Comparative study on the microbiology and shelf life stability of palm wine from Elaeis guineensis and Raphia hookeri obtained from Okigwe, Nigeria

The microbiological and biochemical changes and shelf life stability of Elaeis guineensis and Raphia hookeri brands of palm wine were determined. R. hookeri brands were found to habour more heterotrophic and coliform population than the E. guineensis, whereas the later haboured more yeast species. Identification tests revealed the isolation of Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Brevibacterium and Staphylococcus from E. guineensis while Escherichia coli and Micrococcus species with the exception of Brevibacterium sp. was additionally isolated from R. hookeri. Furthermore heterotrophic count and pH were observed to decrease with increased fermentation days. The effect of the preservatives on the sensory properties of palm wine was dependent on the type of preservation used. The level of CO2 as well as the effect of extracts from the plant preservatives on the isolates from the palm wine samples was also carried out. Percentage loss of CO2 for each successive fermentation day was observed and there was significant difference in the effect of the plant preservatives used

Phyto-extraction of nickel, chromium, lead and copper from crude oil polluted agricultural soil

The phyto-extraction of heavy metals, nickel, chromium, lead and copper from crude oil polluted agricultural soil was carried out using four annual indigenous crops, including two annual forage leguminous crop, vegetable cowpea (Vigna unguiculata var unguiculata) and velvet bean Mucuna pruriens; a cereal- maize (Zea mays) and a vegetable crop- fluted pumpkin (Telfaira occidentalis). The level of attenuation of the four heavy metals was determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The results obtained showed that the copper, nickel, lead and chromium contents (40.20, 39.10, 0.96 and 7.38 nmoles/mg respectively) of the control sample were significantly higher (p<0.05) than the values obtained from the oil polluted soil samples, depicting that there was an uptake of the heavy metals from the polluted soils. There was no significant difference (p>0.05) in the rate of uptake of these metals by the plants irrespective of the location of the study.Keywords: Phyto-extraction, heavy metals, crude oil, agricultural soil, pollutio

Quality assessment of sachet water sold in Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 2 (1) 2008: pp. 34-3

Biodegradation of detergents by aquatic bacterial flora from Otamiri River, Nigeria

The utilization of Omo®, Jet® and Persil® detergents by aquatic bacteria isolates from Otamiri River at Nekede in Owerri North, Imo State, Nigeria was investigated. Identification tests for bacteria isolates from Otamiri River revealed them to belong to the genera Bacillus, Micrococcus, Escherichia, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Psendomonas, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium, Serratia and Staphylococcus. Detergent utilization studies revealed total heterotrophic count of 3.38, 3.40, 3.36 and 5.35 log cfu/mland 2.08, 2.20, 1.95 and 3.48 log cfu/ml obtained at 0 and 48 h for Omo®, Jet®, Persil® and control experiment, respectively. At 96 and 144 h, 2.37, 2.35, 2.25 and 2.47 log cfu/ml and 2.39, 2.37, 2.35, and2.46 log cfu/m were obtained. While counts of 1.70, 2.37, 1.38 and 2.4 log cfu/ml were obtained at 192 h for Omo®, Jet®, Persil® and the control experiment, respectively. Of the nine bacterial isolates obtainedfrom the river water, only Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Actinomyces, Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus were found to survive in the detergent water and possibly utilize the test detergents. Isolate specificdetergent utilization test revealed these isolates to be capable of utilizing the test detergents in single and combined forms with Pseudomonas showing the highest ability while the least was observed for Staphylococcus. Statistical analysis revealed significant changes in optical density of detergent broth challenged with the test organisms, with the organism showing more ability to utilize, Omo® and Jet®than Persil® detergents. The result obtained, however, reveals the ability of natural aquatic bacterial Isolates to degrade detergents in aquatic ecosystem

Quality evaluation of some branded and unbranded ice cream sold in Imo State, Nigeria

No Abstract.International Journal of Tropical Agriculture and Food Systems Vol. 2 (1) 2008: pp. 83-8

Telfaira Occidentalis Aided Rhizoremediation of Agricultural Soils Subjected to Different Crude Oil Contamination Levels

Rhizoremediation process was undertaken to evaluate the effectiveness of Telfaira occidentalis in the cleanup of a crude oil contaminated soil. The microbial profile of the agricultural soil used in the study was determined before and after crude oil treatment to identify the indigenous flora present in the soil. Microbiological analysis of the soil sample revealed the presence of Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Penicillium sp, Candida sp, Pseudomonas fluorescence, Acinetobacter baumanni, Bacillus mycoides, Klebsiella sp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli.  Subsequent analysis revealed the disappearance of S. aureus and Escherichia coli and the persistence of other aforementioned microorganisms after treatment of the soil with crude oil. The Telfaira occidentalis seeds were planted in Green house and field test soils polluted with 100, 200, 400 and 800 ml of crude oil. Gas chromatographic (GC) analysis was carried out subsequently on the test soils to determine the total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) content of the samples by comparing them with the TPH value of 4157.04 and 3986.65 mg/kg for control sample of green house and field respectively. The TPH value obtained from rhizoremediation in the Green house were 55, 110, 325 and 667 mg/kg, while those of the field were 78, 126, 256 and 472 mg/kg for crude oil concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 800 ml respectively. Results obtained from the gas chromatographic (GC) analysis also depict the different alkane groups that were removed from the interaction to be within the range of C7 to C12; and C30 to C40 alkanes. Nevertheless, both shorter and longer chain alkanes, with time were eliminated from contaminated soils. Keywords: Rhizoremediation, agricultural soil, crude oil, alkanes, microbes, Telfaira occidentali

Pattern of multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar typhi isolates in Nigeria

Typhoid fever continues to remain a health problem as the causative organism, Salmonella enterica serovar typhi, has developed resistance to many antibiotics used. This study was undertaken to determine the current pattern of resistance to antimicrobial agents by S. enterica serovar typhi isolates from Akaraugo Hospital in Owerri, Imo state. Sensitivity to most common antimicrobial agents used in the management of typhoid fever was determined by disc diffusion according to National Committee for Clinical Laboratory (NCCL) standards. There was an increase in the number of isolates with decreased sensitivity to nalixidic acid and cotrimoxazole. All isolates had complete resistance to augmentin, tetracycline and amoxicillin commonly used for treatment of typhoid fever. Therefore physicians should be advised to conduct effective susceptibility test before prescribing an antibiotics to a patient. It is also important to step up awareness to individuals about indiscriminate use of antibiotics and the need to complete a regime once it is started

Assessment of the antimicrobial efficacy of some Nigerian toothpaste

Studies on the bactericidal action of additive, sodium fluoride (NaF) of seven Nigerian toothpastes in inhibiting oral bacteria was determined using ten bacterial isolates obtained from saliva of students. Two each of the ten isolates (20%) were Bacillus spp and Streptococcus spp. While 3(30%) each was Staphylococcus spp and Lactobacillus spp. The Staphylococcus spp and Bacillus spp were examined for their sensitivity to 10% (W/V) of different toothpastes manufactured in Nigeria and included Close Up®, Pepsodent®, Colgate®, Aquafresh®, Macleans®, Minta® and Daily Need® and also their biocidal additive sodium fluoride (NaF). Close Up® recorded the highest rate of bactericidal action while Minta® recorded the lowest rate. Bacillus spp was more susceptible to the toothpaste and sodium fluoride (NaF) than Staphylococcus spp. Bacillus spp was found to be able to utilize toothpaste brands like Macleans® and Aquafresh® as sole sources of carbon and energy in mineral salts medium as indicated by decline in cell number in the first hour and significant rise in the subsequent hours. Results of the survival rates of the two test organisms in the different toothpastes using Nutrient broth showed Close Up® to be the strongest, since there was a sharp decline in cell number within the first two minutes of exposure. The study concluded that Close Up® is the best toothpaste out of the 7 pastes tested, followed by Aquafresh®, Pepsodent®, Daily Need®, Colgate®, Macleans® and Minta® in that order. Keywords: Toothpaste; bacteria; anti-microbial; sodium fluoride; NigeriaInternational Journal of Natural and Applied Sciences Vol. 2 (3) 2006: pp. 272-27