Helicobacter pylori are Gram-negative micro-aerophilic motile curve rods that inhabit the gastric mucosa of the human stomach. The bacterium chronically infects billions of people worldwide and is one of the most genetically diverse of bacterial species. More than half of the world population in both developed and developing countries are infected with this organism. Infection usually occurs without overt clinical symptoms, particularly in poor communities. If untreated, the infection can last for decades without causing symptoms. In some communities, however, infection with the organism causes peptic and duodenal ulcers, gastritis, duodenitis, and gastric cancers. How H. pylori initially enters the stomach is not known, but contaminated food particles and water are suspected, with the former physically shielding it from stomach acid. Similarly, the route of transmission of this pathogen is unknown. Several reports have suggested the possibility of waterborne transmission as the organism can survive for a few days in fresh cold water, salt water, distilled water, and tap water. Knowledge of the epidemiology and mode of transmission of H. pylori is important to prevent its spread and may be useful in identifying high risk populations.

Of 1400 pupils from two public primary schools in Ekpoma, Edo State, Nigeria, who were screened for dermatophyte infection, 188 (13.4%) were infected. The causative agents isolated included Microsporum audouinii in 88 (46.8%), Trichophyton mentagrophytes in 48 (25.5%), T. rubrum in 40 (21.3%), T. tonsurans in four (2.1%) and Epidermophyton floccosum in eight (4.3%). There were significant differences in the rate of infection between male and female schoolchildren as well as between children from different socioeconomic backgrounds.

The occurrence of fungi was investigated in the gut of 200 common garden lizards (Agama agama). The most important pathogenic fungus isolated was Basidiobolus haptosporus, an aetiological agent of subcutaneous zygomycosis. It was recovered from the intestinal contents of 112 (56%) lizards. Other important fungi isolated included Aspergillus spp. in 24 (12%) lizards, Candida spp. in 12 (6%), Penicillium spp. in 12 (6%) and Fusarium spp. in 12 (6%). Mucor spp. were isolated from eight (4%) male lizards only. Agamid lizards are plentiful in rural and urban areas of Nigeria. As they live in close vicinity to man, they are likely to play an important role in the spread of disease that may be caused by these fungi and its transmission to man. None of the animals investigated that yielded fungal cultures revealed any external fungal infection.

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Background: Peltophorum africanum has been traditionally used to relief stress induced diseases. The study was aimed to evaluate the antioxidant activities of ethyl acetate extract. Material and methods:The in vitro antioxidant activities of Peltophorum africanum stem bark extract was examined in this study by means of +radical scavenging and ferric reducing power analysis using 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2, 2`-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) kit, hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ), iron (iii) chloride (Fe