Isolation of Salmonella and Shigella species from house flies (Musca domestica l.) in Uturu, Nigeria

Salmonella and Shigella species were isolated from House flies (Musca domestica L.) from various sampling sites using selective media. Out of 34 pooled samples Shigella species were isolated in all (100%) of the samples while Salmonella species were isolated in 21 (61.7%) of the samples. The flies pooled from the refuse dump sites had higher load of these organisms. The infection rate of flies with Shigella species observed in this study is very high and calls for proper mechanical control of flies, environment sanitation and use of insecticides where applicabl

Studies on the antimicrobial effects of garlic (Allium sativum Linn), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia Linn)

The antimicrobial effect in vitro of aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic (Allium sativum Linn.), ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and lime (Citrus aurantifolia Linn.) juice were assayed against Staphylococcus aureus; Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. All the test organisms were susceptible to undiluted lime-juice. The aqueous and ethanolic extracts of garlic and ginger singly did not inhibit any of the test organisms. The highest inhibition zone of 19 mm was observed with a combination of extracts on Staphylococcus aureus. Salmonella spp were resistant to almost all the extracts except lime. Key Words: Antimicrobial, ginger, garlic, lime, concoctions. African Journal of Biotechnology Vol.3(10) 2004: 552-55

Prevalence of Intestinal Parasites amongst School Children in Unwana Community, Afikpo, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

The prevalence of intestinal parasites among primary school pupils aged between 0 and 15years in Unwana, Afikpo Ebonyi State was investigated. The formalin-ether concentration technique was used to examine the stoolsamples of 300 school children. Out of the 300 stool samples examined, Ascaris lumbricoides had an overall prevalence of 237(79%), hookworm 245(81.6%), Trichuris trichuria 7(2.3%) and Entamoeba species 165(55%).Male pupils were more affected than the females. Children between the ages of  6 and 10 years were the most infested by A. lumbricoides while those between the ages of 11and 15years were most infested by  hookworm, Trichuris trichuria and Entamoeba species. There was a high prevalence of intestinal parasites infestation among the  children    examined  in  this  study  and  this  calls  for  urgent  need  to  improve  good  personal  hygiene  and environmental sanitation amongst school children in rural communities.Keywords:  Intestinal  parasites, Ascaris lumbricoides,  hookworm,  Trichuris trichuria, Entamoeba species, school pupils, Afikpo

The antimicrobial effect of oils from Pentaclethra macrophylla Bent, Chrysophyllum albidum G. Don and Persea gratissima Gaerth F on some local clinical bacteria isolates

A comparative study of the antimicrobial effect of oils from Pentaclethra macrophylla Bent, Chrysophyllum albidium G.Don and Persea grattissima Gaerth F seeds on some local clinical bacteria isolates was investigated. The local clinical isolates were Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis,Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. P. macrophylla seed oil had inhibition zone diameter (IZD) in millimeters in the range 5.4 - 29.3, P. grattisima 5.4 - 28.7and C. albidum 7.6 - 30.0 for all the isolates tested. Except for the E. coli isolate AC that had inhibition zone diameter (mm) of 10.6, 8.4 and 9.5 respectively for the various oils, none of the isolates showed complete resistance to all the oils tested. There is a potential to use oils from non utilised oil seeds in management of wounds

Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis in some parts of Abia State

No Abstract

Oxidative stress potential of Lead-Zinc mining on selected plants growing in Ishiagu, Nigeria

The study evaluated some biochemical and physiological properties of selected plants growing in the Ishiagu lead-Zinc mining area, Nigeria, in order to assess oxidative stress. Using sampling without replacement, twelve plants were randomly selected from the thirty five identified. Control samples were collected from a non-mining area about twenty five km away from the study area. Results showed that statistically significant differences were not found between sites with respect to biochemical parameters (ascorbic acid content, pH, total chlorophyll content and relative water content) at p>0.05. Physiological parameters (abaxial and adaxial stomata pore size) showed significant difference between site at p>0.05. With respect to plants, values for all parameters were statistically significant at p>0.05 except for relative water content, possibly due to stomatal occlusion from particulate contamination at the mining area. The lower mean values for pH, total chlorophyll content, and stomata pore size, and the higher mean ascorbic acid values of plants at the mining area is suggestive of oxidative stress from heavy metal accumulation. Stress is very likely to have less potential of mitigating air pollution and providing other environmental services. Such plants also suffer from compromised nutritive and phytotherapeutic values, as well as being potential sources of pollutant intoxication of man and animals through dietary origin. Key Words: Heavy metals, Plants, Physiochemical status, Oxidative stress, Health risk