No abstract

Between January 2005 and December 2005, including the wet and dry seasons, 1,358 filth flies (Musca domestica, 737 [54.3%]; M. domestica vicina 556 [41%]; and Drosophilia melanogaster 65 [5%]) were caught by quadrant samplings using nets twice each month (early and later) in each of the various sites with varying sanitary conditions in Ekpoma, Nigeria. These sites were markets, hospitals, houses/human habitations, pit latrines, stalls of local food vendors, abattoirs/slaughterhouses, and dairy farms. These filth flies were studied for their potential to carry bacterial species. The identified filth flies were found to carry bacterial pathogens, with each harboring 2-10 bacteria. Seven bacterial species and their load namely, Escherichia coli (189 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Proteus species (210 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Streptococcus species (192 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Klebsiella species (213 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Salmonella species (386 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), Staphylococcus species (163 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter), and Serratia macenscens (5.0 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter) were isolated. The highest mean bacterial load for all bacteria isolated from pooled flies was 200 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter. The mean bacterial loads of 150, 90, and 10 x 10(10) organisms per milliliter were recorded for M. domestica, M. domestica vicina, and D. melanogaster, respectively. Approximately 15(4)-23(6) bacterial colonies per fly were recorded. The total number of bacteria isolated from flies caught in the dairy farms were higher than those isolated from flies caught in any other studied sites. Lower prevalence of associated bacterial pathogens was established from flies caught in areas where hygienic conditions prevailed. Salmonella species was the most prevalent bacterial pathogen isolated amongst the flies that perched on dairy products sampled. Bacterial load was most prevalent during the wet season. Resistances of some bacterial pathogens to common available antibiotic drugs shown by zone of inhibition (

Well-structured questionnaire on the perception, impression and response to genitourinary bilharziasis (Genitourinary schistosomiasis) was administered and explained in local languages: 'Igbo' 'Esan' 'Ezon' Itshekiri and Bini to 33815 inhabitants of selected endemic areas in south-eastern Nigeria from January, 1999 to December, 2001. Out of this number, 3815 (11.3%) were properly filled and returned. About 42.0% of the inhabitants admitted knowledge of the disease, while 14 (0.4%) knew about the aetiologic agent. About 181 (5.0%) who responded, admitted procuring treatment, while 100 (5.0%) declined to seek treatment of any sort. The relationships between water-bodies and human activities, and infection were well discussed. Amongst those who admitted knowledge of the disease but no knowledge of its etiologic agent, declined seeking treatment of any kind, but believe the disease is a natural phenomenon in ones developmental stage and therefore of no morbidity and mortality. Laboratory analysis of urine, faeces, semen and HVS was employed to assess questionnaire responses, and in some cases, physical examination was utilized to augment laboratory analysis in confirming urinal diagnosis. Haematuria was only directly related to egg count in the early part of life. Females were significantly haematuric and excreted more ova than males (p < 0.05). Headache (43.0%) and fever (31.0%) were major clinical signs while sexual pains (22.0%) were the least.

Background Malaria is one of the tropical diseases of universal concern particularly with continuous appearance of resistant strains of P.falciparum. This calls for continous screening of traditional plants such that new and effective antimalarial agents will be developed. This study therefore explored the oral acute toxicity and antimalarial potentials of aqueous and methanolic extracts of roots, leaves and stem of Dictyandra arborescens on Plasmodium berghei infected mice. Results No mortality was recorded in any of the experimental animal groups even at the highest tested dose (5000 mg/kg b.wt) of the extract after monitoring them for 4hrs and subsequently for 7 days. Out of the six extracts, methanolic extracts of the roots and leaves exhibited more antimalarial activity than others. A significant difference (P < 0.05) was statistically observed in the parasite count of groups that received methanol extracts of roots and leaves of D. arborescens. This observation was made when these two extracts were compared with other groups as well as the negative control. However, activity of the standard antimalarial drug (artesunate) was higher (p˂0.05) than those of the extracts. Phytochemicals such as tannins, alkaloids, saponins, terpenoids, flavonoids etc. were present in the extracts in varying quantities. GC–MS analysis of methanol extract of the root of this plant showed different chemical compounds. Conclusion Administration of aqueous and methanol extracts of roots, leaves and stem of D. arborescens in mice is not harmful at any dose less than or equal to 5000 mg/kg. Methanol extracts exhibited more antimalarial activity than aqueous extracts suggesting that antimalarial activity of the plant parts could be affected by the solvent used for extraction and antimalarial activity may be more in a particular part of a plant. The presence of different bioactive compounds identified in phytochemical and GC–MS analysis could be the fundamental scientific evidence for the antimalarial activity exhibited by this plant especially in the root.

This study analyzed physical, chemical and selected heavy metals concentration of oil-polluted soil and water samples from Bonny, South-South, Nigeria. Unpolluted soil and water samples were used as controls. The pH of the test soil sample was acidic (4.24±0.03) when compared with control (7.6±0.05). Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium and Potassium concentrations of the test soil samples were 1151.614±0.37 mg/g, 1.23±0.02 mg/g, 11.27±0.34 mg/g and 11.52±0.5 mg/g respectively. Selected heavy metals such as Iron (Fe), Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As), Lead (Pb) and Copper (Cu) showed that Hg and As were below detectable limits in test and control samples while Cd and Pb were below detectable limit in the control sample while test sample had 0.015±0.01 mg/g and 1.73±0.04 mg/g respectively. Fe and Cu contents were high at 38.7±0.13 mg/g and 5.49±0.05 mg/g when compared with the control at 3.52±0.02 mg/g and 1.08±0.03 mg/g. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon (TPH), Total Organic Carbon (TOC) and Total Organic Matter (TOM) were at 5.93±0.13 mg/g, 3.64±0.1 mg/g and 4.23±0.1 mg/g respectively. Water pH, Temperature, Conductance, Dissolved Oxygen, Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD5) and Turbidity were 5.21±0.03, 25.1±0.01ºC, 610±0.04 µS/cm, 5.0±0.03 mg/l, 1.8±0.02 mg/l, and 53.50±0.06 NTU respectively. Chloride, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Potassium, Calcium and Bicarbonate concentrations of the water were 609.82±0.37 mg/ml, 1.03±0.02 mg/ml, 13.41±0.42 mg/ml, 7.68±0.3 mg/ml, 21.22±0.12 mg/ml and 4.3±0.07 mg/ml in that order. Arsenic and Mercury were below detectable limit in both test and control samples while Fe, Cd, Pb, and Cu were 42.2±0.6 mg/ml, 0.016±0.001 mg/ml, 1.9±0.04 mg/ml and 5.2±0.03 mg/ml respectively. Total Petroleum Hydrocarbon, Total Suspended Solids, Total Dissolved Solids, and Total Solids were 3.87±0.11 mg/ml, 23036±0.51 mg/ml, 396.5±0.3 mg/ml and 23433±0.4 respectively. The levels of detected heavy metals were higher than the World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limits and Nigerian standard set by Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA). This indicates a moderate level of pollution in both soil and water samples, as a result, poses a serious threat to ecological and species survivability as well as growth and reproduction of aquatic and plant life.