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A R T I C L E D E T A I L S A B S T R A C TThe ability of Fungal Isolates to utilize spent engine oil in contaminated soils from some ten selected major mechanic workshops in Kaduna metropolis as sole source of carbon and energy was studied. Microbes were isolated from ten (10) used engine oil contaminated automobile workshops within Kaduna metropolis and assessed for their bioremediation potential. The identities of the isolated microbes were determined using biochemical and molecular characterization techniques. These organisms were further studied to determine their biodegrading activities on hydrocarbons (used engine oil) using mineral salt medium broth. Fungal species isolated includes Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus sp., Pennicillium sp. and mixed fungal consortium in the following percentages 23.07%, 15.38%, 7.69% and 76.36% respectively. The growth rate pattern in decreasing order is mixed fungi isolates> Aspergillus niger> Rhizopus sp. > Penicillum sp. Therefore, these microbial isolates can be applied for the restoration of petroleum polluted environment using bioremediation technology and should be consider as trial for further pilot studies.

Onchocerciasis is transmitted to humans by the black fly, Simulium damnosum. Preliminary investigations were carried out between the months of June, 2008 and February, 2009 to verify the transmission potentials of S. damnosum for Onchocerca volvulus in a Public Amusement Park and its environs in Kaduna Metropolis of Kaduna State, Nigeria. Out of the 224 female black flies caught and dissected during the period of study, 48.21% (108/224) were found to harbor different larval stages of O. volvulus. Of the total infected flies recorded, 36.75% (68/185), 41.08% (76/185) and 22.16% (41/185) had larval stages of O. volvulus in their head, thorax and abdominal segments, respectively. The high percentage of black flies found to harbor different larval stages of O. volvulus is indicative of active transmission in and around the park. There is therefore the need for relevant Governmental agency to take a proactive step aimed at controlling the insect vector before the disease attains an epidemic proportion.

Environmental pollution is principally caused by human activities that usually result in the release of man-made pollutants such as biological, chemical and radioactive in such states as solid, liquid and gaseous substances into the biosphere via, land, water and air. Globally, the increasing rate of environmental contamination by ammunition/explosives resulting from their increasing deployments in the rising spites of military conflicts and training has certainly become a matter of great concern for every nation. The aim of this research was to molecularly characterize some isolated bacteria from an apparent munitions contaminated sites in Kachia Military Firing Range, Kaduna State. DNA from each isolated bacteria was extracted and 16s rRNA Gene amplified from each isolated bacteria DNA using thermo cycler. The amplified genes were run on Agarose gel plate and visualized. Amplified gene bands were sequenced and Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST). 16s rRNA gene sequences result aligned with BLAST search of NCBI databases that revealed the presence of Lysinibacillus pakistanensis, Eschericia coli, Achromobacter spanius, Achromobacter animicus, Escherichia fergusonii and Shigella sp. The results identified bacteria that were isolated from munitions contaminated sites and that could also be useful for their bioremediation potential against munitions contaminant.