No abstract

The study was carried out to evaluate the physical facilities of four major abattoirs in Northwestern states of Nigeria these are: Mayanka abattoir in Kano, Kara abattoir in Sokoto, Zango abattoir Zaria and Kawo abattoir in Kaduna. The facilities of these abattoirs were evaluated based on their presence and functional status. Pictures were taken using digital camera to document conditions of the infrastructure and activities of the butchers. The present study showed that the basic components were in a deplorable state. The dilapidated conditions of the abattoirs were as a result of failure to enforce the use of standard facilities in carrying out abattoir operations and general maintenance in the understudied abattoirs. It was similarly observed that there was no proper record keeping, no formal ante-mortem and post-mortem meat inspection. Hygiene and sanitation were largely absent in these abattoirs. Diseases such as tuberculosis, contagious pleuropneumonia, fasciolosis and hydatidosis were most frequently encountered during the study. The results of focus-group interaction revealed that only 40% of butchers supported the use of standard operating facilities during operation, while the remaining rejected the idea. It was concluded that all the major abattoirs in Kaduna, Kano and Sokoto states of Northwestern Nigeria were in a deplorable state and the dilapidated infrastructure could not support the production of safe and wholesome meat and meat products for human consumption.

Abstract. Sachet water has become an important primary source of drinking water in western Africa, but little is known about bacteriologic quality and improvements to quality control given the recent, rapid evolution of this industry. This report examines basic bacteriologic indicators for 60 sachet water samples from two very low-income communities in Accra, Ghana, and explores the relationship between local perceptions of brand quality and bacteriologic quality after controlling for characteristics of the vending environment. No fecal contamination was detected in any sample, and 82% of total heterotrophic bacteria counts were below the recommended limit for packaged water. Sachets from brands with a positive reputation for quality were 90% less likely to present any level of total heterotrophic bacteria after controlling for confounding factors. These results contrast with much of the recent sachet water quality literature and may indicate substantial progress in sachet water regulation and quality control.

Pig dung bacteria were isolated and screened for crude oil degrading capabilities. The pig dung was also investigated for enhancement of crude oil biodegradation. Addition of chicken manure to oil polluted soil (at 10% (v/w) pollution level) stimulated the biodegradation of lagoma crude oil used in the present study. In the soil amended with pig dung, 68.2% of the crude oil was degraded, whereas only 50.7% of same oil was degraded in the unamended soil. The pH of the amended soil rose from 6.2 to 7.2. Pig dung was found to contain 1.7 x 10 6 cfu g-1 crude oil degrading bacteria, and 1.8 x 10 8 cfu g-1 aerobic heterotrophs. The crude oil utilizing bacteria were identified as species of Pseudomonas, Proteus, Klebsiella, Bacillus and Micrococcus. Pig dung could therefore be an option for crude oil pollution mitigation project.

Perhaps there is no any other raw material that has impacted so much, and found wide application on human civilization than petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC). The paradox is that it is this same black gold that threatens human environment. PHC pollution in the environment, as well as the importance of natural interactions amongst living entities to arrest the problems hitherto caused by oil spills are hereby examined. Biological approaches to pollution remediation, which include phytoremediation, bioremediation, and application of biosurfactant, are discussed. Two angles of approach to bioremediation of PHC spills in the soil are identified; the bioaugmentation and biostimulation. The use of surfactants of microbial origin has been found to be environmentally friendly, naturally selective and stable at elevated temperatures, P H and salt concentration. Similarly, genetic methods have been found to be overwhelmingly promising in detecting as well as assessing PHC soil pollution, and clean up.