Study of ichtyofauna of Daberam Reservoir, Katsina State

Research was carried out to explore the fish species diversity and study some aspects of the Biology of fish of Daberam reservoir, Katsina state, for a period of three month from March to May 2009. 66 Samples of fish were collected from commercial fishermen and experimental fishing gears, preserved in formalin and taken to laboratory for identification. Seven genera comprising eleven species were identified. The regression coefficient (b) were 3.07, 2.91 and 3.21 for the three most commercially importance species in the reservoir i.e. Oreochromis niloticus, Tilapia zilli and Clarias gariepinus respectively, the results indicated Positive allometric growth for O. niloticus and C. gariepinus and negative allometric growth for T. zilli. The mean condition factor (k) was 1.140, with values of 1.027, 1.660, and 0.732 for O. niloticus, T. zilli and C. gariepinus respectively. This result indicates that the fish are not leaving well compared to other freshwater fishes. Key words: Daberam reservoir, fishdiversity, allometric growth, condition facto

Haemoglobin variants among voluntary blood donors in Jos, Nigeria: The implications on blood transfusion

INTRODUCTION: The normal haemoglobin is an efficient transporter of oxygen to the tissues and carbondioxide from tissues to the lungs for elimination. Various abnormal haemoglobin variants including, the sickle cell diseases, have been described with varying sickling tendencies. AIMS. This study aimed to determine the haemoglobin variants among voluntary blood donors in Jos. METHOD: Records of the age, sex, Haemoglobin level, and the haemoglobin genotype of all voluntary blood donors who donated blood at the National Blood Transfusion Service Centre, Jos, Nigeria between January 2011 and April 2012; and their haemoglobin levels and protein electrophoresis determined, were reviewed. RESULTS:  A total of 937 blood donors, 658 (70.23%) males and 279 (29.79%) females, mean age 32.4 years, donated blood voluntarily, their haemoglobin electrophoretic patterns determined by alkaline cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Donor blood haemoglobin levels were determined by automation.  Haemoglobin protein electrophoretic patterns identified among our donors were 77.70%  AA, 21.88% AS, 0.22% SC, 0.11% AC and 0.11% SS. Mean haemoglobin levels of the donors according to their haemoglobin proteins electrophoretic patterns were, 150.4 ± 12.5gms/l for AA, 151.9 ± 13.8gms/l for AS and 131.1 ± 5.0gms/l for haemoglobin SC. CONCLUSION: Determination of haemoglobin protein electrophoretic patterns of blood unit for transfusion could enhance selective blood issuing based on recipient's haemoglobin type. KEY WORDS: Haemoglobin Variants, Effective Transfusion

The pattern of blood donation and transfusion transmissible infections in the National Blood Transfusion Service in north central Nigeria

Background: Blood for transfusion in Nigeria is largely collected from family members or commercial blood donors who would rather conceal information that could disqualify them from blood donation. The blood service is expected to transform blood sources to voluntary, guided by altruism and self-risk assessment and deferral. We determined the of pattern of blood donors in North Central Nigeria and the crude prevalence of transfusion transmissible infections among blood donor types.Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at the North Central Zonal Centre of the National Blood Transfusion Service in Jos. Records of blood donors from January 2009 to December 2013 were studied for type of donation and the pathogenic blood borne viruses.Results: The age distribution of blood donors showed increasing successful recruitment of young people into the donor pool with 36.2% blood collection from those aged 18-25 and 34.8% from 26-35 years. 21,330 (70.5%) were males. 49.0%, 33.5%, 3.5%, (14.0%) and = 1% blood donors were firsttime voluntary, regular voluntary, lapsed voluntary, family replacement and autologous blood donors respectively. 5612 (18.5%) donors, were reactive to transfusion transmissible infections with a lower prevalence of 9.1% among regular blood donors.Conclusion: We conclude that the National Blood Transfusion Service has developed a growing voluntary blood donor base, mainly young adults in our region. Increasing the retention rate of our donors could reduce transfusion transmissible infections.Keywords: National Blood Transfusion Service, Blood Donors, Transfusion Transmissible Infection