The shelf stability of agidi produced from maize (Zea mays) during ambient temperature (30.0±1.5°C) storage and the effects of sodium benzoate treatment in combination with low temperature storage (12-14°C) was evaluated for eight weeks. Results indicates high total aerobic bacterial count (1.05x10 10 cfu/g) and fungi count (4.6x10 9 cfu/g) at the 12 th day of storage and thereafter, decrease gradually till the end of the storage period. Treatment with 0.15% sodium benzoate and refrigeration at 12-14°C drastically retarded microbial growth up till the 21 st and 28 th day of storage. Seven bacteria genera (Bacillus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, Leuconostoc, Pseudomonas and Alcalegene) and seven fungi genera (Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Geotrichum) were detected and isolated. The pH decreased from 4.15±0.01 to 3.10±0.02 at the end of storage period while the titratable acidity increased from 0.002±0.001 to 0.005±0.001. However, the pH and titratable acidity were fairly stable in samples treated with sodium benzoate and refrigeration of 12-14°C. An increase of 37.94% and 32.19% were recorded for the moisture and fibre contents, respectively. Conversely, a decrease of 12.92, 45, 81.32 and 44.95% were detected and recorded for the carbohydrates, lipid, protein and ash contents. However, treatment with 0.15% sodium benzoate and refrigeration at 12-14°C kept these parameters fairly stable all through the storage period. Overall sensory evaluation shows that sodium benzoate treated and refrigerated samples were highly acceptable even though freshly prepared samples were preferred.

Vancomycin resistant enterococci (VRE) are a major medical concern globally. Their significantly greater prevalence and the ability to transfer resistance to vancomycin from other bacteria made them an object of interest and intense research. The isolates of Enterococcus sp. were subjected to antibiotic susceptibility testing before curing. The three Enterococcus species exhibited different antibiotic resistance profile. Pre-curing antibiotic resistance of nosocomial isolates compared with community acquired isolates revealed that high percentage of the nosocomial isolates were resistant to antibiotics compared to community isolate. Post-curing antibiograms of the isolates showed different resistant and susceptibility pattern. Also, DNA plasmid pre-curing and post curing analysis of the isolates showed different resistance pattern. Six of the 15 representative isolates selected on the basis of their high pre-curing antibiotic resistance for plasmid analysis with 0.8% agarose electrophoresis were positive for plasmid DNA. Four (4) of the positive isolates (E. faecium, E. faecium, E. faecalis, and E. avium) had plasmid fragment of greater than 1000 bp while two (2) of them (E. faecalis and E. faecalis) had fragments of between 100 and 500 bp. The remaining nine (9) had no plasmid DNA. The study revealed the pathogenicity factors demonstrated with the enterococcal isolates.

Background: Schistosomiasis is estimated to affect more than 200 million people especially in rural and agricultural areas. Schistosoma haematobium causes significant urinary tract diseases and is mediated by T cell dependent granulomatous responses to the schistosome eggs. Since tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) is elicited by Th 1 responses and implicated in granulomatous responses to the ova trapped in the bladder wall of Schistosoma haematobium infected persons, it is important to ascertain the relationship between intensity of infection and urinary tract pathology in our locality. Methodology: The urine samples from volunteers were subjected to parasitological investigations to ascertain the presence of S. haematobium ova in their urine. The TNF profile was ascertained using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The ultrasonographical investigation was carried out on the S. haematobium infected participants using transabdominal ultrasonography. Results: Nineteen out of 40 rural Nigerians infected with S. haematobium showed severe infection while the remaining 21 individuals had light infection. Males (26) were more severely infected than females (14). Children (30) were more infected than adults (10). The serum TNF concentration correlated positively with the intensity of infection (r 2 = 0.97). Serum TNF was negatively correlated with the age of the volunteers (r 2 =-0.36). The mean TNF concentration among subjects with heavy infection (535.7.4 415.5 pg/ml) was significantly higher than that among those with light infection (93.8 40.9pg/ml) at (χ 2 = 341.0, p<0.05). Also the concentration of TNF in the sera of children (448.2 140.2pg/ml) was significantly higher than that in adults (180.0 152.1 pg/ml) at (χ 2 = 114.6, p<0.05). The ultrasonographic investigation revealed eight types of urinary tract pathology, namely, abnormal wall thickness (70%), irregular bladder wall (55%), echogenic particles (75%), calcification (60%), pseudopolyp (12.5%), masses (10%), residual volume (30%) and hydroureter (7.5%) among 28 subjects. These participants with urinary tract pathology had relatively high serum TNF ranging from 190.6 15.6 pg/ml in abnormal wall thickness to 630.6 15.6 pg/ml among individuals with masses. Conclusion: The bladder and kidney pathology revealed in this investigation as well as the intensity of infection correlated with the levels of serum TNF among S. haematobium infected participants in Ihieve-Ogben, Nigeria. We observed an association between high level TNF with heavy infection and urinary tract pathology.

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Enterococci despite being a normal commensal is of great health concern since it can become virulent. Hence the study investigated the prevalence of Enterococci infection and two tertiary health institutions (Enugu State University of Technology (ESUT) Teaching Hospital, Parklane and University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla in Enugu State) were used. Isolation and identification were based on standard procedures and biochemical tests. The results showed that age ranges of 21-25years 10(14.7%) and 26-30 years 8(11.8%) had the highest prevalence. Also, more females were infected by the organism than males though the difference was not statistically significant (p= 0.371).The possible predisposing factor showed that 16(23.5%) were unknown while 10(14.7%), 6(8.8%), 14(20.6%), 9(13.2%), 8(11.8%) and 5(7.6%) were catheterization, surgery, pregnancy, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS and previous history of enterococcal infection, respectively. The frequency of enterococcal isolates from different specimens showed that 24(35.3%) of the isolates were from urine samples, 12(17.6%) were from high vaginal swab, 7(10.2%) were from ear swab and wound swab respectively, 4(5.9%) were from urethral swab and aspirates respectively and 2(2.9%) were from sputum samples. Furthermore, departmental sources of enterococcus sp. isolated showed that 21(30.9%) were from Surgery department followed by general out-patients department 14(20.6%), Urology 8(10.3%), Gynaecology 7(10.3), Medicine 6(8.8%), Antenatal, Children out-patients, Neurology and Children Emergency Department had 3(4.4%) each. Also, 41(60.3%) out of the 68 isolates were nosocomially acquired and 27(39.7%) isolates were community acquired. There was no significant difference (p= 0.486) when nosocomially acquired enterococcal isolates were compared with community acquired enterococcal isolates. Monthly frequencies of the isolates showed that July had the highest frequency 10(14.7%) followed by the month of May 7(10.3%). April, August and October had 6(8.8%) respectively. February, March November and December had 5(7.4) respectively; January and September had 4(5.9%) respectively while June had 3(4.4%). Seasonal comparison (rainy and dry season) of the distribution of the isolates within the years of the study showed that rainy season had 38 number of isolates while dry season had 30 number of isolates and there was no significant difference between the frequencies of occurrence in the two seasons (p= 0.271). Therefore, there is an increasing prevalence of Enterococci and can be hospital acquired, screening for this organism is important in hospital setting.