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Bovine fasciolosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease of cattle caused by trematodes usually

Fasciola gigantica and Fasciola. hepatica in the tropics. The disease is found in vast water

lodged and marshy grazing field, condition anticipated to be ideal for the propagation and

maintenance of high prevalence of fasciolosis. This disease is widely distributed in areas where

cattle are raised and there is a niche for Lymnaeid snail. A study to determine the prevalence

of fascioliasis in cattle slaughtered at the Gombe central

abattoir was carried out from October 2022 - April 2023. One Thousand faecal sample of four

breeds of cattle between the age of 1-6yrs slaughtered at the abattoir were examined

forfascioliasis at postmortem. The four breeds of cattle were, White Fulani (955), Red Bororo

(19), Sokoto Gudali (8) and Muturu (18). An overall prevalence of 369 (36.9%) was

recorded. The white Fulani breed was the most infected, with a prevalence of 357 (37.4%),

Red Bororo 6 (31.6%), Sokoto Gudali 1 (12.5%) and Muturu 5 (27.8%). Infection by age

and sex revealed that adults had a higher prevalence of 221 (40.8%), young cattle 148

(32.3%). while males had a prevalence of 174 (31.93%) and females 195 (42.80%). These

differences were statistically significant. The study concludes that fascioliasis is prevalent in

cattle in Gombe central abattoir and could be of economic and public health significance.

The study aimed at evaluating the effect of zinc and selenium treatment on oxidative stress

caused by Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats. Fifty-

four (54) wistar rats were divided into nine groups of six (6) rats each. Group I, II, and III

served as normal, normal rats administered with combined zinc and selenium and T. brucei

brucei infected untreated controls respectively. Rats in groups III-IX were injected

intraperitoneally with a 1x103 parasite load. Groups IV, V, and VI were the pre-treated

infected groups that were administered with a daily dose of 50mg per kilogram body weight

of zinc, 10mg per kilogram body weight of selenium, and a combination of zinc and selenium

respectively for seven (7) days. Whereas Groups VII, VIII, and IX represented the post-

infected treated groups that were administered with a daily dose of 50mg per kilogram body

weight of zinc, 10mg per kilogram body weight of selenium, and a combination of zinc and

selenium respectively for seven (7) days. Administration of Zn and Se caused a significant

(P<0.05) decrease in malondialdehyde (MDA), concentration and in the same way, showed

an improvement in the activities of antioxidant enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD),

catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in liver and kidney homogenate in

Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected treated rats. The findings of this study suggest that

treatment with zinc and selenium effectively mitigated oxidative stress induced by

Trypanosoma brucei brucei infection in the liver and kidney of Wistar rats. The observed

improvements in oxidative status suggest that zinc and selenium possess potent antioxidant

and free radical scavenging properties, thereby highlighting their potential therapeutic utility

in combating trypanosomiasis-associated oxidative damage.

This study elucidated the physicochemical attributes of water bodies in some communities across

River Niger. In-situ measurements of water parameters were carried out for Total Dissolved Solids

(TDS), Temperature, Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Electrical Conductivity, and Total

Dissolved Oxygen following standard procedures. The water samples were collected, twice every

month, from four different sites from August to December 2023. Samples were collected from two

sites (upstream and downstream) into white plastic bottles which were washed with distilled

water and dried, then were used to collect water from the sampling sites according to standard

procedure. The results obtained showed that the Physico-chemical parameters of the water bodies

in the selected communities varied significantly (P<0.05). Parameters such as Temperature,

Salinity, Dissolved Oxygen (DO), pH, Total Dissolved Oxygen, Total Hardness, Transparency and

Depth were all below permissible limit (WHO) while Electrical Conductivity was far below

permissible limit of WHO. This study established that the surface water harvested from this river

for domestic and agricultural purposes is in a good stand but should be discouraged once there

are build up in the parameters. Findings from this study recommends water quality monitoring of

the river in order to protect the integrity of the aquatic ecosystem.

Petroleum and its byproducts are still the main sources of energy for many different types of

businesses and daily living. However, because some products are acutely poisonous or have

mutagenic, teratogenic, or carcinogenic qualities, their discharge into the environment is a

global problem. Indiscriminate disposal of crude oil into the environment has no doubt

increased hydrocarbon pollution in Nigeria. Microorganisms have been identified as major

contributors in fighting pollution by utilizing hydrocarbons to enhance cell growth and

energy needs. This study was aimed at detecting alkB and nahAc genes from Pseudomonas

sp. isolated from petroleum contaminated soil of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical

Company (KRPC), Kaduna, Nigeria. Bacteria from the petroleum contaminated soil were

isolated and confirmed using standard biochemical tests and molecular methods. The

bacterial isolates were screened using soil enrichment technique. Out of the 18 bacteria

isolated, Pseudomonas sp. having the highest hydrocarbon utilizing ability was selected for

further studies. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) experiments with specific primers

confirmed the presence of alkB and nahAc genes in Pseudomonas sp. The presence of alkB

and nahAc genes in Pseudomonas sp. from this study indicates that Pseudomonas sp. from

the petroleum contaminated soil may have the potential to degrade petroleum and therefore

be useful in the bioremediation of petroleum contaminated soil.

Plantain, Musa paradisiaca L ., is a popular food in West African sub-regions, including

Nigeria, and a primary source of livelihood for a greater percentage of the people in Otuoke

community. Aside being food, the crop Musa paradisiaca L. has traditionally been used as

medicine. Its growth is hampered by soil nematodes. A survey to identify the endemic

nematode pest parasitizing plantain in Bayelsa State was conducted in Otuoke, one of the

plantains producing community in the state. Soil samples were randomly collected from the

root rhizosphere of a plantain mono-cultured farm of three hundred stands by the use of

hand trowel. Roots were also collected at the same time with soil using kitchen knife and

nematodes were extracted using the modified sieve plate technique and were identified to

genera level by means of nematode key. A total of 384 nematodes from 9 genera were

recovered. Among the 384 nematodes reported in this survey, 274 (71.4%) occurred in soil

and root tissues had 110 (28.6%). The occurrence of nematodes in soil and roots in this

survey could be attributed to nematode site of feeding preference. This observation suggests

that high concentration of nutrient around the root rhizosphere can discourage nematodes

from root burrowing. The study opined that nematodes of agronomical importance are

present in Otuoke and awareness should be created to minimized damage severity on

indigenous crops.