Population dynamics and distribution of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in Automobile workshops within Uyo metropolis, Akwa Ibom State

Laboratory studies were carried out to assess the bacterial population dynamics and distribution in composite soil samples collected from five (5) different automobile workshops at various locations (Ikpa road, Nwaniba road, Udi street, Idakokpo lane and Mechanic village) within Uyo metropolis. The hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria were isolated and characterized from the soils of automobile workshops using cultural techniques. The total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) ranged from 2.5 × 105 to 8.0 × 105 CFU/g of soil sample, while the hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial count (HUBC) ranged from 2.5 × 104 to 4.4 × 104 CFU/g of soil sample. The bacterial isolates which were both Gram positive and Gram negative belonged to the genera; Bacillus, Flavobacterium, Achromobacter, Micrococcus, Citrobacter and Acinetobacter. The total heterotrophic bacterial count (THBC) and hydrocarbon utilizing bacterial count (HUBC) were higher in Ikpa road automobile workshop and Nwaniba road automobile workshops respectively. Bacillus species was found to be present in all the soil samples analysed thus had the highest frequency 5(28%) of occurrence while Achromobacter species had the lowest frequency 1(6%) of occurrence. The presence of these organisms in soils contaminated with spent and unspent lubricating oil and their subsequent growth in enrichment medium supplemented with 1% spent lubricating oil suggest their hydrocarbon utilizing potential, hence, their possible use for the bioremediation of soils impacted with lubricating oil.Keywords: automobile workshops, hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria, bioremediation, enrichment medium,lubricating oi

Premunition in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Malaria parasites have evolved to maintain a well-balanced relationship with their human hosts. This implies that they can partially escape from protective effector mechanisms of their hosts, but also that hosts can develop partial immunity to the parasite. This immunity requires repeated infections, takes years to develop and is usually of short duration. However, protective immunity to clinical malaria rather than infection may be of long duration. This natural acquired immunity is called premunition since a low parasitemia mostly persists in the presence of circulating antibodies to the various stages and in the absence of clinical disease. In children who do not have circulating antibodies to the parasite, premunition is probably caused by antitoxic immunity. These poor and slowly developing immune responses to malaria are partly due to immune evasion strategies of the parasite caused by antigenic polymorphism, shedding of parts of parasite proteins, cross-reactive epitopes of antigens of different developmental stages, prolonged exposure to endemic malaria and widespread restricted immunogenicity to defined antigens. Premunition relies on the cooperation between the parasite and human antibodies, leading to the induction of antibody dependent cellular inhibition (ADCI) of the intraerythrocytic growth of the parasite. The immunity, however, is not a sterilizing type in that the infection persists longer than the symptoms and individuals can exhibit relapses or recrudescences or become reinfected

Relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty:Acase study of two cities in Abia State, Nigeria

A study was conducted between March and September 2007 to determine the relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty in two urban cities in Abia State, Nigeria.Atotal of 382 respondents, made up of 235 (61.5%) HIV/AIDS positive patients, 119 (31.2%) HIV-negative 28 (7.3%) were of unknown status. Using educational level, employment status and salary structure, it was found that the disease in the state was not caused by poverty. It was therefore concluded that drastic measures besides poverty alleviation, should be adopted if emergence of new infections in the state must be checked

Endemicity of lymphatic filariasis in Three Local Government Areas of Imo State, Nigeria

A study was carried out to determine and compare the rate of occurrence of lymphatic filariasis in three Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Imo State, south-eastern Nigeria. One sample community was selected from each of the Local Government Areas (LGAs) comprising of Umuezereokam in OwerriWest, Ebikoro in Owerri North, and Nguru in Ngor Okpala. In all, sixhundred blood samples, made up of two hundred each from each of the LGAs were collected at random between 10 p.m., and 12 a.m., each screening day, from equal number of male and female volunteers, aged between 11 and 80, and screened for a possible presence of the microfilaria of lymphatic filariasis, using the Giemsa thick stained blood film. Results obtained show that the microfilaria ofWuchereria bancrofti was the only filarial worm isolated in the three LGAs. The results further revealed that Ngor Okpala recorded the highest rate . 56 (28%) of infection, followed by Owerri North with 47 (23.5%), while the leastwas observed in OwerriWest with 43 (21.5%). Also, more male, 85 (42.5%) than females, 61 (30.5%) were positive for the disease. There was however, no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the rate of occurrence of the infection in the LGAs between the male and female cases at 95% confidence interval. Lymphatic filariasis will indeed become a veritable public health problem in the LGAs unless its progression is adequately monitored by the relevant government authorities and independenthealth care providers