Dermatophytes and other Skin Mycoses Found in Featherless Broiler Toe Webs

Background: Feartherless broilers which are produced by a complex breeding programme from feathered parents carrying the Sc-gene; dissipates excessive body heat under hot and humid conditions. It has high body weight; and grows very rapidly when compared with standard commercial broilers. Their toe webs are bigger than standard commercial broilers; and could harbor fungi which can cause infections where there is the opportunity. Objectives: To isolate and identify the presence of fungi in toe webs of featherless broilers. Methods: A total of 50 featherless broilers' toe webs samples were examined microscopically for the presence of fungi. The samples were examined microscopically and culturally using standard microbiological techniques. Results: The fungi recovered were as follows. Microsporum gypseum 9 (22); Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. mentagrophytes 5 (12); Microsporum gallinae 3 (7); Aspergilus flavus 10 (24); Fusarium sp 6 (15); Alternaria alternata 3 (7) Scopulariopsis brevicaulis 2 (5) and Candida albicans 3 (7); Conclusion: The featherless broilers' toe webs habour fungi which cause mycotic skin disease and cannot be regarded as ordinary normal flora of toe webs

Isolation of pathogenic bacteria from hospital staff apparel in Nigeria.

A survey of bacteria contamination of hospital staff apparel in use in Anambra State, Nigeria, was carried out to determine the extent of contamination by clinically important bacteria. Of a total of 125 swab samples of hospital staff apparel, 72 (58%) showed bacterial contamination including 32 (70%) of 46 samples from hand gloves, 28 of 45 (62%) samples from protective gowns, and 12 of 34 (35%) samples from face-shields. The potentially pathogenic bacteria isolated were Salmonella spp, Proteus vulgaris, Shigella dysenteriae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. The isolation of clinically important bacteria from the apparel suggests the need for improved infection control measures.

Diagnosis and Management of Chancroid in Nigeria.

There is a broad group of venereal disease that is referred to as the "Tropical Venereal Disease". They are so-called because they are most frequently seen in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of the world. Among them are conditions like chancroid, lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV or climatic bubo) and granuloma inguinale (chronic venereal sores). Chancroid is variously called "soft sore" or "soft chancre" because it bleeds easily and "ulcus moile".1 It is an acute infection and auto-innoculable disease. The extent of chancroid genital ulceration in Nigeria is greater in the Northern partly due to permissive sexual practices especially for men.