Gut digestive enzymes and microbial diversity of worker honeybees,Apis mellifera adansoniiL. from rainforest, guinea savannah and derived savannah zones of Nigeria during the onset of rain, the wet season, and dry season was evaluated. The pour-plate method was used for microbial analysis while spectrophotometric method was used to determine activities of gut digestive enzymes. Gut activities of lipase and proteinase were not significantly different in the honeybees from the three ecological zones during the seasonal periods. However, amylase and α-glucosidase were significantly affected by seasonal periods and ecological zones. Bacterial count was higher on the body surface than in the gut of the honeybees. The lowest (gut and body surface) bacterial count was recorded during the dry season period. Fungal load counts on the body surface and gut were significantly different between the ecological zones during each of the seasonal periods. Bacterial species varied in the honeybees from the ecological zones and this was higher on the body surface than in their gut. Yeast isolate of the genus Candida was the only identified yeast on the body surface and in the gut of the honeybees. The gut of honeybees could selectively harbour microbes while performing digestive roles.

Background The ability of honeybees to survive and sustain honey production depends on their ability to adapt to their environment. This study evaluated the seasonal fluctuations of antioxidant activities and biochemical compositions of honeybees, Apis mellifera adansonii L. from rainforest, guinea savannah and derived savannah zones of Nigeria during three seasonal periods (onset of rain, wet season and dry season) from January to December, 2017. Honeybees were collected from fully colonized colonies of two different apiaries from each of the ecological zones during the seasonal periods. Amino acid composition was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography. Antioxidant enzymes activity, body protein, glucose and lipid profile were evaluated using standard protocols. Results Seasonal periods showed significant (p < 0.05) effect on the eighteen amino acids, superoxide dismutase (SOD), triglycerides and fat-free nitrogen recorded in the honeybees. Amino acids were higher in the honeybees from the rainforest zone, regardless of the seasonal period. SOD and body protein were higher during the wet season in the three ecological zones. However, seasonal periods showed no significant (p > 0.05) influence on the body glucose, protein pattern, total cholesterol, activities of malondialdehyde, reduced glutathione, glutathione peroxidase and catalase. Body glucose content in the honeybees from the rainforest and guinea savannah zones was highest during the dry season. Conclusions Antioxidant activities and biochemical compositions of honeybees are differently affected by both ecological zones and seasonal fluctuations.

Malaria in pregnancy has been seen to cause poor pregnancy and foetal outcomes. In this study, mice infected with Plasmodium berghei (P. berghei) during the second and third stages of pregnancy were examined for their pregnancy's outcome and changes in their blood's biochemical composition after delivery. Additionally, the physical and behavioural reactions of the mice's pups were also investigated. Thirty pregnant female Swiss Albino mice were randomly divided into three groups; two received intraperitoneal injections of 106 P. berghei-infected red blood cells on gestational days (GD12 and 17), while the third group was left uninfected (control). Pregnancy termination occurred in 20% of mice infected during GD12, whereas mortality before parturition occurred in 40% and 30% of mice infected during GD12 and GD17, respectively. Non-infected group's total protein and glucose concentrations were significantly higher (p<0.05), while cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations were significantly lower (p<0.05) when compared to the infected groups. The Mean birth weights (1.82 ± 0.37 g) of pups were considerably higher (p < 0.05) in control mice compared to pups from infected groups. Offspring born to infected mothers exhibited poor physical and behavioural responses. Mice infection by Plasmodium berghei during pregnancy resulted in adverse birth outcomes, altered measured biochemical parameters, poor physical and behavioural responses in their offspring and was more severe during the 2nd stage of pregnancy.

Artemisinin Combination Therapy (ACT) is readily available in malaria-endemic nations, leading to repeated drug usage by undiagnosed persons. Repeated use of ACT therapy by non-infected individuals may affect blood cells. This study explored how repeated artesunate-amodiaquine (A/A) and artemether-lumefantrine (A/L) treatment in non-infected mice affected haematological markers. 100 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: non-infected and Plasmodium berghei NK65 infected treated with A/L and A/A 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X, 5X, and 6X, and the control group. Packed cell volume (PCV), Haemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC) were reduced (p>0.05) non-significantly in the non-infected group treated with A/L or A/A six times compared to the control and infected groups. WBC rose in infected and non-infected mice treated with A/L or A/A 1X, 2X, 3X, and 6X, with a substantial rise in non-infected mice treated with A/L (p < 0.01) and A/A (p < 0.001) three times. WBC mainly rose due to lymphocytes, although neutrophils decreased. Repeated therapeutic use of A/L and A/A without infection may cause a haematological change. Continuous efforts are needed to educate the public about screening for malaria parasites before using drugs.