Schistocerca gregaria-derived chitosan: antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity studies of its Schiff Bases and metal complexes

Chitosan prepared by deacetylation of chitin extracted from Schistocerca gregaria (desert grasshopper) has been coupled with different aldehydes to afford the corresponding Schiff bases and consequently reacted with metal (II) salts to provide the corresponding complexes. The compounds were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against two Gram positive (Escheria coli and Salmonella typhii), one Gram negative bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus), and three fungal strains (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, and Tricodma spp). Chitosan and its derivatives were evaluated for their in vitro antimicrobial activity against two Gram positive bacterial (Escheria coli and Salmonella typhii), one gram negative (Staphylococcus aureus) and three fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Tricodma spp) The MIC, MBC, and MFC values revealed that compared to the parent chitosan, the Schiff bases and their complexes have higher antibacterial and fungal activities which are in the order of chitosan metal complexes >chitosan Schiff bases > non-modified chitosan with BMC values of >500, >250 and 125μg/ml respectively, where MIC and MFC results showed similar trend. The cytotoxicity assay using brine shrimps revealed that parent chitosan was the most active against at all concentrations, 10μg/ml, 100μg/ml, and 1000μg/ml compared to chitosan Schiff bases, metal complexes.Keywords: Antimicrobial activity, Chitosan, Complexes, Desert grasshopper, Schiff bases, Schistocerca gregari

Nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of yankasa sheep fed varying proportions of ficus polita and Pennisetum pedicellatum supplemented with wheat-offal

The nutrient intake, digestibility and growth performance of Yankasa sheep was evaluated on 16 Yankasa rams of approximately 1 - 11/2 years old with average initial weight of 25kg. Ficus polita was fed with Pennisetum pedicellatum at different proportions of 100:0 (F. polita: P. pedicellatum) 0:100, 60: 40, and 40:60 constituting diets 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively. Each animal was supplemented with wheat offal at the rate of 1% body weight per head per day. The total basal feed intake (DM basis) was highly significant (P <0.01) which increased with decrease in the inclusion levels of Ficus polita in the diets. Animals fed diet 1 (100% FP) recorded the least total basal feed intake of 676.76g/day, while those on the 100% PP diet obtained the highest value of 1280.94g/day. Daily dry matter intake (DDMI) values of 959.95, 1564.14, 114.28 and 1307.58g/day were obtained for animals fed diets 1,2,3, and 4 respectively, indicating that the DDMI also followed similar trend as the total basal feed intake. Other nutrients intake including crude protein intake (89.42-129.06g/day), crude fibre (209.78-391.46g/day) and nitrogen free extract (5 11.91-743.16g/day) followed similar pattern as DDMI. However, the intake of ether extract was highest (P<0.01) for animals on treatment 4 (40% FP/60%PP) (40.7g/day) and lowest for those on treatment 1 (100% FP) (25.99g/day). Water intake was not significant (P>0.05) across the treatments. The result of the daily weight gain showed significantly (P<0.05) higher values (47.57g/day) for animals fed diet 4 (40% FP/60% PP), while those on diet 1 (100% FF) recorded the least (26.14g/day). Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) result showed significant difference (P< 0.05) across the treatments, with animals in treatment 4 (40% FP/60%PP) having best FCR (27.48) while those fed diet 2 had the lowest (38.69), indicating that animals on diet 4 utilized their diets more efficiently compared to others. The result of nutrients digestibility showed that Crude Protein Digestibility (CPD) showed significant difference (P< 0.05), with animals on diet 1 (100% FP) having the least (44.29%) and highest for those on the other treatments. Feed cost per kg gain was least for animals fed diet 4 (N17.66), and high for animals on diet 1 (N32.13). It was concluded that feeding various levels of Ficus polita and Pennisetum pedicellatum supplemented with wheat offal to Yankasa sheep improved total dry matter intake which gave rise to daily weight gain of the animals and reduced feed cost per kg gain especially for animals feed diet 4 (40%FPL/60% PPG).Key words: Digestibility, Ficus polita, growth, nutrient intake, Pennisetum pedicellatum, wheat-offal, Yankasa shee

Analysis of the distribution of heavy metals in the soils of Bagega mining area Zamfara state, Nigeria

Uncontrolled exploitation and degradation in the environment over the past few decades as the result of urbanization and poverty has caused a serious damage to lives and properties. The study analysed the spatial distribution of heavy metal (Fe, Cu and Zn) in Bagega, Zamfara state. Three mapping units were identified and samples were collected from the top soil (0-15cm) horizon using stratified random sampling techniques. These include the Mining Processing Environment (MPE), Residential exterior (RE) and Surrounding Farmlands (SF). In each mapping units, twelve (12) samples were collected randomly. Coordinates of all samples points were recorded using GPS. The soil sample were analyse for heavy metals using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and the result were recorded in Microsoft excel and later transformed into GIS environment in the Arc GIS 10.1 version. Krigging model was used for mapping the spatial distribution of the heavy metals in the study area. The result shows that there are more concentrations of heavy metals (Fe and Cu) in the Residential exterior (RE) and streams sites. The level of heavy metal in the soils of the area were below the acceptable toxic level of and this can be attributed to the number of years quarry activities in the study area have been in operation. The study concluded that Fe and Zn are more concentrated to the mining and river sites areas, while Cu is highly concentrated at the farmlands areas. The study recommends for continuous monitoring and mining should be avoided especially closer to the residential areas.Keywords: Spatial distribution, Mapping, Heavy metals, Bageg

Enrichment of Microalgae with Vitamins for Aquaculture and Food Industries Using Nannochloropsis, Tetraselmis and Isochrysis Species (A Review)

Microalgae play an important role as a source ofnutrient in aquaculture and food industries due to their highcontent of protein, vitamins, carbohydrate and lipid. They alsohave therapeutic uses owing to their antitumoral, antiviral,antifungal and antibacterial activities. Tetraselmis species areellipsoidal, brightly green and spore forming algal massivelycultivated on guillard media best known for its cytotoxicproperties due to high concentration of omega 3 fatty acid. It isan important alga commonly used as live food in aquaculture.Nannochloropsis species were found to have supplements in lyinghen’s diet for the production of enriched egg and meat withOmega 3 fatty acid. Isochroysis species cells lost their capacity todivide and became enlarged, with a reduction in the content ofphotosynthetic pigment and photosynthetic capacity when grownin batch culture for a prolonged period. In order to produce amicroalgae enriched with high vitamin content, supply ofnutritionally balanced mixture of nutrients must be sufficient,production cost must be reduce, as well as the response todifferent environmental factors

Testing for unemployment persistence in Nigeria

In this study, we examine the behaviour of unemployment in Nigeria using fractional integration & fractional cointegration techniques. Based on the fractional integration technique, we find that unemployment in Nigeria exhibits mean reverting properties but with a longer time horizon for any shock effect to fizzle out. The fractional cointegration technique reveals that unemployment shares somewhat common long run relationships with macroeconomic variables such as interest rate, inflation and output. Therefore, policy actions by relevant authority targeted at any of these macroeconomic variables may have implications on unemployment in Nigeria and vice versa. However, the results leading to these conclusions are sensitive to sample periods and intervening variables.https://link.springer.com/journal/106442023-04-27hj2023Economic

Geo-spatial distribution of Brucella melitensis infection in selected local government areas of Katsina and Sokoto States, Nigeria

Brucellosis due to Brucella melitensis infects mostly small ruminants and has been reported to be the most invasive and pathogenic species for humans. A cross-sectional sero-geospatial study was conducted in 4 and 3 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Katsina and Sokoto States, Nigeria respectively. Sera were analysed using c-ELISA while A Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver was used to take geographic coordinates of all sampling points. Data were analysed with SPSS version 20. Chi-square test was used to measure associations among categorical variables. ArcGIS 10.3 was used to map the geospatial pattern of distribution of B. melitensis. Three-dimensional analysis was also performed using the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation to determine the distribution pattern of B. melitensis in unsampled LGAs. Six (10.52%), 11 (20.0%), 11(2.0%) and 23 (23.0%) sera were positive from Bakori (n=57), Baure (n=56), Daura (n=55) and Funtua (n=101) LGAs of Katsina State respectively while 4 (12.5%), 1 (5.6%), 13 (14.8%) were positive from Illela (n=22), Tambuwal (n=19) and Yabo (n=90) LGAs respectively in Sokoto State were positive for B. melitensis antibodies. All the variables tested were not statistically significant (p ≤ 0.05). The geospatial maps for both States were produced to show the prevalence of B. melitensis using c-ELISA throughout the LGAs sampled and extrapolation was done for other unsampled LGAs. Small ruminants in the study areas harboured antibodies to B. melitensis. The maps may serve as an excellent tool for active surveillance and control strategies for livestock diseases like brucellosis in the study area.Keywords: Brucella melitensis, Small Ruminants, Nigeria, c-ELISA, GI

Effect of Dietary Replacement of Maize with Yam and Irish potato peel meals on the Growth and Economic Performance of Growing Rabbits

An eight-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of feeding yam and irish potato peel meals on the growth performance and economic analysis of cross-bred (Dutch x New Zealand white) growing rabbits aged between five to seven weeks. Thirty rabbits were randomly allocated to six dietary treatments with five rabbits per treatment. Diets 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 contained 100% maize, 50% maize and 50% yam peel meal, 50% maize and 50% irish potato peel meal, 50% yam peel meal and 50% irish potato peel meal, 100% yam peel meal and 100% irish potato peel meal, respectively. The response showed that the growth parameters were not significantly (P>0.05) different among the treatment groups except mean final body weight which was significantly (P>0.05) different. The mean final body weight of rabbits fed T3 diet (50% maize and 50% irish potato peel meal) was significantly (P< 0.05) higher than those fed T2 (50% maize and 50% yam peel meal) and T6 (100% irish potato peel meal) diets, but were similar (P>0.05) to other diets. However, the lowest mean final body weight was obtained in rabbits fed T6 (100% irish potato peel meal) diet. The cost per kg feed decreased progressively as the levels of yam and irish potato peel meals increased in the diets. The cost per kg gain also declined from  ₦ 249.59 in T1 (100% maize) to ₦ 181.95 in T4 (50% yam peel meal and 50% irish potato peel meal), which showed the best cost per kg weight gain. The study demonstrated that the yam and irish potato peel meals can replace maize up to 100% as energy source for growing rabbits without adverse effect on performance.Keywords: Growth Performance, Yam and Irish Potato peel meals, Economic Analysi

Effect of cimetidine on some hematological indices of Wistar rats: modulatory role of vitamin c

Introduction: Cimetidine is a drug used in the treatment of dyspepsia, a clinical condition with widespread distribution. Many studies have reported cimetidine to cause many unwanted effects. However, in most of those studies cimetidine was administered at higher than therapeutic doses. Aim: The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the effect of chronic cimetidine treatment at therapeutic dose on some hematological indices and the possible modulatory role of vitamin C on any such effect. Experimental design and Animal grouping: Forty adult male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 10) and treated orally for 60 days with distilled water (control); cimetidine (30 mg kg-1); cimetidine (30 mg kg-1) + vitamin C (25 mg kg-1) and cimetidine (30 mg kg-1) + vitamin C (50 mg kg-1). At the end of the study blood was collected for analysis. Results: Total white blood cell (WBC) count (5.99 ± 0.20 x 103/mm3) of the cimetidine only-treated group was significantly lower than that of the control (7.95 ± 0.29 x 103/mm3).However, the valuesof red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV), hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin(MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), and color index of the experimental groups were not significantly different from that of the control. Treatment with vitamin C modulated the cimetidine-induced decrease in total WBC count. Conclusion: It was concluded that chronic cimetidine administration at therapeutic dose caused a significant decrease in WBC count and this was modulated by vitamin C. Key words: Cimetidine; WBC count; RBC count; hemoglobin and vitamin C

APOE E4 is associated with impaired self-declared cognition but not disease risk or age of onset in Nigerians with Parkinson's disease

The relationship between APOE polymorphisms and Parkinson's disease (PD) in black Africans has not been previously investigated. We evaluated the association between APOE polymorphic variability and self-declared cognition in 1100 Nigerians with PD and 1097 age-matched healthy controls. Cognition in PD was assessed using the single item cognition question (item 1.1) of the MDS-UPDRS. APOE genotype and allele frequencies did not differ between PD and controls (p > 0.05). No allelic or genotypic association was observed between APOE and age at onset of PD. In PD, APOE ε4/ε4 conferred a two-fold risk of cognitive impairment compared to one or no ε4 (HR: 2.09 (95% CI: 1.13-3.89; p = 0.02)), while APOE ε2 was associated with modest protection against cognitive impairment (HR: 0.41 (95% CI 0.19-0.99, p = 0.02)). Of 773 PD with motor phenotype and APOE characterized, tremor-dominant (TD) phenotype predominated significantly in ε2 carriers (87/135, 64.4%) compared to 22.2% in persons with postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD) (30/135) and 13.3% in indeterminate (ID) (18/135, 13.3%) (p = 0.037). Although the frequency of the TD phenotype was highest in homozygous ε2 carriers (85.7%), the distribution of motor phenotypes across the six genotypes did not differ significantly (p = 0.18). Altogether, our findings support previous studies in other ethnicities, implying a role for APOE ε4 and ε2 as risk and protective factors, respectively, for cognitive impairment in PD