Over the years the Nigerian government has come up with a number of antipoverty programmes aimed ... more Over the years the Nigerian government has come up with a number of antipoverty programmes aimed at fighting poverty by financing her growth induced sector- SMEs, yet, the country is still witnessing rising levels of poverty, corruption, unemployment, low human capital development, inadequate commercial bank credit, high lending rate and low standard of education, thus, affecting the performance of small scale enterprises. In other to address the conundrum, this study examines the effect of government antipoverty programmes on small and medium enterprises’ performance in Nigeria using econometric regression model of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS). From the regression analysis, the result showed that government antipoverty programmes, corruption, unemployment, human capital development, capital, lending rate and education conformed to the a priori expectations of the study and were statistically significant in explaining the SMEs’ performance in Nigeria. The study recommends that: I...
ABSTRACT Aims: To investigate in vitro antifungal activities of methanol, hexane and cold water e... more ABSTRACT Aims: To investigate in vitro antifungal activities of methanol, hexane and cold water extracts of Cassia alata, Mitracarpus villosus and Lawsonia inermis against nondermatophyte molds isolated from rice farmers with onychomycosis in Anambra State, Nigeria. Study Design: Examination of antifungal activity of medicinal plants among cross-section of farmers. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Anambra State, Nigeria between November 2009 and June 2011. Methodology: Clinical samples were collected from 135 rice farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria and identified. Dried leaves of C. alata, M. villosus and L. inermis were extracted by soxhlet using methanol and hexane as solvents. Cold water extraction was also carried out using fresh leaves. The extracts were tested against the isolated non-dermatophyte molds using disc diffusion method at varying concentrations (10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg). Discs impregnated with 2% dimethylsulphoxide were used as negative control while those impregnated with 2mg/disc ketoconazole served as positive control. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MIC) of the crude extracts were assayed for against the test isolates. Results: The organisms recovered included Aspergillus terrus, Aspergillus sclerotiorum, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., Chrysosporium sp. and Scopulariopsis sp. The organisms were sensitive to all the methanol extracts of medicinal plants with minimum inhibitory concentration range of 10-40mg/disc except A. flavus which was inhibited only by L. inermis extract at concentration of 40mg/disc. The mean zone of inhibition produced ranged between 6.0mm and 14.2mm with C. alata extract showing the highest zone of inhibition (14.2mm) against Fusarium sp. The standard Ketoconazole range was 6.0-12.4mm diameter. Hexane extract of L. inermis inhibited all isolates at 20-40mg/disc concentration. A. flavus resisted hexane extracts of C. alata and M. villosus, while A. terrus resisted extract of M. villosus alone. All isolates except A. flavus were sensitive to cold water extract of L. inermis with diameter zone of inhibition range of 6.2-8.2mm. Methanol extracts of C. alata and L. inermis showed fungicidal actions against all test isolates at 10-40mg/disc range except for A. flavus. Conclusion: The various antifungal extracts showed inhibitory/fungicidal effect against the isolated non-dermatophyte molds which compared favorably with that of standard antifungal drug, ketoconazole. The plant leaves could serve as sources for development of new antifungal drugs.
ABSTRACT Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial investigations were carried out of the crude... more ABSTRACT Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial investigations were carried out of the crude extracts obtained from the leaf of Adhatoda vasica, using solvents of varied polarity. The presence of phenols, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, flavanoids, aminoacids and reducing sugars was indicated by the tests conducted. The effect of ethanol, petroleum ether and water extracts were tested on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klesiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans . The minimum inhibitory concentration of the crude extracts was determined for various organisms.
There is an increase in non-albicans Candida (NAC) vulvovaginal candidiasis which is attributed t... more There is an increase in non-albicans Candida (NAC) vulvovaginal candidiasis which is attributed to overuse of antifungal therapy and this has led to antifungal resistance. This study was aimed at determining the antifungal resistance pattern of some clinical isolates of Candida species. Eighty-eight (88) isolates were used which included Candida tropicalis (34), Candida Parapsilosis (21), Candida albicans (20), Candida krusei (7) and Candida glabrata (6). The drugs used were Fluconazole (25µg), Ketoconazole (10µg), Voriconazole (1µg), Nystatin (100Units), Amphotericin B (20µg), Flucytosine (1µg), Clotrimazole (10µg) and Itraconazole (50µg). The susceptibility testing was carried out using the M44-A standard method for yeast disk diffusion testing. Results showed that the percentages of Candida species resistant to Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Voriconazole, Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, Clotrimazole and Itraconazole and Nystatin were 52.3%, 61.9%, 35.2%, 19.3%, 86.4%, 34.1%, 45.5% and ...
Aims : Caenorhabditis elegans nema tode pathosystem has been used to study both bacterial and fun... more Aims : Caenorhabditis elegans nema tode pathosystem has been used to study both bacterial and fungal pathogenesis. Apart from Candida and Cryptococcus , studies using this model for other fungal infections especially filamentous fungi however, are still lacking. This work aimed at developing a C. elegans - Aspergillus fumigatus (nematode - mould) killing assay model. Study Design : Infection model of Caenorhabditis elegans with Aspergillus fumigatus . Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Imperial College Lo ndon, London SW7 2AZ, United kingdom , between October 2011 and April 2012. Methodology: Double mutant glp - 4;sek - 1 strain of C. elegans worms were propagated and maintained on nematode growth medium (NGM) with Escherichia coli non - pathogenic strain HB101 us ed as food prior to a fungal killing assay. L4 stage of the worms were infected with spores of A. fumigatus wild - type strain AF293, and incubated in 30% brain heart infusion (BHI) in M9 buffer at room temperature for 72 h. The survival of the worms was stu died within this period. Results: The scenario presented after killing of the worms by A. fumigatus appears to be the same
ABSTRACT Based on placental blood count microscopy, 300 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic... more ABSTRACT Based on placental blood count microscopy, 300 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in private hospitals in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria were sampled for malaria infection in 2004-2005. Also structured questionnaire was used to conduct a survey on the knowledge and level of usage of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) among these women. The study revealed the prevalence of 84.4% (253/300), with the highest prevalence shown by the age group 20-24 years. The prevalence rate for other age groups were as follows: 1.7%, 2.7%, 11.0%, 12.0% and 2.7% for age groups 15-19, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44 respectively. Using the Chi square, statistical analysis at 5% confidence level, it was found that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of malaria among the different groups. It was also found that 32.0% (96/300) acknowledged knowledge, 24.7% (74/300) sight, while 17.3% (53/300) acknowledged sleeping under the bed net. The level of usage of ITNs among pregnant women was therefore very low.
ABSTRACT The possible curative and preventive effect of Baphia nittida extract on insipient carie... more ABSTRACT The possible curative and preventive effect of Baphia nittida extract on insipient caries and caries-free rats were investigated. About 200 mg/mL of Baphia nittida extract were intra-orally administered to the teeth surfaces of different rat groups. Evidence of development of caries was determined by direct observation, probing, microbial count and radiography. The result of the study showed that there was no evidence of dental caries among the non-insipient caries rat groups fed simultaneously with 70% sucrose-in-diet and extract of Baphia nittida. Similarly, the rat groups having insipient caries did not exhibit signs of dental caries after the administration of Baphia nittida extract. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre and post microbial count of the insipient caries rat groups given Baphia nittida extract. Also, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre and post microbial count of the caries-free rat groups given Baphia nittida extract twice daily. The result generally suggested that Baphia nittida extract has in vivo preventive and curative potential on dental caries in rats simultaneously fed with 70% sucrose-in-diet.
ABSTRACT Soils where palm oil mill effluents (POME) are being discharged were examined to evaluat... more ABSTRACT Soils where palm oil mill effluents (POME) are being discharged were examined to evaluate the effect of the effluent on soil micro flora. A total of 32 soil samples comprising 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for under two months, 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for a year and above, 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for over four years and abandoned and 8 samples from near-side soils without POME. Swab samples of freshly discharged and old POME were also examined. Bacteria were not isolated from soils where the effluents have been discharged for under two months (fresh discharge sites). Microbial numbers and diversity were found to be relatively higher in soils of older and abandoned POME discharge sites than the nearby soils without POME (control soils). The fungal genera isolated from soils of old POME discharge sites include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Paecilomyces, while the bacterial genera include Bacillus, Micrococcus, Sarcina, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, Thermoactinomyces and Streptomyces.
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2009
BACKGROUND: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. H... more BACKGROUND: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the contribution of malaria infection to neonatal development is incompletely understood. Here we determined the prevalence of placental malarial infection in six communities in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2006, and compare these data to neonatal birth weight. METHODOLOGY: Blood samples were obtained from the placenta of 500 parturient mothers and examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Newborn birth weight was then compared with the malaria status of their mothers. RESULTS: Placental malarial infection was found in 322 of 500 mothers (64.4%). The prevalence of infection did not differ among the six different Nigerian communities (P = 0.978). Furthermore, there was no difference in infection rates between rural and urban areas (64.9% vs. 64.0%, respectively, P = 0.827). Interestingly, neonates born from mothers with placental malaria had lower birth weights t...
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among p... more Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (aged 6-13 years) of Community Primary School, Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) urine samples were randomly collected from the pupils (87 males and 113 females). The urine samples were collected in the month of August, 2013 into sterile urine containers and were examined microscopically in the laboratory using string sedimentation technique. Hematuria was assessed using chemical reagent strip (medi-test combi-9 sticks). The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 11 (5.5%); with 7 (8.0%) cases for males and 4 (3.5%) for females but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Prevalence rate was also observed to be higher among age group of 10-13 years with 4 (6.5%) compared to age group of 6-9 years with7 (5.1%), but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a sta...
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (age... more This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (aged 6- 13 years) of Community Primary School, Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) urine samples were randomly collected from the pupils (87 males and 113 females). The urine samples were collected in the month of August, 2013 into sterile urine containers and were examined microscopically in the laboratory using string sedimentation technique. Hematuria was assessed using chemical reagent strip (medi-test combi-9 sticks). The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 11 (5.5%); with 7 (8.0%) cases for males and 4 (3.5%) for females but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Prevalence rate was also observed to be higher among age group of 10-13 years with 4 (6.5%) compared to age group of 6-9 years with7 (5.1%), but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a statisticall...
Over the years the Nigerian government has come up with a number of antipoverty programmes aimed ... more Over the years the Nigerian government has come up with a number of antipoverty programmes aimed at fighting poverty by financing her growth induced sector- SMEs, yet, the country is still witnessing rising levels of poverty, corruption, unemployment, low human capital development, inadequate commercial bank credit, high lending rate and low standard of education, thus, affecting the performance of small scale enterprises. In other to address the conundrum, this study examines the effect of government antipoverty programmes on small and medium enterprises’ performance in Nigeria using econometric regression model of the Ordinary Least Square (OLS). From the regression analysis, the result showed that government antipoverty programmes, corruption, unemployment, human capital development, capital, lending rate and education conformed to the a priori expectations of the study and were statistically significant in explaining the SMEs’ performance in Nigeria. The study recommends that: I...
ABSTRACT Aims: To investigate in vitro antifungal activities of methanol, hexane and cold water e... more ABSTRACT Aims: To investigate in vitro antifungal activities of methanol, hexane and cold water extracts of Cassia alata, Mitracarpus villosus and Lawsonia inermis against nondermatophyte molds isolated from rice farmers with onychomycosis in Anambra State, Nigeria. Study Design: Examination of antifungal activity of medicinal plants among cross-section of farmers. Place and Duration of Study: Department of Applied Microbiology and Brewing, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka. Anambra State, Nigeria between November 2009 and June 2011. Methodology: Clinical samples were collected from 135 rice farmers in Anambra State, Nigeria and identified. Dried leaves of C. alata, M. villosus and L. inermis were extracted by soxhlet using methanol and hexane as solvents. Cold water extraction was also carried out using fresh leaves. The extracts were tested against the isolated non-dermatophyte molds using disc diffusion method at varying concentrations (10mg, 20mg, 40mg, 80mg). Discs impregnated with 2% dimethylsulphoxide were used as negative control while those impregnated with 2mg/disc ketoconazole served as positive control. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimum Fungicidal Concentration (MIC) of the crude extracts were assayed for against the test isolates. Results: The organisms recovered included Aspergillus terrus, Aspergillus sclerotiorum, Aspergillus flavus, Fusarium sp., Chrysosporium sp. and Scopulariopsis sp. The organisms were sensitive to all the methanol extracts of medicinal plants with minimum inhibitory concentration range of 10-40mg/disc except A. flavus which was inhibited only by L. inermis extract at concentration of 40mg/disc. The mean zone of inhibition produced ranged between 6.0mm and 14.2mm with C. alata extract showing the highest zone of inhibition (14.2mm) against Fusarium sp. The standard Ketoconazole range was 6.0-12.4mm diameter. Hexane extract of L. inermis inhibited all isolates at 20-40mg/disc concentration. A. flavus resisted hexane extracts of C. alata and M. villosus, while A. terrus resisted extract of M. villosus alone. All isolates except A. flavus were sensitive to cold water extract of L. inermis with diameter zone of inhibition range of 6.2-8.2mm. Methanol extracts of C. alata and L. inermis showed fungicidal actions against all test isolates at 10-40mg/disc range except for A. flavus. Conclusion: The various antifungal extracts showed inhibitory/fungicidal effect against the isolated non-dermatophyte molds which compared favorably with that of standard antifungal drug, ketoconazole. The plant leaves could serve as sources for development of new antifungal drugs.
ABSTRACT Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial investigations were carried out of the crude... more ABSTRACT Preliminary phytochemical and antibacterial investigations were carried out of the crude extracts obtained from the leaf of Adhatoda vasica, using solvents of varied polarity. The presence of phenols, tannins, alkaloids, anthraquinones, saponins, flavanoids, aminoacids and reducing sugars was indicated by the tests conducted. The effect of ethanol, petroleum ether and water extracts were tested on Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Proteus vulgaris, Klesiella pneumoniae and Candida albicans . The minimum inhibitory concentration of the crude extracts was determined for various organisms.
There is an increase in non-albicans Candida (NAC) vulvovaginal candidiasis which is attributed t... more There is an increase in non-albicans Candida (NAC) vulvovaginal candidiasis which is attributed to overuse of antifungal therapy and this has led to antifungal resistance. This study was aimed at determining the antifungal resistance pattern of some clinical isolates of Candida species. Eighty-eight (88) isolates were used which included Candida tropicalis (34), Candida Parapsilosis (21), Candida albicans (20), Candida krusei (7) and Candida glabrata (6). The drugs used were Fluconazole (25µg), Ketoconazole (10µg), Voriconazole (1µg), Nystatin (100Units), Amphotericin B (20µg), Flucytosine (1µg), Clotrimazole (10µg) and Itraconazole (50µg). The susceptibility testing was carried out using the M44-A standard method for yeast disk diffusion testing. Results showed that the percentages of Candida species resistant to Fluconazole, Ketoconazole, Voriconazole, Amphotericin B, Flucytosine, Clotrimazole and Itraconazole and Nystatin were 52.3%, 61.9%, 35.2%, 19.3%, 86.4%, 34.1%, 45.5% and ...
Aims : Caenorhabditis elegans nema tode pathosystem has been used to study both bacterial and fun... more Aims : Caenorhabditis elegans nema tode pathosystem has been used to study both bacterial and fungal pathogenesis. Apart from Candida and Cryptococcus , studies using this model for other fungal infections especially filamentous fungi however, are still lacking. This work aimed at developing a C. elegans - Aspergillus fumigatus (nematode - mould) killing assay model. Study Design : Infection model of Caenorhabditis elegans with Aspergillus fumigatus . Place and Duration of Study: Centre for Molecular Microbiology and Infection, Imperial College Lo ndon, London SW7 2AZ, United kingdom , between October 2011 and April 2012. Methodology: Double mutant glp - 4;sek - 1 strain of C. elegans worms were propagated and maintained on nematode growth medium (NGM) with Escherichia coli non - pathogenic strain HB101 us ed as food prior to a fungal killing assay. L4 stage of the worms were infected with spores of A. fumigatus wild - type strain AF293, and incubated in 30% brain heart infusion (BHI) in M9 buffer at room temperature for 72 h. The survival of the worms was stu died within this period. Results: The scenario presented after killing of the worms by A. fumigatus appears to be the same
ABSTRACT Based on placental blood count microscopy, 300 pregnant women attending antenatal clinic... more ABSTRACT Based on placental blood count microscopy, 300 pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in private hospitals in Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria were sampled for malaria infection in 2004-2005. Also structured questionnaire was used to conduct a survey on the knowledge and level of usage of insecticide-treated bed nets (ITNs) among these women. The study revealed the prevalence of 84.4% (253/300), with the highest prevalence shown by the age group 20-24 years. The prevalence rate for other age groups were as follows: 1.7%, 2.7%, 11.0%, 12.0% and 2.7% for age groups 15-19, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39 and 40-44 respectively. Using the Chi square, statistical analysis at 5% confidence level, it was found that there was no significant difference in the prevalence of malaria among the different groups. It was also found that 32.0% (96/300) acknowledged knowledge, 24.7% (74/300) sight, while 17.3% (53/300) acknowledged sleeping under the bed net. The level of usage of ITNs among pregnant women was therefore very low.
ABSTRACT The possible curative and preventive effect of Baphia nittida extract on insipient carie... more ABSTRACT The possible curative and preventive effect of Baphia nittida extract on insipient caries and caries-free rats were investigated. About 200 mg/mL of Baphia nittida extract were intra-orally administered to the teeth surfaces of different rat groups. Evidence of development of caries was determined by direct observation, probing, microbial count and radiography. The result of the study showed that there was no evidence of dental caries among the non-insipient caries rat groups fed simultaneously with 70% sucrose-in-diet and extract of Baphia nittida. Similarly, the rat groups having insipient caries did not exhibit signs of dental caries after the administration of Baphia nittida extract. There was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre and post microbial count of the insipient caries rat groups given Baphia nittida extract. Also, there was a significant difference (p<0.05) between the pre and post microbial count of the caries-free rat groups given Baphia nittida extract twice daily. The result generally suggested that Baphia nittida extract has in vivo preventive and curative potential on dental caries in rats simultaneously fed with 70% sucrose-in-diet.
ABSTRACT Soils where palm oil mill effluents (POME) are being discharged were examined to evaluat... more ABSTRACT Soils where palm oil mill effluents (POME) are being discharged were examined to evaluate the effect of the effluent on soil micro flora. A total of 32 soil samples comprising 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for under two months, 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for a year and above, 8 samples from soils where POME have been discharged for over four years and abandoned and 8 samples from near-side soils without POME. Swab samples of freshly discharged and old POME were also examined. Bacteria were not isolated from soils where the effluents have been discharged for under two months (fresh discharge sites). Microbial numbers and diversity were found to be relatively higher in soils of older and abandoned POME discharge sites than the nearby soils without POME (control soils). The fungal genera isolated from soils of old POME discharge sites include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Cladosporium, Rhizopus, Mucor and Paecilomyces, while the bacterial genera include Bacillus, Micrococcus, Sarcina, Klebsiella, Pseudomonas, Actinomyces, Thermoactinomyces and Streptomyces.
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 2009
BACKGROUND: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. H... more BACKGROUND: Malaria causes significant morbidity and mortality among pregnant women in Nigeria. However, the contribution of malaria infection to neonatal development is incompletely understood. Here we determined the prevalence of placental malarial infection in six communities in Anambra State, Nigeria, between 2005 and 2006, and compare these data to neonatal birth weight. METHODOLOGY: Blood samples were obtained from the placenta of 500 parturient mothers and examined for the presence of malaria parasites. Newborn birth weight was then compared with the malaria status of their mothers. RESULTS: Placental malarial infection was found in 322 of 500 mothers (64.4%). The prevalence of infection did not differ among the six different Nigerian communities (P = 0.978). Furthermore, there was no difference in infection rates between rural and urban areas (64.9% vs. 64.0%, respectively, P = 0.827). Interestingly, neonates born from mothers with placental malaria had lower birth weights t...
Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among p... more Abstract: This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (aged 6-13 years) of Community Primary School, Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) urine samples were randomly collected from the pupils (87 males and 113 females). The urine samples were collected in the month of August, 2013 into sterile urine containers and were examined microscopically in the laboratory using string sedimentation technique. Hematuria was assessed using chemical reagent strip (medi-test combi-9 sticks). The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 11 (5.5%); with 7 (8.0%) cases for males and 4 (3.5%) for females but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Prevalence rate was also observed to be higher among age group of 10-13 years with 4 (6.5%) compared to age group of 6-9 years with7 (5.1%), but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a sta...
This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (age... more This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis among pupils (aged 6- 13 years) of Community Primary School, Amagunze in Nkanu East LGA, Enugu State, Nigeria. A total of two hundred (200) urine samples were randomly collected from the pupils (87 males and 113 females). The urine samples were collected in the month of August, 2013 into sterile urine containers and were examined microscopically in the laboratory using string sedimentation technique. Hematuria was assessed using chemical reagent strip (medi-test combi-9 sticks). The overall prevalence of Schistosoma haematobium infection was 11 (5.5%); with 7 (8.0%) cases for males and 4 (3.5%) for females but the difference was not statistically significant (P > 0.05). Prevalence rate was also observed to be higher among age group of 10-13 years with 4 (6.5%) compared to age group of 6-9 years with7 (5.1%), but the differences were not statistically significant (P > 0.05). There was a statisticall...
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