Influence of Tillage Systems on Diversity and Abundance of Insect and Nematode Pests of Maize in Malete, Kwara State, Nigeria

Pests are major biotic factors causing up to 45% yield reduction in maize production in sub-Saharan Africa. To develop improved methods for maize management, the species and abundance of insects and nematodes associated with ten quality protein maize varieties (QPMVs) were evaluated with two commonly used tillage practices, ‘plough only plots (POP)’ and ‘plough and harrow plots (PAHP)’. The experiment was carried out using QPMVs at the Teaching and Research Farm of the Kwara State University, Malete, Nigeria, and arranged in a randomized complete block design with 11 treatments replicated 3 times, including local check “pambo”. A total of 833.1±4.0 and 799.3±3.4 arthropods specimens were collected from POP and PAHP, respectively, comprising 8 orders and 18 families. Ootheca mutabilis was the most abundant species with 5.47% (POP) and 5.68% (PAHP) and the least abundant was Rhopalosiphum maidis 1.82% (POP) and 1.80% (PAHP). As indicated by Shannon Wiener (3.46±0.023) and Simpson indices (0.97±0.0008) there are even distribution in the tillage practices. Three genera of plant parasitic nematodes (PPNs) were identified, Meloidogyne spp. (POP (78.33±19.65), PAHP (1.33±0.33), Pratylenchus spp. (POP (41.67±9.26), PAHP (5.00±2.31), and Helicotylenchus spp. (POP (58.33±38.35), PAHP (23.33±14.50). The use of PAHP tillage practices is effective in reducing insects and nematodes associated with maize in Nigeria and therefore recommended for the management of both pests in maize production

Microbiological evaluation of the potencies of brands of four parenteral antibiotic preparations used in the treatment of urinary tract infections

'Urinary tract infection (UTI) is a common disease and sometimes life threatening if not properly treated. In Nigeria, aside adulteration and counterfeiting of antibiotics, potency of antibiotics can also be altered by factors like production errors and storage condition at the Pharmacy stores. This study investigated the potencies of selected brands of four common parenteral antibiotic preparations, in Nigerian drug markets against uropathogens isolated from patients with recurrent UTI. Ten selected clinical bacterial isolates from patients with recurrent UTI were collected from the Microbiology unit of the University College Hospital, Ibadan and authenticated by standard bacteriological methods. The isolates were  subjected to susceptibility test against eight standard antibiotics by disc diffusion method. The selected brands of the four parenteral antibiotic preparations used in this study includes: Ciprofloxacin (Emason® and Uniflox®); Ceftriaxone (Rocephin® and Cefin®); Aminoglycoside (Pe-genta® and Philo-genta®) and Aminopenicillin/inhibitor (Augmentin® and Amoxiclav®). Efficacies of the parenteral antibiotic preparations against the isolates were determined by Minimum Inhibitory Concentrations (MICs) using broth-dilution method. Antibiotic susceptibility test using standard antibiotic discs showed that all (100%) the bacterial isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR), being resistant to two or more classes of antibiotics. Aside E. coli (E1) that was susceptible to the two brands of gentamicin preparations at the Clinical Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) susceptibility breakpoint (≤ 4 ag/mL), all the other isolates showed resistance to the four parenteral antibiotic preparations and were only susceptible at higher concentrations (> 2 folds) above the CLSI resistance breakpoints for the different antibiotic preparations. The brands of the parenteral antibiotic preparations used in this study have low potency which varies with different bacterial strains involved. L’EVALUATION MICROBIOLOGIQUE DES PUISSANCES DES MARQUES DE QUATRES PREPARATIONS ANTIBIOTIQUES PARENTERALES UTILISEES DANS LE TRAITEMENT DE L’INFECTION DES VOIES URINAIRES.L’infection des voies urinaires (UTI) est une maladie commune et parfois met la vie en danger si pas correctement traitée. Au Nigeria, a part de la falsification et la contrefaçon des antibiotiques, la puissance des antibiotiques peut également être modifiéepar des facteurs tels que les erreurs de production et les conditions de stockage dans les magasins de la pharmacie. Cette étude a examiné les puissances des marques sélectionnées de quatre préparations antibiotiques parentérales courantes, aux marchés  nigérians de la drogue, contre les uropathogenes isolées des patients avec infection urinaire récidivante. 129Dix isolats bactériens sélectionnés des patients avec infection urinaire(UTI) récidivante ont été recueillies de l’unité microbiologie de l’hôpital Universitaire, Ibadan et authentifie par des méthodes bactériologiques classiques. Les isolats ont été soumis à des tests de sensibilité contre huit antibiotiques Standards par la méthode de diffusion sur disques. Les marques sélectionnées de quatre préparations antibiotiques parentérales utilisées dans cette étude comprennent : Ciprofloxacine (Emason® et Uniflox®) ; Ceftriaxone (Rocephine® et Cefin®) ; Aminoside (Pe - genta® et Philo – genta®) ; et Aminopenicilline/inhibiteur (Augmentin® et Amoxiclav®). L’efficace des préparations antibiotiques parentérales contre les isolats ont été déterminés par concentrations minimales inhibitrices(MICs) en utilisant la méthode du bouillon – dilution. Le test de sensibilité aux antibiotiques en utilisant les disques antibiotiques standard a montré que tous (100%) les isolats bactériens étaient multi résistants (MDR), étant résistant aux deux ou plusieurs classes d’antibiotiques. A part de E.coli (E1) quiétait sensible aux deux marques de préparations gentamicine a l’Institut de Laboratoire Clinique  Standard. Le point d’arrêt de la  sensibilité (≤ 4ag/ml) tous les autres isolats ont montré résistance aux quatre préparations antibiotiques parentérales et étaientseulement sensibles a des concentrations plus élevées (> 2 plis) au- dessus des points d’arrêt de résistance CLSI pour les préparations antibiotiques différentes. Les marques des préparations antibiotiques parentérales utilisées dans cette étude ont une faible puissance qui varie avec les souches bactériennes différentes impliquées.

Efficacy of Three Disinfectant Formulations against Multidrug Resistant Nosocomial Agents

The current increase in the prevalence of nosocomial infections within the hospital environment despite adequate cleaning and disinfection can be said to be due to the following: (i) ineffectiveness of the various disinfectant formulations used in infection control on the various hospital equipments and wards; (ii) development of resistance to the various chemical disinfectant formulations been used in the hospitals by the various microorganisms. Ten bacteria isolates from different clinical specimens of hospitalized patients identified using standard bacteriological methods and found after screening to be resistant to two or more classes of the antibiotics: cephalosporins, quinolones, Betalactams, nitrofuran, macrolide and an aminoglycoside using the Kirby-Bauer method of disc diffusion test were used in this study. These were subjected to susceptibility testing against three selected disinfectant formulations (Izal, Dettol and Jik) at the manufacturer’s dilutions and half the dilutions prescribed on their labels by using agar diffusion method. Out of these clinical isolates used in this study, 5 (50%) and 2 (20%) were resistant to manufacturer’s dilution and half the dilution of Dettol respectively, 9 (90%) and 6 (60%) to manufacturer’s dilution and half the dilution of Izal respectively while 1 (10%) and 0 (0%) were resistant to manufacturer’s dilution and half the dilution of Jik respectively. The resistance demonstrated by some of the nosocomial agents in this study against the selected disinfectant formulations at their manufacturer’s dilution and half the prescribed dilutions showed the probability of the nosocomial agents developing some mechanisms of resistance against the various disinfectant formulations rather than ineffectiveness of the disinfectant formulations. However, the effectiveness of Jik formulation at half the manufacturer’s prescribed dilution shows that Jik is still an important disinfectant formulation in the control of nosocomial agent most especially the resistant strains

Prolonged Use Of Cough Formulations And The Health Risk From Their Antimicrobial Activity On Some Normal Bacterial Flora

Cough formulations were observed to contain some chemical substances that have been associated with antimicrobial property, namely: menthol, honey, citric acid and volatile oils. A prolonged use of such formulations by patients was therefore considered a health risk on the normal bacterial flora. Nine cough formulations denoted by letter codes along with simple syrup B.P., absolute alcohol and sterile distilled water as controls, were investigated for relative antimicrobial activity on some normal flora bacteria by the agar-cup diffusion method. The respective individual single brands of cough formulation with the exception of one brand exhibited inhibitory activity against 5 - 1 2 bacterial isolates including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp, Streptococcus faecalis, Strep. pneumoniae, Strep. viridians, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.Simple Syrup B.P. and sterile distilled water did not exhibit any antibacterial activity while the absolute alcohol exerted activity only on Staph aureus. The antimicrobial activity recorded for the cough formulations could cause a depletion of the normal bacterial flora following a prolonged use of the formulations tested, hence, the attendant health risk of depressed natural immune system of the body, normally associated with such bacteria

Analysis of knowledge, attitude and practices of small ruminant farmers for training needs identification in Southwestern Nigeria

The knowledge, skills and attitude of small ruminant farmers were studied to determine their training needs. Socio-economic characteristics of the small ruminant farmers, their knowledge, skills and attitude in small  ruminant  production were evaluated alongside their training needs. A multi-stage random sampling technique was used to select 183  respondents for the study. Pretested and duly validated (r = 0.76) interview schedule was used to  collect requisite information from the respondents. Data were summarized using frequency distribution and  percentages. Result of the analysis showed that mean age of the  respondents and annual income from small ruminant production were 50.4 years and N9, 041 respectively. Also, all the farmers were members of one  association or the other and 83.6 percent of them were educated. Majority of the farmers (71.6%) had extension agents as information source on small ruminant production. Furthermore, the mean scores of farmers’ knowledge was highest in identification of sick animal (9.1) and lowest in vaccination (1.3) while the mean scores of farmers’ skill was highest in feeding of animals (4.3) and lowest in health management (2.5). Majority (73.2%) of the  farmers had indifferent attitude towards small ruminant production. The identified training needs included   construction of small ruminant houses, drug selection and administration, record keeping and vaccination. The study concluded that training programme specialists and policy makers should inculcate the aforementioned identified training needs in conducting training  programmes for small ruminant farmers for better production and greater return on investment.Keywords: Sheep and goat, Needs analysi