Objectives of the Study: An Epidemiological Research, a cross-sectional study, was conducted to determine the magnitude of human contamination of irrigation canal perimeter as it relates to the prevalence and intensity of schistosome cercarial infection in snail vectors. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted along water canal located within an irrigation area, Kano River Project Phase I, Kadawa, between January and June, 2012. Methodology: The study area was categorized into Zone of Heavy Contamination (ZHC), Zone of Light Contamination (ZLC) and Zone of Free Contamination (ZFC) based on the density of faecal lumps observed along the canal perimeter using 1 m2 quadrat sampling technique. Snail vectors of schistosomiasis were collected from these zones, identified and subjected to cercarial shedding. Brevifurcate apharyngeate cercariae were identified as schistosome cercariae. Results: Of the 827 snails collected 28.54% shed schistosome cercariae. The breakdown of infection prevalence was 31.37%, 27.69% and 26.26% for ZHC, ZLC and ZFC respectively. Three snail species recovered in the study area, Bulinus globosus, B. rohlfsi and Biomphalaria pfeifferi had infection intensity of 8.6, 5.67 and 3.94 respectively, with total mean intensity of 4.67. A Chi-squared analysis did not show any significant difference in infection prevalence in the three zones (χ2cal. 0.025, χ22, 0.05 = 5.99). However, infection intensity was significantly different in the three zones and among the three snail species using analysis of variance (P<0.05). Conclusion: Human environmental contamination with faeces and urine around irrigation canals remains the source of infection to snail hosts and then to humans. It is presumed that contact control through avoidance of defaecation in the open and building of pit latrines near water contact points along irrigation canals will be effective means of drawing a barrier to infection with schistosomes in the study area.

This research was conducted to determine the fungal pathogens responsible for post harvest losses of pineapple sold at Wudil and Yen lemo markets.  Two samples of pineapples were purchased twice a week from both Wudil and Yanlemo markets for four months. The samples were investigated for the presence of fungal pathogen using standard microbiological methods. The methods involve mounting small portion of pineapple in the plate containing Potato dextrose agar to isolate the fungi. Three fungal pathogens belonging to Aspergillus species were isolated, and Aspergillus niger had the highest frequency of occurrence of (50%). Followed by A. flavus with (27%). The A. fumigatus had the lowest frequency of occurrence of (23%). The differences between the fungal isolates recorded were significantly different (P<0.05) between the two markets, where higher fungal isolates were recorded at Yanlemo market 159 (40.6%) and Wudil 38 (9.71%). The study showed that the post harvest losses of pine apple in the two markets are attributed to fungal infection. Therefore, safe guarding the two markets from debris and dumps of rotten fruits and vegetable may assist in reducing fungal inoculums in the two markets.

The study was aimed to assess microbiological quality of male patients with infertility at Murtala Muhammad specialist hospital Kano, Nigeria. Two hundred (200) Semen specimens were collected from males with infertility attending the clinic and General out Patient Department of MMSH Kano. The seminal fluids were diluted with sterile saline, centrifuged and cultured on Nutrient agar, Blood agar, Chocolate agar and MacConkey agar then incubated aerobically and in 5% CO 2 at 37°C for 24 hours for the isolation of pathogenic microorganism. Isolates were identified based on Gram's staining, biochemical tests and API 20E Test. The result shows that out of the 200 samples examined 76 (38%) were found to be infected with a total of seventy six (76) isolates. Staphylococcus aureus was found to have the highest occurrence of 31 (40.79%), whereas the least was found to be Mycoplasma species, 1(1.32%). Other microorganisms encountered include; Coagulase negative Staphylococcus species 14(18.42%), Escherichia coli 11(14.47%), Klebsiella pneumoniae 6(7.89%), Proteus mirabilis 5(6.58%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3(3.95%), Neisseria gonorrhoeae 2(2.63%) and Candida species 3(3.95%). The result also shows that patients within the age range of 30-39 years were most infected with 35(40.1%) infected out of 93 examined. The highest number of isolated microorganisms was observed in samples with concentration of 0-20 x106/ml. The semen motility rate was reduced significantly in samples with pathogenic microorganisms.

Background: Changes in blood cell profile were common findings in malaria. In the rural community of Kano State, Nigeria, information on haematological changes in human malaria was scanty in spite of their role in the pathophysiology of malaria. This cross-sectional study was undertaken to determine blood cell profiles in malaria patients attending a rural hospital in malaria-endemic region. Methods: Blood samples (3 ml each) were collected in EDTA-containers from 150 randomly selected outpatients attending Gaya General Hospital, screened for malaria using RDT kit (CareStart Malaria HRP 2, Access Bio Inc., USA) based on Histidine-rich protein 2 (PfHRP-2), and blood cell profiles determined using automated Sysmex haematologic analyser. Data on socio-demographics and medical history related to the study objectives, such as taking antimalarial regimen and/or haematinic, and direct involvement in blood transfusion, were obtained by questionnaire administration supplemented with oral interview. Findings: The study revealed a malaria prevalence of 67.33%, with highest in 11-20years (80.95%) and lowest (55.00%) in 1-10years age-groups; slightly higher in females (68.25%) than in males (66.67%) without significant difference (P<0.05). For blood parameters, malaria positive patients have a significantly lower mean PCV of 32.2% as compared to 38.18% obtained for malaria negative patients (P<0.05). The mean Hb was 10.76±2.27g/dL and 12.65±2.38g/dL (P<0.05), while WBC revealed 6.91×109/L and 6.56×109/L in malaria positive and negative patients, respectively. Platelet counts recorded 179.24×109/L and 230.47×109/L (P<0.05). Socio-demographic factors such as level of education, occupation and marital status did not significantly influence malaria prevalence. Interpretation: Low PCV and Hb in malaria patients indicate mild anaemia due to malaria-related haemolysis. The occurrence of thrombocytopenia may be due to other underlying pathology as further studies with larger sample size are needed to ascertain the cause of low platelet counts in malaria patients in the study area.

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