Plasmids have been known to play a major role in the dissemination of antibiotics resistance genes in a microbial population. In this background, 148 Proteus species comprising of 97 Proteus mirabilis and 51 Proteus vulgaris were isolated from diabetic wounds. Seventy-six strains had varied multi-drug resistance (MDR) pattern encoded on transferable plasmid gene with a very high frequency (2 x10 -4 to 4 x 10 -2 per donor cell) by conjugation. 34% of the strains lost the antibiotic resistance plasmids marker after sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) mediated curing. The rest of the plasmid markers were non transferable. The results indicated that plasmids carry varied dissemination of antibiotics resistance markers to distant recipient cells, indicating clonal transfer among bacterial strains.

A study was conducted to determine the immune status of dogs vaccinated against Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and Canine Distemper Virus (CDV) by a clinic-based immunoblot enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using a commercially available 120 sample immunocomb® test kit for canine parvo and distemper IgG in Benin City, Nigeria. Out of 120 dogs sampled, 63 (52.5%) were females while 57 (47.5%) were males. 84 (70%) dogs were exotic breeds while 36 (30%) were mongrels. Majority of the dogs (35, 29.17%) were less than one year old and the age range of all dogs sampled was between 9 weeks and 10 years. Analysis of data showed that there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) between sex, breed, age and level of immunity. A non-parametric chi-square contingency analysis of antigens (CPV and CDV) and level of immunity revealed that there was a high significant association (p < 0.001) between CPV and CDV antigens and level of immunity of the vaccinated dogs sampled.

The study was carried out to determine the bacteriological contents of smoked fish sold in Awka markets and environs. A total number of 80 samples of smoked and frozen fishes were purchased from three different markets in Awka and environs. 60 smoked fish and 20 frozen fish of four different species of panla, sardine, mackerel and catfish 15each and 5 each respectively. The samples were collected labeled appropriately and kept in sterile polyethylene bags and were taken to the microbiology laboratory of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka and Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu for microbial analysis, biochemical and molecular characterization were used for identification of bacteria and fungi isolates. The frozen fishes were taken to fishery department of Anambra State Polytechnic, Mgbakwu for smoking; the fishes were aseptically smoked using traditional kiln and oven drying method. Nutrient agar, Sabouraud dextrose agar, Salmonella shigella agar, Eosin methylene blue agar and Mannitol egg yolk polymyxin (MYP) agar were used for isolation of organisms. The isolated organisms are Bacillus spp, Staphylococcus Saprophiticus, Enterobacter spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli, KlebsiellaAerogenes. Delftiatsuruhatensis, Proteus mirabilis, Comamonas thiooxydans, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Crocinitomicaceae bacterium, Klebsiella pneumonia, Micrococcus spp. the fungi isolated are Aspergillus fumigate, Aspergillusoryzae, Fusarium spp. Mucor, Rhizopus sp.Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Penicillum spp. the total viable counts (TVC inCFU/g) of smoked mackerel, sardine, panla and catfish ranges from 1.7x102to 40.3x102 , 0.6x102-66x102, 11x102-98x102, 2.5x102 -54x102respectively. TVC (CFU/g) of fungi isolates from catfish ranges from 10x102to 33x102 TVC (CFU/g). In aseptically smoked fishno organism was isolated from fish samples expect in smoked and oven dried panla fish. Their TVC ranges from 0.2x102-0.8x102.The findings indicates that smoked fish sold in Awka markets and environs are all contaminated, proper awareness should be done to educate the fish vendors on proper and hygienic methods of processing and selling their products