A new digenetic nematode Epinephalus marini n. g., n. sp. from marine water fish Epinephalus malabaricus (Reef cord) from Bay of Bengal, Puri Coast Orissa, India

In fishes, parasitic diseases are very common and worldwide. The fish -parasite specificity depends on several internal and external factors including the environmental ones. The fish -parasite study is thus an important tool for assessing both the fish and environmental health. Bay of Bengal, Puri Coast Orissa, India is one of the important hotspots for pollution studies as it receives major rivers like the Ganga, the Brahmaputra, the Mahanadi, the Godavari and Krishna and the Kaveri. At site, various fish were analysed for the parasites using standard protocols.In presentresearch paper, Epinephalus marini n. g., n. sp is described from the intestine of a marine fish Epinephalus malabaricus.Thenew form belongs to the family Allocreadiidae (Looss, 1903) and differs from nearest genus Orientocreadium (Tubangui, 1931) in having aspinose body, terminal oral sucker, pre-pharynx absent, ceca simple terminating in the hind body, acetabulum sub-median extracecal situated in left part of the body al the level of cecal bifurcation and bilobed ovary and absence of laurer’s canal. The infection to marine fish Epinephalus malabaricus (reef cord) with parasite Epinephalus marini n. g. n. sp may be due to pollution especially due to hydrocarbon pollution in Bay of Bengal, Puri Coast Orissa, India.

Length-weight relationship of Cirrhinus Cirrhosus inhabiting Indus River, Sindh-Pakistan

The present work reports the length–weight relationships (LWR) and condition factor and of Cirrhinus cirrhosus inhabiting in River Indus, Sindh-Pakistan. The Length-weight relationship is an important tool for fishery management. A total of 340 specimens (individual) of length–weight were measured. A maximum length of the groups was observed 20.7cm and minimum as 9.4cm. The maximum weight was recorded about 84gm and minimum as 6gm. The estimated values of length-weight relationship and condition factor were calculated by formula LeCren (1951), as Kn=0.547, and Fulton as K=0.724. Length-weight was found with a strong correlation of n= 3.101, C=0.0176 with r2=0.894. The results of this work would be beneficial for sustainable management as well as fishery managers.

A three year review of twin deliveries in a specialist hospital in North-Western Nigeria

Background: Although the frequency of twin pregnancies varies from one ethnic group to another, there has been a general trend toward an increase recently. Maternal and perinatal mortality are higher in twin than singleton pregnancies. Most studies on twinning had been done in university teaching hospitals where conditions are different from what is seen in secondary-care health institutions where this study was done Objectives: To determine the incidence, mode of delivery and maternal and perinatal outcomes of twin deliveries at a secondary-level hospital in North-Western Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive study of 96 twin deliveries over a three-year period between May 2013 and April 2016 at a secondary-level hospital with access to specialist obstetricians and paediatricians. Result: There were 4,567 deliveries, with 101 twin deliveries, an incidence of 2.2% or 1 in 45 deliveries. The mean maternal age and parity were 26.4 years and 3.2 respectively. The mean gestational age at delivery was 35.9 weeks, with a mean birth weight of 2.18kg and 2.01kg for the first and second twins respectively. Male twins constituted 53.2% of twin births. The common presentations of the twins were cephalic–cephalic (64.6%), cephalic–breech (16.7%) and breech–breech (6.3%). Mode of deliveries were vertex vaginal (77.1%) and caesarean (14.6%). Breech presentation of the leading twin was the commonest indication for caesarean section (57.1%). Anaemia in pregnancy (16.7%) was the commonest maternal complication, while prematurity was the leading cause of perinatal mortality. Conclusion: Preterm delivery, malpresentation, operative delivery and maternal anaemia in pregnancy were commonly seen in association with twin pregnancy in this cohort of patients.

Identification of morphometric variation of Aegel marmelos (L.) Correa correlated with habitat types in Western Terai

Aegle marmelos (L.) Correa locally called “Bael” is an economically important plant mainly harvested and traded for medicinal as well as religious purposes. Most of the collection of the plant is from forest. Due to habitat change, deforestation and over harvesting, it is feared that such important plant and its precious genetic diversity may be lost from the nature. Responding to these challenges a major initiative has been launched in the Western Terai Landscape Complex of Nepal to identify morphometric variability in A. marmelos. Morphometric characters variation of this species in Western Terai Landscape Complex was statically and numerically evaluated. Sixteen populations were analysed, using 27 morphological characters of leaves and fruit, collected during 2007/2008 naturally. Most of the morphological characters were not significant with the east-west longitudinal gradient except few were, probably because of small gradient. The variation in the A. marmelos is clearly verified by uni- and multivariate statistics. Highest variation was observed in the (DL) Disc Level (CV= 6.08) from different morphometric characters and later that in PL and B. These DL, PL and B were determining characters of morphometric variation. Similarly, principal component and cluster analysis through forming dendrogram of morphometric traits indicated different grouping pattern of populations. The populations that are nearer to each other are not cluster together. At different sites of sampling analysis of variance in the morphometric traits revealed remarkable variation among population.

Histological and body weight effects of Datura innoxia seeds and leaves extracts in rats

The study aim to determine the chemical compounds in aqueous and methanolic extracts of Datura innoxia seeds and leaves and to evaluate their toxic effects on experimental rats. Seeds and leaves were collected from El-Obied, North Kordofan State, Sudan, in October, 2016. The aqueous and methanol extracts were carried out by using maceration method and soxhlet apparatus respectively. Sixty five male Albino Wistar rats, three months old and with an average body weight ranged 110-120 g, were randomly divided into thirteen Groups, consisting of five rats in each Group. Group 1 served as control and fed with normal rats’ food and water for thirty days. Groups 2, 6 and 10 administered aqueous seeds extract, Groups 4, 8 and 12 received methanol seeds extract, Groups 3, 7 and 11 received aqueous leaves extracts, Groups 5, 9 and 13 received methanol leaves extract, all the Groups received the same type of extract were administered 40, 60 and 80 mg/kg body weight respectively. The extracts administered to the rats intra gastrically using cathodal tube daily for thirty days. The effects of oral administration of leaves and seeds extracts to 60 healthy rats over 30 days were evaluated by histological studies and body weight changes. The analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) of aqueous and methanolic extracts revealed the presence of alkaloids (Scopolamine, atropine and Hyoscyamine), fatty acids, esters, amides, amino acids, ketones, coummarins, terpinoids, phenols, alcohols and hydrocarbons compounds. The histological results showed that administration of extracts caused pathologic changes in the organs studied. The treated Groups had lower (p ≤ 0.05) body weight gains than control Group. The study concluded that the toxicity of seeds and leaves (methanolic and aqueous) extracts are nearly have the same toxic effects on rats due to their same active ingredients (alkaloids) and the oral administration of the extracts was found to be safe up to 40 mg/kg.

Foliar epidermal anatomy and its taxonomic implications within the family Euphorbiaceae in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

Micro-morphological investigations of the foliar epidermal anatomy of seven species of the family Euphorbiaceae: Acalypha hispidia Burm. f., A. wilkesiana Mull. Arg, Euphorbia heterophylla L., E. hirta L., Jatropha curcas L., J. gossypifolia L. and Manihot esculenta Crantz was carried out to assess the systematic relevance of epidermal features, stomata and trichome diversity within the family using light microscope and camera. Members of this family contain many important medicinal herbs and there has been increasing misidentification of species in this family. Leaf micro-morphological characteristics are commonly used in the identification and authentication of plants. Results showed that the stomatal index varied from species to species. Epidermal cell shapes were found to be irregular to polygonal on both surfaces of the species. The epidermal cells possess straight to undulating anticlinal walls but in some few cases exhibited wavy to straight anticlinal walls. The presence of papillae was observed to be a unique character of E. heterophylla among the species studied. The stomatal types observed were Anisocytic, Anomocytic, Diacytic, tetracytic, paracytic, and actinocytic. The stomatal complex was mainly amphistomatic except for A. wilkesiana that was hypostomatic. The hypostomatic character of A. wilkesiana as reported in this paper is the first of such report as previous report found was amphistomatic. Non-glandular, multiseriate uniseriate and in some cases branched trichome types were observed only on both surfaces of A. wilkesiana and E. hirta but absent on all other studied species. This study revealed detailed descriptive micromorphological structures which could serve as a source of information and reference for the taxonomic description, identification and delineation of the species studied.

Ethnobotany and phytochemical analysis of Jatropha Tanjorensis in Mubi Adamawa State, Nigeria

This study was focused on the ethanobotanical survey, phytochemical and proximate analysis of Jatropha tanjorensis in Mubi. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out in some selected parts of both Mubi North and South local government area through oral interview using traditional medicine practioners and some householders as the interviewee. After air drying, pulverizing and extracting the bioactive constituents of the leaf using ethanol and water as solvents, the phytochemical and proximate analysis were carried out using a standard procedures. The ethnobotanical survey showed that, J. tanjorensis were used in the study area as a remedy to diseases such as: measles, scabies, malaria, high blood pressure, stomach ache, diabetes mellitus, eczema and anaemia with 74 % of the interviewee mentioning leaves as part mostly used. The qualitative phytochemical screening indicated the presence of compounds, namely: tannins, alkaloids, phenols, flavonoids, saponins, terpenoids, glycosides and anthraquinones in both the ethanoic and aqueous leaf extracts except terpenoids which was not detected in the ethanolic extract. The quantitative analysis showed glycosides (4.12 mg/100 g) and flavonoids (3.45 mg/100 g) as the highest compound in the ethanolic and aqueous extracts respectively. Carbohydrate was shown to be the highest proximate constituent with 52.38 % and fat the least with 1.76 %. Therefore, J. tanjorensis is rich in bioactive constituents and the leaves are mostly the plant part used as a remedy to illnesses such measles, scabies, malaria, high blood pressure, stomach ache, diabetes mellitus, eczema and anaemia.