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Sixty-six (66) food products and ten water samples were collected from food vendors and restaurants and examined for bacteriological quality using both the most probable number (MPN) technique and the plate count of Escherichia coli on Eosin Ethylene Blue (EMB) and lactose fermenters on MacConkey agar. All results obtained were analyzed using ANOVA and Duncan’s multiple range test. Out of the 66 food samples, 55.6% were positive for Escherichia coli as follows: beans (22.6%), Yam (44.4%), garri (50%) pears (83.3%), cassava “foo-foo” (16.7%), “abacha” (83.3%), “okpa” (56%), rice (56%), “agidi” (83.3%) and moi-moi (66.7%). Out of the ten water samples, six were also positive for Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli high proportion of food (75.9%) and water (80%) respectively showed the presence of coliforms in general including Escherichia coli Geometric mean count (GMC) for MPN ranged from 1-180 and GMC for coliforms in various foods ranged from 1.0 x 101-1.0 x 106cfu/g. About 42.4% human coliforms(Escherichia coli), 37.4% of faecal coliforms (Klebsiella pneumonia) and rest (20.2%) showed other coliforms in food and water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethanol extracts of two Nigerian spices, Piper guineense (fruits) and Xylopia aethiopica (seeds), were tested for anti-microbial activity against a fungus and seven bacterial strains by the agar diffusion technique. Piper guineense, but not Xylopia aethiopica, was active against Candida albicans. Extracts of both spices were variously bactericidal or bacteristatic against Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051, Escherichia coli ATCC 11775, Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 12600, as well as locally isolated strains of the above bacteria, and Salmonella typhi, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus vulgaris and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 strain was not susceptible. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Whole root preparations of three Nigerian medicinal plants, Anthocleista djalonensis, Nauclea latifolia and Uvaria afzalii, used traditionally in combination treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STD), were extracted by maceration in ethanol, cold and hot water, respectively. The extracts were tested, by agar diffusion and macrobroth dilution methods, for activity against five strains of Staphylococcus aureus and two of Escherichia coli isolated from cases of STD and or urethritis. Four typed bacterial strains, S aureus ATCC 12600, Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 10145 and Escherichia coli ATCC 117755 were included as reference organisms. Ethanolic and cold-water extracts of Anthocliesta djalonensis exhibited activity against 9 and 7, respectively, of the 11 test organisms. They were bacteriostatic at minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) to the Gram positive strains but bactericidal to the Gram negative strains. Similar crude extracts of Uvaria afzalii showed bactericidal activity restricted to Gram positive (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) strains. Nauclea latifolia extracts were bacteriostatic to both Gram positive and Gram negative strains. No test strain was susceptible to the hot water extracts of Nauclea latifolia but five and seven strains, were respectively susceptible to similar extracts of Anthocliesta djalonensis and Uvaria afzalii. Of the seven column chromatographic fractions of the ethanolic extract of Uvaria afzalii, F(ua-1) exhibited a bactericidal activity restricted to the Gram negative Escherichia coli strains, which were not susceptible to the crude extract. Fractions, F(ua-2), F(ua-3) and F(ua-4), like the crude extract, were bactericidal against the Gram positive strains only. Thus, partial purification seems to broaden the spectrum of activity and generally improve the potency of Uvaria afzalii. These results apparently justify the use of the three plants in treatment of STD., (Copyright 2004 Elsevier Ireland Ltd.)

Bacteriological quality of weaning food and drinking water given to 2 groups of children aged < or = years was evaluated by estimating bacterial cell count. One group consisted of those taken to market and the other of those left at home in the care of older siblings or house-helps. Bacterial counts (geometric mean) ranged from 5.02 +/- 1.82 to 8.70 +/- 1.0 log10 cfu per g or mL of food, and from 1.15 +/- 1.67 to 6.53 +/- 0.81 log10 cfu per g or 100 mL of water. Analysis of variance showed no significant difference in counts between types of food and between meals (breakfast and lunch). Bacterial contamination increased significantly with storage time, and was, in all circumstances except the water samples, significantly higher in foods given to children left at home. Reheated leftover foods also had significantly higher bacterial load than the freshly-cooked food. Coliform count varied significantly with source of drinking water. Poor hygiene standard (inferred from bacterial contamination) was generally observed among mothers weaning < or = 2-year-old children, while they were engaged in trading activities in the market, thus exposing their children to high risk of diarrhoea. Hygiene was significantly poorer in weaning of children left at home in the care of older siblings or house-helps. This implies that, in spite of their trading activities in the market, mothers still take better care of their babies than the older siblings or house-helps who may be inexperienced. These mothers may need education on childcare and food hygiene to suit to their trading activities, for example, during their monthly meetings. There is also a need to establish ORT (oral rehydration therapy) corners in the markets as part of the municipal services. This can be used not only for efficient and quick management of diarrhoea in the market but also for reinforcing hygiene education.

The aim of the study was to determine the perceptions of mothers regarding the causes and management of diarrhoea of their children aged 0-24 months. In Enugu State, Nigeria, 80 market women whose children had diarrhoea during last 6 months were interviewed fortnightly. When possible, the children were observed to determine the types of diarrhoea and treatments given. Fifty-three of the women brought their children to market, and 27 left their children at home. Seventy-one percent of the mothers perceived that diarrhoea was caused by teething. The most common types of diarrhoea occurring in these children were watery diarrhoea (59%) and the so-called teething diarrhoea (29%). Dysentery (6%) and jedi jedi or frothy and mucoid stools (4%) occurred less frequently. In 68% of the cases, drugs were used alone or in conjunction with salt-sugar solution (SSS) or other forms of treatment. These drugs were prescribed by medical personnel (40%), patent medicine dealers (23%), or mothers themselves (30%). About 26% and 39% of the mothers treated, respectively, watery and teething diarrhoeas with drugs only, while 23% used SSS alone. The drugs used were mainly antimicrobials (34%) and a combination of antimicrobial, antimalarial, antacid, analgesic, and some local herbal preparations (21%). The results of the study showed the evidence of unnecessary use of drugs and ignorance about their potential adverse effects. These underscore the need for appropriate primary care education among the market women in Nigeria.

A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted in seven markets in Enugu and Nsukka, Nigeria, to evaluate the child-care practices, occurrence of diarrhoea, feeding patterns and nutritional status among 506 and 157 children aged 0-24 months taken to the market (CTTM) by their mothers and those left at home (CLAH) respectively. A lack of a caretaker at home was the most common reason for taking children to the market. The majority (92%) of the caretakers at home were young (< 20 years). There was no difference in the occurrence of diarrhoea in the last month between the CTTM (39%) and the CLAH (41%) groups (p > 0.05). However, there were differences in reported diarrhoea episodes between children aged 0-6 months and higher age classes (chi 2 = 20.0; p = 0.003). Very few children (0.8%) were exclusively breastfed. More CTTM (58%) were still being breastfed than the 42% of CLAH (OR = 1.87; 95% C.I. = 1.27-2.37; p < 0.001). Children cared for at home had a slightly better but nonsignificant (p > 0.05) anthropometric status as characterised by weight-for-age and height-for-age. There was no relationship between feeding patterns and diarrhoea.

A total of 376 serum samples from dogs, humans and livestock were examined for complement-fixing (CF) antibodies against rabies virus. High CF antibody titres (up to 1:1024) were detected among unvaccinated dogs aged 3 months and above as in vaccinated ones, thus establishing endemicity of the virus in the area. An antibody titre of 1:128 was detected in the serum of a puppy aged below 3 months and is unlikely to be due to residual maternal antibodies. It rather provides evidence for seroconversion at that age and further establishes endemicity of the virus. Moderate to high CF antibody titres (greater than or equal to 1:64) were detected in 44.9% of the unvaccinated dogs, 6.3% of the cattle and 2.8% of the humans. These antibody titres indicate either exposure to rabies virus or inapparent infection by rabies-related viruses.

Altogether 16,539 sputum specimens were examined microbiologically from 1980 to 1984. Out of these 12,588 were screened by Ziehl-Neelsen's staining technique and 782 were (6.3%) found AFB-positive. Age and sex distributions of the AFB-positive individuals were statistically significant (at 0.05), incidence being most prevalent among those 20 years and above (90.2%) and among males (61.2%). From other specimens cultured, non-AFB organisms were isolated at the following frequencies: coliform-like organisms (15.1%), Streptococcus pneumoniae (55.5%). Klebsiella pneumoniae (5.3%), Streptococcus pyogenes (3.9%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.4%), Haemophilus influenzae (3.0%). Proteus Spp. (0.7%) and Escherichia coli (0.5%). The antibiogram of these isolates revealed a high incidence of multiple antibiotic resistance, a situation that has most probably arisen from the high degree of antibiotic misuse in Nigeria.

Serum samples from 339 apparently healthy subjects, 298 adult blood donors and 41 infants aged 21 months and below, were screened for neutralising activity against poliovirus 1 and Coxsackieviruses A7 and B4. Among the adult serum samples 85% showed high activity (greater than or equal to 320) against poliovirus 1 while frequencies of similar activities were 65% and 64% for Coxsackieviruses A7 and B4 respectively. About 60% showed multiple activity against all three viruses; 15% against both Coxsackieviruses A7 and B4, and less than 5% for Coxsackievirus A7 and poliovirus 1, and Coxsackievirus B4 and poliovirus 1, respectively. Similar activities were detected in the sera of the infants. These show that enterovirus infections are endemic, multiple infections being the rule.