Prevalence of Dermatophytes and other Associated Fungi among School Children

The study investigated the prevalence of dermatophytosis and associated non-dermatophytes among Islamiyya school children of ages 5 – 13 years old in Kano metropolis. A total of 100 samples were collected and 91 (91%) yielded positive to fungal growth from which 66 (72.5%) were identified from males and 25 (27.5%) from females school children respectively. Dermatophytes amounting to 53 (58.2%) in frequency were recorded out of which 39 (73.6%) were isolated from males and 14 (26.4%) on females. Non-dermatophytes were also more in males (27 isolates) than females which had 11. The etiological agents of dermatophycoses recorded in this study in descending order of prevalence are M. ferrugineum (15.4%), M. canis (15.4%), M. audounii (9.9%), T. concentricum (5.5%), T. verrucosum (3.3%), T. rubrum (3.3%), T. mentagrophyte (2.2%), T. tonsorans (1.1%) and T. schoenleini (1.1%). A. flavus (9.9%), A. niger (8.8%), Penicillium sp. (7.7%), Candida albicans (5.5%), Mucor sp. (4.4%), Trichoderma sp. (3.3%) and A. fumigatus (2.2%) constituted the non-dermatophytes associated with these cutaneous infections. Higher frequency of dermatophytosis occurred more in children with greater propensity for play, interaction with domestic animals and who lacked the luxury of school seats during classroom learnin

Nigerian Mushrooms: Underutilized Non-Wood Forest Resources

Mushroom resources have been exploited in most developed economies because of their huge agro-industrial, medicinal and commercial benefits. Nigerians utilized mushroom-forming fungi only for food and folk medicine for many decades. Auricularia auricular Judae (Bull.) Qu\ue9l, Lentinus squarrosulus Mont., Pleurotus tuberregium (Fr.) Singer and Volvariella volvacea (Bull.) Singer was some of the common edible mushrooms that were successfully cultivated in Nigeria on small-scale basis. The mushroom resources in Nigeria are grossly under-studied and their attractive potentials under-exploited for addressing economic and industrial development. Resourceful biotechnological approach in the application of mushrooms in agriculture, medicine, industry and environment is inchoate and uncommon in the country. @ JASE

Cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curtis: Fr.) P. Karst on sawdust of Brachystagia nigerica Hoyle & A.P.D.Jones.

This study examines the growth and cultivation of Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.) P. Karst. to fructification stage. G.lucidum is a white rot polypore mushrooms popular in the oriental traditional cultures for its pharmacological and health modulating values.   Isolates of Ganoderma sp were collected from ten different locations in the tropical rainforest zone of Southern Nigeria and cultured in Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA). Guinea corn (Sorgum bicolor) grains were used as the spawn medium while the substrate was  non-supplemented sawdust of Brachystagia   nigerica Hoyle & A.P.D Jones. Petri dishes were colonized by Ganoderma sp in 8 days, reaching a maximum mycelium diameter of 8.40 ± 0.00cm (n= 5). Guinea corn spawn attained full mycelium colonization in 5 days. Substrate bags were colonized after 62 days of inoculation with the spawn while primordial initiation of Ganoderma sp. appeared 5 days after the bags were fully colonized. The cropping cycle was approximately 110 days with a biological yield and biological efficiency of 19.93g/bag and 9.97% respectively. Isolates (1, 4, 5) from the rural communities of Iguikhinwin (Edo State) and Oghara (Delta State) produced heavier mycelium biomass in both culture and substrates. The successful cultivation of indigenous Ganoderma and their potential for domestic as well as commercial production in Nigeria is reported.Keywords: Ganoderma lucidum, Sawdust, Pin head, Mycelium, Substrate.Cultivation de Ganoderma lucidum (W. Curtis: Fr.) P. Karst sur la sciure de bois de Brachystagia nigerica Hoyle & A.P.D.Jones.Cette étude examine la croissance et la culture de Ganoderma lucidum (Curt.) P. Karst. à l étape de la fructification. G.lucidum est un champignon blanc polypore en poudre populaire dans les cultures traditionnelles orientales pour ses valeurs pharmacologique et de modulation sanitaire. Les isolats de Ganoderma sp ont été recueillis dans dix endroits différents dans la zone de forêt tropicale du sud du Nigeria et cultivés dans l'Agar de Dextrose de Pomme de Terre (PDA). Les grains de maïs (Sorgum bicolor) ont été utilisés comme milieu de germination alors que le substrat était la sciure de bois non complétée de Brachystagia nigerica Hoyle et A.P.D Jones. boîtes de Petri ont été colonisées par Ganoderma sp en 8 jours, atteignant un diamètre maximal de mycélium de 8,40 ± 0,00 cm (n = 5). La génétique du maïs a atteint la colonisation complète du mycélium en 5 jours. Les sacs de substrat ont été colonisés après 62 jours d'inoculation avec le génome alors que l'initiation primordiale de Ganoderma sp. est apparu 5 jours après la colonisation totale des sacs. Le cycle de culture était environ 110 jours avec un rendement biologique et un rendement éfficace de 19,93g/sac et de 9,97% respectivement. Les isolats (1, 4, 5) issu des communautés rurales d'Iguikhinwin (L'état d'Edo) et Oghara (L'état de Delta) ont produit une biomasse de mycélium plus lourde à la fois dans la culture et les substrats. La cultivation réussie de Ganoderma indigène et leur potentiel pour la production domestique et commerciale au Nigeria sont rapportés. Mots-clés: Ganoderma, la sciure de bois, épingle, Mycelium, Substrat, Champignon