Phythonematoxic properties and nematicidal potential of Tithonia diversifolia extract and residue on Meloidogyne incognita infecting yam (Discoria rotundata)

A laboratory study and a screen house experiment were conducted to determine the phythonematoxic properties and nematicidal potential of extract and residue of Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray on Meloidogyne incognita, (Kofoid and White) Chitwood infecting yam. Alkaloids and saponins were found to be present in the constituents of Tithonia ethanol extract. Also, Tithonia water extract significantly (P ≤ 0.05) inhibits M. incognita egg hatch by 98% from 2 days after incubation (DAI) and was more evidenced with 100% inhibition at 9 DAI in the in vitro studies. M. incognita (5000 eggs/plant) reproduction, number of eggs and juveniles and galling were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) suppressed by Tithonia residue treatment at a rate of 30 tons/ha on yam (Discoria rotundata) in the screen house. The extract and residue of T. diversifolia have potential for the control of root-knot nematodes.     

Are Patent Medicine Vendors Effective Agents in Malaria Control? Using Lot Quality Assurance Sampling to Assess Quality of Practice in Jigawa,Nigeria

Background

Patent medicine vendors (PMV) provide antimalarial treatment and care throughout Sub-Saharan Africa, and can play an important role in the fight against malaria. Their close-to-client infrastructure could enable lifesaving artemisinin-based combination therapy (ACT) to reach patients in time. However, systematic assessments of drug sellers’ performance quality are crucial if their role is to be managed within the health system. Lot quality assurance sampling (LQAS) could be an efficient method to monitor and evaluate PMV practice, but has so far never been used for this purpose.

Methods

In support of the Nigeria Malaria Booster Program we assessed PMV practices in three Senatorial Districts (SDs) of Jigawa, Nigeria. A two-stage LQAS assessed whether at least 80% of PMV stores in SDs used national treatment guidelines. Acceptable sampling errors were set in consultation with government officials (alpha and beta <0.10). The hypergeometric formula determined sample sizes and cut-off values for SDs. A structured assessment tool identified high and low performing SDs for quality of care indicators.

Findings

Drug vendors performed poorly in all SDs of Jigawa for all indicators. For example, all SDs failed for stocking and selling first-line antimalarials. PMV sold no longer recommended antimalarials, such as Chloroquine, Sulfadoxine-Pyrimethamine and oral Artesunate monotherapy. Most PMV were ignorant of and lacked training about new treatment guidelines that had endorsed ACTs as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria.

Conclusion

There is urgent need to regularly monitor and improve the availability and quality of malaria treatment provided by medicine sellers in Nigeria; the irrational use of antimalarials in the ACT era revealed in this study bears a high risk of economic loss, death and development of drug resistance. LQAS has been shown to be a suitable method for monitoring malaria-related indicators among PMV, and should be applied in Nigeria and elsewhere to improve service delivery.     

An Adenoviral Vector Based Vaccine for Rhodococcus equi

Rhodococcus equi is a respiratory pathogen which primarily infects foals and is endemic on farms around the world with 50% mortality and 80% morbidity in affected foals. Unless detected early and treated appropriately the disease can be fatal. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. For decades researchers have endeavoured to develop an effective vaccine to no avail. In this study a novel human adenoviral vector vaccine for R. equi was developed and tested in the mouse model. This vaccine generated a strong antibody and cytokine response and clearance of R. equi was demonstrated following challenge. These results show that this vaccine could potentially be developed further for use as a vaccine to prevent R. equi disease in foals.     

Effect of storage temperature,time and wrapping materials on the microbiology and biochemistry of ogiri—a fermented-castorseed soup condiment

Wrapping ogini in perforated cellophane bags at 28°C increased its pH value during 7 days' storage. Storage at 10°C decreased microbial numbers in ogiri wrapped with both plantain leaves and cellophane. The temperature rose from 28 to 42°C during natural ogiri fermentation. Samples of ogiri inoculated with Bacillus sp. and a combination of Bacillus and Micrococcus spp. produced the typical ogiri odour.     

Incidence and diversity of viruses in cowpeas and weeds in the unmanaged farming systems of savanna zones in Nigeria

Fields surveys were conducted to assess the incidence of commonly known legume viruses on cowpeas and weed hosts within and around the cowpeas farms in nine locations across the three agro-ecological zones of Nigeria. Of 315 cowpea leaf samples collected and tested for eight viruses, 69.5% were found to be infected. Bean common mosaic virus-blackeye mosaic (BCMV-BlCM), genus Potyvirus had the highest incidence (70%) and was also the most prevalent (78%). Cowpea aphid-borne mosaic virus (CABMV, genus Potyvirus) had 64% as incidence, incidence of Southern bean mosaic virus (SBMV, genus Sobemovirus) was 21%. Bean pod mosaic virus (BPMV, genus Comovirus) was detected in 1% of the samples tested. Cowpea mosaic virus (CPMV, genus Comovirus) was undetected. Other viruses tested included Cowpea mottle virus (CPMoV, genus Carmovirus), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV, genus Cucumovirus), and Cowpea mild mottle virus (CPMMV, genus Carlavirus). Multiple virus infections were detected in 68.0% of the infected cowpea leaf samples. The combination of BCMV-BlCM and CABMV was the most common, occurring in 76.4% of all samples. Virus incidence in weeds around the cowpea plots was 2.5% (9 out of 356) whereas 1.5% (5 out of 332) of the weeds collected within the cowpea plots were infected. Some of the weeds infected were Chromoleana odorata, Centrosema sp., Thithonia diversifolia and Talinum triangulare.     

Ultraviolet induced stress response in fresh cut cantaloupe

Changes in the composition of volatile compounds in cantaloupe melon (Cucumis melo L. var. reticulatus) as a result of UV induced stress were determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Several volatile ester compounds were present, of which twenty-seven were identified in fresh cut cantaloupe. Fruit exposure to UV light decreased the concentrations of most of the aliphatic esters by over 60% of the amounts present in the corresponding fresh cut fruit. Cyclic and acyclic terpenoids, including phytoalexin compounds beta-ionone, geranylacetone and terpinyl acetate, were also produced as a result of UV exposure for 15 and 60 min, respectively. beta-Ionone, when added to crushed cantaloupe (0.01% w/w) completely inhibited microbial growth in the fruit for 24 h at 20 degrees C. Geranylacetone and terpinyl acetate reduced the microbial population from 6.3x10(8) in the untreated control to 1.2x10(8) and 3.5x10(7) CFU/g respectively. The results indicate the potential use of UV induced stress for screening cantaloupe melon cultivars for disease resistance, and as a minimal processing method to extend the shelf life of fresh cut cantaloupe products.     

Plasmodium berghei: antiparasitic effects of orally administered hypoestoxide in mice

Hypoestoxide (HE) is a diterpene isolated from Hypoestes rosea (Acanthaceae), a plant indigenous to Nigeria. Previous studies demonstrated that HE exhibited potent anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer activities in well established animal models but weak in vitro activities in both the anti-inflammation and anti-cancer in vitro screening systems. We now report a similar observation in the in vitro and in vivo screening systems for antimalarial activity. The results indicate that while HE exhibits a relatively weak in vitro activity (IC(50) = 10 microM versus 0.11 microM for chloroquine) against different strains of cultured P. falciparum parasites, the dose of HE required to reduce parasitemia by 90% in Plasmodium berghei-infected mice, is much lower than standard antimalaria drugs (SD(90) = 250 microg/kg versus 5mg/kg for chloroquine). Furthermore, lower doses of HE were much more effective than higher doses in inhibiting parasite development. The implications of these findings are discussed.     

Black flies and Onchocerciasis: Knowledge,attitude and practices among inhabitants of Alabameta,Osun State,Southwestern, Nigeria

Background and objectivesThis study reports knowledge of residents of Alabameta community, Osun State, Nigeria on the bioecology and socio-economic burden of black flies and onchocerciasis.MethodsUsing structured questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion (FGD), a total of 150 community respondents participated in the study.ResultsThe knowledge of the residents on the existence of black flies in the community was significant (p<0.05) as all the 150 respondents confirmed the presence of black flies with the local name ‘Amukuru’ i.e causing itching. However, their lack of knowledge of the flies breeding site (104) (69%), prevention (134) (89%), cause (132) (88%), and treatment (133) (89%) of onchocerciasis was profound. Majority 147(98%) of the respondents reported that flies bite more in the wet season as against dry season 3(2%) and have a higher affinity (124) (82%) for biting the leg than any other part of the body. A larger percentage (89%) of the respondents are unaware of any medication for the treatment of onchocerciasis while 11% are aware. There had been no sensitization on onchocerciasis according to 89% of the respondents.ConclusionDue to lack of resident’s knowledge on black flies bioecology which may continuously expose them to the bite of the flies and ultimately infection, it is paramount that the Osun State government and the NTD implementing partner map out new public health education strategies during routine Mass Administration of Medicines with Ivermectin with a view to preventing onchocerciasis infection as well as man-vector contact.     

Protection of cowpea,Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.) with Newbouldia laevis (Seem.) extracts against infestation by Callosobruchus maculatus (Fabricius)

Evaluation of protectant ability of Newbouldia laevis (Seem.) extracts against infestation by Callosobruchus maculatus in cowpea, Vigna unguiculata L. (Walp.) was carried out in the laboratory at ambient temperature of 28?±?2?°C and 70?±?5% relative humidity. Extracts from wood ash, leaf, stem and root bark were tested at different concentrations of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5%. One hundred per cent mortality of adult beetles was achieved at all concentrations within 72?h of treatment with extracts except in wood ash at 1% concentration, but they were significantly different (p?<?0.05) from the controls. All the extracts were still able to cause high beetle mortality after one, two and three months of cowpea storage at high concentrations (4 and 5%) except wood ash, although there was a slight decrease in mortality during the period of storage. All the extracts significantly (p?<?0.05) reduced oviposition and adult emergence of C. maculatus when compared with the controls although the reduction was higher at 5% concentration than others. Adult beetle emergence was completely prevented at higher concentrations (4 and 5%) except in wood ash. Both oviposition and adult emergence increased during the months of storage probably because of the slight reduction in the effectiveness of the extracts. The root bark extract was much more effective in reducing oviposition and adult emergence than others throughout the period of storage. The plant extracts of N. laevis was able to protect the cowpea seeds from damage and prevent weight loss. Cowpea seed damage and weight loss was significantly more (p?<?0.05) in the controls than other for the three-month duration probably because of the more adult emergence. The extracts from N. laevis did not adversely affect the germination of the protected seeds and seed germination ranged from 86.7 to 100%. It has been shown in this study that the extracts of N. laevis were effective against C. maculatus in cowpea although the root bark extract seemed to be the most effective while the wood ash extract was least effective. Their effectiveness, however, slightly decreased during the period of storage. N. laevis could be incorporated into pest management of stored cowpeas since the products are ecologically safe.