ABSTRACT Poecilia reticulata (guppy) a common ornamental tropical fish is found in many wastewater drains in Nigeria. Guppies feed on copepods which are intermediate hosts of some nematode parasites of culturable fish species. The restriction on the importation of ornamental fishes into Nigeria has enhanced the demand for local species, usually sourced from the wild. There is dearth of information on the parasites of ornamental fishes in Nigeria. This study was aimed at determining prevale...
ABSTRACT The aquatic weeds on the Westlake wetland at Zandvlei (Cape Town, South Africa) were investigated in terms of their detrimental effects, and the biotic and abiotic conditions associated with their nuisance growth. Eichhornia crassipes was the most problematic of the weeds, both from a human perspective and in its effect on the system, and it appears to out-compete the initially more abundant Ceratophyllum demersum and Azolla filiculoides after disturbances such as clearing and floo...
ABSTRACT Aspects of the feeding strategies and digestive invertebrate-microbial interactions of two saltmarsh thalassinid detritivores, the mudprawn Upogebia africana (Ortmann) and the sandprawn Callianassa kraussi Stebbing were examined. Resources available in their respective habitats were investigated together with the feeding apparatus, diet and digestive enzymes necessary for hydrolysis of refractory compounds of detritus. U. africana inhabits the upper reaches of Langebaan lagoon (Geel...
Summary This short report describes the results of a rapid; simple and cost effective immuno diagnostic test for malaria in Ibadan, Nigeria. A total of 77% patients presenting at the children outpatient clinic, University College Hospital with malaria symptoms were screened for malaria parasites by microscopy using Giemsa stain and by the immuno chromatographic card test. The immunodiagnostic test had a sensitivity of 93.1 % and a specificity of 95.8%, making a gog,d alternative for malaria ...
ABSTRACT The development of resistance to insecticides by Anopheles mosquitoes continues to threaten the success of malaria control programmes in West Africa. Local data on mechanisms and factors causing resistance in the region are scanty. This study was designed to investigate the environmental factors and mechanisms implicated in resistance to pyrethroids by Anopheles gambiae in southwestern Nigeria and southern Benin Republic. Larvae of Anopheles mosquito were collected in 2007 from...
Abstract The systematic status and geographic distribution of spiny mice of the genus Acomys I. Geoffroy, 1838 in northern Tanzania is uncertain. This study assesses the systematic and geographic distribution of Acomys from northern Tanzania using a multidisciplinary approach that includes molecular, cytogenetic, traditional and geometric morphometric analyses, and classical morphology of the same individuals. The molecular analysis was based on 1140 base pairs (bp) of the mitochondrial cy...
ABSTRACT. The study revealed that there was a quantitative recruitment in colonies of Amiternes evuncifer, whenever food was discovered by the scouting foragers. Discovered food stimulated the termites to accelerate their running speed, to and from the food source. Increased trail-laying activity, accelerated movement and carrying of food by the returning workers facilitated recruitment of other confederates from their nest. These activities equally directed the recruited termites to the food...
bstract The recovery towards a natural state of a restored Rhizophora mucronata mangrove ecosystem was investigated by assessing the sediment physical characteristics, densities, community composition and diversity of benthic macro-endofauna and meio-endofauna from a natural, a 10 years reforested, a 5 years reforested and a degraded (clear felled) mangrove ecosystem. The natural forest was used as a reference (baseline state) while the degraded site was to provide information on the effects ...
Abstract The aim of this study was to identify the occurrence of fungal contamination in different samples of corn (zea mayes) grains in Narok Town. A total of 30 samples were analyzed by direct plating method on a quarter strength potato dextrose agar and focusing on mycotoxigenic fungi.pure cultures of Aspergillus isolates were sub cultured and transferred onto differential media; malt extract agar, czapek yeast extract and czapek dox agar for species identification. The colony were purifie...
ABSTRACT This study was on aspects of the biology of Apis mellifera adansonii (1758) (Hymenoptera: Apidae: Apoidea) with emphasis on honey and beeswax production. Apis mellifera adansonii was identified and its life cycle stages were studied including the effect of the age of its queen on rate of brood production. Effects of ambient temperature, relative humidity and sugar syrup on colonies of A. mellifera adansonii in both dry and wet seasons were studied. During this study, Galleria mollone...
ABSTRACT Lake Victoria witnessed mass extinction of native fish species that coincided with introductions of Lates niloticus and Oreochromis niloticus about five decades ago. Small populations of O. esculentus and O. variabilis that are locally extinct in L. Victoria are found in Lake Kanyaboli, a satellite lake of L. Victoria. L. Kanyaboli thus has potential to serve as a refugium where cichlid relics are protected from the invasive L. niloticus. However, the status and thus factors that may...
ABSTRACT Gastrointestinal infections, such as soil-transmitted helminths (STHs) and Salmonella typhi infection, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality globally. In rural areas of Kenya, 9.1 million people are at risk of STHs infection with Western Kenya having the highest burden of both STH and S. typhi infection. Siaya County is more prone to S. typhi and STHs infection with Ukwala hospital records estimating the burden of infection at 30%. Given that STHs cause intestinal ulcers that ...
ABSTRACT The population of black rhinoceros has declined in African range states since 1960s due to poaching and habitat loss. In Kenya the species population declined from an estimated 20,000 in 1970 to less than 500 animals by 1990. However, through increased security and translocation, Kenya has witnessed a modest increase in population of this critically endangered species. The current population size is 623. Kenya like other range countries conserves black rhinoceros sub-populations as a...
ABSTRACT The study focused on the Preventive aspects of malaria in pregnancy in Badagry Local Government Area, one of the 20 LGAs in Lagos State in Southwestern Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to determine the knowledge, attitude and practices of the community on malaria; determine the effectiveness of Intermittent Preventive Treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) using Sulfadoxine-pyremethamine (SP) [IPTp-SP] in the prevention of malaria; and ascertain the safety of SP during pregnancy by ...