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Economic assessment of losses due to parasitic diseases common at the Maiduguri abattoir, Nigeria

A total of 250 cattle claughtered at Maiduguri abattoir were examined, random sampling to ascertain the rate and level of meat condemnation due to fascioliasis, hydatidosis and cysticercosis. 202 (80.8%) of the cattle examined were confirmed positive for infection. Data on estimated losses in Naira equivalent and condemnation in weight (kg) showed that fascioliasis had 539.41kg, hydatidosis, 268.0kg and cysticercosis 483.19kg with an estimated economic value of N188, 804, N93, 800 and N169, 116 for fascioliasis, hydatidosis and cycticercosis respectively.

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The land snail diversity in a square kilometre of tropical rainforest in Okomu Natioal Park, Edo State, Nigeria

The land mollusc fauna in a single square kilometer of undisturbed tropical rainforest in Okomu National Park, Edo State, Nigeria was surveyed by sampling thirty 20-m2 plots. Sampling methods were similar to those used in the rainforests in Cameroon and Sabah. Samples were collected by sieving leaf litter, topsoil and by hand picking within the forest floor or vegetation. A total of 1442 individual molluscs belonging to 46 species in 11 molluscan families were collected.

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Nutritive value and utilization of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) meal as plant protein supplement in the diet of Clarias gariepinus (Burchell, 1822) (Pisces: Clariidae) fingerlings

120 fingerlings of Clarias gariepinus were fed five different experimental 35% isoproteic diets, a control (0% water hyacinth) and four diets containing different levels of water hyacinth (10%, 20%, 30% and 40%) in place of fish meal as protein source at %% of the body weight for 70 days under laboratory condition. The study revealed a decrease in the growth performance indices as the level of water hyacinth increases.

Conservation of Ocimum gratissimum in rural communities of Ekiti State of Nigeria and its use in self-medication

The ethnomedicinal use of Ocimum gratissimum was valued against some socio-economic features which include household size, educational status, farm size holdings and economic status. Results obtained revealed that respondents as prerequisites did not consider these features to their consciousness to the efficacy of the extracts and its relative affordability. At present, households, homesteads and farms constitute the major primary and secondary sources respectively.

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The effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on fasting gallbladder volume

One hundred type 2 diabetic patients and 100 age and sex matched controls underwent real time ultrasonography to determine the effect of type 2 diabetes mellitus on fasting gallbladder volume. The mean gallbladder volume of diabetic patients was 27.6 ± 15.4 ml compared with 24.3 ± 12.8 ml in non-diabetic controls (P > 0.05). It is suggested that type 2 diabetes mellitus could be a risk factor for increased fasting gallbladder volume in Nigerians.

Relationship between gallstone disease and serum lipids in normal adult Nigerians

Gallstone disease (GSD) is one of the commonest gastrointestinal diseases seen in clinical practice. Cholesterol and triglycerides are established principal constituents of the majority of gallstones, particularly in the Western world. This study was, therefore, embarked upon to examine the relationship between gallstone disease and serum lipids. One hundred normal adult Nigerians (50 males and 50 females) underwent real time ultrasonography (USS) to determine the relationship between serum lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) and gallstone disease.

Thread blight disease of tea [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze] caused by Marasmius pulcher (Berk & Br.) Petch in the South Western Nigeria.

The causal organism(s), and percentage infection of thread blight disease observed on some tea stands established in 1985 at the Cocoa Research Institute of Nigeria (CRIN), Ibadan, experimental plot was investigated for a period of one year (12 months). For the first months, the percentage infection ranges between 41.4% and 47.9%. Out of three fungi isolated (Botryodiplodia theobromae, Fusarium sp. and Marasmius pulcher) only M. pulcher produced the characteristic symptom observed in the field.

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Assessment of Metals Levels and their Potential Risks in Local Brands of Honey from Bayelsa State, Nigeria

 This study provides information on the levels and potential risks of six metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Mn, Zn and Fe) in some local brands of honey in Bayelsa State. The honey samples were digested using hydrochloric acid, nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide mixture and their metal levels were quantified by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS).

Application of Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA to Detect the Effect of Warri Refinery and Petroleum Company (WRPC) Wastewater on Clarias gariepinus Juveniles

 This study is to determine the effect of wastewater disposal from the Warri Refinery and Petrochemical Company (WRPC) on the DNA integrity in the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus juveniles exposed to 1, 10, 20 and 30 % (v/v) of the wastewater.

Acute Toxicity of a Glass Manufacturing Effluent in Midwestern Nigeria on the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

Untreated and improperly treated industrial effluents endanger the aquatic fauna of the receiving water bodies, making the appropriate monitoring of the effluent discharges from industrial facilities of utmost importance. The potential ecological impact of the effluent from a glass manufacturing facility was investigated using the African catfish (Clarias gariepinus).