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Background: Vaginitis, an infection of the lower genital tract in women, is known to be triggered by the overgrowth of the vagina’s naturally occurring microorganisms. Objective: This study looked at the prevalence of Candida spp. and age-related disparities amongst women presenting with vag- initis at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G) clinic in a tertiary hospital in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Methods: One hundred high vaginal swabs were collected from pregnant and non-pregnant women and examined microscop- ically and microbiologically. Results: Age-group 20–29 years had the highest incidence of candidal vaginitis. There was a higher occurrence of yeast cells in pregnant than in non-pregnant participants while the non-pregnant women had a greater level of bacterial cells. Forty (40) of the samples contained yeasts of Candida species representing a 40% prevalence. Three species of Candida were identified with C. albicans dominating. Of the 40 samples positive for Candida spp., 30 (75.0%) were confirmed to be C. albicans. The remaining isolates were C. tropicalis (15.0%) and C. parapsilosis (10.0%). Conclusion: The findings in this study would play a role in the future management of Candida-induced vaginitis. Keywords: Candida; epidemiology; prevalence; vaginitis; vulvovaginal candidiasis.

HIV/AIDS is one of the major barriers to community development. It is a global pandemic with high prevalence rates worldwide. This research was carried out to determine the prevalence of HIV among pregnant women attending the antenatal clinic at the University College Hospital, Ibadan using Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) Gen Screen TM ULTRA HIV Ag-Ab Kit. HIV prevalence was found to be 26.4%. A total of 91 samples were tested, 24 (26.4%) were found to be positive and 67 (73.6%) negative. Women between the ages 25 -31 had the highest prevalence rate of 16.5% while those between the ages of 39 -45 years had the least prevalence rate of 1.1%. The results revealed a relatively high prevalence rate for HIV among pregnant women which suggests the need for active surveillance and implementation of preventive measures to avoid further spread of the virus. Pregnant women need to be continually tested for HIV and those infected monitored closely to prevent mother to child transmission.

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The biodegradability of anionic surfactants in oilfield detergents was investigated using water samples from the New Calabar River and Tap water. The detergents analyzed were D.D-Y, D.G-X, SUR-500, SW-1000 and Bio-Boost. The anionic surfactant, Sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) was employed as a reference. The total heterotrophic counts in the water samples were determined using the spread plate technique while the detergent-utilizers were investigated using Mineral salt agar. Biodegradation was evaluated by monitoring Methylene Blue Active Substance (MBAS) using the "River die-away" method. The percentage MBAS remaining, after the 28 day study period, in increasing order was SDS < SUR-500 < SW-1000 < Bio-boost < D.D-Y < D.G-X; SDS was the most biodegraded. SUR-500, SW-1000 and Bio-boost supported the highest growth of utilizers. The detergent-utilizing bacteria isolated belonged to the genera Proteus, Acinetobacter, Enterobacter, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Pseudomonas, Arthrobacter, Corynebacterium and Micrococcus. A steady increase in total viable count, pH and optical density was observed during biodegradation. The detergents tested could be considered biodegradable as they had an average of 91%-97% primary biodegradation at the end of the 28 day test period which is within the biodegradability standards set by the Soap and Detergent Association (SDA) and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).

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This study explored acute herbicide-induced changes in soil fungal biomass, relative abundance, diversity and hyphal extension in response to five different application concentrations (1.625mg/kg -25.00mg/kg) of paraquat dichloride using the media dilution technique. There was a general decline in all the parameters investigated with increasing concentration and contact time. Of all the isolates obtained, Penicillium and Fusarium were the most frequently occurring amongst the filamentous fungi while Saccharomyces was the more frequently occurring yeast. Investigation of soil mycelial biomass revealed that the lowest dry weight was attained at the highest application rate of 25mg/kg representing a 61.71% reduction in mycelial biomass compared to the control. Based on the tolerance indices, the three isolates studied could be ranked in increasing order of tolerance as Mucor < Fusarium < Penicillium. Mucor showed no linear extension at concentrations of 3.25mg/kg and above while Penicillium exhibited linear extension even at 25mg/kg. At paraquat dichloride concentrations of 6.50mg/kg and over, growth inhibition levels for total soil fungi were over 50%; for Mucor, it was 100% at concentrations over 3.25mg/kg. Fusarium only exhibited 100% growth inhibition at the highest application concentration of 25mg/kg. Penicillium and total soil fungi were inhibited by 94% and 75% respectively at 25mg/kg. Statistically, soil fungal abundance and linear extension at herbicide concentrations of 3.25mg/kg and over were significantly different (at 95% confidence interval) from those obtained in the control experiments. It was concluded that the soil fungal community structure was radically altered by acute exposure to the herbicide, paraquat dichloride.

This study explored the influence of brackish water sediment, mangrove swamp sediment, clayey/lateritic soil, and river water (freshwater) sediment on the corrosion rates of carbon, mild, and stainless steels and the species of sulphate reducing bacteria (SRB) and iron bacteria associated with the process. The material loss following burial of the steel samples for a 9-month period was assessed. Standard and specialised microbiological techniques were employed in the characterisation of the bacterial species. Qualitative assessment for corrosion was done via optical microscopy and macroscopy. Corrosion was highest on steel buried in brackish water sediment and lowest in that from river water sediment. Carbon steel was the most susceptible to corrosion while stainless steel was the most resistant. Sulphite, sulphide, nitrate and phosphate concentrations had a strong impact on corrosion rates. Thiobacillus, Leptothrix and Gallionella dominated amongst the iron bacteria while Desulfobacter and Desulfovibrio dominated amongst the SRB. There were significant differences in corrosion rates and bacterial abundance from one environment to the other. Iron bacteria showed greater abundance than SRB across the different environments and steel types. Iron bacteria counts, however, did not correlate positively with corrosion rates. The findings suggest that oil industry facilities in brackish water environments are more liable to corrosion than those located in fresh water ecosystems.