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The performance of cocoyam (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) to varying levels of cow dung and potassium fertilizer was investigated in 2012 and 2013 cropping seasons under field conditions at National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT), Imo State, Nigeria. The experiment was a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were four levels of cow dung (0, 10, 20 and 30 t ha-1) and potassium fertilizer (0, 20, 40 and 60 kg K 2 O ha-1). Application of cow dung at the highest rate of 30 t ha-1 significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced plant height, number of leaves, leaf area index, number of suckers and yield of cocoyam (23.6 t ha-1) in 2012 cropping season relative to the lower rates and the control. However, in 2013 cropping season, cow dung at the lower rate of 20 t ha-1 gave optimum corm yield of 23.3 t ha-1. In general, potassium fertilizer application did not exert much influence on growth and yield of cocoyam as significant effect was observed only in 2013 cropping season. Corm yield was significantly (P < 0.05) improved by the application of 60 kg K 2 O ha-1 (22.3 t ha-1) in 2013 cropping season relative to the control. The results of this study have shown the effectiveness of cow dung in improving the productivity of cocoyam, thereby enhancing food security in Nigeria.

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Intermediate snail host of Schistosoma species are known to exist and constitute public health problems in Imo state. Effects on this study were devoted to evaluate the ecology and distribution of the snail hosts of Schistosoma species at the water bodies of Ihitte Uboma local Government area and this was researched during the months of June and September, 2015. A total of 600 pulmonate or lunged snails were collected using scoop net technique from different water bodies in five villages, out of these, 345 (57.5%) were dissected and screened for cercariae of human Schistosomes 67 (19.4%) tested positive. The snail infected were Bulinus  species 55 (82.1%) and Biomphalaria Pfeifferi (17.9%), out of the Bulinus species, Bulinus globosus recorded the widest ecological range, highest  distribution and infection rate of 44.8% followed by Bulinus truncatus (22.4%). The other two genera Lymnaea spp and Melanoides spp encountered in the study did not test positive for cercariae. Environmental modifications such as water resources development schemes in the area are some of the ecological and epidemiological risk factor promoting the spread of the snails. Statistically, presence of urinary and intestinal Schistosomiasis becomes indicated in Ihitte Uboma L.G.A. Regular and timing mollusciciding, malacological and public health education are therefore recommended and imperative.