THE EFFECTS OF CLIMATIC FACTORS ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND ABUNDANCE OF MOSQUITOES IN PHYTOTELMATA

O.J., Afolabi and I.S., Ndams

Department of Biology, Salem University, Lokoja

Department of Biological Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

jideafo@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Climatic factors have been associated with abundance and distribution of mosquito-borne diseases in many parts of the world, especially in warm and tropical climatic regions. The main objective of this research is to determine the distribution and abundance of mosquitoes in phytotelmata in Zaria, Northern Nigeria. The sites were in three locations with five replications of Delonix regia including the control. Habitat evacuation method as described by Service (1993) was used to sample mosquito larvae and pupae in all the locations. The pre-adults collected were concentrated on a fine sieve in a white enamel bowl and later identified into specie level using X50 microscope and Hopkins manual. The Volume of water was measured using measuring cylinder and temperature was measured in situ using portable thermometer. T-test analysis of the results showed significant difference between the larvae and pupae population (p<0.05) with population of larvae (74.5%) higher than that of the pupae (25.5%). Two –way ANOVA showed significant difference (p<0.05) in the percentage composition and distribution of pre-adults with highest population (29.8%)) recorded in August and lowest population (4.2%) recorded in October. Two –way ANOVA of the species compositions showed significant difference (p<0.05) with Aedes aegypti having the highest percentage composition (48.8%) and Toxorhynchite brevipalpis having the lowest percentage composition (1.2%). The temperature range in which breeding was found is 24.7^oC -28.3^oC. In conclusion, the composition and distribution of mosquitoes in this habitat is significant enough to be of socio-economical and medical importance. Therefore we recommend that the phytotelmata should be considered in any mosquito-borne disease control programmes and tree that support mosquito breeding should not be planted closed to residential areas.

Keywords: Phytotelmata, climatic factors, Delonix regia, Aedes aegypti, Zaria.

CUTANEOUS WOUND HEALING ACTIVITY OF THE ETHANOLIC EXTRACTS OF THE LEAF OF SENNA ALATA L. (FABACEAE)

Midawa, S.M, Ali, B.D., Mshelia, B. Z, Johnson, J.

Department of Biological Sciences

Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Senna alata L, (Fabaceae) also known as Craw-Craw plant, Candle bush or bush fire is a plant used to treat Ringworm, Scabies, and Ulcers, swelling and inflammation conditions, skin parasites and a wide assortment of diseases. The aims of this study is to investigate the wound healing effects of the leaf ethanolic extract of the plant on excision wound in laboratory Rats. 5 groups (n= 6 per group) were used. A wound area of 2 x 2cm was experimentally induced at the depilated dorsal portion of the animals. There concentrations of 125, 250 and 500mg of the leaf extracts were slated for the treatment of the wound topically. Group 1 2 and 3 were treated with the ethanolic leaf extract, group 4 was treated with spray plus (as standard drug) while group 5 was left untreated which served as the control group. Wounds were measured from the day of excision and every other 2 days interval till complete epithelialisation. The wound size in animals treated with the leaf extracts were significantly reduced (p<0.05) when compared with the negative control group. This study showed that the ethanol leaf extracts of Senna alata promoted significant wound healing in excision wound model compared to the negative control.  

Keywords: Senna alata, Ethanolic Extracts, cutaneous, wound healing.

PRODUCTION OF MEDICATED SOAP FROM BUTYROSPERMUM PARADOXUM PLANT

M. Hassan*; D. Kubmarawa, U.U. Modibbo and A. D. Tunde

Department of Chemistry

Federal University of Technology, Yola, Nigeria

Email: shagal2006@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

The potential of Butyrospermum paradoxum plant in the production of medicated soap was investigated. The oily extract from Butyrospermum paradoxum plant was extracted using soxhlet extraction method. The soap produced gave a pH of 7.9, foam height (14.2 cm), alcohol insoluble (8.0%), moisture content (19.33%), total fatty matter (84%), and free acidity of 0.41. The antifulgal activity of Butyrospermum paradoxum soap and the Butyrospermum paradoxum plant extract on Trichophyton rubrum shows a very good sensitivity of 54.6 mm and 28.6 mm respectively. From the analysis of the Butyrospermum paradoxum soap produced, it can be concluded that a highly effective medicated soap can be produced from Butyrospermum paradoxum plant.

Keyword: medicated soap, Trichophyton rubrum, extract, Skin diseases, and saponification

EPIDEMIOLOGIC AND BIOLOGIC INTERACTIONS BETWEEN VULVOVAGINAL CANDIDIASIS (VVC) AND STAPHYLOCOCCAL INFECTIONS AMONG WOMEN ATTENDING A TERTIARY HEALTH CENTRE IN MAKURDI, BENUE STATE NIGERIA

Aernan, P.T and Umeh, E.U.

Department of Biological Sciences

University of Agriculture, Makurdi, Benue State, Nigeria

tracernan1@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an inflammatory condition caused by yeast predominantly Candida albicans. To investigate the epidemiology of vulvovaginal  candidiasis. 1116 high vaginal swab samples were collected from female patients who attended the Obstetrics and Gynecology unit of the Federal Medical Centre, Makurdi within a twelve month period and were cultured on chocolate blood agar and sabouraud dextrose agar. Three hundred and thirty five (30.0%) of those examined had VVC infections. Candida albicans predominated 280 (83.6%), followed by Candida tropicalis 34 (10.1%) and Candida glabrata 21 (6.3%). One hundred and thirty three (39.7%) of the Vulvovaginal candidiasis patients were co-infected with Staphylococcal infection. VVC was significantly associated with months of the year (r = -.108; p<0.05), diabetes (r = 0.060, p<0.05), pregnancy (r = 0.194; p<0.05), antibiotics (r = 0.108; p<0.05) and use of contraceptive pills (r = .160; p<0.05). VVC was not associated with Staphylococcus infection (r = .027; p<0.05), season (r= – 0.034; p<0.05), age (r -0.024;p<0.05) and occupation (r= -0.022; p<0.05).

Keywords: Vulvovaginal C        andidiasis (VVC), Staphylococcal infections, Sabouraud dextrose agar, Candida glabrata, Candida tropopicalis.            

PHYTOCHEMICAL AND ELEMENTAL ANALYSES OF Pyrenchantha staudtii Engle (Icacinaceae) AS BLOOD CLOTTING AGENT

Umudi, E. Q.

Department of Chemistry

College of Education, Agbor, Delta State, Nigeria

e-mail: ese.umudi@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT

Analysis of n-Hexane extracts of the leaves of pyrenachantha staudii Engl. (Icacinaceae) showed the presence of alkaloids, glycosides, tannins, and proteins. Atomic Absorption Spectroscopic Analysis of the leaves extract revealed the presence of magnesium. 270.01mg/100g; potassium 25.73mg/100g; calcium 10.20mg/100g; copper 5.30mg/100g and Iron 2.10-mg/100g while maganses 0.90mg/100g and zinc 0.02mg/100g were found in trace quantitites. The spectrochemcal analysis showed strong peaks at 300nm and 410nmfor the ultraviolet/ visible spectroscopy corresponding to absorbance of 0.192 and 0.288, while the infrared spectrum showed strong peaks at 1700cm^-1, 2910cm^-1, ^­ 1350cm ^-1 1450cm^-1 and 1230 ^-1 respectively. Blood clothing time was monitored with the sample extract and without the sample. It showed good improvement in clothing time with respect to blood containing the samples extract.

Keywords: Pyrenachantha Staidtii Engl, blood clothing, elements, analysis

THE EFFECTS OF Trypanosoma congolense INFECTION ON PARASITAEMIC LEVELS, WEIGHT CHANGES, FOOD AND WATER CONSUMPTION IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Ohaeri, C. C.

Department of Biological Sciences

Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike, Nigeria

e-mail: ohaeric2000@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

Albino rats (Wister strain) were infected with a Trypanosome congolense as a model to study the effect of trypanosomiasis on parasitaemic levels, weight changes, food and water intake. Rat infection revealed development of parasitaemia within 7 days of intraperitonial inoculation and irregular fluctuations of parasitaemic levels with maximum parasitaemia attained on day 16 post infection. There was also growth retardation in infected rats associated with decreased food and water consumption when compared with uninfected rats (P<0.05). The degree of growth retardation experienced by trypanosome infected animals is influence by energy intake. These findings provide strong evidence that infection with Trypanosoma congolense is associated with lack of appetite and muscular degeneration.

Keywords: Trypanosoma congolense, weight changes, food intake, rats.

DETERMINATION OF ANTI-Salmonella typhi ACTIVITY OF THE CRUDE EXTRACT OF Allium sativum (GARLIC)

Yabaya A¹. Orukotan A². and Jonathan M¹.

¹Department of Microbiology, Kaduna State University, Kaduna,Nigeria

² Department of Applied Sciences, Kaduna Polytechnic, Kaduna, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

Garlic has been considered to be an excellent medical panacea and a natural antimicrobial drug that can be considered as an alternative form of treatment of pathogenic infections.The antimicrobial effects of fresh aqueous garlic extract (FAGE) and dried aqueous garlic extract (DAGE) against Salmonella typhi was studied. Antibacterial activity of FAGE and DAGE was characterised by inhibition zones of 5-29 mm and 5-19 mm respectively with FAGE giving a higher sensitivity against the tested isolate. Salmonella typhi was tested against some commercial antibiotics, susceptibility of  S. typhi to these antibiotics was characterised by inhibition zones of 10-26mm against four antibiotics and no sensitivity or inhibition zones were recorded for six antibiotics. The partition principle of paper and TLC reveals that FAGE had more component ingredients than DAGE. The observations made in this study supports the use of garlic in health products and herbal remedies as a low cost intervention in the enhanced therapy against bacterial infections in Nigeria.

Keywords: Antibacterial Effect, Allium sativum,Anti -Salmonella typhi.

SEASONAL PERFORMANCE AND FEEDING CHARACTERISTICS OF SOKOTO RED GOATS

Kubkomawa, H. I.

Department of Animal Health and Production Technology

Federal Polytechnic, Mubi, Adamawa State, Nigeria

E-mail: kubkomawa@yahoo.com

ABSRACT

The study was conducted to investigate seasonal performance and feeding characteristics of sokoto red goats in Kwargashe village, Lala District, Gombi Local Government Area of Adamawa State. Data on seasonal performance and feeding behaviour of animals were generated through the use of scale, oral interview of goat producers and visual observation. The results indicated that, there was significant difference (P<0.05) in the monthly performance of the animals. Weights of animals in the months of January, October, November, December; May and April did not differ significantly (P>0.05). There was a very high significant difference (P<0.01) in seasonal performance of animals, but there was no significant difference (P>0.05) in performance of animals in respect to management systems practised by farmers in the study area. Animals had better performance in early wet season (April, May and June) and least performance in early dry season (October, November and December). Goats were observed to be intelligent, scavengers, to browse (rather than graze) more than any other domesticated ruminant, to have high tolerance for bitter pants, to prefer shorter grasses than taller ones, are uncommonly curious and alert and can assess and take advantage of new situations surprisingly quickly; they are daring climbers and jumpers, security conscious and prefer high places where they can observe their surroundings. Goats hate confinement, reject any plants with scent of their own urine or faeces, do not like rain, dew, puddles or mud.  Goats were observed to be so destructive and unique in nature, ruminate in a semi-somnolent (half sleeping) state and random noises can cause rumination to go off. Goats perform better during early wet season because at that period they were allowed on free range which gave them opportunity of exhibiting their scavenging nature and selective feeding behaviour.

Keywords: Seasonal Performance, Feeding Characteristics, Management, Sokoto Red, Goats.

THE BIODIVERSITY OF PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITY IN SELECTED PARTS OF THE LAGOS LAGOON, NIGERIA

Ajani, G.E.

Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research,

3, Wilmot Point, Bar- Beach, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria

e-mail: olugee232000@yahoo.co.uk

ABSTRACT

The phytoplankton composition, diversity, abundance and distribution as well as surface water physic-chemical parameters of selected parts of the Lagos lagoon was investigated for seven months (March –September 2010). Phytoplankton and surface water samples were collected monthly from twelve stations and analysed at the laboratory. These were analysed air and water temperatures salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity, turbidity and alkalinity. Phytoplankton was identified microscopically. Species diversity was calculated using standard indices. The phytoplankton was dominated by diatoms (19 species), blue –green algae ( 7 species), green algae (5 species) and the euglenoids ( 4 species). Menhinick Index  (D) and Margalef (d) Index were reltively high at stations Nichem textile and at Majidun and low in other stations. Moreso, stations Nichem textile and Majidun also showed significant variation (p < 0.05) in occurrence of diatoms between sampling stations, while stations such as Queen’s drive, Park view, Moba, Ofin, Mid lagoon, Ikate, Itedo, Oreta, Ibese and Ikorodu port showed no significant variation (p > 0.05) in occurrence of diatoms between stations. The rich ecological heritage of the Lagos lagoon is being threaten by the current state of environmental perturbations from municipal and industrial effluent, although some species were able to withstand these stressful situation. Changes in the biodiversity of these primary producers could make pollution management and environmental biomonitoring a little bit difficult because of the role played by these delicate organisms. However a deliberate environmental management  should be recommended.

Keywords: Phytoplankton, abundance, distribution, environmental perturbations, lagoon, municipal, industrial