Prevalence of malarial parasites in pregnant women attending Sir Muhammad Sunusi Specialist Hospital, Kano, Nigeria

A total of 300 blood samples of pregnant women were tested to determine the prevalence of malarial parasite using Leishman’s stain method. Out of which, 155 (51.7%) were found to be M.P positive, while 145 (48.3%) were M.P negative. 85 (54.8%) of M.P positive had the highest percentage as the primigravidae followed by 70 (45.16%) as multigravidae. Observation have shown that there was a high prevalence of 76 (49.03%) positive patients in the month of August followed by September with 44 (34.19%) as well as 26(16.77%) in July respectively. This was attributed as a result of heavy rainfall experience between Julys to September. It was also seen that patients from Sauna quarters has a highest number of prevalence of 36 (24.5%). this attributed to the fact that they have a close proximity with the hospital and has a highest number of patients that attended the antenatal clinic during the period. Keyword: Prevalence, Malarial Parasite, Pregnant Women, Kano

Evaluation of antimicrobial activities of Combretum micranthum L.

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts of Combretum micranthum L. (root) were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans respectively. The plant (root) extracts were obtained using ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and distilled water solvents. All the test organisms were studied using the Agar Diffusion Method (ADM) and were susceptible to crude and ethyl acetate extracts but Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were resistant. The extracts of Combretum micranthum L. had broader spectrum of activity than the commercial antibiotics tested against isolates. Results of the study confirmed the chemotherapeutic values in ethnomedicine of extracts of this plant in the treatment of various ailments. Key words: Antimicrobial, Extracts, Combretum micranthu

Antimicrobial profile of moringa oleifera lam. Extracts against some food – borne microorganisms

The chloroform and ethanol extracts of seeds and leaf of Moringa oleifera were investigated for antimicrobial activity against some selected food – borne microorganisms as a first step in the screening of the extracts for preliminary sanitizing/preservative properties on foods. The preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assay were carried out using standard procedures. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed differences in the presence of the phytochemicals among the extracts. Saponins were detected in all the extracts while tannins were only detected in Moringa oleifera leaf chloroform extract. The antibacterial assay results show that M. oleifera leaf ethanol extract exhibited broad spectrum activity against the test organisms with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes susceptible. The MIC values ranged between 2.0 and >4.0mg/ml for all the organisms. M. oleifera seed chloroform extract was only active against E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The MIC values ranged between 1.0 and >4.0mg/ml for the tested organisms respectively. Antifungal activity result revealed 100% inhibition in growth of Mucor and Rhizopus species by M. oleifera seed chloroform extract at concentration of 1mg/ml. Standard Ketoconazole (control) inhibited the test organisms by 100% at 0.5mg/ml concertration. The result of this study have shown the potentials of M. oleifera extracts as sanitizers/preservatives by inhibiting the growth of the test organisms, which range from food – borne pathogens to spoilage causing organisms in foods

Study on the phytochemical and invitro antibacterial activity of some spice extracts on some bacteria isolated from meat products

The invitro activity of ethanolic and water extracts of some spices on some bacteria isolated from kilishi (a traditional meat snack) was investigated by disc diffusion method. Disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg were used. The result showed that the ethanolic extract of ginger was active against Salmonella at disc concentrations of 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg, with zone diameters of 8, 19, 26 and 30mm respectively. The ethanolic extract of cloves was active against Salmonella spp at disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg, with zone diameters of 13, 24, 25, 26 and 26mm respectively. The ethanolic extract of West African Black pepper was active against Salmonella spp at disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg, with zone diameters of 12, 14, 20, 22 and 23mm respectively. The ethanolic extract of pepper was active against Staph aureus at disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg, with zone diameters of 11, 12, 16, 22 and 34mm respectively. The ethanolic extract of cloves was active against at Staph aureus at disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg, with zone diameters of 12, 13, 13, 17 and 22mm respectively. There was no activity on E. coli. The mixture of all the extracts however was not active on all the test organisms at the above mentioned disc concentrations. Each of the extracts contains atleast three of such secondary metabolites as alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, saponins, reducing sugars and steroids. It could be recommended that bioactivity of spices should not be relied upon in the reduction of microbial populations of meat products. The ethanolic fractions of the spices should be put to further pharmacological in vivo tests to elucidate their potency, toxicity and efficacy. Key words: Phytochemical, bioactivity, spices, bacterial isolates, kilishi

Assessment of post intervention of geohelminth infection and risk factors among school aged children in the most endemic area of Kano, Nigeria

This study is an initial attempt at determining the prevalence of geohelminth infections among school aged children (SAC) in the most endemic area of Kano State as well as risk factors associated with the infection and the impact of deworming programme in SAC. A retrospective study on the prevalence of geohelminth infection in the 44 Local Government Areas (LGA) of Kano State was conducted. A stratified random sampling technique was used for sample collection. A total of 3000 children were recruited aged 6-15 years. Retrospective study showed that none was of high endemicity. The present status of geohelminth showed that only hookworm was present among SAC with a prevalence of 2.2% and intensity was light (mean: 17 epg). Risk factors that predispose SAC to geohelminth infection like eating outside home, poor hand washing practice, and nail biting were found not to be significantly associated with hookworm infection except risk factor like walking bare footed which was significantly associated with hookworm infection. In conclusion, Prevalence of geohelminth infection in Kabo LGA prior to deworming was 35.1% and post intervention among SAC was generally low (2.2%). The observed low prevalence of geohelminth infection could be attributed to the success of the deworming programme carried out in the district in 2013. Risk factors like poor hand washing practice (2.3%), walking bare footed (2.6%) and eating outside home (2.6%) were pre-dominant among SAC

Present status of hydatidosis in slaughtered animals in Kano City abattoir north-western Nigeria

Livestock animals provide meat, milk and hides in all part of the world which play an important role in improving the national economy of Nigeria. Hydatidosis a parasitic diseases caused by Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm lead to economic losses due to condemnation of affected carcasses and the necessity to freeze or boil infected meat of these animals. The present study aimed to find the prevalence of hydatidosis in slaughtered animals in Kano city abattoir located in Fagge Local Government Area (LGA). Routine meat inspection of various organs and tissues of 3,449 animals comprising of 1,368 sheep, 1,132 goats and 949 camels showed that 9.68% were infected with hydatid disease. The prevalence of infection with hydatid cysts in camel (14.12%) was higher than that of goat (8.03%) and sheep (7.97%). Of the 2233 males of all the animals examined, 182(8.15%) were infected with hydatid cysts while 152(10.39%) of the 1465 female animals investigated were infected. In all the goat and sheep breeds examined, Yankasa had the highest infection rate. The statistical analysis results obtained revealed significant difference between season, sex and breed in terms of infection (P>0.05) as all their P values are less < 0.0001. During the study period 10.45%, 2.99% and 0.75% of lungs, liver and spleen of the slaughtered animals were condemned due to infection with hydatid cysts. Seasonal occurrence of the cysts in the animals revealed a rise of infection during the dry season. Therefore, there is a need to find ways of limiting or eradicating this parasitic disease.Keywords: Prevalence, Hydatidosis, Hydatid cyst, Camel, Goat, Sheep, Kan