The metallic keyboards of automated teller machines situated within Calabar metropolis were investigated for microbial contamination due to their vast dermal contact by multiple users. Swab sticks soaked with normal sterile saline were used to collect specimens from the keypads. Isolation was done on nutrient agar and eosine methylene blue (EMB) for bacteria and Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungi using standard microbiological procedures. Identification of microorganisms was done using colonial, microscopic and biochemical characteristics. The results reveal that these machines that serve as cash dispensing device can be a potential disease dispensing machines as samples analyzed revealed bacterial isolates such as Staphylococcus spp (32%)), Bacillus spp (24%), Escherichia spp (20%), Pseudomonas spp (18%) and Salmonella spp (6%) while fungal isolates of the samples analyzed include microorganisms such as Rhizopus spp (56%), Aspergillus spp, (25%) and Penicillium spp (19%). These findings necessitate the need for adequate personal hygiene by users and frequent routine cleaning of these machines by the bank's authorities is highly recommended.

Aims: Vegetables are usually exposed to parasitic ova, larvae or oocyst during cultivation, irrigation, storage, transportation or while processing for consumption. Consumption of raw, unwashed and improperly cooked vegetables is considered a risk factor for transmission of intestinal parasites. This study assessed the parasitic contamination of vegetables and also determined factors associated with parasitic contamination of vegetables in selected markets in Calabar, Cross River State. Place and Duration of Study: Sample: Markets within Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria between September and October, 2018. Methodology: A pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire was used for collecting data on factors associated with parasitic contamination of vegetables. 300 vegetable samples were purchased and processed from three different markets in Calabar for examination of parasitic contamination using direct wet mount and zinc sulphate floatation techniques. Results: 15.7% (47/300) of the vegetables sampled were positive for at least one parasite. The species and stages of parasites detected were larvae of Strongyloides, ova of Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm, and cysts of Entamoeba histolytica and Giardia lamblia. Larvae of Strongyloides (11.3%) were the most frequently detected followed by ova of T. trichiura (1.7%) and Hookworm (1.7%) (P = 0.000). Among the five vegetable types sampled, waterleaf (40%) had the highest level of parasitic contamination followed by pumpkin (21.7%). Washing vegetables before display and the means of display were significantly associated with parasitic contamination (P = 0.000). Conclusion: Prevention of contamination is important in reducing food-borne parasitic infections and can be achieved through improved personal hygiene practices of farmers, vendors and consumers, proper washing of vegetables and improved sanitary conditions especially around markets where these vegetables are sold.

Aims: The study aimed at determining the prevalence and risk factors for intestinal helminth infection among school-age children in Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study was conducted in two Local Government Areas (Calabar South and Calabar Municipality) in Calabar. Place and Duration of Study: The study was carried out in Calabar, from May to October, 2018. Methodology: Faecal samples were collected from pupils in sterile dry specimen bottles with the use of applicator sticks and analyzed using sedimentation and floatation techniques. Data obtained was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21. Results: Overall prevalence of intestinal helminth was 18.5%. Parasites recovered were Ascaris lumbricoides (9.3%), Trichuris trichiura (4.0%), Hookworm (2.6%), Taenia solium (0.9), Enterobius vermicularis (0.9), Strongyloides stercoralis (0.4%) and Schistosoma mansoni (0.4%) (P = 0000). Males (22.1%) were more infected than females (14.0%) in the study area (P = 0.031). Prevalence of intestinal helminths was lowest in age group 11-15 years (14.4%) and highest in age group 6-10 years (23.5%) (P = 0.005). After multivariate analysis, source of water [OR=3.355, 95% CI 1.448 – 7.770], type of sewage system [OR=7.547, 95% CI 5.011 – 8.358], hand washing before meal [OR=4.069, 95% CI 1.719 – 9.631] and hand washing after defecation [OR=2.281, 95% CI 1.059 – 4.917] were statistically associated with the detected intestinal helminthic infections in faecal samples (p = .05). Conclusion: The presence of these intestinal parasites in these schools is a public health problem and there is therefore a need to prevent these infections by improving individual personal hygiene through health education, general sanitation and provision of adequate social amenities.

Aim: Sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) were studied to assess the influence of x-ray irradiation on the morphological performance. Place and Duration of Study: Samples were collected from National Root Crop Research Institute (NRCRI), Umudike, irradiation was done in the x-ray unit of a medical laboratory, planting and data analysis were done at the experimental farm and laboratory of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Calabar. Methodology: Stems of Sweet potatoes were grouped and non-control groups irradiated at different x-ray doses, planted and morphological parameters analyzed. Results: The results showed no significant difference in the treatments for parameters such as number of leaves, leaf area, leaf length, plant height, leaf width and days to sprouting when kilo voltage (kV) was constant at 40kV and milli Amperes per second (mAs) varied from 1.6mAs to 3.2mAs. There was also no significant difference in the treatments for parameters such as leaf area, leaf length, leaf width and days to sprouting when mAs was constant at 1.6mAs and kilo voltage (kV) varied from 40kV to 100kV. The results also showed that the low doses of x-ray irradiation did not cause aberrations in the morphological performance of sweet potato. Conclusion: These findings necessitate the need for adequate irradiation doses in the use of ionizing radiations on crops in order to maintain and improve their varieties.

Aims: Studies were carried out to determine the prevalence, intensity, economic loss and histopathological effects of fascioliasis in cattle slaughtered in Ikot Eneobong abattoir, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria. Study Design: The study involved Post-Mortem examination of 384 liver samples from slaughtered cattle. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology, University of Calabar, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria, between April – July, 2015. Methodology: A total of384 liver samples were examined for individuals of Fasciola gigantica by making length-wise incision on the ventral side of the liver. Recovered flukes were counted and grouped into different levels of intensity. Infected livers recovered were subjected to histopathological analysis using haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining technique. The economic loss due to the infection was determined based on the current market price per kg weight of cattle liver. Results: Out of the 384 livers examined, 64 (16.67%) were found positive for fascioliasis. The month of July had the highest prevalence of infected livers (25.64%) while the month of April which had the lowest prevalence of infected livers (11.02%) (P=.05). Out of the 64 diseased livers, 58 (90.6%) had light worm load, 5 (7.8%) had moderate worm load and 1 (1.6%) had heavy worm load with numbers significantly higher in July compared with April, May and June (P=.05). In the four months study period, 320kg of livers from 64 cattle valued at ₦256,000 were lost due to infection. Histological examination of infected livers revealed necrosis, fibrosis, degenerated hepatocytes, proliferation of the bile ductules and marked infiltration of mononuclear inflammatory cells. Conclusion: This study has established the prevalence, economic loss and histopathological consequences of fascioliasis in Ikot Eneobong abattoir. As such it is important that the routine examination of slaughtered ruminants be conducted prior to their presentation for public consumption.