Antioxidant and the ameliorating effect of Allium cepa (Onion) fortified feed against potassium bromate induced oxidative damage in Wistar rats.

Allium cepa Linn (Onion) Organosulfuric compounds and phytonutrients have medicinal benefits. The study estimated the antioxidant effect of Allium cepa in fortified feed against oxidative damage caused by potassium bromate. Commercial feed was fortified by substituting 10 %, 20 %, and 30 % of rat's daily ration with the respective portion of pulverized Allium cepa. Potassium bromate was administered orally to the rats in all the groups except rats in the normal control. The rats in the test groups were allowed access to the fortified feed ad libitum. The animals were sacrificed; consequently, the serum, liver, and kidney were obtained for biochemical assay and histological assessment. The percentage composition of some amino acids and some proximate were higher in the fortified feed. Furthermore, Malondialdehyde (MDA) level in the liver, kidney, and serum decreased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in rats fed with fortified feed compared to administered only Potassium bromate. Similarly, the concentration of total protein increased significantly (P ≤ 0.05) in the liver, kidney, and serum of the animals fed with fortified feed. The hematology result was normal in rats fed with fortified feed. The liver and kidney cell architecture was normal in animals fed with fortified feed. Allium cepa may have conferred protection and amelioration to oxidative damage by potassium bromate in rats.

Bacterial isolates associated with pelvic inflammatory disease among female patients attending some hospitals in abuja, Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Pelvic inflammatory disease refers to any infection in the female lower reproductive tract that spreads to the upper reproductive tract. The disease comprises a spectrum of inflammatory disorders of the upper female genital tract, including any combination of endometritis, salpingitis, tubo-ovarian abscess and pelvic peritonitis. PID is not a notifiable disease in most countries, so accurate statistics are not available. This situation is not in any way different here in Nigeria and more so in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja where this research was conducted, there had never been any published report so far on PID. It therefore became pertinent that such studies be carried out to evaluate the bacterial organisms which may be associated with the disease in this part of Nigeria so that health care providers could take a better look at this affliction in women. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Endocervical swabs totalling 100 were aseptically collected from patients with confirmed Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID), attending some hospitals in Abuja, Nigeria for detection of bacterial pathogens based on cultural and biochemical characterisation tests. Antibiogram was also conducted on the identified bacterial isolates. RESULTS: Out of the 100 samples analysed, 43% yielded pure cultures of bacterial isolates, 2% yielded mixed cultures while no bacterial growths were recorded from the remaining 55% samples. Organisms encountered were Staphylococcus aureus (16%), Escherichia coli (10%), Streptococcus faecalis (8%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (4%), Streptococcus pyogenes (3%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (3%), Proteus rettgeri (2%) and Proteus mirabilis (1%). The highest percentage occurrence of pathogenic isolates was observed in polygamous married patients (90%). The age group most affected falls within the mean age 30.5 years (68%) while the least affected group falls within the mean age 40.5 years (5%). There was a significant difference in the acquisition of PID in relation to marital status (P < 0.05). However there was no significant difference in the acquisition of the disease with respect to age (P > 0.05). Antibiogram patterns of pathogenic isolates revealed varied resistance to most of the antibiotics employed. Cefotaxime (a new generation cephalosporin antibiotic) was established in this study as the best antimicrobial agent for treatment of PID due to Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria isolated from the women examined. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, Pelvic inflammatory disease is a major health problem in developed or developing countries of the world. PID is not a notifiable disease, as accurate statistics on disease prevalence are rarely available. There is therefore no doubt thousands of young women have salpingitis every year and their sheer number makes it an important health problem. PID hence can be said to be a very serious complication of sexually transmitted disease which should be critically and promptly handled by healthcare providers. The right type sample should be aseptically collected and be appropriately handled for laboratory investigation. Treatment of PID should be initiated as soon as the presumptive diagnosis has been made. Immediate administration of antibiotics has been effective in the long-term sequelae associated with PID, especially new generation antibiotics, such as cefotaxime as recorded in this study.

Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans isolated from droppings of captive birds in Nigeria.

The yeast, Cryptococcus neoformans, was found in apparently healthy birds at the Jos Wildlife Park and Zoo in Jos, Nigeria. Cryptococcus neoformans var neoformans was isolated from feces of four captive bird species. Five isolates belonged to serotype A while two were serotype D. Serotype A of C. neoformans was isolated from a white face duck (Dendrocygna viduata), eagle owl (Bubo africanus cinerascene) and peacock (Pavo cristatus). The other two (serotype D), were isolated from a spotted eagle owl.

Virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A, B, C and D for four mouse strains.

The relative virulence of Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A, B, C and D in four mouse strains was assessed by measuring their migration from the foot-pad of the animals to the spleen, lungs and brain in 6-week-old DBA/2, BALB/c, A/J and a hybrid mouse strain by re-isolating yeasts from the internal organs. Comparable doses of each C. neoformans serotype were inoculated into the foot-pads of the mice. C. neoformans var neoformans strains A68, D52, A-(IN) and D-(IN) were more virulent than C. neoformans var gatti strains B112 and C18. However, the differences in the relative virulence of the var neoformans and the var gatti serotypes for the mouse strains were not significant (p > 0.05). Re-isolation of yeasts from mice showed that the BALB/c mice, in particular, and the DBA/2 mice were more susceptible to disseminated C. neoformans infection. The virulence of C. neoformans serotypes through foot-pad inoculation of mice was established.

Differentiation of Cryptococcus neoformans serotypes A and D using creatinine dextrose bromothymol blue thymine medium.

A serotype differentiation of the encapsulated yeast Cryptococcus neoformans is described using creatinine dextrose bromothymol blue thymine (CDBT) medium. On CDBT medium C. neoformans serotype D grew as bright red colonies, turning the medium a bright orange after five days incubation at 28 degrees C. C. neoformans serotype A grew as pale colonies with no apparent colour effect on the medium. Serotypes B and C caused a slight greening of the medium. The reaction of the four serotypes of C. neoformans on CDBT medium is considered useful in the differentiation of the closely related serotype A and D.

Clostridium perfringens type A enterotoxaemia in pigs: a report of five cases.

Enterotoxaemia caused by Clostridium perfringens type A in five intensively managed pigs is reported. The condition was precipitated by constipative digestive disturbance. Diarrhoea was not observed in the five animals before death.

Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis: comparison of agar-gel precipitin test and enzyme immunoassay.

The agar-gel precipitation test (AGPT) was compared with Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis, 164 women being screened for chlamydial antibodies and antigens in their sera and in endocervical specimens, respectively. The AGPT showed good correlation with EIA in the 164 paired sera and endocervical specimens, resulting in 27 (16.5%) and 22 (13.4%) positive results, respectively (P greater than 0.05). The overall sensitivity of the AGPT compared to EIA was 86.4% (19 of 22), and the specificity was 94.4% (134 of 142).

Isolation of Campylobacter subsp. jejuni from Oriental and American cockroaches caught in kitchens and poultry houses in Vom, Nigeria.

A total of 690 adult cockroaches (Periplaneta americana (L.), the American cockroach, and Blatta orientalis (L.), the oriental cockroach) were captured alive within domestic kitchens and near poultry houses in Vom. Using selective media, their external surfaces and internal (gut) contents, after adequate decontamination of the external surfaces, were culturally examined for the presence of campylobacters. 4 isolates of Campylobacter subsp jejuni were made (0.5%); 3 from the gut contents and 1 from the external surface. Nocardia asteroides was isolated from the gut contents of a batch of ten cockroaches. The low isolation rate notwithstanding, our results suggest that cockroaches may be a potential vector of campylobacters from other sources to human food. The somewhat fortuitous isolation of Nocardia asteroides and its significance are discussed.