Prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites of baboon (Papio anubis), warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) and waterbuck (Kubus deffasa) in Yankari game reserve, Bauchi state Nigeria

A total of ninety four (94) fresh faecal samples of baboons (Papio anubis), Warthogs (Phacochoerus africanus) and Waterbucks (Kubus deffasa) were collected from different strategic locations within Yankari Game Reserve in August, 2008. Samples were collected in sterilized specimen bottles containing 4% formalin and analyzed by simple floatation, sedimentation and concentration Mc master techniques. The sixty (63) fecal samples of baboons examined; 7(11.11%) had intestinal parasites, comprises of 260 (54.1%) metastrongylus eggs, 180 (37.50%) eggs of mites and 40 (8.33) of adult mites. A total of Seven 7 (28%) of the twenty five (25) fecal samples of warthogs had parasites which comprised of 4960 (98.0%) eggs of hyostrongylus eggs and 100 (2.0%) of monizia eggs. Only 2(33.3%) of the six (6) fecal samples of waterbucks had Hystrongylus eggs 180(1.1%).The infection rate was significantly higher (p<0.05) among Warthogs (98%) fallowed by Baboons (54.1%) and the least Waterbucks (1.1%). Exposure to posture may be the predisposing factor responsible for the prevalence rate recorded in the study area. This may posed a potential danger to visitors in Yankari Game Reserve and other wild animals. Implementation of control policy of helminthes parasites in the Reserve will reducethe prevalence of helminthes diseases.Key words: Baboon, Intestinal parasites, Waterbuck, Warthog, Yankari Game Reserv

Nigerian water resources management – an overview

Effective management of a country’s water resources contributes toward its sustainable development. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of Nigeria’s surface and underground water sources alongside agencies charged with functions covering all facets in water resources development and management. Nigeria consists of three broad agro-ecological zones; the northern Sudan Savannah, the Guinea Savannah and the southern rainforest spread across eight hydrological areas for the purpose of water resources management. The Federal Ministry of Water Resources is responsible for large water resources development projects and water allocation between states; comprising of sixteen (16) parastatals and agencies made up of twelve (12) River Basin Development Authorities (RBDAs), Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA), Nigeria Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC), Gurara Water Management Authority (GWMA), and the National Water Resources Institute (NWRI). The country has four river drainage systems and 264 dams. Recent studies of Nigerian water reserves (surface and groundwater sources) indicated that there are large supplies, and the country has surface and groundwater resources potentials of 267.3BCM and 51.9BCM respectively

Prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum and associated risk factors among pregnant women in a tertiary health facility in Northeast, Nigeria

Background: One of the commonest symptoms observed in pregnant women before the 20th week of gestation is nausea and vomiting, an exaggeration of these symptoms hyperemesis gravidarum (HEG) could result in maternal and fetal catastrophes and even death. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors for hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women at booking.Methods: A prospective institutional based study design was done among 452 pregnant women seen at booking in a tertiary hospital in Northeast Nigeria from the 1st February 2019 to 30th June 2019. Data was summarized using descriptive statistics. OR was used to measure significant risk.Results: The observed prevalence of hyperemesis gravidarum among pregnant women in the study is 44.9%. The Majority (81.4%) of these women were between the age range of 21 and 35 years. Mean age of 27 years. Multiparity (33.4%), previous (44.9%) and family history of HEG (31.6%) were identified as important risk factors for developing HEG. Grand multiparity (11.5%) and gestational age less than 13 weeks (6.64%) were however less likely observed to be risks for HEG.Conclusions: HEG is a common problem in pregnancy with almost half of the number of pregnant women at booking affected. Multiparity and past history of HEG are pointers to developing the condition and it should be looked out for among at risk group of pregnant women, so that early intervention can be instituted to avoid any possible adverse outcome

Gasification of oil palm empty fruit bunches (OPEFB) briquettes for bio-syngas production

Gasification of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB) briquettes was investigated in an air blown 4.5 kW allothermal fluidized bed gasifier to examine the effects of bed temperature (600-800 °C) and equivalence ratio (λ = 0.25) on bio-syngas yield and composition. In addition, physicochemical and thermochemical characterization of the fuel properties of the OPEFB briquettes were also examined. The results demonstrate that pelletization improved the solid biomass fuel (SBF) properties of OPEFB including moisture content and higher heating value (HHV). The gasification of OPEFB briquettes produced bio-syngas comprising H2, CO, CO2, CH4 as well as solid biochar with a HHV higher than the original OPEFB briquettes. The highest yield of H2 was obtained at 600 °C while HHV of the bio-syngas was within the range 4-8 MJ/Nm3 for air gasification in fluidized bed gasifiers. In addition, agglomeration of bed materials did not occur during OPEFB briquettes gasification despite its high bed agglomeration potential (BAP). In conclusion, the gasification of OPEFB briquettes into bio-syngas and biochar is a practical route for bioenergy production in Malaysia

Phytochemical analysis, analgesic and antipyretic properties of ethanolic leaf extract of Vernonia amygdalina Del.

Introduction: Vernonia amygdalina Del. has been traditionally used in relieving pain and inflammatory conditions as well as in treatment of feverish conditions by local people of the North-east Nigeria. Consequently this study aims at evaluating the phytochemical content, antipyretic and analgesic properties of V. amygdalina (biter leaf).Methods: The leaf of V. amygdalina was soxhlet extracted with ethanol and sequentially partitioned using solvent of different polarities. Phytochemical test was conducted to ascertain the secondary metabolites present in the extract using standard procedures. Acute toxicity (LD50) of the extract on laboratory rats was estimated by following protocols of Lorke. The antinociceptive activity of the ethanolic extract was also evaluated using acetic acid induced pain and hot plate method.Results: The results revealed the presence of tannins, phlobatannins, saponins, carbohydrates, cardioactive glycoside, flavonoids, alkaloids, steroids and terpenes. Anthraquinones were absent in the extract. The intraperitoneal LD50 was found to be 3721 mg/kg. On administration of 5000 mg/kg dose of the extract via oral route, there was no dead. The extract demonstrated significant antinociceptive activities as 36.0 ± 0.81, 43.8 ± 0.11 and 52.8±0.37 (Mean number of writhings) respectively for the doses 600, 400 and 200 mg/kg i.p.) as compared to the control (60.0 ± 0.11). High dose of 400 mg/kg significantly reduced rectal temperature (P < 0.05)Conclusion: These results demonstrated the medicinal potentiality of V. amygdalina and might be used as analgesic, and antipyretic agent. Phytochemicals found in such as flavonoids, tannins, alkaloids and steroids seem to be implicated in having such pharmacological activities

Proximate composition, functional, and sensory properties of kadal (fermented grain flour) produced from whole and decorticated maize and pearl millet grains

Kadals are normally prepared from fermented cereal grains and the kadal flours are usually transformed into stiff dough called tuwo and consumed as staple food in many West African countries. Pearl millet (Mi) and maize (Mz) grains were decorticated and each of them was divided into four portions. The first portion was unfermented and the other portions were soaked in water separately for 48h (K2), for 72h (K3) and 96h (K4). Four portions each of whole maize and millet were subjected to the same soaking time, respectively. At the expiration of soaking time, each portion was washed, thoroughly rinsed, sun dried, milled and sieved to produce kadal flours. The unfermented whole and decorticated millet and maize flours served as the experimental controls. The functional properties and proximate compositions of twenty samples were evaluated using standard procedures and the organoleptic properties of the tuwo (kadal dough) prepared from them were evaluated without soup, and with okro soup. Results revealed significant variations (p<0.05) existed in the functional properties and proximate composition of kadal flours as well as the sensory attributes of the tuwo. Wettability of the kadal flours improved with soaking time, water absorption capacities decreased with fermentation time, as well as bulk densities though marginally. Dispersibility of the kadal flours were generally high (70.50-77%) and no significant difference was observed. Ash, protein and fat contents of the whole grain kadal flours were higher than that of decorticated, and there was slight decrease in these nutrients with soaking time. Again, moisture and carbohydrate were lower in whole grain kadal flours than in decorticated counterparts. On sensory attributes of the various tuwo produced, colour improved with soaking time more in the decorticated millet kadals. Decorticated millet had greater desirable flavor, which was not significantly different from that of whole millet kadals. Texture of 4th day kadal tuwo was better, with whole millet kadal tuwo rated better than that of the decorticated, unlike the texture of maize kadal tuwo. Control tuwo in general had poorer flavour, colour, texture and taste. The overall acceptability of the kadal tuwo was generally higher than the control. Millet kadal tuwo progressively improved with soaking time. The bottom line was that nutritional values were sacrificed to the improvement of sensory properties of the prepared kadal flours

Enzyme link Immunosorbent Assay-based Detection of Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Correctional Facilities in Sokoto Metropolis, Sokoto State Nigeria

ELISA-Based detection of HBV infection in correctional facilities in Sokoto metropolis, Sokoto state Nigeria was carried out using a questionnaire survey to determine the associated risk factors of the disease and serological method using [Enzyme link immunosorbent Assay (ELISA)] to determine hepatitis B surface antigen (HBSAg) among inmates. Of the 180 participants from the two correctional facilities in Sokoto state (Sokoto central prison and Remand home) overall prevalence rate of (42.2%) was obtained. The distribution of HBV infection according to age was statistically significant, and the age groups of 21-25 and 36-40 years had the highest prevalence rates (61.3%). However higher prevalence was recorded among males (42.6%) than females (36.4%). Analysis of spatial distribution of prevalence of HBV infection showed that Remand home (juvenile detention centre) had the highest prevalence rate of (75%). It was concluded that hepatitis B virus infection was found to be prevalent in correctional facilities in Sokoto state in which duration of stay and multiple sexual partners were the main risk factors. Furthermore there is need for Nigerian government to establish a policy that would make general screening of all the inmates in correctional facilities for HBV infection and vaccinate them against the disease

Sensitivity analysis of biohydrogen production from Imperata cylindrica using stoichiometric equilibrium model

This paper investigated the production of biohydrogen from Imperata cylindrica, using stoichiometric equilibrium model. The stoichiometric equilibrium model uses biomass ultimate analysis, thermodynamic equilibrium and elemental balance on biomass gasification reaction. The sensitivity analysis was studied over a wide range of operating conditions involving temperature (250-1500 °C), ressure (1-5 atm) and Steam to fuel ratio (0-5). The result shows biohydrogen and other biogas product were sensitive to temperature and steam-feed ratio, whereas effect of pressure is negligible. The operating condition for optimal biohydrogen production in moles (23%) was atmospheric pressure, temperature, 1500 °C and steam-feed ratio, 5. Biogas product mixtures are H2, 23%, CO, 17%, CO2, 12% CH4, 0% and H2O, 60%. Increase in steam-feed ratio (0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) significantly increase the biohydrogen by 1381%, 90%, 46%, 31% and 24%. The stoichiometry equilibrium model could effectively be used in determining biohydrogen production and its sensitivity to temperature and steam