This paper communicates the effect of bioremediation on the performance of Okro plant (Abelmoshus esculentus) in a typical Niger Delta soil that has received 5% crude oil pollution level. Biodegrading bacteria such as Pseudomonas fluorescen, Acinetobacteria iwofii, Bacillus subtilus, Arthrobacter globiformis that was isolated from previously polluted soils was introduced into the samples. The treatment combinations are as follows (A) = control without crude oil; B = soil + crude oil, (C) = soil + crude oil + microbes, (D) = soil + crude oil + microbes, (E) = soil + crude oil + microbes + fertilizer (F) soil + microbes and (G) = soil + fertilizer. The treatment (E) gave the highest number of leaves, % crop emergence, plant biomass, microbial population and degradation of petroleum hydrocarbon compared to any of the treatments that had received crude oil. This suggested that fertilizer application does not only stimulate microbial growth but it provides the plant with more available nutrients required for plant growth.
A total of 108 raw water samples was collected from 36 wells at nine shanty settlements around Port Harcourt, Nigeria, over a period of 7 months. Samples were analysed for their bacteriological quality. Selected bacterial strains isolated from the samples were tested for their susceptibility to ten commonly used antibiotics. The organisms isolated include Pseudomonas spp., Klebsiella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Proteus spp., Enterococcus faecalis, Aeromonas spp., Escherichia coli, Chromobacterium spp., Flavobacterium spp., and Serratia spp. Out of 300 strains tested, 23 (6.9%) were susceptible to all the antibiotics, 277 (92.3%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic and 232 (77.3%) were resistant to two or more antibiotics. The epidemiological significance of these results is discussed.
Samples from municipal waste water, the Bonny River estuary and wells in and around Port Harcourt were examined for bacteriological quality over a 9 month period. A total of 157 Pseudomonas spp., 133 Escherichia coli and 282 other coliforms were isolated and tested for the incidence of resistance to 10 antibiotics. All of the Pseudomonas spp. were resistant to at least one of the antibiotics while 96.2% were resistant to two or more. Most (83.5%) of the E. coli and other coliforms (91.8%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic. All strains were susceptible to gentamicin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin and tetracycline for E. coli ranged from 6.25 to 50 and 6.25 to 12.5 micrograms/ml, respectively. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of ampicillin and tetracycline were 1000 and 25 micrograms/ml for the Pseudomonas strains. The high incidence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics is discussed in relation to the widespread use of antibiotics, and possible public health implications.
Grated cassava to which tap water was added at levels of 25%, 50% and 75% (v/w) was held at 30 degrees C, 40 degrees C or 50 degrees C and examined over a 6 h period for cyanide content, pH and titratable acidity (TTA). During the come-up time, i.e. the time between addition of water and attainment of desired holding temperature (between 14 and 47 min), reductions in bound cyanide of ca 54-85% occurred, depending on the level of added water and holding temperature. The corresponding losses for the control samples, to which no water was added, were ca 25-33%. The biggest reduction in the bound cyanide of > 99% (from 89.0 to 0.6 ppm) occurred in grated cassava with 75% added water held at 50 degrees C. There was little or no change in pH during the period of study. The reduction of processing time for certain cassava products based on separation into detoxication and flavour development/fermentation stages is discussed.
Toasting oil beans in hot (100°C)sand and holding for a further 30 min at 100°C significantly improved dehulling, and the bitter taste was removed by slicing to 1 mm, boiling for 30 min and soaking for 2 h. This simple process achieved the same quality of ugba after fermentation as the much more cumbersome, fuel‐wasting and time‐consuming traditional technique, saving up to 2 days.
Coagulase-positive Staphylococcus aureus were isolated from 449 (84.7%) of 530 meat and related samples obtained from traditional markets in Nigeria. All 100 fresh beef and associated 40 wash water and 40 drip water samples examined yielded coagulase-positive S. aureus compared with 258 (86%) of 300 Suya and 61 (61%) of 100 fried beef samples. Of the 449 coagulase-positive strains of S. aureus, 243 (54.1%) elaborated various enterotoxins. Suya (condiment - coated thin slices of skewered beef roasted over wood or charcoal flame) and fried beef yielded the highest proportions of enterotoxin producing strains of 59.3% and 58%, respectively. Relatively lower proportions of strains from fresh beef (52%) and water associated with fresh beef (45%) produced enterotoxin. Most of the organisms tested (139/57.2%) synthesized enterotoxin A (SEA). A few, 37 (15.2%), produced enterotoxin B (SEB), with fewer still producing enterotoxins D (SED, 6.2%) and C (SEC, 5.3%). It is suggested that the high level of contamination with S. aureus of the samples examined resulted from cross contamination, reflecting excessive hand contact with the foodstuffs.
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