Comparative study of microbial, proximate and heavy metal compositions of some gastropods, bivalve and crustacean seafood

Background: Seafood are known to be nutritionally rich, however, water bodies from where these foods are harvested are often burdened with wastes from industries, household and run-offs. Thus seafood can harbor pathogenic microorganisms and heavy metals which can pose a serious health hazard to consumers.Materials and Methods: In this study, 5kg each of Littorina littorea, Achatina fulica,Tympanotonos fuscatus, Dorsanum miran, Egeria radiate and Penaeus notialis were investigated for microbial, proximate and heavy metal qualities using standard microbiological and chemical methods of analysis.Results: The gastropod mollusks Tympanotonos fuscatus, Littorina littorea and Achatina fulica had significantly (p≤0.05) higher microbial loads compared to other samples. All the samples had significantly (p≤0.05) higher coliform counts compared to standard specifications. The microbial isolates from the samples included species of Bacillus, Klebsiellae, Citrobacter, Providencia, Pseudomonas, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, yeasts, Alternaria, Absidia, Rhizopus, and Mucor. Antibiogram of the isolates revealed multiple resistances with 79.55% and 66.67% resistance to antibacterial and antifungal agents respectively. The seafood was rich in protein (8.0±0.03 to 46.0±0.03%) and fat (0.6±0.01 to 8.8±1.00%) but low in carbohydrate (1.18±0.84 to 3.81±0.86%).The heavy metal compositions of the seafood were generally low except for manganese 6.36±0.03ppm in Dorsanum miran and nickel 0.81±0.50 ppm in Penaeus notialis.Conclusion: The microbial loads of the seafood are significantly (p≤0.05) higher in gastropods and more than acceptable standard, effective protection of water bodies for food cultivation and constant monitoring of seafood is necessary. Adequate processing and employing good manufacturing practices can reduce the microbial loads to an acceptable level and prevent food borne hazards that could be associated with seafood consumption.Keywords: Seafood; Heavy metals; Microbial profile; proximate composition

Path integral for a relativistic Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system

The path integral for the relativistic spinless Aharonov-Bohm-Coulomb system is solved, and the energy spectra are extracted from the resulting amplitude.Comment: 6 pages, Revte

Microbial quality of meat floss ‘dambun nama’ processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of ‘sabara’(Guiera senegalensis) leaf meal

This study evaluated the microbial quality of meat floss processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of Guiera senegalensis leaf meal (GSL) at 0.0% (GSL1), 7.0% (GSL2), 14.0% (GSL3) and 21.0% (GSL4). These were packaged and stored into four (4) different packaging media; Foil Paper Pack (FPP), Wrapped Newspaper Pack (WNP), Plastic Container Pack (PCP) and Disposable Container Pack (DCP). These products were stored and monitored for contaminations at 0, 4, 8 and 12 week intervals. Means were analysed and compared with passable and safe limits of 107cfu/g. The results showed that at 1st day of storage, there were no fungal counts in GSL3 and GSL4 was having the least count of 2.0 x 105. The control (GSL1) had the highest total bacterial count of 24.0 x 105cfu/g. At 12th week of storage, the results showed that the total fungal counts were 0.00, 0.00, 0.00, and 2.0 x 105cfu/g for GSL2, GSL3, GSL4 and GSL1, respectively. The overall effects showed that the total microbial load of meat floss decreased as the concentrations were increased. The results showed that GSL2 (2.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL3 (3.0 x 105cfu/g) had lower total bacterial counts than GSL1 (24.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL4 (8.0 x 105cfu/g) across the packaging media at first week (0 week) of storage. WNP had the least bacterial counts (1.0 x 105cfu/g). Conversely, DCP had the highest counts (21.0 x 105cfu/g) across the treatment groups and packaging media. At higher week of storage (12th week), GSL2 (15.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL3 (18.0 x 105cfu/g) were lower than GSL1 (20.0 x 105cfu/g) and GSL4 (26.0 x 105cfu/g) for bacterial counts. WNP (10.0 x 105cfu/g) had the least counts across the treatments. Storage at higher weeks (8th and 12th) reduced fungal growth in most of the packaging media. This study concludes that the packaging method had suppressive effects against microbial growth. It is suggested that meat floss processed from broiler chickens fed graded levels of GSL should be evaluated for storage above the 12-week period

Evaluation of moringa (Moringa oleifera) leaf meal for broiler chicken performance and meat quality

The study evaluated dietary inclusion (0, 7, 14, and 21%) levels of Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOL) on growth performance and meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 240 broiler chicks (Chikun) were divided into four treatments with three replicates each (20 chicks per replicate) in a completely randomized design (CRD). The experiment lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed that live weight, dressed weight, dressing percentage, heart and liver weights differed (P˂0.05) significantly across the four treatment groups. All other parameters did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. Growth traits of broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL revealed that only feed conversion ratio and mortality rates were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) different across the treatments. Other traits such as final weight, weight gain, feed intake, average daily feed intake and average daily weight did not differ significantly among the treatment groups. Chemical compositional parameters of fresh broiler chicken meat revealed that per cent moisture, lipid, crude protein, ash and carbohydrate were significantly (P ˂ 0.05) different across the treatments. However, chemical composition of meat floss ‘‘dambun nama’’from broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL showed that per cent moisture, lipid, crude protein, crude fibre and carbohydrate differed significantly (P˂0.05) across the treatments. Furthermore, sensory attributes of meat floss from broiler chickens fed dietary inclusion levels of MOL showed that only juiciness differed significantly among the treatments. This study concludes that incorporation of MOL in the diet of broiler chickens at the inclusion levels of 0, 7, 14 and 21% had no deleterious effects on carcass and organ characteristics, chemical composition of both fresh meat and meat floss ‘‘dambun nama’’of broiler chickens. The processed meat floss was well-cherished by the sensory panelists and rated the product high for quality. It is suggested that other inclusion levels of MOL should be investigated in further studies using broiler chickens for growth and carcass performance re-evaluation for meat quality and its overall acceptance. &nbsp

Effect of Blending and Storage Conditions on the Microbial Quality and Sensory Characteristics of Soy-Tiger Nut Milk Beverage

Effect of blending and storage conditions on soy-tigernut milk beverage was carried out. Samples of milk analogue were developed using varying proportions of soymilk and tigernut extracts. Five blends of soy-tigernut milk was formulated using varying proportion of tigernut milk extract (10, 20, 50, 80 and 90%) with soy milk. Two control samples were produced (100% milk of soy bean and tigernut respectively). Soy-tigernut milk beverage blends were subjected to sensory evaluation using 9-point hedonic scale. Two blends of the milk beverage having the highest mean score on general acceptability was subjected to three storage conditions (ambient, refrigeration and freezing conditions) for four weeks. Significant difference (P<0.05) was discovered on the sensory attributes of the soy-tigernut beverage blends evaluated. Samples contained 80% and 90% tigernut milk substitution had mean score of 7.47 and 8.67 respectively were the most preferred blends. The highest value of total aerobic plate count and coliform under a different storage conditions at fourth week of storage was below 106cfu/ml and 10cfu/ml safety limit stipulated by Food and Drug Administration regulation for aerobic plat count and caliform bacteria in food respectively. Keywords: Blending, Storage Conditions, Microbial Quality, Sensory Characteristics, Soy-Tigernut – Milk Beverage

slq(2)sl_q(2) Realizations for Kepler and Oscillator Potentials and q-Canonical Transformations

The realizations of the Lie algebra corresponding to the dynamical symmetry group SO(2,1) of the Kepler and oscillator potentials are q-deformed. The q-canonical transformation connecting two realizations is given and a general definition for q-canonical transformation is deduced. q-Schr\"{o}dinger equation for a Kepler like potential is obtained from the q-oscillator Schr\"{o}dinger equation. Energy spectrum and the ground state wave function are calculated.Comment: 12 pages, Latex twice, (Comparison with the other approaches and some refs. added. The version which will appear in J. Phys. A

Dirac particle in the presence of plane wave and constant magnetic fields: Path integral approach

The Green function (GF) related to the problem of a Dirac particle interacting with a plane wave and constant magnetic fields is calculated in the framework of path integral via Alexandrou et al. formalism according to the so-called global projection. As a tool of calculation, we introduce two identities (constraints) into this formalism, their main role is the reduction of integrals dimension and the emergence in a natural way of some classical paths, and due to the existence of constant electromagnetic field, we have used the technique of fluctuations. Hence the calculation of the (GF) is reduced to a known gaussian integral plus a contribution of the effective classical action.Comment: 12 pages, no figure

Effects of feeding four varieties of Sorghum bicolor as replacement for maize on growth performance of broiler chicks in Kaduna state

The pressure on maize by feed industries and other industries has been increasing worldwide and maize has remained the major energy source in compounded diets of poultry ration which requires attention for alternative energy feed stuff for poultry due to cost and varying climatic changes. A study was carried out to evaluate the effects of feeding four varieties of Sorghum bicolor on growth performance of broiler chickens in Zaria, Kaduna state, Nigeria. Two hundred and twenty five (225) Arbor acre chicks were randomly distributed into five dietary treatments after three days adjustment period using the complete randomized design (CRD) as follows, T1 - maize, T2 –Samsorg-14, T3 –Samsorg-40, T4 –Samsorg-17 and T5–KSV-15 in replacement for maize (T1) on the performance of broiler chickens. Each treatment had fortyfive (45) birds per treatment allotted into three (3) replicates containing fifteen (15) birds per pen, which lasted for four weeks. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) and significant (P < 0.05) differences among treatments were compared using the Tukey`s test. The result at the starter phase showed that chicks fed T1 and T2 were significantly (P<0.05) higher in final body weight, average daily weight gain and had better feed conversion ratio and feed cost/kg gain than birds fed T3, T4 and T5 diets. In conclusion total replacement of Samsorg-14 (T2) for maize (T1) in broiler chicks’ diet had no negative impact on performance at the starter phase, therefore Samsorg-14 can be incorporated in the diets of broiler chicks at 100%. Keywords: Broiler chicks, Sorghum varieties, growth performanc

Electrolyte disorders in a young female following short-term omeprazole therapy

A 29 years old female presented to us in the metabolic clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) on account of a week history of easy fatigability, weakness, and lower extremity muscle cramps associated with numbness and tingling sensation in the peri-oral area, fingers and toes. Two weeks prior to the onset of her presenting symptoms, she had visited a local pharmaceutical shop on account of a distressing epigastric discomfort and was subsequently placed on daily oral omeprazole 20mg daily for a month by a pharmacist. She had been on the omeprazole medication for two weeks before her present symptoms manifested. Her past medical history was not suggestive of hypoparathyroidism nor pancreatitis. She was married with three children and has an uneventful family, social and obstetric histories. On examination, she was a healthy well-oriented young female with positive Trousseau’s, Chvostek’s and epigastric tenderness signs. Further Laboratory evaluation revealed she had low plasma magnesium, low plasma albumin-corrected calcium, and low serum parathyroid hormone levels, while other laboratory parameters were essentially normal. A diagnosis of omeprazole-induced electrolyte disorders (hypomagnesaemia and hypocalcaemia) associated with hypoparathyroidism was made following the review of her clinical examination and laboratory findings. She was subsequently managed with oral magnesium supplements following the withdrawal of the omeprazole medication (replaced with oral ranitidine), monitored weekly, and full recovery was achieved after three weeks