Changes in erythrocyte membrane properties following exposure to premium motor spirit (petrol vapour) and modulatory effects of moringa oleifera and vitamin c in wistar rats

Background: The present study was carried out to evaluate the effect of petrol vapour on properties of Erythrocyte: osmotic fragility(EOF), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and red cell indices as well as the comparative beneficial effect of Moringa oleifera and Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the values.Methods: Forty adult male Wister rats randomly divided to four with ten rats in a group. Group 1: control, was given water and feed ad-libitum without any treatment. Group 2 (petrol only) were exposed to petrol vapour only without any pretreatment. Group 3 (Vit C group) pretreated wit Ascorbic acid (100mg/kg) before exposure to petrol vapour; and group 4 were (Moringa group) were pretreated with Moringa oleifera extract (40mg/kg) before exposure to petrol vapour. The exposure to petrol vapour was done 10 minutes every day for eight weeks. Exposure to petrol fume was generated by using human compressor nebulizer adopted for rats and connected to fume chamber where the rats were kept. The pretreatment was effected by gavage using the oral cannula, 30 minutes before exposure. At the end of the exposure, period 0.2ml of blood samples obtained from individual rat in each group were suspended in separate sets of Phosphate buffer saline (PBS) solution of decreasing concentrations to evaluate erythrocyte osmotic fragility (EOF). RBC, PCV and Hb were analyzed from heparinised blood sample. The red cell indices were thereafter calculated. 1.2ml of blood kept inside sodium oxalate bottle was suspended in the Westergren tube for one hour.Results: There was significant increase in the fragility of the group exposed to petrol vapour only compared with control and the pre-treated groups. There was zero sedimentation with little or no rouleaux of the erythrocyte in the petrol only group compared with control. There was sedimentation with rouleaux formation in the control, Moringa and vitamin C groups, the difference was however not significant (p>0.05).Conclusion: The study concluded that Erythrocytes membrane became more fragile on exposure to petrol vapour, The degree of amelioration shown by pretreatment with Moringa oleifera was significantly (p<0.05) higher than that of Ascorbic acid. Moringa oleifera was found to be more effective in protecting the erythrocyte properties following exposure to petrol vapour than vitamin C.Keywords: Erythrocyte osmotic Fragility, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate, Moringa oleifera, Ascorbic aci

In vitro assessment of the potency of some Newcastle disease vaccine brands in Ibadan, Nigeria

Background: Newcastle disease (ND) is a very common and economically important disease of poultry. There is no drug for treatment of the disease during an outbreak in poultry flocks, and prevention by vaccination is one of the recommended control measures. However, post vaccination outbreaks have been observed on many occasions in chicken flocks and one of the causes has been attributed to possible failure of vaccine to confer immunity. This study was designed to evaluate the potency of ND vaccines available in Ibadan, Nigeria. Methodology: Haemagglutination (HA) technique and elution phenomenon were employed to evaluate the potency of ND vaccines randomly selected in Ibadan. A total of 45 vaccines comprising 9 brands and 5 different strains were selected for potency test. The vaccine brands included ‘Vireo 116’ (n=10), ‘ABIC’ (n=5), ‘Biovac’(n=9), ‘Nobilis’(n=3), ‘NVRI’(n=12), ‘R2B’ (n=2), ‘BAL-ND’ (n=2), ‘Forte dodge’(n=1) and ‘Jovac’ (n=1), while the vaccine strains in the brands included Lasota, B1, Clone, Komarov, Hitcher, and an unknown strain. Results: Thirty-five of the 45 (77.8%) ND vaccines tested had more than 4 HA titer (>64) and were therefore regarded as potent. All the 15 (100%) ND Lasota vaccine strain, 7 out of 10 (70%) ND Komarov strain, 4 out of 5 (80%) ND clone and 5 out of 8 (62.5%) ND B1 strains were potent. None of the ND brand ‘R2B’ vaccine as well as Hitchner strain from ‘Nobilis’ brand was potent, but all 5, 2, 1 and 1 vaccines tested from brands ‘ABIC’, ‘BAL-ND’, ‘Fort dodge’ and ‘Jovac’ respectively were potent. Similarly, 9 of 10, 6 of 9, 2 of 3 and 9 of 12 vaccine strains tested from brands ‘Vireo 116’, ‘Biovac’, ‘Nobilis’ and ‘NVRI’ were respectively potent Conclusion: The occurrence of ND vaccines that are not potent in this study may be contributing to post vaccination failure. It is advisable to subject vaccines to potency test before use. Key words: in vitro, assessment, potency, Newcastle disease, vaccine brands, vaccine strains   French Title; Évaluation in vitro de la puissance de certaines marques de vaccins contre la maladie de Newcastle à Ibadan, Nigéria Contexte: La maladie de Newcastle (ND) est une maladie très courante et économiquement importante des volailles. Il n'existe aucun médicament pour le traitement de la maladie lors d'une épidémie dans des troupeaux de volailles, et la prévention par vaccination est l'une des mesures de contrôle recommandées. Cependant, des flambées post-vaccination ont été observées à de nombreuses reprises dans des troupeaux de poulets et l'une des causes a été attribuée à un éventuel échec du vaccin à conférer l'immunité. Cette étude a été conçue pour évaluer la puissance des vaccins contre la MN disponibles à Ibadan, au Nigéria. Méthodologie: La technique d'hémagglutination (HA) et le phénomène d'élution ont été utilisés pour évaluer la puissance des vaccins contre la MN sélectionnés au hasard à Ibadan. Un total de 45 vaccins comprenant 9 marques et 5 souches différentes ont été sélectionnés pour le test d'activité. Les marques de vaccins comprenaient 'Vireo 116' (n=10), 'ABIC' (n=5), 'Biovac' (n=9), 'Nobilis' (n=3), 'NVRI' (n=12), 'R2B' (n=2), 'BAL-ND' (n=2), 'Forte dodge' (n=1) et 'Jovac' (n=1), tandis que les souches vaccinales des marques comprenaient Lasota, B1, Clone, Komarov, Hitcher et une souche inconnue. Résultats: Trente-cinq des 45 vaccins contre la MN testés (77,8%) avaient plus de 4 titres en HA (>64) et étaient donc considérés comme puissants. Toutes les 15 (100%) souches de vaccin ND Lasota, 7 souches sur 10 (70%) ND Komarov, 4 sur 5 (80%) clones ND et 5 sur 8 (62,5%) souches ND B1 étaient puissantes. Aucun des vaccins ’R2B’ de marque ND ni la souche Hitchner de la marque ’Nobilis’ n'étaient puissants, mais tous les vaccins 5, 2, 1 et 1 testés des marques ‘ABIC’, ‘BAL-ND’, ‘Fort dodge’ et ‘Jovac’ respectivement était puissant. De même, 9 des 10, 6 des 9, 2 des 3 et 9 des 12 souches vaccinales testées des marques ’Vireo 116’, ‘Biovac’, ‘Nobilis’ et ‘NVRI’ étaient respectivement puissantes Conclusion: La présence de vaccins contre la MN qui ne sont pas puissants dans cette étude peut contribuer à l'échec post-vaccinal. Il est conseillé de soumettre les vaccins à un test de puissance avant utilisation. Mots-clés: in vitro, évaluation, puissance, maladie de Newcastle, marques de vaccin, souches vaccinale

Comparison of sorption capacity and surface area of activated carbon prepared from <i>Jatropha curcas</i> fruit pericarp and seed coat

Activated carbons were prepared from fruit pericarp and seed coat of Jatropha curcas using KOH and NaCl as activating agents leading to the production of four samples of activated carbons JPS, JPP, JCS and JCP. The adsorption capacity based on adsorption of methylene blue was determined for each sample. A further study of adsorptive properties of the most efficient activated carbon (JPS) was made by contacting it with standard solutions of methylene blue, acetic acid and potassium permanganate. The effects of mass of active carbon used, initial concentration of the solute and the pH of the solution on adsorption performance were investigated. Ash content and percentage fixed carbon were determined for two of the activated carbons (JPS and JCS) with the highest adsorptive capacity. Equilibrium study on adsorption was carried out and the adsorption data were analyzed using the Langmuir isotherm. The results obtained indicate that activated carbons from the fruit pericarp and the seed coat of J. curcas can be used as high performance adsorbents with the fruit pericarp activated carbon showing the higher adsorption capacity. The adsorption data fitted well to the Langmuir model and adsorptive area of 824–910 m2/g was obtained for the activated carbon.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v26i2.

Design and development of a unified subscribers’ SIM registration platform using top-down approach

Compulsory SIM registration in Nigeria started in 2008 in response to several mobile crimes being perpetrated by fraudsters and also to improve service delivery. The decentralized systems currently in use in the country lack flexibility to register heterogeneous SIM cards and encourage multiple registrations. This work, the “design and development of a centralized, unified subscribers‟ SIM registration platform” therefore seeks to address these loopholes. The work employs top-down design approach using HTML, PHP, JAVASCRIPT, CSS, and MySQL as development tools. The new system surpasses the existing one as it is able to register all SIM cards of the four (4) major telecommunication operators in Nigeria and verify if a SIM had already been registered thus bringing stability, flexibility, and single platform for all. It is recommended that SIM card availability/sales on the road side should be stopped or such SIM cards be denied access to network until they are properly registered.Key Words: Multiple SIMs, SIM registration, status verification, NCC, Subscribers

Prospective Jatropha Curcas based Firms in Nigeria. How Viable?

This study examined the viability of prospective Jatropha based firms vis–a-vis employment opportunities in Nigeria, specifically the study identified the Jatropha bio-diesel and other allied products that were been researched into in Nigeria, estimated the costs and returns structure to Jatropha cultivation and the production of Jatropha based products. For the study, small scale Jatropha based firms were investigated. The results of the study revealed that Jatropha based products manufactured include bio-diesel, Jatropha kernel cake livestock feed, Jatropha ink pigment and dye, glycerine and Jatropha seeds-coat cement sheet and floor tiles. All the various parts of the Jatropha seeds are useful either for one or two of these products. Jatropha cultivation, was shown to be very profitable. Among Jatropha products, only the costs of the biodiesel Jatropha fuel is relative expensive when compared with the common fossil diesel. Based on the study findings, the study calls for the mobilisation of the Nigerian farmers to cultivate Jatropha, Alongside training to intimate the masses of the numerous products and benefits from Jatropha is necessary. They should be trained to manufacture simple Jatropha based necessities like those highlighted in the study. Market accessibility training to farmers and other stakeholders involved should also be embedded in the training. There is also the need to popularize the practicality of using Jatropha to produce these products via workshops and seminars. It is also necessary to step-up steps at introducing these products to the markets so as to enhance the marketability and competitiveness of the Jatropha based firms. Government and also other individuals and stake-holders need ensure the availability of supporting infrastructures for these small holder industries to thrive in the long-run

Anthelmintic Potency of <i>Carica</i> <i>papaya</i> seeds against Gastro-intestinal Helminths in Red Sokoto goat

The comparative studies on anthelmintic potency of Carica papaya seeds was investigated in naturally infected Red Sokoto goats. Forty Red Sokoto goats (average 12 ± 0.25 kg body weight) infected naturally with helminthes were used to compare anthelminthic potency of Carica papaya seeds in aqueous and crude extract forms and Thiabendazole treatment against intestinal worms. The animals were randomly assigned into four treatment groups (A, B, C and D) consisting of 10 Red Sokoto goats per group. The animals in group A were not treated (negative control) while B undergone thiabendazole anthelmintic treatment (positive control). Groups C and D were given the powdery and aqueous forms of C. papaya seed extract via feed at 300 mg/kg body weight/day and at 1:10 ml (w/v) of water respectively for 3 days. Before anthelmintic treatments and 1st and 2nd weeks after administering the anthelminthics, faecal and blood samples were collected for parasitological and haematological analysis. Data collected were subjected to one-way ANOVA. Treatments of both aqueous and powdery forms of C. papaya seed extract resulted a significant increase (p &lt; 0.05) in packed cell volume (PCV), red blood cell (RBC) and haemoglobin concentration and lymphocyte counts. Conversely, there was significant (p &gt; 0.05) decrease in the eosinophil counts. The reduction in the faecal egg counts of helminth when C. papaya seed extracts applied was significantly (p &lt; 0.05) comparable to those obtained for Thiabendazole treatment. However, the efficacy of aqueous form of C. papaya seed extract was more significant (p &lt; 0.05) than the crude (powdery) extract administered via the feed. The study therefore concludes that C. papaya seed extracts have comparable anthelmintic potency to Thiabendazole and that aqueous forms were more efficient than powdery forms when administered in Red Sokoto goats as an alternative to anthelmintic to synthetic dewormers in rural areas in controlling helminthosi