations have shown a relationship between abnormalities in spermatozoa/semen parameters and the incidence of male factor mediated fertility problems in couples. However, the factors responsible for the sudden increase in semen/spermatozoa abnormalities are not fully understood. In this study, blood and semen samples were collected from fifty-five adult Nigerians comprising 30 infertile and 25 fertile control individuals, and screened for the presence of aflatoxin using solvent extraction and quantitation by high performance liquid chromatography. Semen parameters such as volume, viscosity, pH, fructose, spermatozoa count, morphology, and motility were determined. Blood and semen aflatoxin levels in infertile men ranged from 700 to 1392ng/ml and 60 to 148ng/ml respectively and these values were significantly higher than the concentrations of the toxin in fertile men (p < 0.05). Deviation from normal in semen parameters showed a definite pattern in infertile men. About 37% of the infertile men had aflaxtion in their blood and semen, suggesting that aflatoxins may be a contributory factor to the incidence of infertility in Nigerians since the toxin has been shown to produce deleterious effect on the reproductive system. (Afr J Reprod Health 2001; 5[1]: 106-110) RÉSUMÉ Une étude sur l'impact de l'aflatoxine sur la reproduction humaine. La stérilité chez les couples au Nigéria provoque de plus en plus de souci. Des enquêtes ont montré qu'il y a un rapport entre les anomalies dans les paramètres des spermatozoïdes/semences et l'incidence du problème de la stérilité à médiation du facteur mâle chez les couples. Toutefois, les facteurs qui sont responsables de la hausse soudaine dans les anomalies dans les semences/spermatozoïdes n'ont pas été pleinement compris. Dans cette étude, les échantillons de sang et de semences ont été collectés au sein de cinquante-cinq adultes nigérians qui comprennent des individus témoins dont 30 étaient stériles et 25 étaient fertiles; ils ont subi des tests pour dépister la présence le l'aflatoxine à l'aide de l'extraction du solvant et la quantitation à travers la chromatographie à haute performance en pression liquide. Les paramètres des semences tels le volume, la viscosité, pH, le fructose, la numération des spermatozoïdes, la morphologie et la motilité ont été déterminés. Le taux sanguin et l'aflatoxine de la semence chez les hommes stériles ont varié de 700 à 1392 ng/ml et de 60 à 148 ng/ml respectivement et ces valeurs ont été beaucoup plus élevées que les concentrations de la toxine chez les hommes fertiles (p < 0,05). La déviation de la normale dans les paramétres de la semence a révélé une caracteristique définie chez les hommes stériles. A peu près 37% des hommes stériles avaient l'aflatoxine dans le sang et dans la semence, ce qui suggère que les aflatoxines peuvent constituer un facteur qui contribue à l'incidence de stérilité chez les Nigérians puisqu'il a été démontré que la toxine est capable de produire l'effet nuisible sur le système reproductif. (Rev Afr Santé Reprod 2001; 5[1]: 106-110

Bioconversion of corn straw to ethanol by cellulolytic yeasts immobilized in Mucuna urens matrix

Production of bioethanol from corn straw by cellulolytic yeasts immobilized on Mucuna urens was investigated. Yeast isolates were screened for amylase, cellulase and ethanol production. Effect of bead size, inoculum load, substrate concentration, pH and bead reusability were studied. Bioethanol production was optimum with 4 mm bead size, 10% substrate concentration, pH 4.5 and 10% inoculum load. Maximum ethanol production (55.27 g/L) was achieved by immobilized Saccharomyces diaststicus. Immobilized yeast cells were re-used repeatedly without obvious loss of activity. This study showed that yeasts immobilized on Mucuna urens can effectively utilize lignocellulolytic materials and produce ethanol from it. Keywords: Bioethanol, Yeasts, Immobilization, Mucuna urens, Saccharomyces diastaticu

Oxidative Stress in Extrahepatic Tissues of Rats Co-Exposed to Aflatoxin B1 and Low Protein Diet

Early life exposure to aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and low protein diet through complementary foods during weaning is common in parts of Africa and Asia. This study evaluated the effect of co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet on the extrahepatic tissues of rats. Twenty-four three-week old weanling male albino rats were used for this study and were randomly assigned into four groups: group 1 served as control and was fed normal protein diet (20% protein), group 2 was fed low protein diet (5% protein), group 3 was fed normal protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1 while group 4 received low protein diet + 40 ppb AFB1, all for eight weeks. Afterward, biomarkers of anemia (packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin) and kidney function (urea, uric acid, and creatinine) were determined in the blood while biomarkers of oxidative stress were determined in the tissues spectrophotometrically. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet significantly (p < 0.05) decreased body weight gain and PCV, increased biomarkers of kidney functions and induced oxidative stress in the tissues studied. There was significant (p < 0.05) reduction in glutathione concentration while TBARS was significantly increased in the tissues. Co-exposure to AFB1 and low protein diet had additive effects on decreasing the weight gain and potentiation effect of kidney dysfunction in the rats. The co-exposure also decreased antioxidant enzymes and increased oxidant status in the tissues. Our results demonstrate that this co-exposure has deleterious health effects on extrahepatic tissues and should be a public health concern especially in developing countries where AFB1 contamination is common

Extent of Microbial Contamination of Refined and Unrefined Vegetable oils sold in South-west Nigeria

Oils constitute a major source of plant-based protein. A major limitation to optimal oil consumption in sub-tropical region is fungal infestation and consequent mycotoxin contamination. Ten refined and eight unrefined vegetable oils were randomly purchase from open markets and screened for microbial contamination using standard microbial procedures. Twenty six fungi isolates were obtained from the vegetable oil samples, the isolates were identified as Aspergillus fumigatus (43.0%), Mucor (17.9%), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (10.7%), Aspergillus niger (7.1%), Aspergillus flavus (7.1%), Penicillium spp (7.1%), Aspergillus oryzae (3.6%), Mucor (17.9%) and Rhizopus spp (3.6%). Five out of the ten refined vegetable oil samples had no fungal contamination. A. flavus and A. oryzae were absent in all the refined oil samples while A. niger was absent in all the unrefined oil samples. Isolation of mycotoxigenic fungi such as Aspergillus spp. is of vital importance in the food industry. Education and training of processors and consumers is recommended