International Journal of Scientific Research in Biological Sciences
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Evaluation of Bacterial and Protozoan Contamination of Local Soup Condiment (Daddawa) Produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria
Get PDFSoup condiments are edible food items added to dishes, used as thickeners for soup and as food supplements such as sauce added to food to impact specific flavours. They are abundantly produced in Nigeria especially in its North-Western part. The aim of this research was to determine the bacterial and protozoan contamination of local soup condiment (Daddawa) produced by North-Western Community, Nigeria. Samples were randomly collected from three sellers each in Dabai, Bedi, Senchi and Zuru, aseptically placed into polythene bags and labelled correctly. 8g of nutrient agar powder was weighed and dissolved in 350mls of distilled water, hot plated and sterilised by autoclaving at 121°C for 15 minutes and allowed to cool. 20mls of the prepared nutrient media was poured into a sterile petri dish and allowed to solidify. The protozoa present in the samples were identified by direct microscopy. A total of 12 samples from the four study areas were examined. The mean bacterial count of the samples in Dabai, Bedi, Senchi and Zuru were 125.3, 85.0, 75.3 and 39.7 respectively. A total of four bacterial species were isolated with 43 isolates. 19(44.1%) was recorded in Staphylococcus aureus which was the most prevalent in the study areas followed by Shigella dysenteriae 13(30.2%), Escherichia coli 8(18.6%) and Salmonella typhi 3(6.9%). The highest prevalence rate of the identified protozoa was recorded in Entamoeba histolytica 2(50.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia 1(25.0%). In conclusion, this study had confirmed that local soup condiments are contaminated by bacteria and protozoa. Staphylococcus aureus and Entamoeba histolytica respectively were the most prevalent in the study areas. It was recommended that urgent review of the entire process in the study areas and North-Western Nigerian Community as a whole be carried out to ensure awareness and that all the condiments are produced by following the standard operation procedure.
 
Distribution, Population Status and Ecology of the Endangered Barbary Macaque Macaca sylvanus in North Africa
Get PDFThe Barbary macaque Macaca sylvanus currently survives in small fragmented isolates in Morocco and Algeria. Between 65 and 75 % of the world’s population occurred in the central zone of the Moroccan Middle Atlas. In Morocco, the species survives today in the Rif, the Middle Atlas and the High Atlas mountains. In Algeria it occurs in three areas: Chiffa, Grande Kabylie and Petite Kabylie. Free-ranging Barbary macaques are currently found in Gibraltar. In Europe, there are three major free ranging captive colonies of Barbary macaques in France and Germany. In the early 1980s, the total population size was estimated to be 14 000–23 000. Several recent studies indicated a dramatic decline of the Barbary macaque populations and concluded this decline on habitat destruction, impact of livestock grazing, the population fragmentation, the illegal capture of infant macaques, and the effects of human activities on the Barbary macaques’ behaviour. The species is listed in CITES Appendix I and is classified as an endangered species on the IUCN’s Red List. Barbary macaques are an essential component of North Africa biodiversity, contributing to forest regeneration and ecosystem health. This paper aims to determine the current distribution, status and ecology of the Barbary macaque in Morocco and Algeria, to identify the potential threats to the species, and to make recommendations for the protection of the species in North Africa.
 
Study on Biomedical Waste Management in Surgical Theaters of Some Selected Hospitals in Urban Kano, Northern Nigeria
Get PDFBiomedical waste management (BMW) is one very important aspect of environmental issue that needs to be taken more seriously. Rapid growth of human population especially in the developing countries has led to increase in quantity of biomedical waste produced in the health care facilities (HCF). The paper aimed at studying management of MW in surgical theaters in Urban Kano. A total of twelve (12) of HCFs were purposively sampled base on possession of a functioning theater, from the six major local government areas constituting urban Kano (one public and the other private). Questionnaire survey was used to solicit information from the theater attendants on various aspects of waste management: waste segregation, collection, storage, treatment, transportation, disposal, safety and exposure to risk as well as training. Out of 105 questionnaires administered, 81 representing 77% were retrieved. It was found out that waste segregation is poorly practiced, (26%), waste is poorly stored, treatment also very low, reported by only 29% and sharps especially syringes are disposed up anyhow, although some form of incineration was reported (29%). Final disposal of the waste is often in open dumpsites. Training was reported, (64%) that generally focused more on personal safety rather than medical waste management. Infectious waste generated ranges from 0.07kg/day to 3.60kg/day, among public hospitals. Noninfectious waste generated ranges from 0.82kg/day to 1.6kg/day. Infectious wastes generated among private hospitals ranges from 0.22kg/day to 2.57kg/day while noninfectious waste generated ranges from 0.0kg/day to 1.10kg/day. Of the average total generated waste produced, 18.0kg/day, public hospitals accounted for about 11.8kg/day while private hospitals accounted for 6.20kg/day. The result indicated that the management of biomedical waste is poorly executed, hence it was recommended that strategic measures should take to reduce the quantity of the waste produced, which may be achieved full segregation of the wastes and implementation of National Health Care Waste Management Plan (NHCWMP, 2007) in order to reverse the situation.
 
Toxicity of Solanum surattense against freshwater host snail Indoplanorbis exustus
Get PDFFascioliasis is a serious parasitic zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola. The carrier of Fasciola is a freshwater host snail Indoplanorbis exustus. The population of snail control is may be an effective technique for the control of fascioliasis infections. Synthetic molluscicides are effective for control of snail population but their cause’s adverse effect on non-target organisms and aquatic environment. Some plant families are potent sources of molluscicides. The present studies were designed for the evaluation of the molluscicidal efficacy of the medicinal plant Solanum surattense against snail I. exustus. Toxicity experiment of dried leaf powder of S. surattense and their organic extracts (ether, chloroform, methanol, acetone, and ethanol) and column purified was exposed against I. exustus and observed up to 96 hours (96h) at different concentrations of the treatments. Toxicity against I. exustus was noted at 24h interval up to 96h exposure and calculates lethal values and different parameters. Lethal Concentrations (LC50) of leaf powder of S. surattense were 24h exposure 185.26mg/l and at 96h 180.30 mg/l. The ethanolic extracts of dried leaf powder of S. surattense were more toxic against I. exustus among all the extracts. The present study shows that the S. surattense is a potent source of molluscicides and their different preparations revealed the new approaches that how the active components of this plant perform mode of action in the snail body.
 
A Mathematical Model for Infection of the Human Body by the Effects of Coronavirus
Get PDFThe effect of the coronavirus is increasing daily. The coronavirus has caught the whole world. The coronavirus has infected more than thousands of people and killed more than millions. If the coronavirus is not stopped, then the system of the population of the whole world will be shaken. We have accepted this coronavirus problem as a challenge. A guideline has been provided by Mathematical Modeling to rule out the effects of the coronavirus and to protect people from the coronavirus. We are confident that this guideline will act as a shield to protect the lives of all people from the coronavirus.
 
Activity of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized From Buttermilk Filtrate and Activity of Spices against Dental Cavity Causing Organisms
Get PDFBacterial oral pathogens can cause severe diseases with complications, severe soft tissue invasions, toxic syndromes and also cause infective endocarditis. This research paper provides comprehensive view on the silver nanoparticle synthesis from buttermilk filtrate, its characterization and its antimicrobial activity against dental pathogens. Also some spices was used to check their antimicrobial potential. The dental cavity causing organisms were isolated from patients having dental cavity problems. These organisms were identified as streptococcus spp. and candida spp. by performing morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics referring to the bergey’s manual of determinative bacteriology. Silver nanoparticles were synthesized using buttermilk filtrate and characterization were done by UV-Vis spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Extract of different spices as well as biologically synthesized silver nanoparticles were checked against identified clinical isolates by well diffusion method. Nanoparticles synthesized using buttermilk filtrate were more effective as compared to crude extracts against pathogenic strains of bacteria.
 
Genotoxic impacts of long term exposure of Arsenic and Fluoride to Cat Fish, Clarias batrachus
Get PDFArsenic and Fluoride are very common ground water pollutants, contributed by natural and anthropogenic sources leading to serious health effects in both terrestrial and aquatic organisms. The current research was carried out to identify the relationship between arsenic and fluoride, using Clarias batrachus (common cat fish) as an experimental model. The study includes seven groups (Group I to VII), one control (Group I) and other six (Group II, III, IV, V, VI, VII) exposed to different concentration of arsenic and fluoride individually and in combination. Long term exposure of 60 days was carried out for each group, with no toxicant added in Group I. Blood samples were collected from each experimental group on 60th day and COMET assay was performed to check genotoxicity. Parameters like Head DNA percentage, tail DNA Percentage, comet length, tail moment were calculated from comet images. Results revealed maximum DNA damage in group V, which was exposed to arsenic alone, concluding arsenic being more toxic than fluoride. Also, antagonistic relationship was established between arsenic and fluoride.
 
Bioremediation Potential of Mushrooms
Get PDFPotential of Mushroom to work as Bio-remediating agent has made a significant remark in the field of Environment Management. Ability of mushrooms to grow on agro-industrial waste has made researchers to ponder over the new and better possibilities to clean the environment. There are certain things which are yet to be explored like oil is a mixture of a number of toxic derivatives. Can mushrooms eradicate or detoxify all of them? Secondly, Can the edible species of mushroom involved in bioremediation, be declared safe to use? Restoration of polluted land can be used to grow food crops or not? So, there is a lot to explore yet. Although, this practice has a lot of future prospects, carrying forward the economic concept of Mushroom Cultivation Technique & its role in Bioremediation.
 
Efficacy of Ocimum Sanctum against Alternaria Causing Diseases on Medicinal Plants
Get PDFOcimum sanctum extracts prepared in methanol were tested for their antifungal activity against Alternaria alternata isolated from two important medicinal plants including Aegle marmelos and Emblica officinalis. Leaf, shoot, and flowers of O. sanctum were screened individually for the antifungal activity. Disc diffusion method was conducted against Alternaria species for analyzing the antifungal properties of the medicinal plant. Zone of inhibition was measured for evaluating the antifungal activity of the methanolic extracts tested against the test fungal strain. Commercial fungicide at a similar protocol was taken as control. Although all the tested plant parts showed positive results of phytopathogenic growth inhibition, but the leaf extracts showed comparatively better effect than the flower and stem extracts. For both the diseased plants including A. marmelos and E. officinalis, leaf and flower extracts showed comparatively better results than stem. The consequences of using plant parts of O. sanctum as botanical fungicides against the fungal pathogen Alternaria have been discussed. The botanical fungicides could be a potential alternative to the commercial fungicides which cause damage to crop and plant development.
 
Association of Col6a3 Missense Variants with Uterine Leiomyomata
Get PDFUterine fibroids or Uterine leiomyomata (UL), are non-malignant smooth muscle tumors of the uterus, identified in women of child bearing age. They usually develop in the third to fourth decade of life. UL may be asymptomatic or cause heavy and abnormal bleeding, pressure and pain in the pelvic region, difficulty in conceiving or causing repetitive abortions. They tend to shrink in size after menopause indicating that hormones play a role in their aetiology apart from other molecular factors. Missense variants of collagens have been associated with UL. Two polymorphism rs2270669 and rs36117715 of the collagen 6A3 gene have been evaluated in fibroids in this study. DNA samples of women with and without leiomyoma were evaluated for COL6A3 gene polymorphisms. This is the first study indicating susceptibility of South Indian women to UL with missense polymorphisms of COL6A3 gene.