Microorganisms associated with the spoilage of avocado pear, Persea Americana fruits

The microorganisms associated with the spoilage of Avocado pear, Persea americana fruits, purchased fresh from various markets in Benin City were investigated. The pour plate method was used for the isolation. A total of nine species of microorganisms were isolated and identified in this study. They comprise of seven bacterial and three fungal species. The seven bacterial species were: Bacillus, Enterobacter, Citrobacter, Acinetobacter, Klebsiella, Aeromonas and Micrococcus sp. Enterobacter sp., Bacillus sp. and Micrococcus sp. occurred in samples obtained from all the markets (Uselu, New Benin, Oliha, and Oba). Citrobacter sp. was isolated only from samples obtained from New Benin, Oliha, and Oba Markets. Klebsiella sp. was isolated from Uselu and Oba markets, while Acinetobacter sp. was isolated only from Oliha market. The three fungi isolates were: Mucor sp., Saccharomyces sp. and Geotrichum sp. whereas Geotrichum sp. and Saccharomyces sp. occurred in samples obtained from all the four markets surveyed. Mucor sp. was present only in samples bought from New Benin and Uselu markets. The bacterial counts range was 5.2 to 6.7 x 104cfu/g, while the fungal count range was 2.6-3.6x104cfu/g. Proper handling methods of Avogado fruits to ensure food safety are discussed

A Comparative Study of the Gastro-Intestinal Helminth Parasites Infection of Fresh and Brackish Water Fishes from Warri River, Southern Nigeria

A comparative study of the gastro-intestinal helminth parasites infection of fresh and brackish water fishes from Warri river, Southern Nigeria, was undertaken. Eight hundred (800) fishes examined during the investigation belong to 30 families, 45 genera and 56 species. The study revealed a highly significant relationship (P < 0.001) between water type and gastro- intestinal helminth parasites infection of fish. Fresh water fishes recorded a higher infection rate of 38.11% than their brackish water counterparts with 17.85% rate of infection, suggesting a strong limiting influence of water type on gastro-intestinal helminth parasites infection of fish. However, in some other selected criteria, there were similarities in the pattern of infection of fish. On feeding habits, omnivorous fishes had the highest prevalence of helminth infection (49.55%) compared to predators, planktivores, herbivores and mud/silt feeders, in that descending order. Although euryhaline fishes were more susceptible to intestinal helminth infection than stenohaline fishes, the difference was not significant (P > 0.05). A seasonal pattern of helminth infection of fish was observed, with a high infection rate of 70.1% recorded during the dry season months of November to February and at low infection rate of 29.9% in the rainy season months of March to October.Keywords: gastro-intestinal, helminth parasites, fishes, Warri rive

Evaluation of Microbial Spoilage of Some Aquacultured Fresh Fish in Benin City Nigeria

A microbiological study of organisms associated with spoilage of fresh fish samples collected from two ponds located in Benin City, Nigeria was carried out. Samples from the fish skin, gills and flesh were cultured in three media; nutrient agar, Maconkay agar and potato dextrose agar and on examination the presence of five bacteria species namely; Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella sp., Salmonella sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., and four fungi species namely; Aspergillis niger, Geotrichum sp., Rhizopus sp. and Pennicillium sp. was confirmed. The highest colony count was obtained from the skin samples in all the media. Antibiotic sensitivity pattern showed that all isolates were resistant to Gentamicin and Amoxicillin and the presence of the above pathogens in the fresh fish samples could pose a potential public health threat especially to consumers. It is recommended that better handling and processing methods should be adopted to reduce or eliminate health risk to fresh fish consumers

Prevalence of Asymptomatic Bacteriuria in Secondary School Students in Benin City

A total of 180 secondary school students (62 males and 118 females) selected randomly from the three local government areas in Benin City were screened from March to May 2007 for the presence of bacteria in their urine. Standard bacteriological methods were used in the screening of mid-stream urine samples collected to determine significant asymptomatic bacteriuria. Results obtained from the study showed that the prevalence rate was 15% distributed into 12.78% females and 2.22 males and urine culture yielded 27 samples with isolates. The isolates were Candida sp. (48.28%), Escherichia coli (17.24%), Streptococcus faecalis (13.79%), Staphylococcus aureus (10.34%) and coagulase negative Staphylococcus (10.34%). High occurrence of Candida sp. in the female could be as a result of intake of broad spectrum antibiotics which reduces competition in the normal flora in the female genitourinary tract thereby favoring its proliferation part of which may ascend the urethra. Good personal hygiene and de-emphasizing selfprescription of drugs which could lead to antibiotics resistance arerecommended measures to curtail the prevalence of asymptomaticbacteriuria in secondary school students

Mycoflora of Some Smoked Fish Varieties in Benin City Nigeria

A study of the mycoflora of six locally available and commonly consumed dried fish species namely; Ethmalosa fimbriata (bonga fish), Tilapia sp. (Banda mangala) Gadus morhua (stock fish), Pseudotolithus typhus (croaker), Arius hendeloti (cat fish) and Drepane africana (spade fish) was carried out in three sampling regimes. A total of thirty-six samples were randomly sourced from local markets in Benin City and cultured in two replicates per sample per batch in Saboraud dextrose agar (SDA). Six fungal isolates encountered in the study were Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, Penicillium sp, Fusarium sp. Rhizopus sp. and Trichoderma sp. in their order of decreasing frequency in all the fish samples. The highest mean mycoflora count (17.833 x103cfu) was recorded in Tilapia sp., while the lowest mean value (11.16 x103cfu) was recorded in Drepane africana. Aspergillus species are known to produce aflatoxins which are carcinogenic (causing heptoma – cancer of the liver), acute hepatitis, reduced red blood cell and decreased immune system in man. Fusarium sp. is reported to produce fumonisin toxin and Penicillium penicillic acid. Prolonged intake of smoked fish with these metabolites may constitute potential public health hazard. Adequate cooking could help in reducing mycoflora of smoked fish

Economic evaluations of onchocerciasis interventions: a systematic review and research needs

Objective To provide a systematic review of economic evaluations that has been conducted for onchocerciasis interventions, to summarise current key knowledge and to identify research gaps. Method A systematic review of the literature was conducted on the 8th of August 2018 using the PubMed (MEDLINE) and ISI Web of Science electronic databases. No date or language stipulations were applied to the searches. Results We identified 14 primary studies reporting the results of economic evaluations of onchocerciasis interventions, seven of which were cost‐effectiveness analyses. The studies identified used a variety of different approaches to estimate the costs of the investigated interventions/programmes. Originally, the studies only quantified the benefits associated with preventing blindness. Gradually, methods improved and also captured onchocerciasis‐associated skin disease. Studies found that eliminating onchocerciasis would generate billions in economic benefits. The majority of the cost‐effectiveness analyses evaluated annual mass drug administration (MDA). The estimated cost per disability‐adjusted life year (DALY) averted of annual MDA varies between US$3 and US$30 (cost year variable). Conclusions The cost benefit and cost effectiveness of onchocerciasis interventions have consistently been found to be very favourable. This finding provides strong evidential support for the ongoing efforts to eliminate onchocerciasis from endemic areas. Although these results are very promising, there are several important research gaps that need to be addressed as we move towards the 2020 milestones and beyond

Studies on the influence of some Ecological Characterististics of Fish on the Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites infection in Warri River, Southern Nihgeria

This study investigated the influence of three ecological characteristics of fish (food and feeding habits, preference for habits and geographical distributed) on the prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth, parasites infection. 800 fishes comprising 56 species from Warri River, southern Nigeria, were examined during the study and a total of 1331 gastrointestinal helminth parasites of various taxa were recovered from fish hosts. The association of food and feeding habits on helminth parasites infection was highly significant (P<0.010 for omnivorous and predatoryfishes. Omnivorous fishes recorded the highest prevalence (49.5%) of helminth infection followed by predatory fishes which had 35.6% prevalence of infection. Helminth parasites infection of herbivorous fishes and mud/silt/ sand feeders had no significant association (P>0.05) and recorded the least prevalence of helminth infection of 3.2% and 1.8% respectively . On the preference for habitats, benthopelagic fishes recorded the highest prevalence of helminth parasites infection of 44% (P>0.01), followed by benthic fishes with 40.9% prevalence of infection while pelagic fishes recorded the least prevalence of helminth infection of 15.1% (P>0.05). Lastly, the relationship of euryhaline fishes, with a wider geographical distribution on helminth parasites infection was significant (P>0.01) with a 39.7% prevalence of infection. On the other hand, brackish water fishes, with a restricted geographical distribution recorded the least prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites infection of 28.8% (P>0.05). These findings showed that the ecological characteristics of fish investigated had a very significant effect of the gastrointestinal helminth parasites infection of hosts in Warri River.Key words: Fish gastrointestinal, helminth parasites, prevalence, Warri River

Microbial Quality of Ready-to-Eat Salad Sold in Benin City, Southern Nigeria

This paper examines the microbial quality of ready-to-eat vegetable salads obtained from three fast food centres in Benin City, Edo state, Nigeria. Across the counter samples of salad were collected from randomly selected locations within the city and subjected to microbial culture in Nutrient and MacConkey agar media for isolation of bacteria. Three bacteria species were isolated, namely; Salmonella spp. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The total colony count ranged from 3.01 x 101 cfu/g to 1.5 x 103 cfu/g. The order of increasing colony count of the bacteria isolates was Salmonella > E. Coli > Staphylococcus aureus. Results from the study shows that ready-to-eat-salad samples obtained from fast food centres in Benin City have high microbial load and as such do not meet bacteriological quality standards. Consumption of such products may pose public health problem. It is recommended that the total hygiene and sanitary conditions under which these fast food centres operate should be monitored by the relevant government agencies and stringent supervision of processing methods are applied.Key words: Salads, Microbial quality, food- borne infections, Benin Cit