Quality characteristics of commercial bottled water sold in Owerri, Nigeria

The quality characteristics of commercial bottled water sold in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria were investigated to determine their physical, chemical and bacteriological content. The four brands of bottled water investigated were Mevok ®, Ozonized April ®, Lacrystal ® and Eva ®. The mean turbidity value of all the samples were above the WHO recommended standard except Mevok ® bottled water with turbidity value of 4(NTU). All the other physical characteristics values were lower than the WHO standards. The overall mean values recorded for sulphate (0.57 ppm), iron (0.05 ppm), copper (0.02 ppm), nitrate (1.68 ppm), alkalinity (1.73 ppm), zinc (0.13 ppm), and calcium (4.00 ppm) were equally lower than the WHO minimum standard for drinking water. The mean pH value (6.4) and all individual sample values were below the WHO standard of 6.5-8.5. The total coliform and total viable bacterial counts were too high and were well above the WHO specifications. The presence of Staph. aureus and E. coli in Mevok ® and April ® samples respectively indicated that the brands are not fit for human consumption. Keywords: Bottled water, water quality, portability, bacterial, public health, NigeriaIJOTAFS Vol. 1 (1) 2007: pp. 57-6

Can Myxosporean parasites compromise fish and amphibian reproduction?

Research into fish and amphibian reproduction has increased exponentially in recent years owing to the expansion of the aquaculture industry, the need to recover fishery populations, the impact of endocrine disruptors on the aquatic environment and the global decline of amphibian populations. This review focuses on a group of parasites, the Myxozoa, that affect fish and amphibian reproduction. Lists of the myxosporeans that specifically infect gonads are provided. Most of these are parasitic of freshwater hosts, and most amphibian cases are reported from testes. Sex specificity and sex reversal are discussed in relation to gonadal parasitism. The immune response of the fish to the infection is described, and the contribution of the immunoprivilege of gonads to host invasion is emphasized. The pathological effect of these parasites can be significant, especially in aquacultured broodstocks, on some occasions, leading to parasitic castration. Although myxosporean parasites are currently not very frequent in gonads, their impact could increase in the future owing to the transactions in the global market. Their easy release into the aquatic environment with spawning could make their spreading even more feasible. In the absence of commercial drugs or vaccines to treat and prevent these infections, there is an urgent need to develop specific, rapid and reliable diagnostic tools to control and manage animal movements. In addition, much effort is still to be made on deciphering the life cycle of these organisms, their invasion strategies and their immune evasion mechanisms