ABSTRACT Aflatoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several species of Aspergillus fungi, which occur in food crops due to exposure of pre-harvest and post-harvest conditions. Complementary foods are considered an important source of energy, protein and fat for children aged between 6-24 months. The study was carried out to to determine levels of aflatoxins contamination of complementary flour composite and to explore the association between post-harvest handling practices and aflatoxi...
Abstract: Invasive alien species (IAS) rank among the most significant drivers of species extinction and ecosystem degradation resulting in significant impacts on socio-economic development. The recent exponential spread of IAS in most of Africa is attributed to poor border biosecurity due to porous borders that have failed to prevent initial introductions. In addition, countries lack adequate information about potential invasions and have limited capacity to reduce the risk of invasions. Ho...
Abstract: Bioconversion of livestock wastes using insect larvae represents an emerging and effective strategy for waste management. However, knowledge on the role of the garden fruit chafer (Pachnoda sinuata L.) in waste recycling and influence on the diversity of microbial community in frass fertilizer is limited. Here, we determined whether and to what extent the conversion of cattle dung into insect frass fertilizer by P. sinuata influences the frass’ microbial community and its associa...
Abstract: Background: Symbiotic interactions between insects and bacteria have been associated with a vast variety of physiological, ecological and evolutionary consequences for the host. A wide range of bacterial communities have been found in association with the oriental fruit fly, Bactrocera dorsalis (Hendel) (Diptera: Tephritidae), an important pest of cultivated fruit in most regions of the world. We evaluated the diversity of gut bacteria in B. dorsalis specimens from several populati...
Abstract: Push–pull involves intercropping of cereals with Desmodium as a “push” crop and planting Napier grass/Brachiaria as the “pull” crop at the border. The technology has been reported to effectively control stemborers, striga weed, and fall armyworm (FAW), and to improve soil nutrition, resulting in increased grain yield. This study evaluated the impact of stemborer and FAW management using this technology on incidence of maize ear rots and preharvest contamination of grains ...
This study provides knowledge on the diversity and drivers of AMF in the ecologically stressed ecosystem of arid and semi-arid regions of Indian desert and reveals promising findings that would provide baseline information for a better understanding of more important roles that AMF plays in enhancing resource allocation and increasing tolerance of tomato plant to the various environmental stresse...
ABSTRACT This research is aim at isolating and characterization of microorganism (fungi and bacteria) from pap sold in Enugu metropolis. This research was carried out by getting ten (10) different sample from ten (10) prominent areas of the state (Abakpa, Coal Camp, Obiagu, Emene, Uwani, Eke Obinagu, New Layout, New Heaven, Ogui Road and Trans-ekulu). The samples were aseptically collected and were conveyed to the laboratory where they were analyzed. From the result of the microbiologica...
ABSTRACT Aflatoxin contamination of agricultural commodities is gaining public prominence in Africa where it is pervasive due to favourable environmental conditions and high consumption of maize. Aflatoxins are toxic secondary fungal metabolites that contaminate dietary staples such as maize and groundnut resulting in adverse effect on food security, health and trade. This study evaluated the effectiveness of triple-layer hermetic bag to control aflatoxin in stored maize. A factorial experim...
ABSTRACT Infectious diseases remain to be a global health burden due to the development of antibiotic resistance by pathogenic microorganisms. Antibiotic resistance has led to increased number of deaths among children and adults. This study sought to screen for antimicrobial activity of extracts from fungal endophytes against selected human pathogens, identify, and characterize the fungal endophytes and screen for phytochemicals present in selected medicinal plants‟ extracts. Sixty-five fu...
Abstract: Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) are a major concern in agriculture as they cause significant crop damage resulting in yield losses and economic losses for farmers (FAO, 2019). For the past 50 years, the control of PPNs has relied heavily on the use of synthetic nematicides and soil fumigants, which have been effective in rapidly controlling nematode populations. However, due to environmental and health concerns, many traditional nematicides have been banned or withdrawn from the m...
ABSTRACT This research work is on the effect of packaging materials on the functional properties of white garri. in the research work ,three packaging materials were used, namely rice bag, baco bag and plastic bowl. The functional properties that were tested for in this research work were bulk density wettability, gelation capacity, pH, gelatinization temperature, oil absorption capacity, and water absorption capacity. The result of the experiment gave the following bulk density, the value va...
Abstract The San people are indigenous minorities in Namibia that are known for their hunting and gathering lifestyle. From personal observations, discussions, interviews, raw data from Tsintsabis clinic and results obtained from the research, one had to assume that the San people are immune to malaria. It is unclear how the disease does not affect them although they live in endemic areas. The objective of this study was to investigate how the San have survived without a major outbreak of mal...
ABSTRACT The comparative evaluation of the bacterial and fungal diseases associated with Saccharum officinarum (Sugarcane) in ethnobotanical garden of Wesley University, Ondo was carried out through different microbial processes. The objectives of this work were to comparatively evaluate bacterial and fungal diseases associated with sugarcane in rainy and dry seasons, isolation and identification of bacterial and fungal diseases associated with sugarcane and development of disease inventory a...
ABSTRACT Aqueous extracts of the leaves barks and roots of Anacardium occidentale Linn, Bridelia Ferruginea Benth and Ficcus sur Forsskal were bioassayed at full concentration for their antifungal potentials by determining their inhibitory effects on the mycelial growth of Rigidiporous lignosus and coriolopsis occidentalis.
Description: A Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Applied Veterinary Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Nairobi