The antisickling properties of crude juice extracts of the edible portions of three commonly consumed tropical fruits namely Persia americana, Citrus sinensis, and Carica papaya were investigated in vitro alongside a new drug preparation called Ciklavit® that has antisickling activity. Four different solvent extracts of the crude juice of each fruit including aqueous, acidic, alkaline and alcoholic extracts were prepared and their antisickling effects on sickle cell trait (HbAS) and sickle cell disease (HbSS) blood samples checked alongside Ciklavit®. Blood samples were stabilized using normal saline and the antisickling effects were checked by counting the number of sickle cells remaining after incubation of the blood samples with the crude fruit extracts and Ciklavit® for twenty-four hours. The results showed that Ciklavit® produced a sustained reduction in the number of sickle cells in both HbAS and HbSS blood samples. Also the alkaline and alcoholic extracts of P. americana and C. papaya produced significant reduction in the number of sickle cells.

The incidence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing pathogens is worrisome because it confers multiple drug resistance (MDR). Considering their serious clinical significance, the study investigated the prevalence of MDR-ESBL-producing Salmonella strains isolated from raw chicken meat in Southern Nigeria. A total of 240 raw chicken meat were sampled and the recovered Salmonella strains were characterized for MDR and ESBL-genes using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion and molecular techniques. Of the 52 confirmed Salmonellaenterica serotypes, 67.31% (35/52) were Salmonella entericasubsp. entericaserovar Typhimurium, 32.68% (17/52) were Salmonella entericasubsp. entericaserovar Enteritidis, 78.85% (41/52) were ESBL-producer and 88.45% (46/52) multidrug resistant. Ampicillin (96.15%) and gentamycin (40.39%) were the most and least antibiotics. The most prevalent MDR-ESBL-genes were bla CTX-M (92.68%), followed by bla SHV genes (68.29%) and bla TEM(31.71%). This study showed that Salmonella serotypes with high ESBL-genes and MDR were prevalent in raw chicken meat vended in southern Nigerian markets. Bangladesh J. Sci. Ind. Res.56(4), 271-284, 2021