Soil samples were collected from five sites covering petroleum exploration station in Kukawa, Kukawa Local Government Area of Borno State, Nigeria between October, 2012 and February, 2013 at two different depths (0-10cm and 10-20cm) to enumerate and identify hydrocarbon degrading bacteria in the soil. Total aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (TAHB) were enumerated on Nutrient agar (NA), and Hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria (HUB) enumerated on Oil agar (OA). The bacterial isolates were identified using morphological and biochemical tests. It was observed that the microorganisms (TAHB, and HUB) were more densely populated at 10cm depth. (TAHB: 5.3×108 - 11.4×108cfu/g, and HUB: 2.4×105 - 5.3×105 cfu/g, than at 20 cm depth (TAHB: 3.0×108 - 5.7×108 cfu/g, and HUB: 2.1×105 - 4.8×105 cfu/g). The HUB was identified as species of Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Klebsiella, Lactobacillus, Micrococcus, Corynebacterium, and Actinomyces. Bacillus, and Pseudomonas species were more constantly isolated than other isolates and they constitute 100% of total bacterial isolates. The potential of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria isolated to degrade hydrocarbon was studied. Nineteen (19) bacterial species was screened, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus cereus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Micrococcus leteus,and Lactobacillus casei, utilized and degrade crude oil at considerably high rates after 21 days of incubation. The degradation efficiency was confirmed by GC-MS analysis, which indicated that the bacterial isolates utilized most of the crude oil components particularly straight chain alkanes and cycloalkanes DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ije.v3i2.10503 International Journal of the Environment Vol.3(2) 2014: 36-47

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Biodegradation of spent engine oil (SEO) by bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of Cajan cajan and Lablab purpureus was investigated. It was with a view to determining most efficient bacterial species that could degrade SEO in phytoremediation studies. Hydrocarbon degrading bacteria were isolated and identified by enrichment culture technique using oil agar supplemented with 0.1% v/v SEO. Total heterotrophic and oil utilizing bacterial count showed the occurrence of large number of bacteria predominantly in the rhizosphere soil, ranging between 54×10 8 -144×10 8 CFU/g and 4×10 8 -96×10 8 CFU/g respectively. Percentage of oil utilizing bacteria ranged between 0% (uncontaminated non rhizosphere soil) to 76% (contaminated rhizosphere). Turbidimetrically, five bacterial species namely Pseudomonas putrefacience CR33, Klebsiella pneumonia CR23, Pseudomonas alcaligenes LR14, Klebsiella aerogenes CR21, and Bacillus coagulans CR31 were shown to grow maximally and degraded the oil at the rate of 68%, 62%, 59%, 58%and 45% respectively. Chromatographic analysis using GC-MS showed the presence of lower molecular weight hydrocarbons in the residual oil (indicating degradation) after 21 days, whereas the undegraded oil (control) had higher molecular weight hydrocarbons after the same period. The species isolated were shown to have high ability of SEO biodegradation and therefore could be important tools in ameliorating SEO contaminated soil.

The prevalence of urinary tract infection (UTI) among children attending primary schools in Maiduguri was investigated in this study. The study was carried out between January and April 2011 among apparently healthy pupils. One hundred and twenty (120) clean-catch urine samples were obtained from the pupils using standard procedures. Microbial culture on Cystein Lactose Electrolyte Deficient (CLED) ager and subsequent Biochemical tests revealed 31.7% of the samples with significant bacterial growth (≥ 10 5 CFU/ml). Among the identified organisms Escherichia coli were more prevalent (8.3%) among the identified organisms, while Proteus and Klebsiella species were less prevalent (1.6% each). Other species that were identified include Staphylococcus aureus (6.7%), Streptococcus faecalis (4.2%), Staphylococcus saprophyticus (3.3%) and Corynebacterium species (5.8%). Urinalysis to detect haematuria as presumptive test for UTI was insignificant (P > 0.05). Only 2 (out of 5) samples showed bacteriuria in culture plates. Association of gender, previous history of UTI, bedwetting and presence of blood in urine related prevalence were tested, only sex was strongly associated with UTI (p < 0.05). The incidence of UTI in females (19.5%) was higher than males (12.5%). Therefore, government needs to increase efforts toward creating awareness among the people, for effective treatment, control and prevention of the disease.

Background: Several anthropogenic activities have led to serious health and environmental problems as a result of releasing different contaminants in to the ecosystem including heavy metals. This called for search of possible methods that could be used to ameliorate the environment and biosorption was found to be promising. Aim: The potential of Oscillatoria sp. was investigated with a view to determining its suitability in the biosorption of Cr2+ and Pb2+. Place and duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto, between January and July, 2016. Methodology: Samples of the algal species were collected from an irrigation site at Kwalkwalawa area of Usmanu Danfodiyo University Sokoto. The samples were dried and powdered for biosorption studies. Biosorbents were prepared and used for sorption of heavy metals at different time and substrate concentration. Results: It was observed that Oscillatoria sp. biomass could adsorb appreciable amounts of the metals in a dose and contact time-dependent manner. At lower biomass doses, lower rates were recorded with a mean of 0.002 mg/g and increased to 0.1mg/g when 2 g and 5 g biomass were used respectively in both cases of the metals uptake. Based on contact time, Cr2+ uptake was initially slow with mean value of 0.002 mg/g for the first 50 minutes and rapidly increased to optimum at 60 minutes of contact time. For Pb2+ however, uptake was rapid with peak value of 0.1mg/g for the first 20 minutes. The uptake drastically decreased at 35 and 50 minutes and equilibrium was attained at 60 minutes of contact time. Conclusion: Oscillatoria sp. has the potentials of Cr2+ and Pb2+ uptake and thus suitable for biosorption of low heavy metals concentrations.