Aim: To determine the Plasmid DNA profile of the multidrug resistant strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the clinical isolates. Materials and Methods: Of the 150 clinical samples (Ear swab, Urine, Wound swab, Sputa and Semen) , 36 (24%) yielded significant growth of P. aeruginosa. Samples were cultured on MacConkey and Blood agar. Clinical isolates were identified using standard method. Antibiotics susceptibility test employing agar disc diffusion method was used. Clinical isolates were subjected to Plasmid DNA profiling and curing test was carried out at Lahor Molecular Laboratory. This was followed by a post plasmid curing susceptibility test. Agarose gel electrophoresis was carried out to separate the Plasmid DNA using standard method. Bands were visualized using UV illuminator. Results: Wound swabs had the highest numbers of clinical isolates of P. aeruginosa (55.6%) followed by Urine, Semen, Sputa and Ear swab (19.4%, 11.0%, 8.3%, and 5.6%) respectively. Before the isolates were cured of their plasmid, 39% of the P. aeruginosa strains were found to be resistant to Ciprofloxacin (CPX), 47%, Ofloxacin (OFX), 44% Pefloxacin (PEF) and 56% Sparfloxacin (SPX). After plasmid curing, the new antibiogram of the isolates showed that some clinical isolates that hitherto were resistant to a given Fluoroquinolone became susceptible, 36% to CPX, 12% to OFX, 12.5% to PEF and 15% to SPX. Agarose gel electrophoresis carried out on the Plasmid DNA revealed that there was detectable Plasmid DNA in 13.9% of the clinical isolates analyzed. Conclusion: There is an alarming increase of clinical infections caused by multidrug resistant strains of P. aeruginosa.13.9% of the multidrug resistance strains of P. aeruginosa in Benin City were Plasmid mediated. Treatment should be based on current Laboratory Susceptibility Test results of the isolates.

Aim: To study characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis amongst patients attending chest clinics in Benin City. Materials and Methods: A total of 816 subjects comprising of 563 (69%) males and 253 (31%) females were enlisted for this study. Sputum specimen and blood were collected from all subjects. Acid alcohol fast bacilli from sputa were examined using the Ziehl Nelson staning technique. Hemoglobin concentration was determined using the method described by Dacis and Lewis. Result: Pulmonary tuberculosis infection was significantly affected by age among the male and female subjects studied (P < 0.05). Subjects within the age group of 21 - 30 years and 41 - 50 years had the highest risk of acquiring TB amongst the male and female population respectively. Although the unemployed subjects had the highest prevalence of TB (35%), occupation did not significantly affect the prevalence of TB (P > 0.05). Irrespective of gender, anemia was significantly associated with pulmonary tuberculosis infection (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (37.4%) was significantly affected by age among male and female subjects. Anemia was associated with TB infection. Intervention effort at curbing the prevalence of TB and anemia is advocated.

This study was carried out to determined the variation in microbiota of five section of Igbinedion University Teaching Hospital Okada. Samples were collected using the settled plate techniques for the enumeration of bacterial and fungal isolates. The air specimens were collected three times; in the morning between the hours of 8 am and 10 am, in the afternoon between 12 noon and 2 pm and in the evening between the hours of 4pm and 6pm. The total heterotrophic microbial population of the five different units (wards) studied varied from wards to wards. The highest bacterial population was recorded in the afternoon between time 12 pm and 2 pm compared to the morning and evening, ranging from 5 cfu/m3 to 17 cfu/m3, with the accident and emergency ward recording the highest bacterial counts of 17 cfu/m3. The concentration of fungal population in air of the five different wards also followed the bacteria pattern in which highest fungi population were recorderd in afternoon (16 cfu/m3). At the three different times of study, the Accident and emergency ward, male ward, female ward as well as children wards show high yield fungal isolates. Five bacteria were isolated, namely; Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella aerogenes and Proteus mirabilis and identified accordingly. Aspergillus sp, Penicillum sp, and Mucor sp, were three fungi genera isolated. The degree of frequency of microbial distribution was high in the accident and emergency ward but lower in operating room (theatre). Accident and emergency ward my serve as source of infection in this hospital hence there should be an increase in level of hygiene in this unit also human movement should be limited scince they often serve as souces of pathogen.

Background: Soil-transmitted helminthes [STHs] are public health challenges in the tropical and subtropical developing countries. Approximately, two billion people are infected as of 2010 and four billion at risk. Aim: To determine the prevalence of helminthic infection among school children with a view to generate epidemiological data that can be used for effective control plan in Owo. Methods: Two schools were picked randomly from various schools in the community. The questionnaire was administered to every participant by interview. A total number of 250 samples were studied. The prevalence of STH infections was assessed among school children in Owo, SouthWestern Nigeria, using standard parasitological techniques. Results: Of the 250 children examined, 45[18.0%] had helminth infections. The helminthes identified were Ascaris lumbricoides 33[13.2%], hookworm 10[4.0%] and Enterobius vermicularis 2[0.8%], and mixed infections of Ascaris and Hookworm 3[6.67%]. Females had higher prevalence rate of 29 [21.32%] compared to the males with the rate of 14 [12.26%] which was statistically significant [p<0.05]. The 8-12 years age group recorded the highest infection rate of 27[29.34%]. Conclusion: STH is being actively transmitted among children in Owo metropolis. The prevalence of intestinal helminth infection was higher in government owned rural schools than in government owned urban schools. There was poor socioeconomic status, poor hygenic habit and high unskilled occupation among parents of the infected pupils in the study area. Hence, there is need for periodical health education and mass treatment for the effective control of intestinal helminth in the study area.

Objective: In this work, we studied the antifungal and anti-bacterial properties of seeds of Carica papaya and Curcubita specie using selected bacteria and fungi. Methods: Modified cold extraction method with ethanol and n-hexane was conducted. Antimicrobial properties of the extracts were done using agar block dilution for fungi and agar diffusion method for the bacteria. Measurement of the mean growth rate (MGR) for the fungi isolate and the inhibition zone diameter (IZD) for the bacteria were used as parameters. Results: Significant antifungal property was observed in ethanolic extract of Carica papaya at a concentration of 6% at four days of its exposure, while n-hexane extract of Carica papaya and ethanolic extract of Curcubita specie show fungistatic action. Ethanolic extract of Carica papaya at 6% concentration showed more antifungal property than the control drug. Antibacterial action for all the test extracts was poor, with the control drug showing more significant action than the extracts. There was a statistical significance difference between the ethanolic extract of Carica papaya and Curcubita specie (p< 0.05). Conclusion: This is an indication that ethanolic extract of Carica papaya can be used in the treatment of some of the fungal infection caused by Aspergillus flavus likewise n-hexane extracts. Keywords: Antifungal, Anti-bacterial, Carica papaya, Curcubita specie, ethanolic extract, n-hexane extract.