The chloroform and ethanol extracts of seeds and leaf of Moringa oleifera were investigated for antimicrobial activity against some selected food-borne microorganisms as a first step in the screening of the extracts for preliminary sanitizing/preservative properties on foods. The preliminary phytochemical screening and antimicrobial assay were carried out using standard procedures. The results of the phytochemical analysis revealed differences in the presence of the phytochemicals among the extracts. Saponins were detected in all the extracts while tannins were only detected in Moringa oleifera leaf chloroform extract. The antibacterial assay results show that M. oleifera leaf ethanol extract exhibited broad spectrum activity against the test organisms with Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus and Enterobacter aerogenes susceptible. The MIC values ranged between 2.0 and >4.0mg/ml for all the organisms. M. oleifera seed chloroform extract was only active against E. coli and Salmonella typhimurium. The MIC values ranged between 1.0 and >4.0mg/ml for the tested organisms respectively. Antifungal activity result revealed 100% inhibition in growth of Mucor and Rhizopus species by M. oleifera seed chloroform extract at concentration of 1mg/ml. Standard Ketoconazole (control) inhibited the test organisms by 100% at 0.5mg/ml concertration. The result of this study have shown the potentials of M. oleifera extracts as sanitizers/preservatives by inhibiting the growth of the test organisms, which range from food-borne pathogens to spoilage causing organisms in foods.

BackgroundHuman immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and malaria co-infection may present worse health outcomes in the tropics. Information on HIV/malaria co-infection effect on immune-hematological profiles is critical for patient care and there is a paucity of such data in Nigeria.ObjectiveTo evaluate immune-hematological profiles among HIV infected patients compared to HIV/malaria co-infected for ART management improvement.MethodsThis was a cross sectional study conducted at Infectious Disease Hospital, Kano. A total of 761 consenting adults attending ART clinic were randomly selected and recruited between June and December 2015. Participants’ characteristics and clinical details including two previous CD4 counts were collected. Venous blood sample (4ml) was collected in EDTA tube for malaria parasite diagnosis by rapid test and confirmed with microscopy. Hematological profiles were analyzed by Sysmex XP-300 and CD4 count by Cyflow cytometry. Data was analyzed with SPSS 22.0 using Chi-Square test for association between HIV/malaria parasites co-infection with age groups, gender, ART, cotrimoxazole and usage of treated bed nets. Mean hematological profiles by HIV/malaria co-infection and HIV only were compared using independent t-test and mean CD4 count tested by mixed design repeated measures ANOVA. Statistical significant difference at probability of <0.05 was considered for all variables.ResultsOf the 761 HIV infected, 64% were females, with a mean age of ± (SD) 37.30 (10.4) years. Prevalence of HIV/malaria co-infection was 27.7% with Plasmodium falciparum specie accounting for 99.1%. No statistical significant difference was observed between HIV/malaria co-infection in association to age (p = 0.498) and gender (p = 0.789). A significantly (p = 0.026) higher prevalence (35.2%) of co-infection was observed among non-ART patients compared to (26%) ART patients. Prevalence of co-infection was significantly lower (20.0%) among cotrimoxazole users compared to those not on cotrimoxazole (37%). The same significantly lower co-infection prevalence (22.5%) was observed among treated bed net users compared to those not using treated bed nets (42.9%) (p = 0.001). Out of 16 hematology profiles evaluated, six showed significant difference between the two groups (i) packed cell volume (p = <0.001), (ii) mean cell volume (p = 0.005), (iii) mean cell hemoglobin concentration (p = 0.011), (iv) absolute lymphocyte count (p = 0.022), (v) neutrophil percentage count (p = 0.020) and (vi) platelets distribution width (p = <0.001). Current mean CD4 count cell/μl (349±12) was significantly higher in HIV infected only compared to co-infected (306±17), (p = 0.035). A significantly lower mean CD4 count (234.6 ± 6.9) was observed among respondents on ART compared to non-ART (372.5 ± 13.2), p<0.001, mean difference = -137.9).ConclusionThe study revealed a high burden of HIV and malaria co-infection among the studied population. Co-infection was significantly lower among patients who use treated bed nets as well as cotrimoxazole chemotherapy and...

A retrospective study aimed at ascertaining the prevalence of Pulmonary TB amongst patients attending Infectious Diseases Hospital, Kano was conducted between January, 2006 and July, 2008. Sputum samples were obtained from three thousand six hundred and seventy nine (3679) patients. Samples were smeared on glass slides, stained using Ziehl Neelsen Stain and later observed under light (oil immersion) microscopy. The results showed that were positive for tuberculosis had prevalence of 541 (14.7%) out of 3679 subjects. The age group 30-43 years had the highest prevalence of 145 (17.0%) out of 858 of PTB positive subjects. There was no significant difference between age groups and sex of subjects with PTB positivity {X 2 : 11.07 at P= 0.05 and X 2 =15.09 at P=0.01}; similarly, the difference between prevalence of PTB in male and female subjects between the three year period{X 2 =14.07 at P= 0.05 and X 2= 18.48 at P=0.01} was not significant. It is noteworthy that PTB is still a serious disease in this part of the world, thus, there is need for stepping up TB awareness, treatment and control program.

Urine samples were collected from 493 pupils (5-16 years) at Wasai and Dingim wards in Minjibir Local Government Area of Kano State. The samples were examined for urinary Schistosomiasis infection. 218 (44.2%) of the pupils were infected. The prevalence rate was higher in Dingim (52.5%) than in Wasai (41.55%) .The rate of infection among males in Wasai was (56.28%) and 2.7% among females and no female was infected in Dingim. Haematuria was found in more than half (52.75%) of the infected pupils .The prevalence of infection are as follows (71.88%) ,(51.83%), (35.46%) for the age range 14-16,11-13, and 5-16 years respectively. This study gives the latest information on the rate of Schistosoma haematobium infection in the area and the need for an urgent intervention.

The invitro activity of ethanolic and water extracts of some spices on some bacteria isolated from kilishi (a traditional meat snack) was investigated by disc diffusion method. Disc concentrations of 10, 100, 1000, 2000 and 3000μg were used. The result showed that the ethanolic extract of ginger was active against Salmonella at disc concentrations

A total of 300 blood samples of pregnant women were tested to determine the prevalence of malarial parasite using Leishman's stain method. Out of which, 155 (51.7%) were found to be M.P positive, while 145 (48.3%) were M.P negative. 85 (54.8%) of M.P positive had the highest percentage as the primigravidae followed by 70 (45.16%) as multigravidae. Observation have shown that there was a high prevalence of 76 (49.03%) positive patients in the month of August followed by September with 44 (34.19%) as well as 26(16.77%) in July respectively. This was attributed as a result of heavy rainfall experience between Julys to September. It was also seen that patients from Sauna quarters has a highest number of prevalence of 36 (24.5%). this attributed to the fact that they have a close proximity with the hospital and has a highest number of patients that attended the antenatal clinic during the period.

No abstract

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of extracts of Combretum micranthum L. (root) were tested against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Salmonella typhi, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida albicans respectively. The plant (root) extracts were obtained using ethanol, chloroform, ethyl acetate and distilled water solvents. All the test organisms were studied using the Agar Diffusion Method (ADM) and were susceptible to crude and ethyl acetate extracts but Escherichia coli and Candida albicans were resistant. The extracts of Combretum micranthum L. had broader spectrum of activity than the commercial antibiotics tested against isolates. Results of the study confirmed the chemotherapeutic values in ethnomedicine of extracts of this plant in the treatment of various ailments.