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Vernonia amygdalina has recently been linked to insecticidal and pesticidal properties that could replace the harmful agrochemical pesticide usage around the aquatic environment and to aquatic inhibitors such as fish. This study aimed to determine the effect of sub-lethal concentrations of Vernonia amygdalina (bitter leaf) on testes of Clarias gariepinus (African catfish) juveniles. The fishes were exposed to 0.00, 0.40, 0.80 and 1.60 g/L graded concentrations of aqueous crude leaves extract of Vernonia amygdalina for two months. The organ (testis) changes in antioxidant biomarkers’ histology, histomorphometry, and somatic indices compared with the control. There was the reduction in SOD, MDA and GSH activity as the concentration of the toxicant increased compared with the control. Mild interstitial oedema, mild tubular germ cell, interstitial cell depletions, severe depletion of seminiferous luminal content and sloughing off of the seminiferous tubular boundary tissue were observed in various concentrations of Vernonia amygdalina compared with the control. There was an increase in testis somatic indices as the plant extract concentration increased compared with the control. Bitter leaf extract was shown to have a toxic effect on Clarias gariepinus juveniles. As such, the pesticide use of the plants near the aquatic environment should be discouraged.

In Nigeria, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi are common causes of human infections and are also recognized as pathogens of public health significance. This study therefore, sought to determine the incidence and extent of fluoroquinolones resistance of S. typhi and S. aureus isolated from patients in Nigerian Defence Academy Hospital. A total of 60 samples obtained from patients with request for stool microscopy, culture and sensitivity, wound swabs, indoor air of surgical wards and swabbing of working benches were analyzed for the presence of S. aureus and S. typhi. The bacterial isolates were then subjected to antibiotic sensitivity testing using a modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. The antibiotic susceptibility patterns of S. typhi revealed that some of the isolates were resistant to two or more fluoroquinolones namely: ciprofloxacin, sparfloxacin, ofloxacin and pefloxacin. S. aureus on the other hand, also showed resistance to fluoroquinolones. The isolates that showed resistance to more fluoroquinolones were taken for molecular analysis. The genomic DNA was extracted and amplified using specific primer for gyrA by PCR, visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis and then sequenced. The amplicon sizes were 251bp respectively for each of the isolates. The detection of resistant pattern responsible for fluoroquinolones resistance showed that mutation had occurred. Mutation in nucleotide sequence was detected in gyrA gene of the fluoroquinolone resistant strains.

The research study was conducted on prevalence of Brucellosis in cattle under different management systems in Mbale District, Eastern Region of Uganda. The research design adopted was a purposive sampling. 48 respondents from different farms were selected using a random sampling to allow equal representation of the farms. The data were collected using both blood samples and questionnaires. A total of 78 serum samples collected from different cattle were serologically assessed using Rose Bengal Plate Test (RBPT) and Serum Agglutination Test (SAT). The high sero-prevalence of 37.5% was recorded in female cows followed by male bulls (20.0%) and female calves (20.0%). Bull calves and heifers showed negative result with RBPT and SAT (0.0%). A total of 24(30.7%) and 22(28.2%) were recorded for RBPT and SAT respectively. However, although there was higher prevalence of Brucellosis in communal grazing than the rest of other grazing systems, there was no statistical significant difference between Brucellosis and grazing systems (p>0.05). Similarly, considering the type of breeding methods of fertilization, there was a statistically significant relationship between the type of breeding (artificial and natural insemination) methods and management system practiced (p<0.05). The study concluded that contamination of common grazing environment was due to aborted foetuses which is accompanied by shedding of large number of Brucella species and that there was lack of knowledge on the causative agents, as well as mode of transmission. The researchers recommend that cattle grazing systems that limit mixing of herds should be encouraged to reduce the contamination of common grazing environment.

Background: Soup condiments are edible food items which are added to dishes, used as thickeners for soup and also as food supplements such as sauce that is added to food to impact specific flavours. They are abundantly produced in Nigeria especially in North-Western part of the country. Aims: The aim of this research was to determine the proximate composition and parasitic contamination of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake (Roselle seed cake): a soup condiment produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria. Study Design:  Samples were purchased and collected at random from the markets of different places in the study areas, aseptically placed into polythene bags and labelled correctly. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in Zuru and Sakaba Local Government Areas of Kebbi State, North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: The proximate analysis carried out include: moisture determination, ash determination, determination of crude protein, lipid determination, fibre determination and carbohydrate estimation by difference. The protozoa present in the samples were identified by direct microscopy. Results: The proximate composition of Hibiscus sabdariffa seed cake in the study areas had a very high level of carbohydrate content (52.44±1.03%), followed by the moisture content (15.43±0.10%), lipid content (12.00±0.50%), fibre content (11.16±0.58%), ash content (7.80±0.05%) and crude protein content (1.16±0.13%) which was the lowest. The highest prevalence rate of the identified protozoa was recorded in Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia 1(25.0%) in Zuru Local Government Area. No protozoa was seen in Zuru sample 0(0.0%). In Dabai sample, Giardia lamblia was seen 1(25.0%). While in Bedi sample, Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) was seen which was the most prevalent. However, in Sakaba Local Government Area, a total of nine protozoa was seen and all were Entamoeba histolytica. Dirin-Daji sample showed 1(11.1%), Doka 2(22.2%), Dankolo 2(22.2%), Janbirni 1(11.1%), Laraba 1(11.1%) and Makuku 2(22.2%) respectively. Conclusion: It can be concluded that the available carbohydrate and moisture contents were higher than other parameters and the local soup condiments were heavily contaminated with protozoa and Entamoeba histolytica had the highest prevalence which can cause serious food-borne diseases in humans in the study areas. Finally, the need to apply good manufacturing practices in processing the condiments in the study areas and North-Western Nigerian Community as a whole is highly recommended.