Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria among the Pregnant Women Receiving Antenatal Care at Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Nigeria

Abstract The prevalence of asymptomatic bacteriuria among the pregnant women receiving antenatal care at Federal Medical Centre Owerri, Nigeria was studied using one hundred and forty urine samples from the pregnant women in the in-patient and out-patient departments. Thirty-five of the women had significant bacteriuria, with a prevalence rate of 25%. The bacteria in the samples were Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis. Escherichia coli occurred most frequently (40%) while Pseudomonas aeruginosa had the lowest frequency of occurrence (14%) in the samples. The infection was most prevalent among the women aged between 21 and 30 years (38.1%) and lowest among those between 41 and 50 years of age (9.4%). The prevalence was highest among the pregnant farmers and lowest among the pregnant civil servants in both the in-patient and out-patient departments. Pregnant women in the out-patient department had a higher prevalence than the women in the in-patient department. Pregnancy promotes the progression of asymptomatic to symptomatic bacteriuria with its consequences such as pyelonephritis, urinary tract infections and increased foetal mortality, therefore regular urine analysis of all pregnant women by certified health authorities is recommended

Effect of seasonal variations on the physicochemical characteristics of spring water in Oji River LGA, Enugu State Nigeria

This study was conducted to determine the effect of seasonal variations on the physicochemical characteristics of spring water samples in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria. Water samples were collected in sterile plastic water containers at the point of discharge during the dry and wet seasons and analyzed physicochemically using the standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. The results showed that the colour (7-14.2 TCU); pH (7.18-8.4); temperature (24.6-28.1 oC); electrical conductivity in wet season (128.5-285.6 µs/cm); total dissolved solids (114.7-401 mg/L); total suspended solids (101.8-423.6 mg/L); total hardness (58-255 mg/L); total acidity (3.55-19.5 mg/L); total alkalinity (9.2-47 mg/L); biological oxygen demand (1.70-3.28 mg/L); nitrate (0.73-2.23 mg/L); ammonium in wet season (0.18-0.34 mg/L); zinc (0.011-0.085 mg/L); mercury (0.001-0.005 mg/L); copper (0.002-1.008 mg/L) and iron (0.031-0.318 mg/L) of water were within the WHO standard for drinking water quality while the phosphate (0.14-1.08 mg/L), lead (0.013-0.098 mg/L) and ammonium in dry season (0.48-0.75 mg/L) levels were not found within the prescribed limit of WHO drinking water standards. Therefore, this investigation indicated that the spring water is unfit for drinking without adequate treatment. Liming, boiling and ozonation treatment techniques are recommended for the treatment of water

Physicochemical Quality of Borehole Water Stored in Household Plastic Containers

Good quality water is indispensable to human and animal existence. Storage facilities are commonly used to ensure sufficient water, predominantly where piped water supply operates occasionally. Therefore, water samples from five boreholes were analyzed before and during storage for three weeks in household plastic containers using standard physicochemical methods. There was an increase in pH, temperature, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, total solids, turbidity, nitrates, phosphates, sulfates, alkalinity, copper, and lead and a decrease in dissolved oxygen, chlorides, total hardness, total acidity, zinc, cadmium, iron, and chromium. In contrast, the total suspended solids remained unchanged during storage. The physicochemical parameters were within the World Health Organization Standard for drinking water quality except for the pH, total acidity, cadmium, and lead levels during storage. This study showed that water storage for three weeks in plastic household containers adversely affected the physicochemical quality of the water. Therefore, water must not be stored for an extended period in plastic containers to avoid deterioration in its quality

The Effect Of Secondary Injection On The Performance And Exhaust Emissions Of An Open-chamber Diesel Engine.

PhDEnergyMechanical engineeringUniversity of Michigan, Horace H. Rackham School of Graduate Studieshttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/189292/2/7619211.pd

Fungi Associated with the Spoilage of Post-harvest Tomato Fruits Sold in Major Markets in Awka, Nigeria

Abstract Tomato contains large amount of water which makes it more susceptible to spoilage by fungi

Isolation and Characterization of Glyphosate–Degrading Bacteria from Agricultural Soil in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Glyphosate is a very effective pesticide; hence it has been excessively used in agricultural activities. This led to glyphosate residue accumulation in the soil and resulted in various adverse effects on humans and the ecosystem. This necessitates the need to reduce glyphosate accumulation in the soil and microbial bioremediation can be the solution. Thus, this study aimed to isolate and characterize glyphosate degrading bacteria from agricultural soils exposed to glyphosate weed control method. Bacterial organisms were isolated from glyphosate polluted agricultural soil and were characterized using routine microbiological biochemical methods. The isolates were screened for glyphosate utilization using a mineral salt medium containing glyphosate as a carbon source. Confirmed glyphosate degraders were identified using 16s rDNA sequencing. These isolates were assessed for their ability to degrade 106.16 µg/ml glyphosate in varied volumes (1 ml, 1.5 ml and 2 ml), singly and in consortium. Glyphosate degraders were identified as Exiguobacterium alkaliphiluim, Alcaligenes faecalis, Sinorhizobuim fredii and Acinetobacter nosocomialis. These organisms significantly (p<0.05) degraded different glyphosate volumes as a consortium more than as individual organisms. This study has been able to show the different glyphosate degraders present in some glyphosate-polluted agricultural soils in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Biodeterioration Potentials of Microorganisms Isolated from Pig Manure Obtained at Awka, Nigeria

Abstract The biodeterioration potentials of microorganisms isolated from pig manure was studied using standard methods. resinae and the bacterial and fungal consortia that produced the highest turbidity and clarity indicating hydrocarbon utilization. The growth profile of Micrococcus luteus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus niger and Cladosporium resinae as well as the fungal and bacterial consortia during 35 days of growth in mineral salts-oil medium showed that there was a decrease in the pH and an increase in the viable count of the medium. The highest percentage degradation of the crude oil was by the bacterial consortium (62.0%). This work showed that Pig manure which is generally regarded as a waste product harbours diverse bacteria and fungi which will be useful in remediating oil-polluted environments when applied singly and as a consortia

Impact of Palm Kernel Oil Mill Effluent on the Soil's Physicochemical Characteristics and Growth of Tomato Plant

Effluent is wastewater flowing out of a sewer which constitutes environmental problems ranging from long-term ecological damage to increased water-borne diseases. In Nigeria, palm kernel oil is extracted from oil palm fruits in oil mills and the effluent is discharged without treatment to the soil in the vicinity of such mills. The effluent-receiving soil has been observed not to support the growth of vegetation. Hence in this work, the impact of palm kernel oil mill effluent on the soil physicochemical characteristics and growth of tomato plant was determined and compared with the effluent discharge limit established by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency. Samples of untreated and treated effluent, untreated and treated effluent-polluted soil and unpolluted soil were used for the study. The physicochemical analysis was carried out using standard physicochemical methods. The physicochemical values of the untreated effluent, except the pH, which was acidic, were higher than those of the treated effluent. Most of the physicochemical values of the untreated effluent-polluted soil were higher than those of the treated effluent-polluted soil and the unpolluted soil. The tomato plant grown in the unpolluted soil had better growth characteristics and yielded more fruits than those grown in the treated effluent-polluted soil. In addition, the tomato plant grown in the untreated effluent-polluted soil showed the lowest growth characteristics and yielded no fruits due to its elevated level of heavy metals and total petroleum hydrocarbons. The study showed that the untreated palm kernel oil mill effluent had a negative impact on the soil's physicochemical and growth characteristics of the tomato plant. Therefore, the effluent must be adequately treated to remove hazardous substances before its discharge into the terrestrial environment

An Assessment of the Bacteriological Quality of Commercial Sachet Packaged Water Brands in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract Some Sachet water brands sold in Awka, Nigeria were assessed bacteriologically to confirm their compliance with the World Health Organization standard for drinking water. The temperature, pH, total bacterial count, total coliform count, faecal coliform count, faecal Enterococci count and Clostridium perfringens count were determined using standard techniques. The temperature values were 27-29 0 C; pH, 6.2-7.0; total bacterial count, 35-50cfu/ml; total colifom count, 4-20MPN/100ml; faecal coliform count, 0-10MPN/100ml; faecal Enterococci count, 0-5MPN/100ml while Clostridium perfringens were absent in all the brands assessed. The bacterial isolates were Escherichia coli (9.7%), Staphylococcus aureus (18.0%), Enterobacter aerogenes (17.5%), Bacillus cereus (14.6%), pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.1%), Proteus mirabilis (12.1%) and Enterococcus faecalis (8.0%). Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Proteus mirabilis and Enterococcus faecalis were isolated from 66.67%, 46.67%, 40.00%, 33.33%, 53.33%, 26.67% and 20.00% respectively of the brands. The coliforms (27.2%) were the predominant of all the bacterial isolates in the samples. Most of the brands assessed were of poor bacteriological quality and are therefore unfit for drinking without adequate treatment. Routine monitoring of sachet water production and handling by regulatory bodies is commended to handling by regulatory bodies is recommended to safeguard the health of the consuming public

Bacteriological Quality Assessment of Hand-dug Shallow Water Wells in Awka Metropolis, Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract Bacteriological quality assessment of some hand-dug shallow water wells in Awka metropolis was carried out during the dry and wet seasons to determine their potability. The total bacterial, total coliform, faecal coliform and Vibrio chloreae counts were determined using standard laboratory methods. The total bacterial counts during the dry season ranged from 100 to 300 cfu/100ml; total coliform counts, 42-126 cfu/100ml; faecal coliform counts, 10-26 cfu/100ml and Vibrio cholerae counts, 2-10cfu/100ml. During the wet season, the total bacterial counts ranged from 148 to 450 cfu/100ml; total coliform counts, 77-240 cfu/100ml; faecal coliform counts, 12-30 cfu/100ml and Vibrio cholerae counts, 6-13 cfu/100ml. The bacteria isolated during the dry season were Salmonella typhi (7.44%), Proteus vulgaris (18.08%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (27.55%), Enterobacter aerogenes (35.71%), Vibrio cholerae (2.85%) and Escherichia coli (8.37%). During the wet season, the bacterial isolates were Salmonella typhi (6.14%), Proteus vulgaris (14.56%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (21.69%), Enterobacter aerogenes (29.70%), Vibrio cholerae (3.66%), Escherichia coli (8.23%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (16.03%). All the water wells studied were of poor bacteriological quality. Appropriate water purification methods should therefore be developed for such wells to avert a public health hazard