Showing papers by "Ladoke Akintola University of Technology published in 2007"

Honey: a reservoir for microorganisms and an inhibitory agent for microbes

Abstract: Background: Honey is an ancient remedy for the treatment of infected wounds, which has recently been ‘rediscovered’ by the medical profession. The use to which honey is put in medical care is increasing daily with many authors pointing out its importance and role in wound care. There have been reports that honey contains many microorganisms including bacteria and fungi. Objective: The aim of this paper is to highlight the various uses, organisms commonly found in honey, how the organisms arrived in the honey and their effects on wounds and wound care. Would the presence of these organisms not constitute a limiting factor to the use of honey in wound management? This is what this review aims to answer Methods: A literature search was done on honey using pubmed, google, local books and journals. Relevant journals were extracted and discussed with emphasis on the antimicrobial properties as well as microbial content of honey and the implications of these. Results: The production of honey as well as the storing process account for the presence of microorganisims. Most of these organisms are said to be in inactive forms as they can hardly survive in honey because of its several properties including hygroscopicity, hyperosmolarity, acidity, peroxide content, antibiotic activities etc. However there is a need for caution in the use of honey in wound management. Conclusion: We suggest that wounds to be treated with honey should be investigated i.e with a swab for the microorganisms present on the wound and their sensitivity to the honey before commencing honey treatment. This will help in carefully selecting wounds that might do well with honey treatment not withstanding other properties of honey that aid wound healing. African Health Sciences 2007; 7(3): 159-165

Technical Efficiency of Men and Women Upland Rice Farmers in Osun State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study examined the technical efficiency of upland rice production by men and women farmers in Osun State of Nigeria using the stochastic frontier production function analysis. Primary data were...

Intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine is effective in preventing maternal and placental malaria in Ibadan, south-western Nigeria

Abstract: Intermittent preventive treatment with sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine (IPT-SP) is currently the recommended regimen for prevention of malaria in pregnancy in endemic areas. This study sets out to evaluate the effectiveness of IPT-SP in the prevention of maternal and placental malaria in parturient mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria, where the risk of malaria is present all year round. During a larger study evaluating the epidemiology of congenital malaria, the effect of malaria prophylaxis was examined in 983 parturient mothers. Five hundred and ninety eight mothers (60.8%) received IPT-SP, 214 (21.8%) received pyrimethamine (PYR) and 171 (17.4%) did not take any chemoprophylactic agent (NC). The prevalence of maternal parasitaemia in the IPT-SP, PYR and NC groups was 10.4%, 15.9% and 17% respectively (p = 0.021). The prevalence of placental parasitaemia was 10.5% in the IPT-SP, 16.8% PYR and 17% NC groups, respectively (p = 0.015). The prevalence of maternal anaemia (haematocrit <30%) was 5.7% vs. 8.9% vs. 13.4% among the IPT-SP, PYR and NC groups respectively (p < 0.0001) while that of pre-term delivery (GA <37 weeks) was 10.5%, 19.2% and 25.3% among IPT-SP, PYR and NC groups respectively (p < 0.0001). Babies born to mothers in the IPT-SP, PYR and NC groups had mean birth weights of 3204 ± 487.16, 3075 ± 513.24 and 3074 ± 505.92 respectively (ρ < 0.0001). There was a trend towards a lower proportion of low birth weight babies in the IPT-SP group (p = 0.095). IPT-SP is effective in preventing maternal and placental malaria as well as improving pregnancy outcomes among parturient women in Ibadan, Nigeria. The implementation of the recently adopted IPT-SP strategy should be pursued with vigour as it holds great promise for reducing the burden of malaria in pregnancy in Nigeria.

Economic Viability of Cat Fish Production in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract: The study was conducted in Ibadan metropolis, Oyo State. Sixty farmers were selected using simple random techniques drawn from five local government purposively selected from the study area. Struct...

Rapid detection of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 mutations in Plasmodium falciparum isolates by FRET and in vivo response to chloroquine among children from Osogbo, Nigeria

Abstract: Chloroquine (CQ) has been in use in Africa for a long time Because of misuse, this drug has now lost its efficacy due to the emergence of resistance strains in most parts of Africa Recently, it was shown that after chloroquine has been withdrawn from the market, chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium falciparum re-emerged and chloroquine could again be used successfully as an antimalarial Surveillance of parasite populations is, therefore, important to decide whether chloroquine could be re-introduced To estimate the prevalence of the most pivotal polymorphisms, including Pfcrt K76T, Pfmdr1 N86Y and Pfmdr1 Y184F mutations, and their contributions to the outcome of CQ treatment, isolates from Osogbo Western Nigeria were tested using the Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) method on a real-time PCR instrument 116 children with acute uncomplicated P falciparum malaria infections were treated with the standard dosage of CQ and followed-up for 28 days Blood samples were collected on filter paper at enrollment and during follow-up for identification of parasite carrying the chloroquine resistant transporter (pfcrt) and P falciparum-multi drug resistance (pfmdr1) gene mutations Parasitological assessment of response to treatment showed that 62% of the patients were cured and 38% failed the CQ treatment The presence of single mutant pfcrt (T76) alleles (P = 0003) and in combination with mutant pfmdr1 Y86 (P = 0028) was significantly associated with in vivo CQR No other mutation on its own or in combinations was significantly associated with treatment outcome Mutant pfcrt was more prevalent in both pre- and post-treatment isolates No association was observed between age or initial level of parasitaemia and chloroquine treatment outcome The result established the usefulness and accuracy of real time PCR in pfcrt and pfmdr1 mutation detection and also give further evidence to the reliability of the pfcrt T76 point mutation as a molecular marker for CQ resistance

Cryptosporidiosis in hiv infected patients with diarrhoea in osun state southwestern nigeria

Abstract: Aim: Although cryptosporidiosis is said to be rare among adult HIV patients in certain parts of Nigeria, there are no documented studies on the occurrence of this parasite among HIV patients in Southwestern Nigeria. Methods: We conducted a cross sectional study involving 150 patients (100 HIV infected and 50 HIV negative) with diarrhoea from two tertiary and one secondary health institutions in Southwestern Nigeria. Concentrated stool sample from each patient was screened for cryptosporidium oocysts with the modified cold Ziehl Neelsen method while direct sample was screened for other enteric parasites. Results: The overall parasite prevalence rate in the diarrhoea patients is 79.3% (119/150) with Cryptosporidium parvum 52.7%, Ascaris lumbricoides 11.3%, Hookworm 3.3%, Trichuris trichura 2% and Entamoeba histolytica 10%. The parasite prevalence rate in HIV infected patients is 97% while in HIV-negative patients, the rate is 44%. The rate is significantly higher among HIVinfected patients with diarrhoea than among HIV-negative patients with diarrhoea (OR=41.152, 95%CI=11.467-147.68, P<0.0001). However this difference is attributed to Cryptosporidium which was found exclusively among HIV-infected patients. When Cryptosporidium prevalence was excluded from analysis, the parasite prevalence rates between the two groups was not significantly different (X2=0.8002, df=3, P=0.8494). Conclusion: Contrary to a previous report of apparent rarity of cryptosporidium infections in certain parts of Nigeria, this study revealed a high prevalence of this parasitosis among HIV infected patients in Southwestern Nigeria.

Distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface soils and water from the vicinity of Agbabu bitumen field of Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstract: Water and soil samples from the vicinity of Agbabu bitumen field of Southwestern Nigeria, were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively for 10 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) using gas chromatography coupled by flame ionization detector (GC-FID), in order to gather information on the degree of contamination by bitumen exploration and processing in this area. The total concentrations of 10 PAHs varied from 11.2 to 341.5 microg L(- 1) in water and from 101.5 to 209.7 ng g(- 1) dry weight in soils. The total PAH levels in water samples from all the sampling stations (except at station WB 11), were sufficiently high (> 10 microg/L) to cause acute toxicity to the exposed organisms. Special PAH compound ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene and fluoranthene/pyrene, were calculated to evaluate the relative importance of different origins. The collected data indicate pyrolytic and petrogenic sources. The anthropogenic PAHs, i.e., pyrene and benzanthracene exhibited similar distribution patterns in the studied area, implying that these compounds possess identical sources. Also, dibenzothiophene, a sulfur heterocyclic aromatic compound was determined in this study and it was not detected in all the samples analyzed.

Effects of residue quality and climate on plant residue decomposition and nutrient release along the transect from humid forest to Sahel of West Africa

Abstract: Field litterbag studies were conducted in the 2000 rainy season and the 2000/2001 dry season along the transect of West African major agroecological zones (agroeco-zones) to measure the decomposition of, and N and P release from 5 plant residues (leaves of woody species) with increasing quality: Dactyladenia barteri, Pterocarpus santalinoides, Alchornea cordifolia, Senna siamea and Gliricidia sepium. The decomposition rate constant (wk−1) ranged from 0.034 (Dactyladenia, subhumid zone) to 0.49 (Gliricidia, humid zone) in the rainy season, and from 0.01 (Dactyladenia, subhumid zone) to 0.235 (Pterocarpus, arid zone) in the dry season. The direct correlation between the decomposition rate of plant residues and their quality was only valid in agroeco-zones where there is not moisture stress. Similarly, the direct correlation between the decomposition rate of plant residues and moisture availability was only valid for plant residues with high quality. The decomposition rate of the low quality plant residue could increase from humid to arid zone in West Africa. In the arid zone, the low quality plant residue could also decompose faster than high quality plant residue. The climate-residue quality interactive effects on plant residue decomposition in West Africa were attributed to the feedback of low quality plant residue’s mulching effect, soil fauna and appreciable photodegradation in dry regions. A decomposition equation that could be used to predict the decomposition rate of plant residues with various qualities across agroeco-zones in West Africa was obtained from this study. The equation was expressed as follow: k = 0.122 − 0.000747*PRQI2− 0.0233*PRQI*CI + 0.00337*CI* PRQI2, in which k is the decomposition rate constant (wk−1), PRQI the plant residue quality index, and CI the climate index (ratio of rainfall to sunshine hours cumulative during the entire decomposition). The response of N and P release from plant residues to residue quality and climate was similar to that of residue decomposition. At the late stage of the dry season decomposition, the high C/N and C/P ratio plant residue (Dactyladenia leaves) that immobilized N and P in wet zones showed a release of N and P in the dry zone.

Mutation analysis of the X-chromosome linked, testis-specific TAF7L gene in spermatogenic failure

Abstract: The precise temporal and spatial expressions of specific transcription regulation factors (TRF) have long been considered essential for spermatogenesis. Recently, it has been speculated that mammals have evolved more specialised TRF genes. In the human, the TAF7L gene may be essential for maintenance of spermatogenesis. In this study, we investigated the possible role of the TAF7L gene located on the X chromosome in testicular function and spermatogenic failure. In a case-controlled retrospective study, we recruited 16 infertile males with consistent, nonobstructive azoospermia and with normal serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) levels. Twenty age-matched men with normal spermatogenesis with the same ethnic background (Caucasian) were recruited as controls. Their genomic DNA was screened for sequence changes in the coding regions and part of the flanking introns of the TAF7L gene by direct sequencing. Amino acid sequence was compared with the NCBI standard sequence (BC043391). Semen analysis and hormone evaluation were performed. We observed six sequence variations in four patients, consisting of two point mutations, one each in exon 9 and 13 and one six-basepair deletion in exon 13 with concomitant changes in amino acid. One additional nucleotide exchange was observed in intron 8. Most of these changes were also found in eight controls with the exception of changes in exon 13. A meta-analysis including the present study and literature data suggests a possible association of the point mutation in exon 13 with infertility. There was no association or relationship with reproductive hormones. In conclusion, the sequence variants in the cDNA sequence observed are common polymorphisms. The changes in intron 8 appear novel. We report for the first time that most of the alterations are not associated with gonadal dysfunction, while the sequence variant in exon 13 may represent a risk factor for spermatogenic failure.

Screening for syphilis during pregnancy in Nigeria: A practice that must continue.

Abstract: Objective: The objective was to determine the seroprevalence rate of syphilis among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinics of a Teaching and a State Specialist hospital in Nigeria, in order to ascertain whether maternal screening should be incorporated into routine antenatal care of our hospitals Methods: Screening test for syphilis for 505 newly booked pregnant women was first carried out by the qualitative Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR) using the RPR-SlideTM test kit and all reactive sera were then subjected to the quantitative RPR test to estimate the titer of each sample. The Treponema pallidum haemagglutination antibody (TPHA) test was used as confirmatory test of all positive RPR sera. Results: Fifty women (9.9%) were positive for RPR; 15 (2.97%) were positive for TPHA, giving a sero-prevalence rate of 2.97%. Thirty two women (6.34%) were RPR positive at 1:2, 7 (1.39%) at 1:4 and 11 (2.2%) at 1:8. Two of the women positive for RPR at 1:2 were TPHA positive, 2 of the 7 positive at 1:4 were TPHA positive, while all 11 positive women at 1:8 were TPHA positive. In all, 70% of all RPR positive women screened were biological false positives. Eleven of the 15 women had high titre active syphilis (RPR ≥ 1:8, TPHA+) while 4 had low titre active syphilis (RPR < 1:8, TPHA+). Conclusions: The 2.97% sero-prevalence rate obtained after accounting for biological false positives is considered high. Screening for syphilis in pregnancy should be incorporated into routine antenatal practice in our hospitals.

Impact of Credit Use on Resource Productivity of Sweet Potatoes Farmers in Osun-State, Nigeria

Abstract: In the face of excruciating poverty in the rural economy where in farmers are major players, credit is necessary for capital formation, diversified agricultural production and efficiency in agricultural resource-use. This paper thus examines the credit-linked differences in production knowledge among sweet potatoes farmers in Osun- State. The objectives relates to socio-economic differences and resource use efficiency between farmers producing with credit and farmers producing without credit. In this while, the study was able to access the impact of credit on the resource productivity of the sweet potatoes farmers. A sample of 140 farmers comprising 60 that used credit and 80 that did not was randomly selected for detailed study. Primary data obtained from them were analyzed by Marginal Value Product and Multiple Regression Technique. Results indicated that farmers that produced with credit use resources efficiently than those without credit.

College students in Nigeria underestimate their risk of contracting HIV/AIDS infection.

Abstract: Objectives To assess the perceptions of personal risk of acquiring HIV/AIDS infection among students of selected tertiary institutions in Osun State, Nigeria and to determine the correlates of perceptions of personal risk of infection.Methods The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was applied to the 405 study participants and correlates of perceptions of personal risk of HIV infection were evaluated using multiple logistic regression analysis, confidence intervals and odd ratios.Results Only 15% of the students perceived themselves to be at moderate-to-high risk of acquiring HIV infection compared with 85% who perceived themselves to be at little or no risk. Investigators' assessment of risk status of the participants revealed that 77% of the participants were actually at high risk of infection and only 23% at low risk. The sensitivity, specificity and negative predictive value of the students' self-perception of personal risk compared with their...

Preparation and characterization of high-quality rice bran proteins

Abstract: Rice bran contains 120–200 g kg−1 protein in addition to a large amount of fat, carbohydrate, and phytic acid. Rice bran protein (RBP) fractions were refined by a two-step preparation to eliminate residual carbohydrate. The first step involved the sequential extraction of defatted rice bran into RBP fractions using their distinct solubility to give 37 g kg−1 of albumin, 31 g kg−1 of globulin, 27 g kg−1 of glutelin, and 2 g kg−1 of prolamin. In the second step, carried out by dissolving in respective solvent and isoelectric precipitation, the protein content of each fraction increased from 69% to 97% for albumin, from 71% to 90% for globulin, from 74% to 83% for glutelin, and from 18% to 20% for prolamin. The low protein content in the prolamin fraction might be due to its low solubility in the protein assay. Emulsifying stability index and surface hydrophobicity increased in the second-step preparation of albumin and globulin, but not of glutelin. Emulsifying properties of RBPs were lower than that of a soybean protein isolate. Denaturation temperatures and enthalpy values of denaturation for albumin, globulin, glutelin, and prolamin were 50.1 °C/1.2 J g−1, 79.0 °C/1.8 J g−1, 74.5 °C/3.0 J g−1, and 78.5 °C/8.1 J g−1, respectively. No significant differences in the denaturation temperatures and enthalpy values of denaturation of RBP fractions were obtained with these two-step preparations (P < 0.05). Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

Associations Between Placental and Cord Blood Malaria Infection and Fetal Malnutrition in an Area of Malaria Holoendemicity

Abstract: The objective of this study was to determine the role of malaria in the etiology of fetal malnutrition in Nigeria. This study took place at the Neonatal and Maternity Units of the Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, Nigeria. This is a prospective study of 304 consecutive, singleton, term live births delivered between January and August 2002. Anthropometric and clinical data were recorded. Fetal malnutrition (FM; failure to acquire adequate quantum of fat and muscle mass during intrauterine growth) was diagnosed using clinical assessment of fetal nutritional status (CANS) and the score (CANSCORE) adapted by Metcoff. The placenta tissues were examined for malaria pigments and parasites, and placental and cord blood smears were examined for parasites. Babies were followed up in the neonatal period for clinical malaria. Babies were grouped into those with malaria-infected placental and cord blood specimens and those without. The two groups were compared with regard to the proportions with FM and complications of FM. Three hundred four placental and cord blood specimens were examined for malaria. Of the 304, 101 (33.2%) of the placental and 67 (22.0%) of the cord blood specimens were positive for malaria. Sixty-six (21.7%) of the 304 babies had FM. Forty-four (66.7%) of the 66 placental blood specimens of babies with FM were positive for malaria, whereas 57 (24.0%) of the 238 placentae of babies without FM had placental malaria ( 2 42.5, P < 0.0001). Similarly, 27 (40.9%) of 66 babies with FM compared with 40 (16.8%) among 238 babies without FM had malaria parasites in the cord blood ( 2 17.5, P < 0.001). The means of birth weight, ponderal index, and placenta weight were significantly lower among the babies of mothers with malaria-infected placentae than those without (P < 0.05 in all cases). Lack of antenatal care, primiparity, and failure to have chemoprophylaxis against malaria were the maternal factors found to be associated with placental malaria infection. Placental malaria is a major factor in the etiology of FM in Nigeria.

Demographic factors determining compliance to iron supplementation in pregnancy in Oyo State, Nigeria.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Iron deficiency anaemia in pregnancy has irreversible negative consequence on infant cognitive development and increases maternal morbidity and mortality. Iron supplementation ameliorates this effect. The salutary effect of iron supplementation on improvement of haemoglobin levels in pregnancy has been documented in various studies. However factors affecting the compliance of women with prescribed iron supplements are yet to be well studied, particularly at primary care levels. This study describes the compliance rate and demographic factors influencing use of iron supplements among pregnant women at primary care level. METHOD This is a cross sectional descriptive study. Five hundred and ninety seven women attending randomly selected primary care centres were studied. Demographic characteristics and information on use of iron supplements were collected. Haemoglobin level was also determined for each woman. RESULTS Compliance rate was 37.5%. Prevalence of anaemia was higher among noncompliant women than those complying (18% v 15%, chi2 7.5, p = 0.006). Haemoglobin level was higher among women complying with iron supplements compared with those not complying (11.4 g/dl v 11.0 g/dl, t = 9.3, p = 0.002). Single and teenage mothers and those aged 35 years and above were less likely to be compliant. Married women, those in urban location, and those aged 20-29 years were more compliant with iron supplementation. CONCLUSIONS Pregnancy among teenage and single mothers is associated with a significantly higher risk of non-compliance with iron supplementation. Further studies are recommended to understand the reasons for non-compliance among these groups of women.

Curcuma longa extract as a histological dye for collagen fibres and red blood cells.

Abstract: Crude ethanolic extract and column chromatographic fractions of the Allepey cultivar of Curcuma longa Roxb, commonly called turmeric (tumeric) in commerce, were used as a stain for tissue sections. Staining was carried out under basic, acidic and neutral media conditions. Inorganic and organic dissolution solvents were used. The stain was used as a counterstain after alum and iron haematoxylins. C. longa stained collagen fibres, cytoplasm, red blood cells and muscle cells yellow. It also stained in a fashion similar to eosin, except for its intense yellow colour. Preliminary phytochemical evaluation of the active column fraction revealed that it contained flavonoids, free anthraquinone and deoxy sugar. A cheap, natural dye can thus be obtained from C. longa.

Safety performance evaluation models: a review

Abstract: Purpose – Managing a safety programme and ensuring that change is in accordance with suitable performance measures requires continuing improvement in the support of analytical power and empirical information. This paper aims to consider different approaches and modeling efforts on safety performance evaluation.Design/methodology/approach – Review and synthesis of literature.Findings – Ten major safety performance evaluation approaches are identified including expectation function, risk assessment, statistical quality control, price deflation, engineering economic factor, system analysis, artificial intelligence, and systems theory. Based on the approaches, quantitative and qualitative models have been proposed. The quantitative models use measuring indicators such as frequency, severity, percentages, relative weight and economic gains/loss of safety programme. However, qualitative models employ hazard analysis and hazard operability.Research limitations/implications – Several research questions remain to ...

Prevalence of anti-hepatitis C virus antibodies in pregnant women and their offspring in a tertiary hospital in Southwestern Nigeria.

Abstract: Background: The aim of this prospective study was to determine the prevalence of HCV antibodies among pregnant women and their corresponding offspring in a tertiary medical centre in Southwestern Nigeria. Method: Anti-HCV antibodies (anti-HCV antibodies) were analyzed in blood samples from mothers and cord samples from their corresponding offspring using the Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) method. The results obtained from the study were expressed in simple percentages. Results: Out of the 272 consenting pregnant women screened for anti-HCV antibodies, 25 (9.2%) of them were positive. As none of the pregnant women had multiple births, screening the 272 cord sera from their offspring for the same antibodies revealed that 3 (1.10%) of them were also positive. Thus, the prevalence of anti-HCV antibodies in the pregnant women and their offspring were 9.2% and 1.1% respectively. Conclusion: If vertical transmission of HCV were to be based on the acquisition of anti-HCV antibodies alone, the prevalence of vertical transmission from HCV infected mothers to offspring in the study was 12.0%. Further studies on vertical transmission are suggested to include analysis for HCV-RNA quantification in pregnant mothers and their offspring as well as a long-term follow-up of neonates seropositive for HCV markers. Such studies are necessary to justify any recommendations to be made for the purpose of reducing HCV infection through vertical transmission.

Maternal factors in the etiology of fetal malnutrition in Nigeria.

Abstract: The main objective of the study was to determine the role of maternal factors in the etiology of fetal malnutrition (FM) in Nigeria. Neonatal and Maternity Units of the Wesley Guild Hospital Ilesa Nigeria a unit of the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex Ile-Ife was the setting for the study. This was a prospective study of consecutive singleton term live babies delivered between January and August 2001. Fetal malnutrition was diagnosed using Clinical Assessment of Fetal Nutritional Status (CANS) and the score (CANSCORE) adapted by Metcoff. The maternal prenatal record was checked and additional history was obtained from the mother. This included history of maternal illness and drugs taken during pregnancy. The socioeconomic class of the parents was also documented. Nutritional status of the mother was determined using mid arm circumference (MAC) and the body mass index (BMI). Babies were stratified into babies with FM and babies without FM. The two groups of babies were compared. Of the 473 studied 89 [18.8%] had FM. Maternal factors found associated with FM were: lack of antenatal care young mother (< 18 years) primiparity maternal undernutrition (BMI < 18.5 kg/m 2 and MAC < 23.5 cm) low socioeconomic status pregnancy-induced hypertension antepatum hemorrhage and maternal infections especially malaria urinary tract infections and HIV (P < 0.05). Improvement in the socioeconomic status of women and good antenatal care will reduce most of the maternal factors associated with FM in Nigeria. Therefore antenatal should be made cheap and accessible to all pregnant mothers. (authors)

Bacteriology and genotoxicity of some pharmaceutical wastewaters in Nigeria

Abstract: Wastewaters from two pharmaceutical production processes, cotrimoxazole B wastewater (BWW) and Piriton wastewater (PWW), were examined microbiologically and for physico-chemical parameters. Furthermore, the wastewaters were also screened for genotoxicity using Allium cepa assay to assess the risk associated with the discharge of untreated pharmaceutical wastewaters into the environment. The effluents induced various types of chromosomal aberrations, namely, disturbed spindle, vagrant and chromosome bridge, and also showed a dose-dependent reduction in the number of dividing cells. The mitotic inhibition ranged from 38.6 to 67.2%. The mean root length at 20% of BWW and all concentrations except 1% of PWW were significantly different from the control values (p < 0.05). The EC50 of the root growth inhibition was 4.17 and 12.45% for PWW and BWW, respectively. The wastewater physico-chemical analysis revealed that most parameters were within the allowable limits. The wastewaters had similar microbial load index of 107 cfu ml−1, indicating dense populations of bacteria, which may be due to the richness of the wastewaters in nutrients particularly sulphate, nitrate and phosphate. Coliform bacteria concentrations in the PWW and BWW wastewaters were 50MPN/100 ml and 550MPN/100 ml, respectively. The identified bacterial isolates included Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella sp, Streptococcus pyogenes, Bacillus licheniformis, Yersinia sp, Proteus vulgaris and Bacillus subtilis. The resistance of the bacterial isolates ranged from 10% for gentamicin to 100% for augmentin, amoxycillin, cloxacillin and nalidixic acid. PWW isolates were more resistant. Seven patterns of multiple drug resistance ranging from 5 to 11 antibiotics were obtained amongst the isolates.

Assessment of Benefits Derived by Cocoa Farmers from Cocoa Development Unit Activities of Oyo State

Abstract: The study was carried out to assess the benefits derived by Cocoa farmers from Cocoa Development Unit (CDU) of Oyo state. Structured and validated interview schedule was used to collect relevant information from Sixty Cocoa farmers random ly selected from four major cocoa producing areas. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages and Pearson Correlation was used as inferential statistical tool. Evidence from the data analyzed, the respondents had benefited from CDU activities ranging from skill improvement in cocoa production and economic gains. Empirically, age (r = -0.269), martial status (r = -0.298) shows negative and significant relationship with benefits from CDU activities while sex (r = - 0.018) shows negative but non significant relationship. Education (r = 0.331) had positive and significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities and farming experience (r = 0.022) shows positive but non significant relationship with benefits derived from CDU activities. Based on the findings of the study, it is therefore recommended that training should be organized for Cocoa farmers in the state on various cocoa processing methods in order to have high quality grade of cocoa for export.