Studies on pest infestation of commercial samples of cowpeas and maize Marketed in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

Samples of different varieties of brown beans, Vigna unguiculata and white maize, Zea mays randomly purchased from two open markets in Owerri, Imo State were studied for pest infestation. The grains were examined with x2 magnification hand lens for the eggs, larvae and adults of the pests. Callosobruchus maculates (Olivier) and Sitophilus zeamais (Motsch) were identified as insect pests infesting beans and maize respectively. On the overall, 43.3% of 7565 cowpea and 30.8% of 4640 of maize grains respectively were infested. Eggs, larvae, pupae and adults of the insect pests were recovered from both the beans and maize samples. In beans, eggs of C. maculates were found only on the pericarp while the larvae, pupae and adults were recovered from both the pericarp and from within the endosperm of the seeds. In the maize, the eggs, larvae and pupae of S. zeamais were located in the endosperm only, while the adults were found in both the endosperm and the outer surfaces of the grains. Weight loss as an index of degree of damage to the samples ranged from 23.3% to 35.7% in beans and 19.3% to 55.7% in maize. Weight loss in both the infested beans and maize increased with increase in the number of emergence holes. Public health implications of the insect infestation of the stored products such as reduction in nutritive value and accumulation of undesirable residues were discussed. Improved storage and pest control techniques are recommended. Keywords: pest, infestation, cowpea, maize, Nigeria International Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 1(1) 2005: 5-

Pattern of multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar typhi isolates in Nigeria

Typhoid fever continues to remain a health problem as the causative organism, Salmonella enterica serovar typhi, has developed resistance to many antibiotics used. This study was undertaken to determine the current pattern of resistance to antimicrobial agents by S. enterica serovar typhi isolates from Akaraugo Hospital in Owerri, Imo state. Sensitivity to most common antimicrobial agents used in the management of typhoid fever was determined by disc diffusion according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory (NCCL) standards. There was an increase in the number of isolates with decreased sensitivity to nalixidic acid and cotrimoxazole. All isolates had complete resistance to augmentin, tetracycline and amoxicillin commonly used for treatment of typhoid fever. Therefore physicians should be advised to conduct effective susceptibility test before prescribing an antibiotics to a patient. It is also important to step up awareness to individuals about indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the need to complete a regime once it is started