Raw Milk as a Potential Source of Food Poisoning Outbreaks

In Africa, the use of poor and unhygienic methods for animal milking and milk processing that leads to spoilage of milk by microbes affects the production of milk and dairy products, especially in the small scale and local processing plants. This study was conducted to analyze the quality and safety of raw milk collected from six different towns in Kwami local government area of Gombe State, Nigeria. The samples were serially diluted using ten-fold dilution and used aliquot 1 ml to inoculate the appropriate media using pour plate technique. The total viable count for bacteria in CFU/ml on plate count agar (PCA) was highest in sample E from U/Anchau with an average of total viable count of 3.8x104 CFU/ml, followed by 3.0x104 CFU/ml in sample B (Dirri), then 2.8x104 CFU/ml in sample D from Burakosuma, 2.5x104 CFU/ml in sample F from Dun urji, 2.3x104 CFU/ml in sample C from Zanbe with least count from sample A at Bele as 1.8x104 CFU/ml. Five (5) bacterial species of public health importance were isolated and identified using biochemical tests namely; Enterobacter sp., Yersinia enterocolitica, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella sp.. Out of the organisms isolated, Enterobacter sp. had the highest occurrence of 93% (n=280), then Yersinia enterocolitica 90% (n=270), E. coli 70% (n=210), S. aureus 57% (n=170), and finally Salmonella sp. 23% (n=70). Based on the microbiological outcomes, preventive measures for milking and processing that focus on training of farmers and dairy employees for the improvement of the hygiene of local milk and dairy production chain should be defined.

Histological and Weight Changes in the Testes of Plasmodium Berghei- Infected Swiss Mice Treated with Chloroquine

Chloroquine has gained great emphasis in the treatment of malaria. This study sought experimentally to determine the histomorphological and weight changes in the testes of male mice infected with Plasmodium berghei and treated with chloroquine. The study used 30 Swiss mice divided into five groups. Group 1 is Control that was not infected with Plasmodium berghei and not treated with chloroquine as control, Group 2 is Plasmodium (Plasmodiul berghei) Infected animals but not treated, Group 3 is Plasmodium Infected animals + Chloroquine (5mg/kg), Group 4 is Plasmodium Infected animals + Chloroquine (10mg/kg) and Group 5 is Plasmodium Infected animals + Chloroquine (15mg/kg). The mice were treated for 7 days after parasitaemia was confirmed and the Group 2-5 testes studied with reference to Group 1. The results showed that the Group 2 showed a little distortion, difference in spermatogenic activities and increased cellular activities; Group 3 showed large, convoluted tubules, moderate number of spermatids and large interstitial spaces, Group 4 showed Large seminiferous tubules, large spermatids, increased distortion and group 5 showed shrinking of seminiferous tubules, degeneration of interstitial cells of Leydig cells and Sertolic cells with spermatids. Groups 1-5 showed no significant effect in in body weights and testes weights of Swiss mice. Plasmodium berghei (malaria) and chloroquine have effects on histomorphological structures of Swiss mice testes but not on their teste’s weights. The testicular section from Swiss mice infected with malaria and treated at various doses when compared with the Control (Group 1) showed some moderate distortion in some structures like seminiferous tubules, connective tissues between the tubules, lumen and interstitial spaces. It can be deducted that Plasmodium berghei which caused parasitaemia in mice could cause a little tissue effect on mice if not treated.

Effects of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporation Effluents on the Abundance and Distribution of Phytoplankton Community along River Rido, Kaduna, Nigeria

The effects of effluent discharged from Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Corporations (KRPC) on the Phytoplankton species distribution and abundance was studied along river Rido for a period of twelve months from February 2013 to January 2014. A total of Ninety-three (93) species of phytoplankton distributed in five divisions were recorded from four different study stations (A, B, C and D) along the river. Random sequential sampling was employed for selecting a sampling station. Physicochemical parameters were determined in accordance with the standard procedure for wastewater assessment guidelines of American Public Health Association (APHA). Phytoplankton identification was done using appropriate reference materials. The phytoplankton community was dominated by Bacillariophyta9 constituting 78.98% with 41 species, followed by Chlorophyta (6.67%) having 25 species, and then Cyanophyta (6.46%) having 12 species, while 10 species of Dinophyta and 5 species of Euglenophyta constituting 5.42% and 2.49% respectively were observed. The results from the study revealed low density of phytoplankton in station B, while high density of phytoplankton was observed in stations A and D. The physicochemical parameters showed both seasonal and spatial variations. Values of some parameters studied were observed to be above Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) limits at station B. Thus, effluent from KRPC is a source of contamination of water quality and adversely affects phytoplankton community along river Rido. Therefore, effluent retention facility should be established for long term treatment of effluent before discharge into the river

Consistent Organochlorinated Pesticides (OPC) Residues Contamination in Beans Consumed in Gombe Metropolis Nigeria

Most of the locally consumed beans in our vicinity contain excess chemicals of pesticides residues which are harmful to humans and environmental hazards to ecosystem. Investigation of this study revealed contamination level of organochlorine pesticides residues in dried beans originating from Nigeria with a view to controlling them, it also studies crude fiber of beans showed that B4 has the highest fiber content, 27.85% and the order of decreasing value as B4, B5 , B1, B3 and B2. The least percentage of crude fiber was shown by B2 in all the beans samples analyzed. This study also investigated the pesticides residue components of the organochlorinated pesticides test. The presence of pesticide residues in all 14 types of organochlorine pesticides in beans is lower than a previously reported level. Despite this, the amount of organochlorine pesticides tested is more than the permitted levels of 0.01 to 0.2 mg/kg, indicating that the beans consumed in the Gombe metropolis included pesticide residues beyond the permissible limit.

Isolation and Characterization of Hydrocarbon-degrading Bacteria in Soils of Mechanical Workshops in Maiduguri, Borno State

The study was conducted to determine the distribution of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria in spent engine oil (SEO) contaminated soil. Five mechanical workshops within Maiduguri Metropolis. Five bulk soil sample comprising of one each of the five sites; the sites are Leventis Area on Kashim Ibrahim Way, Damboa Raod, Boiler (commonly called Bola) near Maiduguri Monday Market, Ngomari, on Kano Road, and 1000 Housing Estate, also on Kano Road. Nutrient agar was used, or isolation and enumeration total heterotrophic bacteria and Mineral salt agar was used for the isolation and enumeration of hydrocarbon utilizing bacteria. The result shows THB (92.0x104) at Damboa road (DR) to as higher and (78.8x104) at Bola area (BL) while HUB (2.0x104) at Damboa road (DR) and as high as (9.3x104) at Bola area (BL). The bacterial species isolated were species of Bacillus licheniformis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus lentus other are Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumonia. Bacillus licheniformis, and Bacillus subtilis are the most occurring bacterial isolates identified. The ability of those bacterial isolate to degrade hydrocarbon buoyantly will help in remediation of oil polluted environments.

Mathematical Modeling of the growth of Acinetobacter baumannii YNWH 226 on Azo dye Congo red

Industrial effluents (Azo dyes) are brightly coloured, making their disposal into receiving waters undesirable not only because many Azo dyes and their breakdown products are toxic to aquatic life and mutagenic to humans, but also because many Azo dyes and their breakdown products are harmful to aquatic life due to the presence of aromatics and metals, chlorides, and other chemicals. Various kinetic models, including modified Gompertz, Baranyi-Roberts, modified Richards, Von Bertalanffy, modified Logistics, modified Schnute, Buchanan three-phase, and the most recently presented Huang, were used in this study. Based on statistical tests, the modified Schnute model provided the best fit, with the lowest values for RMSE and corrected Akaike Information Criteria (AICc), the greatest value for adjusted R2, and the closest to unity for both Accuracy and Bias Factor. The Modified Schnute parameters such as λ (lag time), µmax (maximum specific bacterial growth rate) and curve fitting parameters α and β (Constant), were found to be -4.39 (95% confidence interval of -77.58 to 68.79), 57.00 (95% confidence interval of -2854.30 to 2968.30), 0.78 (95% confidence interval of -0.34 to 1.89) and 0.96 (95% confidence interval of -0.85 to 2.78, respectively.

Kidney Indices and Serum Electrolytes of Diabetic Patients Attending Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe

Glucose levels in the blood are elevated because the pancreas' b-cells produce less insulin or are more resistant to the hormone's effects. Diabetes mellitus is a persistent metabolic condition. Insulin is linked to long-term difficulties in the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. The objective of this study was to determine kidney indices and serum electrolytes of diabetic patients attending Federal Teaching Hospital Gombe, Gombe State. In total, A total of 240 subjects were used for the analysis (200 diabetic and 40 control subjects) and were divided based on their ages and gender Face to face inter-view was used to collect the data and other possible clinical data associated with diabetes mellitus. Fasting venous blood sample was collected to assess serum kidney indices, weight and height were recorded. The result shows individual kidney abnormalities of elevated serum creatinine and urea, elevated level of chloride and reduced sodium and bicarbonate level, according to gender and age groups. Gender, aging, higher body mass indexes (BMI), kidney indices abnormalities and electrolytes imbalance, were the risk factors associated with diabetes mellitus that led to diabetic nephropathy which can increase morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus. Effective control of blood sugar can stop or prevent the progression of diabetes mellitus to all these complications.

Distribution of Heterotrophic and Nitrogen fixing Rhizobacteria in Irrigation Sites of Lake Alau Borno State Northeastern Nigeria

This study was conducted to know the population of rhizobacteria in both irrigation and non-irrigation sites of the dam. The dense population of these organism indirectly promote plant growth and development. Five sites (A, B, C, D and E) were used to collect soil samples randomly and transported to the laboratory for analysis. Total heterotrophic bacterial count was done using nutrient agar (NA) and nitrogen fixing bacteria was counted using Ashbey’s media (AM). The result shows that highest number of total heterotrophic bacteria in site C (46.0×106) cfu/g in irrigation site whereas higher count in non-irrigation site was (13.0×106) site D, the nitrogen fixing bacterial count in irrigation site was higher at site E with (12.0×106) and for the non-irrigation site was higher at site D with (14.0×106) The total heterotrophic bacteria isolated in the soil sample are the species of Bacillus alvei, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas putida, Klebsiella aeruginosa and Enterobacter aeruginosa. Likewise, the Nitrogen fixing bacteria isolated are the species of Rhizobium leguminosarum, Klebsiella pneumonia, Bacillus lentus, Azotobacter nigricans, Azotobacter tropicalis, Azotobacter spp, and Azotobacter tropicalis. The long history of agricultural activities in the lake area has directly influenced the diversity of microbial population in the area.

Inhibitory Effect of Sodium Citrate, Sodium Nitrite and Cinnamaldehyde on Biofilm-forming Escherichia coli O157:H7

The development of biofilms by the foodborne pathogens attached to surfaces in the food processing environments results in the deterioration of products, persistence of pathogenic bacteria and transmission of food-associated diseases. In addition, biofilms are more resistant to antimicrobials than their planktonic counterparts which make their elimination from food and the food processing facilities a great challenge. This study aim was to determine the inhibitory effect of food additives on biofilm forming Escherichia coli O157:H7. The isolate obtained was subjected to Gram’s staining and various biochemical identifications and later confirmed by latex agglutination test. Biofilm formation potential was done on Congo red media and the confirmed biofilm former was subjected to biofilm formation at 10℃ and 37℃ for 168hrs. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, MIC, MBC, and antibiofilm effect was determined following CLSI 2017 guideline. The highest zone of growth inhibition of 31 mm was exhibited by cinnamaldehyde, sodium nitrite with 26 mm and sodium citrate with 13 mm. The MIC 2.5 mg/mL was recorded for sodium citrate, 0.25 mg/mL for sodium nitrite and 0.125 μl/mL for cinnamaldehyde. Strong biofilm was formed at 37 ℃ with 7.82 x 109 CFU/mL viable cells at 168hrs while 6.79 x 109 CFU/mL were obtained at 10 ℃. All the three additives showed antibiofilm effect (at 10℃ and 37℃), cinnamaldehyde exhibited 70%-90.1%, sodium nitrite; 70%-88.2% inhibition and sodium nitrite; 75%-88% inhibition respectively. This study showed that sodium citrate, sodium nitrite and cinnamaldehyde exerted strong antimicrobial and antibiofilm properties indicating their potential as good preservatives.