Vol. 4, No. 3, September 30, 2003

The antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Ricinus communis were studied by the agar diffusion method. The ethanolic extract produced the greatest antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract the least. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive to the extracts while Bacteroides fragilis was the most resistant. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts ranged between 60% (w/v) and 100% (w/v). Thus the extracts of Ricinus communis could be useful as a source of antibiotics against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.

Susceptibility responses of cat fish – Clarias gariepinus to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa vis-à-vis treatment with chloramphenicol were investigated in the present study. Thirty healthy and physically active fishes weighing between 200-350g sourced from Challawa Gorge Dam, Karaye, Kano State were used for the study. These were divided into three aquarium tanks A, B, C (ten in each case). Fishes in A were infected with 1.0ml (about 1.2 x 106 cfu/ml) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyrenterally through linea alba by ventral medial furrow. This was 

Susceptibility responses of cat fish – Clarias gariepinus to infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa visà-vis treatment with chloramphenicol were investigated in the present study. Thirty healthy and physically active fishes weighing between 200-350g sourced from Challawa Gorge Dam, Karaye, Kano State were used for the study. These were divided into three aquarium tanks A, B, C (ten in each case). Fishes in A were infected with 1.0ml (about 1.2 x 106 cfu/ml) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa pyrenterally through linea alba by ventral medial furrow.

Attendance records from all primary and post-primary schools in Akoko areas of Ondo State were examined to relate the rate of missed school days, school drop out rate from 1995 to 1998. During the survey, 9,525; 9,752 and 10,062 pupils (boys and girls) were registered in both primary and post-primary schools in the villages, the prevalence of guinea worm disease among school children were 27.7%; 6.2% and 2.3% in 1995, 1996 and 1997 respectively.

Mosquito coils (bars), formulated from three plant leaves, namely; Acalypha torta, Carica papaya and Calotropis gigantica, and seeds of Peganum harmala, were tested as repellents or toxicants against laboratory reared Culex sp. adult mosquitoes when burnt as an incense. None of the plants showed toxic activity, as knockdown was less than 5% in all cases. Slight repellency was observed with Acalypha sp. (0.21) and P. harmala (0.19), as these showed significant difference (P < 0.05) from values recorded for the control, i.e. bars without plant material.

Mosquito coils (bars), formulated from three plant leaves, namely; Acalypha torta, Carica papaya and Calotropis gigantica, and seeds of Peganum harmala, were tested as repellents or toxicants against laboratory reared Culex sp. adult mosquitoes when burnt as an incense. None of the plants showed toxic activity, as knockdown was less than 5% in all cases. Slight repellency was observed with Acalypha sp. (0.21) and P. harmala (0.19), as these showed significant difference (P < 0.05) from values recorded for the control, i.e. bars without plant material.

Drinking water sources are epidemiologically suspected as one of the major transmission agents for pathogenic and perhaps drug resistant Enterobacteria. Accordingly, in the period October, 1995 – September, 1996, water samples as were available from tap, borehole, well, dams and rivers in randomly selected 19 Local Government areas of Kano State were screened for these bacteria. 1201 isolates comprising Citrobacter sp. (16.91%); Enterobacter aerogenes (14.99%); Klebsiella sp. (10.24%); Proteus sp. (9.58%); Shigella sp. (9.49%); Escherichia coli (8.24%); Salmonellae (7.99%) and Vibrio sp.

Drinking water sources are epidemiologically suspected as one of the major transmission agents for pathogenic and perhaps drug resistant Enterobacteria. Accordingly, in the period October, 1995 – September, 1996, water samples as were available from tap, borehole, well, dams and rivers in randomly selected 19 Local Government areas of Kano State were screened for these bacteria. 1201 isolates comprising Citrobacter sp. (16.91%); Enterobacter aerogenes (14.99%); Klebsiella sp. (10.24%); Proteus sp. (9.58%); Shigella sp. (9.49%); Escherichia coli (8.24%); Salmonellae (7.99%) and Vibrio sp.

Investigations based on field records and experiences at the Guinea Fowl Production Research Unit of the Kainji Lake Research Institute have shown that some diseases management conditions which include: yolksac, fungal infections, collibacillosis, helminthiasis, management problems in particular inbreeding, moulting, heatstroke and nutritional deficiencies affect significantly the reproductive organs, egg laying and hatchability.

The antibacterial activity of aqueous, ethanolic and methanolic extracts of Ricinus communis were studied by the agar diffusion method. The ethanolic extract produced the greatest antimicrobial activity and the aqueous extract the least. Staphylococcus aureus was the most sensitive to the extracts while Bacteroides fragilis was the most resistant. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the extracts ranged between 60% (w/v) and 100% (w/v). Thus the extracts of Ricinus communis could be useful as a source of antibiotics against aerobic and anaerobic bacteria.