http://196.220.128.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/234 2026-04-27T06:10:38Z http://196.220.128.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3459 INVESTIGATING POLYETHYLENE DEGRADATION BY BACTERIA AND FUNGI FROM SOLID WASTE DUMPSITE. DADA, SILEOLA OLAYEMI Polyethylene wastes accumulating in the environment pose an ever increasing ecological threat as environmental pollutant. In this research, degradation of low density polyethylene by microorganisms from soil in solid waste dumpsite was investigated. Isolation of microorganisms was carried out from degrading polyethylene from soil at a dumpsite. Bacteria isolated were Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus varians and Clostridium spp while the fungi isolated were Penicillium spp, Fusarium sambucinum and Aspergillus niger. The ability of the isolates to utilize low density polyethylene (LDPE) as sole carbon source for growth in liquid and solid culture media was investigated. The result showed an increase in all bacteria cell count in both liquid and solid media. At the end of 5months, the highest weight loss in polyethylene inoculated with bacterial isolates under liquid culture was observed with Bacillus subtilis (7.93%) followed by Micrococcus varians (7.33%) and the least was observed in Clostridium spp (5.53%). For fungal isolates, Fusarium sambucinum caused the highest weight loss (16.07%) followed by Penicillium spp (8.20%) and the least was found in Aspergillus niger (4.53%). Also, on the solid culture, the highest weight loss from polyethylene samples inoculated with bacterial isolates was observed with Bacillus subtilis (0.86%) followed by Micrococcus varians (0.73%) and the least was observed for Clostridium spp (0.47%). For fungi, Penicillium spp caused the highest weight loss (0.86%) followed by Aspergillus niger (0.53%) and the least was caused by Fusarium sambucinum (0.46%). This reveals that these microorganisms could degrade polyethylene sample but faster in liquid than solid medium. 2017-05-01T00:00:00Z http://196.220.128.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3457 DIETARY ESTIMATES AND LEVELS OF TOXIC, ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS AND MICROBIAL LOAD OF LOCAL RICE AWOPETU, AKINSOLA FRANCIS This study investigated the levels of toxic elements: lead (Pb), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd); essential micronutrients: chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn); and macronutrients: sodium (Na), calcium (Ca) and potassium (K) and the microbial load of locally cultivated rice consumed in Ondo and Ekiti states of Nigeria. The rice samples were obtained from six different towns namely Akure, Ondo, Ado, Igbemo, Ikole and Erinjiyan and their mineral profiles determined by either Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometric or Flame Photometric methods for heavy metals and macronutrients respectively. The rice samples were analysed for toxic metals (Pb, As, and Cd), essential micronutrients (Cr and Zn) and macronutrients (Na, Ca and K). The Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) of these elements were determined and compared to the Provisional Tolerable Daily Intake (PTDI) and Dietary Reference Intake (DRI) values set by Joint FAO/WHO and Institute of Medicine for PTDI and DRI respectively. The detected average mean levels of Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Zn, Na, Ca and K were 0.05 μg/g, 0.04 μg/g, 0.57 μg/g, 0.03 μg/g, 7.86 μg/g, 42.15 mg/kg, 337.11 mg/kg, and 2650.09 mg/kg respectively. The toxic elements were highest in rice from Erinjiyan (Pb=0.05 μg/g; Cd=0.04 μg/g) and Igbemo (As=0.06 μg/g) and lowest in rice from Ado (Pb=0.04 μg/g; Cd=0.02 μg/g) and Akure (As=0.03 μg/g). The average EDI contribution to the PTDI/DRI for Pb, As, Cr, Cd, Zn, Na, Ca and K were 3.29 μg/day, 2.87 μg/day, 39.90 μg/day, 1.82 μg/day, 0.55 mg/day, 2.95 mg/day, 23.60 mg/day and 185.51 mg/day respectively, which were all below the recommended levels except chromium. The total colony count showed that Akure had the highest bacterial count (1.25×104 cfu/g) while the highest fungal count was recorded in Erinjiyan (7.0×103 sfu/g). The least bacterial count was observed in Ikole and Igbemo (500 cfu/g), while the least fungal count was recorded in Igbemo (1.0×103 sfu/g). This study however showed that the consumption of these locally cultivated rice may pose a serious health risk unless they are supplemented with nutrient-rich supplements such as meats and eggs. High chromium observed in rice from Ekiti State (Ado, Erinjiyan, Igbemo and Ikole) may cause chromium toxicity if eaten for a prolonged period of time. More information are still required on the soil and water from this area in order to proffer bio-remediation techniques that would be needed to abate this problem. 2016-01-01T00:00:00Z http://196.220.128.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3452 PREVALENCE AND DISTRIBUTION OF MALARIA, PFCRT AND PFMDR1 GENES AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING FUT AKURE HEALTH CENTRE, NIGERIA OBIMAKINDE, Ebenezer Tolulope This research evaluated the prevalence and distribution of malaria, Plasmodium falciparum chloroquine resistance transporter (Pfcrt) and Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistant (Pfmdr1) mutant genes among Patients attending FUTA Health Centre. A retrospective study was carried out on the results of tests that were carried out on Patients who came for malaria test in 2015 while blood samples of patients coming for malaria test were collected between December 2015 and February 2016. Information about sex, age, status and date of collection of blood samples of each Patient were recorded. The mean temperature and rainfall data from January to December 2015 were recorded. One hundred and forty (140) patient’s blood samples were examined out of which 74(52.86%) were males and 66(47.14%) were females. Malaria test was done by thick blood film microscopy and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technique. PCR technique was used to detect Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 mutant genes of P. falciparum. Pearson’s Chi-square test was used for analysis. In 2015, a total of 2,616 people were tested for malaria parasite out of which 2,058 (78.7%) were positive for malaria parasite. The highest and the lowest prevalence of malaria infection in 2015 was recorded in November (95.6%) and October (45.2%) respectively and showed significant difference (P < 0.05) while the percentage distribution of malaria infection among male and female patients in 2015 was 973 (77.7%) and 1,085 (79.6%) respectively with significant difference (P < 0.05). The prevalence of Pfcrt (95%) and Pfmdr1 (45%) showed significant difference (P < 0.05). The research revealed high prevalence of Pfcrt and Pfmdr1 mutant genes of P. falciparum among patients which may be as a result of treatment of malaria with Chloroquine and other medication which the parasite has formed resistance against. In conclusion, it is important to adopt a new means through which the infection can be treated apart from the use of drugs in which the parasite has formed resistance against. M. TECH 2017-05-01T00:00:00Z http://196.220.128.81:8080/xmlui/handle/123456789/3451 INTAKE OF ESSENTIAL, TOXIC ELEMENTS AND MICROBIAL LOAD OF SOME LOCALLY CONSUMED RICE IN SOUTHEASTERN NIGERIA FALOPE, OLUWATOSIN CHRISTIANAH Proximate composition and mineral profile of locally cultivated and imported rice obtained from Asaba, Onitsha, Afikpo and Abakalilki in Southeastern Nigeria were assayed in the laboratory using standard techniques. The proximate composition and mineral profile of both local and imported rice were compared. Dietary intakes of the nutrients were computed and compare with dietary reference intake for each element. Microbial analyses of the samples were also conducted. Imported rice was generally richer in protein and fat than the locally cultivated rice varieties probably suggesting fortification of foreign rice or varietal differences. Local rice cultivars had higher carbohydrate, fibre and moisture contents than imported rice. Heavy metal levels (notably As, Cd and Pb) were generally significantly (P<0.05) higher in locally cultivated rice than in foreign rice. Cadmium level was significantly higher (P<0.05) in rice obtained from Onitsha (0.15mg/kg) than any of the imported or locally cultivated rice (0 to 0.01mg/kg). The levels of the toxic elements in both rice cultivars are within the recommended daily intake. Levels of nutrients and essential elements such as potassium, phosphorus, copper, iron, selenium, were significantly higher in foreign rice than their local counterparts. Manganese concentration was significantly lower in foreign rice (4.85 to 5.65mg/kg) than in local (6.73 to 7.59mg/kg). No significant difference (P>0.05) was recorded in the concentration of zinc, sodium and calcium in both local and imported rice varieties. Five bacterial species namely, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus bacillus, Streptococcus epididermis and three fungi species namely; Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Rhizopus were detected in the various rice samples. The foreign rice brands were generally free from bacterial infection except Thailand rice that was infected with Bacillus cereus. However, they all have Rhizopus infestation probably due to heavy load of Rhizopus spores in the environment. Onitsha and Abakaliki rice brand have the highest bacterial loads of 0.65x105cfu/ml and 0.45x105cfu/ml respectively. Onitsha and Mama Africa have 0.70x103sfu/g and 0.56x103sfu/g fungal loads. The microbial abundance of rice sample observed showed that Bacillus cereus had the highest distribution (57.1%) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (42.9%) Streptococcus bacillus and Streptococcus epididermis had the same distribution of occurrence (14.3%).The findings in this study showed that both the locally cultivated rice and imported rice consumed in southeastern Nigeria contain low levels of toxic elements (Cd, As, and Pb). However, estimated daily intake of the essential macronutrient showed that foreign rice is richer in sodium, calcium, potassium and phosphorus. High moisture content of the local rice may probably be responsible for high microbial load. M. TECH 2018-08-01T00:00:00Z