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The potential of Burkholderia cepacia strain RQ1 in the biodegradation of heavy crude oil (Maya) was assessed to develop an active indigenous bacterial consortium for the bioremediation of crude oil-polluted systems in Nigeria. The heavy crude oil (Maya) was utilized as sole source of carbon, attaining maximum cell densities of 10 8 cfu ml ±1 from an initial 10 5 cfu ml ±1 in 15 days. Biomass also increased with oil concentrations up to 0.8% (w/v). Growth rates ranged from 0.028 h ±1 to 0.036 h ±1 and degradation rates decreased with increasing concentrations of oil from 0.009 day ±1 to 0.004 day ±1 . The quantity of oil metabolized increased signi®cantly (P<0.05) with increasing concentrations of oil. However, the growth of the bacterium was inhibited at crude oil concentrations beyond 6% (w/v). The pH of the culture media also dropped signi®cantly (P<0.05) during the 15-day test period, while the non-asphaltic fractions of the oil were signi®cantly reduced (by about 89%) during the same period. The bacterium harbours a plasmid of about 10 kb that lacks restriction sites for the endonucleases Asp718, BamHI and PstI.

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Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is caused by the overgrowth of Candida species, most commonly Candida albicans in the vagina and is characterized by curd-like vaginal discharge, itching and erythema. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and to emphasize the need for proper detection of vulvovaginal candidiasis among asymptomatic pregnant women. A total of 140 pregnant women aged between 20-49 years and of gestation age of 14-36 weeks were recruited for this study. High Vaginal swabs were collected under aseptic condition. Samples collected were analyzed within one hour of collection using microscopy and culture methods. The isolates were further subjected to the Germ tube test (GTT) and the chromogenic agar test (CHROM agar). The rate of Candida infection was found to be 25% (n=35) among the pregnant women. The peak age of infection was 20-29 years 33.8% (n=26), no woman between the age 40 to 49 years had candidiasis. Candidiasis was significantly more likely to be detected in pregnant women in the second trimester compared to those in the first (χ 2 =5.952; p <0.05) and third trimesters ((χ 2 =9.282; p <0.05). This study revealed a high incidence of asymptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis among pregnant women in Ogbomoso and various Candida spp responsible for VVC were identified.

Water is one of the crucial necessities of man since it is needed for almost all of his activities. With increase in population growth, quality water needed for consumption by man is on the decline because of environmental pollution. Thus the main aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence level of E. coli O157:H7 in water bodies in Ile-Ife and its environs which are the sources of water for man's consumption. Four hundred and fifty-one samples were investigated from five major sources of water namely; well, stream, borehole, bottled and sachet. The water samples were screened for E. coli and serologically characterized for E. coli O157:H7. The E. coli O157:H7 isolates obtained were further characterized for stx 1, stx 2 and eaeA genes. The result revealed that well water and stream water had a prevalence of 8.74% and 4.59% respectively. Antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli isolates showed that both sources harboured isolates that are resistant to three classes of antibiotics. The virulence gene distribution shows that stx 1 and stx 2 were present in all the E. coli O157:H7 investigated. In conclusion, it appears that the gastroenteritis outbreaks experienced in the study area may be due to the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in water samples.