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Staphylococcus aureus is a facultative anaerobic Gram-positive coccal bacterium whose incidence ranges from skin, soft tissue, respiratory, bone, joint, endovascular to wound infections. The purpose of this study was to identify Staphylococcus aureus from clinical specimens using routine conventional and rapid tests. Gram staining, catalase test, coagulase test, DNase test, haemolysis on blood agar and Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit tests were carried out. A total of 125 Gram positive cocci were tested. The Gram staining technique yielded 100 (80.00%) Staphylococcus spp (Gram positive cocci in clusters). 89(71.20%) isolates were positive to haemolysis on blood agar. Mannitol Salt Agar, DNase agar and Catalase test correctly identified 69 (55.2%) of the Gram positive cocci to be S. aureus as was confirmed by the Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test. Coagulase test yielded 66 (52.8%) positive results. The Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test identified three non-coagulase Staphylococcus aureus isolates. The Microgen™ STAPH-ID kit test was the most reliable of the tests, with accuracy comparable to any other rapid test. However, it is the most expensive of the tests. This study established that conventional tests can be used for direct identification of S. aureus to species level if the battery of tests is increased.

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This study evaluated insecticidal activity of different doses of Adansonia digitata stem bark and leaf powders on yam beetles dinoderus porcellus. Obtained plant parts from Federal colloge of Forestry, Jos were pulverized into powders. Phytochemical constituents of the plant were extracted by Soxhlet extraction and identified using standard procedure. Mortality testing was done by exposing dinoderus porcellus to yam chips mixed with various doses of Adansonia digitata stem bark and leaf powders. Yam chips without treatment served as the control. The experiments were laid out in randomized complete design with three replications. Data obtained were analysed using analysis of variance (P≤ 0.05). The result of the phytochemical examination of ethanolic extract of A. digitata revealed the presence of saponins, phenols, tannins and alkaloids flavonoids. The finding revealed the superiority of yam chips mixed stem bark and leaf powders over the untreated. The effect of plant extracts on percentage mortality showed significant difference (p<0.05) among the treated and control. The sample treated with 15g of A. digitata stem-bark powder gave the highest mortality. The research hence recommends the use of 15 g of A. digitata stem-bark powder in elimination of Dinoderus porcellus infecting yam chips. Keywords: A. digitata, Insecticida, Mortality, flavonoid, Dinoderus porcellus

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