Rivers State University of Science and Technology

About: Rivers State University of Science and Technology is a education organization based out in Port Harcourt, Rivers, Nigeria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Threatened species. The organization has 1826 authors who have published 1833 publications receiving 15183 citations.

Study of Microbial Community of Hydrocarbon Impacted Sites of Bodo Oilfield, Ogoniland Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: Hydrocarbon pollution has greatly altered the normal microbial flora of our environments; this has led to the succession of hydrocarbonoclastic microbes in oil impacted sites. This study is a comparative study of the microbial flora of hydrocarbon impacted site of Bodo oilfield and the non-impacted site in Ogoniland. A total of 12 samples were collected, 6 from the oil impacted site, and 6 from the non-impacted site. The sample were coded A –F. The physicochemical parameter of soil was determined, the microbiological examination was conducted to determine the bacterial and fungal communities present at each site. The result shows that higher population of oil-degrading microorganisms were found on the hydrocarbon impacted site, prominent among them were Micrococcus, Acinetobacter, Corynebacterium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Actinomycetes, fungi isolated from impacted sites includes Candida, Rhizopus mucor and Aspergillus, while the non-impacted site has: streptococcus, staphylococcus, E.coli, and Actinomycetes species. There were also fungal isolate of which only Candida was the only isolate. A microbial growth ranges between 1.1 x 103 to 9.1 x 103 CFU/ml.

Haemoglobin Level and Intestinal Parasites in Pregnant Women in Eziama, Imo State of Nigeria

Abstract: This prospective study was carried out between January to June, 2008 at Eziama in Isiala Mbano Local Government Area of Imo State to determine the haemoglobin level and intestinal parasites in pregnant women attending antenatal clinic. In total, 281 stool and blood samples were collected from the women. The stool samples were examined using direct wet preparation and formol ether concentration technique while the haemoglobin levels of the women were estimated using cyanmethaeoglobin technique. The overall prevalence of E. histolytical, A. Lumbricoides, Hookworm Spp, T. trichuria and G. lamblia was 10(3.6), 31(11.0), 29(10.3), 10(3.6) and 3(1.1) respectively. The proportion of pregnant women with helminithic infestation was 83 (29.6%) while their mean Heamoglobin concentration was 9.7+1.8g/dl while the pregnant women without helminthic infestation had Heamoglobin concentration of 10.4 + 1.3g/dl. The poor socioeconomic status of the women coupled with poor environmental sanitation and lack of clean portable water supply may have contributed to the high prevalence.

Variations in growth performance traits and economic analysis of two Nigerian indigenous chicken strains and their crossbred

Abstract: This study was undertaken to compare growth performance and economics of production of two Nigerian indigenous chicken strains andtheircrossbred.The parent lines of theNigerian indigenous chicken population used consisted of two strains, the normal feather (NF)and the naked neck(NN),obtained from pure bred strains of Nigerian indigenous chickens maintained at the Directorate of University farm, Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Three genetic groups comprising a combination of NF male X NN female (GG1), NN male X NN female (GG2) and NN male X NF female (GG3) were used for the study. The results revealed that though chicks from GG2 were heavier (P 0.05) among the three groups. Birds from GG3 were however, able to utilize feed consumed by 11.21 and 12.93% more efficiently than GG1 and GG2 respectively. Feed cost per kg weight gain was least for GG3 ( 520) with gross margin of 132.35 and 133.43 above GG1 and GG2 respectively. GG3 had the best profitability index and return on investment. Crossbreeding naked neck and normal feather showed superiority in growth and economic returns and is therefore recommended in breeding/production programmes targeted at expanding Nigerian indigenous chicken production.

Ecological influence of habitat structure on the diversity of fauna in Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract: Habitats are being degraded on a daily basis due to the increase in population for alternative uses and this has cause a downturn in biodiversity. The habitat structure however play a key role in species distribution and diversity hence the need for more keen attention for it protection. Animal species diversity has been reported to be dependent on the structure of the habitat. However, information on wildlife species in relation to habitat structure within Bonny Island forest has not been adequately documented. Therefore, wildlife diversity in Bonny Island was assessed. Flora and fauna survey were carried out on fixed transect belt using point centre quarter and line transect methods respectively in dry and wet seasons. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and correlation analysis. Abundance of trees, shrubs, grasses and aquatic plant species in BSS (24, 13, 10 and 8 respectively) were higher than in BIS (8, 10, 10 and 10). Anthropogenic activities: hunting, fishing and other agricultural practices exerted higher pressure of 20.0%, 60.0% and 10.0% respectively on the wildlife resources during dry than wet seasons (17.5%, 43.8% and 38.70% respectively). Higher density index of avian, amphibian, reptiles and mammals were recorded in BSS (3.2, 3.3, 4.4 and 2.1 respectively) compared to BIS (0.2, 0.7, 0.5 and 0.6). There were more catch values during dry than wet seasons (t=0.935). Higher diversity index (t=2.18) was recorded in BSS than in BIS.Generally, more species diversity was observed in the BSS block than the BIS and this is attributed to the habitat structure which is more structurally complex and less fragmented.

Peritonitis in Children: Experience in a Tertiary Hospital in Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract: Background: Peritonitis may be associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate our experience with the management of secondary peritonitis in children. Methods: This was a retrospective study of children who had undergone laparotomy for peritonitis in the pediatric surgery unit of Enugu State University Teaching Hospital (ESUTH) in Enugu, Nigeria over a five-year period. Results: There were 52 cases of laparotomies for peritonitis, with an age range of two weeks to 14 years (median: nine years) and a male to female ratio of 3.3:1. The etiologies of peritonitis were typhoid intestinal perforation in 25 cases (48%), ruptured appendix in nine cases (17.3%), perforated intussusception in eight cases (15.4%), perforated external hernia in three cases (5.8%), perforation due to adhesive intestinal obstruction in three cases (5.8%), perforated necrotizing enterocolitis in three cases (5.8%), and bowel perforation due to trauma in one case (1.9%). The following definitive surgical procedures were performed: closure of bowel perforation in 26 cases (50%), appendectomy plus abscess drainage in nine cases (17.3%), right hemicolectomy with ileotransverse anastomosis in eight cases (15.4%), segmental bowel resection in six cases (11.5%), and insertion of peritoneal drains in three cases (5.8%). The median duration of symptoms prior to presentation and the median duration from presentation to surgery were four days and two days, respectively. Twenty-four patients (46.2%) developed complications that included surgical site infection in 12 cases (23.1%), enterocutanous fistula in five cases (9.6%), intra-abdominal abscess in four cases (7.7%), and wound dehiscence in three cases (5.8%). There were seven deaths, accounting for 13.5% of the patients. Conclusion: Typhoid intestinal perforation was the most common cause of peritonitis in the present study. Keywords: Children; peritonitis; developing country; single center