Lauric acid content and inhibitory effect of palm kernel oil on two bacterial isolates and Candida albicans

Palm kernel oil from various sources was assayed for lauric acid content and inhibitory effect against Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus sp. and Candida albicans. The different palm kernel oil samples showed noticeable inhibitory effect on S. aureus and Streptococcus sp. while no significant inhibitory effect was observed on C. albicans. The highest zone of inhibition was observed with the commercial palm kernel oil (PKO) followed by the mechanically extracted PKO. Similarly, lauric acid content was highest in the commercially obtained PKO followed by that mechanically extracted and least in the laboratory prepared PK

Effect of gas flaring on soil microbial spectrum in parts

Effects of gas-flaring on soil bacterial spectrum in parts of Niger-Delta area of Southern Nigeria was investigated using culture techniques and some ecological factors. While temperature decreased away from the flare points (60 oC to 28oC), pH values, changed from acidic (4.0 – 4.2) to near neutral (6.4 – 6.6) away from the flare point. Moisture content also increased away from the flare. Bacterial load of Total Heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC), Petroleum degrading bacterial count (PDBC) and Total coliform count (TCC) also increased away from the flare points. The  most affected by the Gas flaring was the coliforms. Bacterial species were also affected as only three Pseudomonas, and Bacillus species were found 10m away from the flare. The number increased to seven with the addition of E. coli, Enterobater, Flavobacterium and Micrococcus species at 100m away and finally 10, at 200m away with Citrobacter, Staphylococcus and Lactobacillus species. The same trend was observed in all the flaring sites examined. The results indicated adverse ecological and bacterial spectrum modifica-tions by the Gas flaring

Soil bacterial flora and enzymatic activities in zinc and lead contaminated soil

Soil bacterial flora and enzymatic activities in lead and zinc contaminated soil of Ishiagu, Nigeria were investigated. The physicochemical properties measured showed that the miningpit had acidic pH (5.6) which gradually increased till 7.5 in the control. Organic matter was only 2.57mg/g in the pit but gradually reached 7.41mg/g in control. Pb concentration was higher at pit 360.52mg/g, 305.46mg/g at 5m away and lowest at control 36.16mg/g. Zn was217.47mg/g at the pit, 176.32mg/g at 5m, 106.18mg/g at 10m and only 40.67mg/g at control. This showed a gradual fall away from the pit. Major organisms at the pit were Pseudomonas and Bacillus species (30% each) and Mocrococcus and Chromobacter species (20% each) E. coli, Salmonella and Lactobacillus species, which occurred in the control soil, were absent in the pit soil but occurred at various rates in other soil samples. Bacterial prevalence, diversity, and bioload were all high in the control, followed by 100m away while values decreasedsignificantly towards the pit. Soil enzymatic activities correlated negatively with heavy metal concentration. This showed that the higher the heavy metal concentration the lower the enzymatic activities. Urease, dehydrogenase activity, hydrogen peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase were adversely affected but alkaline phosphatase did not show any significant effect

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in some parts of Abia State

No Abstract

The fungal and actinocycete agents associated with respiratory tract infections in some parts of Imo state

No Abstract

Physicochemical characteristics of Ivo River, Ebonyi state, Nigeri

A study was carried out on the physiochemical characteristics of Ivo River in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria to determine the present level of pollution of the river water due to incidental industrial, agricultural and human activities. The results showed that pH, temperature, conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen, potassium, calcium, silica, sulphate and chloride which had value ranges of 7.2 – 7.4, 27 – 28.2 0C, 40.4-150μs/cm, 22 – 39 ppm, 2.4 – 9.0 ppm, 0.07 – 0.17 ppm, 0.1 – 4.0 ppm, 1.007- 1.48 ppm, 4.55 – 65.88 ppm, and 31.62 – 47.13 ppm respectively, were below the maximum permissible standards. The range of value of turbidity (0.8 – 60.2 NTU), total suspended solids (6.1 – 19.14 ppm) and sodium (82 – 89 ppm) were above the standards of WHO but below that of Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) and Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) standards. Good refuse and sewage disposal practices, proper management and control of industrial wastes emanating from rock blasting and lead-zinc mining should be encouraged in the area. International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(2) 2005: 145-14