The present study was aimed at evaluating the effects of different concentrations of the most commonly used fish antimicrobial drug, chloramphenicol (CAP), on the behavior and hematological parameters of Clarias gariepinus. Fish specimens were exposed to three (2.5, 5.0 and 10.0 mg L(-1)) sublethal concentrations of CAP and a control. Abnormal behavioral changes were observed in fish exposed to higher concentration of CAP. Blood erythrocytes were sampled on days 1, 5, 10 and 15 postexposure to evaluate hematological parameters. Results showed concentration- and time-dependent significant increase in packed cell volume after day 5 of exposure (p < 0.05). Hemoglobin values also significantly decreased from day 5, whereas values of mean cellular volume significantly decreased throughout the experimental period (p < 0.05). A mixed trend was observed in the mean values of red blood cells, white blood cells, mean cellular hemoglobin and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration as well as neutrophils. Activities of lymphocytes were significantly increased in all CAP-treated fish during the exposure period, whereas no significant differences were observed in values of monocytes, eosinophils and basophils among the treatment groups and control. Consequently, precautions must be taken, especially when high concentrations of CAP are used in long-term treatments of C. gariepinus in aquaculture.

The female Anopheles gambiae s.l is the principal intermediate host/vector of Plasmodium-the causative organism of malaria fever in many tropical countries. After a preliminary acute toxicity screening of leaf extracts of Hyptis suaveolens using descending series of concentrations (1000 500, 100, 50 and 5 µg/m), two extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) were assayed against freshly laid eggs and larval instars of An. gambiae following the standard World Health Organisation ovicide and insecticide susceptibility bioassay methodology. The results indicate that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the test plant significantly (F = 30 23, df = 5, p < 0.01; F = 45.28, d = 5, ρ < 0 01 respectively) reduced the viability of the An. gambiae ova exposed to different doses of the extracts. In the ovicidal assay the lethal inhibition doses of egg hatching (IH50) was 31.52 and 48.01/µg/ml respect vely for the ethanolic and aqueous extracts. Also at a dose of 82 5 µg/ml the ethanolic extract completely inhibited An. gambiae hatching whereas the aqueous extract could inhibit only 70.42% egg hatching at the same dose. The results further indicate that both ethanolic and aqueous extracts also exhibited larval median lethal toxic (LC , l. f. i. t 50) values of 62.41 (range 61.22-67.04) and 80.02 (range 77.55-86.41) respectively thus making both extracts candidates for further fractionation and compound isolation s udies to characterize the active phytochemical constituents.

Background: Geophagy is wide spread among pregnant women in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess intestinal nematode infections among geophagous pregnant women in Southern Ebonyi State, Nigeria. Methods: Pregnant women were aged 17-45 years at gestational ages of ≥ 14 to 24 weeks on hospital enrolment were sampled. Data on geophagy was collected using structured questionnaire. Gastrointestinal nematode status of the participants was determined by stool analyses. Soil types ingested were examined for intestinal nematode ova / larvae. Results: The prevalence of geophagy (46.4%) was associated with socio-demographic characteristics. Ascaris lumbricoides and hookworm were associated with geophagy while Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercoralis had no association. Prevalence of A. lumbricoides, T. trichiura and S. stercoralis differed significantly (p<0.05) between geophagous and non-geophagous women. The soil types consumed had eggs / larvae of A. lumbricoides and T. trichiura. Geophagy is a risk behaviour directly associated with A. lumbricoides, hookworm, T. trichiura, and to a lesser extent S. stercoralis infection among pregnant women. Conclusion: Sensitization and mass education of pregnant women on the dangers of geophagy is needed. Furthermore, deworming of pregnant women should be integrated into the healthcare delivery system of the State.

Pregnancy-associated malaria (PAM) is a major public health concern constituting a serious risk to the pregnant woman, her foetus, and newborn. Management of cases and prevention rely partly on effective and efficient antenatal services. This study examined the effectiveness of antenatal service provision in a major district hospital in sub-Saharan Africa at preventing PAM. A cross-sectional hospital based study design aided by questionnaire was used. Malaria diagnosis was by microscopy. Overall prevalence of PAM was 50.7% (38/75). Mean Plasmodium falciparum density was (112.89 ± standard error of mean, 22.90) × 103/µL red blood cell (RBC). P. falciparum prevalence was not significantly dependent on gravidity, parity, trimester, age, and BMI status of the women (p > 0.05). Difference in P. falciparum density per µL RBC in primigravidae (268.13 ± 58.23) × 103 vs. secundi- (92.14 ± 4.72) × 103 vs. multigravidae (65.22 ± 20.17) × 103; and in nulliparous (225.00 ± 48.25) × 103 vs. primiparous (26.25 ± 8.26) × 103 vs. multiparous (67.50 ± 20.97) × 103 was significant (p < 0.05). Majority of attendees were at 3rd trimester at time of first antenatal visit. Prevalence of malaria parasitaemia in the first-time (48.6%), and multiple-time (52.6%) antenatal attendees was not significantly different (χ2 = 0.119, p = 0.730). The higher prevalence of malaria among bed net owners (69.6% vs. 42.9%, χ2 = 2.575, p = 0.109, OR = 3.048 (95% CI 0.765–12.135)) and users (66.7% vs. 33.3%, χ2 = 2.517, p = 0.113, OR = 4.000 (95% CI 0.693–23.089)) at multiple antenatal visits vs. first timers was not significant. None of the pregnant women examined used malaria preventive chemotherapy. Antenatal services at the hospital were not effective at preventing PAM. Holistic reviews reflecting recommendations made here can be adopted for effective service delivery.

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The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths of local chickens in Nsukka region of Southeastern Nigeria was studied using 125 free range local birds purchased from four communities in Nsukka zone namely, Obolloafor, Orba, Nsukka urban and Owerre Eze-orba. The birds were sacrificed humanely and their oesophagus, crop, proventriculus, gizzard, small intestine and caecum examined for the presence of gastrointestinal helminths. Worms when present were isolated and identified using standard parasitological procedures. The study identified four species of cestodes namely Raillietina echinobothridia, R. tetragona, R. cesticillus and Choanotaenia infundibulum and two species of nematodes namely, Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum. Results obtained showed 96.8 % prevalence of gastrointestinal helminth parasites in the birds with cestodes being the more prevalent class (70.4 %). Raillietina spp was the most prevalent cestode encountered and A. galli the most prevalent nematode. Prevalence rates of infections recorded 14.4 % for nematode species, 26.4 % for cestodes and 56 % for mixed infections of nematodes and cestodes. It was concluded that local chickens are common in the area and could serve as a potential source of helminth infections to intensively managed birds in the study area.

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The proximate composition, functional and physical properties, as well as sensory evaluation of breads based on blends of wheat and 'orarudi' (Vigna sp) flour were investigated. Batches of 'orarudi' (Vigna sp) were separately put in a container and subjected to natural lactic acid fermentation in deionized water in a ratio of 1:3 (w/v) at 28 ± 2°C for 24 h. The fermented samples were manually dehulled and the cotyledons dried at 55 ± 2°C in a drought air oven, hammer milled into flour (500 µm mesh screen) and stored in a refrigerator (5 ± 2°C). The blends were formulated thus, the 'orarudi' flour (ORF) substituted 5, 10, 15, and 20% wheat flour (WF). The 100% WF served as the control. The parameters investigated were evaluated using standard methods. The data obtained were statistically analyzed. The results showed that fermentation and food supplementation enhanced both the proximate, minerals and vitamin contents of the experimental breads. The physical parameters indicated that fermentation and type of supplements had negative effect on the test breads relative to the control. The results revealed that the experimental breads had higher nutrient quality than the 100% wheat bread, probably due .to food-to-food fortification/supplementation.