African Journal of Virology Research

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 7 (6), pp. 001-003, June, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Short Communication

Growth response and survival of Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings fed at different feeding frequencies

Davies, O. A.*, Inko- Tariah, M. B. and Amachree, D.

Fisheries Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu, Port Harcourt Rivers State.

Accepted 12 January, 2013

Abstract

In an effort to utilize feed efficiently, promote growth, increase survival and reduce labour costs associated with feeding, Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings were placed on one of four feeding frequencies; once/day, twice/day; once every other day, and twice every other day for 56 days. They were fed with a commercial floating diet containing 40% crude protein level. They were reared in twelve 14 L plastic aquaria, with 3 aquaria/treatment under laboratory conditions. Each aquarium contained 10 fingerlings. The growth parameters except relative growth rate (RGR) were significantly different for fishes receiving the different treatments. Survival was not significantly different among treatments except for fingerlings fed once every other day. The study suggests that the fingerlings of Heterobrachus longifilis should be fed twice daily for higher growth performance.

Key words: Growth, response, survival, Heterobranchus longifilis fingerlings, feeding frequency.

Key words: Technologies, chemicals, cassava retting.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 7 (5), pp. 001-004, May, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of matrix granulation and wax coating on the dissolution rates of paracetamol granules

M .U. Uhumwangho* and R. S. Okor

Department of Pharmaceutics, University of Benin, Benin City, Nigeria

Accepted 03 January, 2013

Abstract 

The study was carried out to investigate the release profile of matrix (non-disintegrating) granules consisting of paracetamol (drug) and acrylatemethacrylate copolymer, a matrix forming material. The effect of coating the matrix granules with wax on the drug release profiles was also investigated. The objective was to produce drug particles of different release profiles for application as multi-unit dosage forms. The matrix granules were formed by massing paracetamol powder with a concentrated ethanolic solution of the acrylatemethacrylate copolymer (40%, w/v) followed by drying and screening. Wax coating was achieved by mixing the matrix granules with a melt of carnuba wax. Conventional granules of paracetamol were made by granulation with starch mucilage (20%, w/v); this served as reference samples for comparison. The granules were subjected to size analysis, packing/flow property, friability and dissolution tests. All the granules (i.e. conventional, matrix as well as the coated matrix granules) flowed readily and were also compressible upon tapping. The compressibility index values were conventional granules (39±2.2%), matrix granules (27±1.8%) and coated matrix granules (24±1.9%). The friability values were conventional granules (1.96±0.02), matrix granules (0.78±0.01) and coated matrix granules (0.63±0.03), indicating that matrix granulation increased the cohesive strength of the granules. The dissolution rates were conventional granules (16% h^-1), matrix granules (9.4% h^-1) and coated matrix granules (4.4% h^-1). Thus, matrix granulation and wax coating of the matrix granules are approaches for retarding drug release and hence prolonging the biologic action of drugs with short biologic half live.

Key words: Matrix granules, melt granulation, carnuba wax, acrylatemethacrylate copolymer, retard release.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Comparative studies on consumption preference, mineral contents and proximate composition of five ecotypes of Gnetum aficanum Welw. from Northwest Cameroun and Southeast Nigeria

Etta Hannah Edim*, Ijakeyi Blessing and Udo Sammuel

Biological Science Department, Cross River University of Technology, Calabar, Cross River State, Nigeria.

Accepted 26 August, 2012

Abstract

A comparative study on the consumption preference, mineral contents and proximate composition of five ecotypes of the edible vegetable, Gnetum africanum Welw. was carried out. The five ecotypes were Umuahia ecotype, Calabar ecotype, Ikom ecotype, Eket ecotype (Nigeria) and Limbe ecotype (Cameroun). These five ecotypes were chosen because they represent a wide consumption range of the vegetable. The minerals investigated were nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous, sodium, calcium and magnesium. The results showed that there was significant (P<0.01) difference in the mineral contents of Gnetum across the different ecotypes. Results of the questionnaires administered agreed with the laboratory investigations. The consumption preferences were: Umuahia (24%), Limbe (18%), Eket (31.5%), Calabar (11.5%) and Ikom (15%). Proximate analyses of the percentage crude protein, ether extract (crude fat), crude fibre, ash and nitrogen free extract (NFE - carbohydrate) content of the leafy vegetable were also investigated. From the results, G. africanum is rich in NFE, with the Calabar sample scoring the highest value of 49.44% dry weight. Umuahia and Eket ecotypes had the highest protein contents. The proximate compositions were not significantly different (P>0.01) except between Umuahia (Abia State) and Ikom (Cross River State) ecotypes (P<0.01). This investigation showed that the consumption preference, mineral contents and proximate composition of five ecotypes of the edible vegetable, G. africanum were affected differently in the ecotypes studied. Future efforts to domesticate this nutritiously rich African vegetable should be guided by the results of this investigation.

Key words: Ecological impact, consumption preference, mineral contents, proximate composition, ecotypes, Gnetum africanum.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 7 (4), pp. 001-006, April, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Bacteriological examination of some diluted disinfectants routinely used in the Specialist Hospital Yola, Nigeria

El-Mahmood, A. M.* and Doughari, J. H.

Department of Microbiology, School of Pure and Applied Sciences, Federal University of Technology Yola, P. M. B. 2076 Adamawa State, Nigeria.

Accepted 15 April, 2012

Abstract

Five frequently used disinfectants in our hospital (Specialist Hospital, Yola, Nigeria) were analyzed for bacterial contamination and sensitivity to antibiotics. For each disinfectant, 20 different samples of stock and left- over diluted solutions were used for the analysis. All the stock undiluted samples were free from any bacterial growth. However, all the left-over disinfectant samples were found to have significant bacterial contamination, predominantly gram negative bacteria and the contamination level varied from 2.6 x 10⁵ to 3.5 x 10⁸ cfu/ml. Amongst the 5 different disinfectants analyzed, Purit was found to be highly contaminated (30%), followed by Dettol (25%), Parazone (20%), Z- germicide (15%), Septol (10%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the isolates were significantly higher than that of the control sensitive strains, but were lower than the values quoted by the manufacturers of these disinfectants. All the isolates showed variable sensitivity to antibiotics with each disinfectant showing sensitivity to at least four antibiotics tested in this study.

Key words: Disinfectant, bacterial contamination, left-over diluted samples, antibiotic susceptibility.

African Journal of Virology Research ISSN 3421-7347 Vol. 7 (3), pp. 001-005, March, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Antibiotics sensitivity pattern of staphylococcus aureus from fomites in the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital Complex (OAUTHC) Nigeria

J. Omololu-Aso¹*, D. O. Kolawole¹, O. O. Omololu-Aso² and S. O. Ajisebutu¹

¹Department of Microbiology, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria.

²Department of General Out-patient, University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria.

Accepted 22 November, 2012

Abstract

This study determines the possible roles of cross contamination in the hospital environment. Two hundred swabs were obtained from doctors’ stethoscope diaphragm, cell phones of Health Care Workers (HCWS), patients’ bed linen, pillows and door knobs at the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile- Ife, from September 2003 to September 2005 using sterile cotton-tipped applicators. Cultures from the swabs were screened for Staphylococcus aureus. The results show that 18.70% of the doctors’ stethoscopes, 20.33% of the doctors’ cell phones, 20.33% of the door knobs were contaminated with S. aureus. Less than 99% of the isolated strains of S. aureus were sensitive to vancomycin, and rifampin, 95.12% to chloramphenicol, while 88% were sensitive to lincomycin, ciprofloxacin, and cotrimoxazole, 73% to gentamicin, cephalothin and cephalexin, while 70% were sensitive to amikacin and erythromycin. The isolates were sensitive to all tested antibiotics to different degrees except penicillin. The risk of having population of S. aureus strains with high multi-drug resistance is high in the study area, There is need to address indiscriminate use of antibiotics and other risk behaviors related to hygiene measure of the Health Care Workers.

Key words: Fomites, Health Care Workers (HCWs), Staphylococcus aureus.