Browsing by Author "Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina"

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    Distribution and occurrence of mosquito species in the Municipal Areas of Imo State, Nigeria
    (U. P., 2012) Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina; Ebe, Tochi
    A study of the ecology of drainage breeding mosquito vectors was conducted in the three urban centers (Owerri, Orlu and Okigwe) of Imo State, Nigeria. Four drainage sites located around markets, residential, stream and hotel premises were selected in each urban centre. Dipping method of sampling was employed and a total of 8,820 mosquitoes comprising eight species namely; Aedes aegypti, Aedes vittatus, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex tigripes, Culex horridus, Culex cinereus, Culex annuliorus and Anopheles gambiae were encountered; in Owerri and Orlu with Cx. cinereus being completely absent in Okigwe. Cx. quinquefasciatus was predominantly present in all drainage sites with the highest occurrence of,474(50.74%) followed by Aedes aegypti 1814 (20.57%), An .gambiae 945(10.71%), Cx. tigripes 484 (5.48%) Ae. vittatus 420 (4.76%), Cx. horridus 264 (02.99%), Cx. cinereus 261 (2.96%), Cx. annuliorus 159 (1.88%). Of all sites sampled, market drainages had the highest abundance of mosquitoes which was significantly higher than (ANOVA, P≤ 0.05) those found in the residential, streams and hotel premises. Residential drainages recorded the second highest density followed by stream/vegetation drainages and hotel drainages which had the least. The abundance and distribution of mosquitoes in Owerri (130.06) the State Capital was significantly higher (ANOVA, P≤ 0.05) than those for Orlu (93.44) and Okigwe (52.13). The mosquito species identified in this study are of public health importance and there is an urgent need to desilt and clean up these drainages for free flow of water. This will not only rid these species of breeding sites but also free the State of the diseases associated with these organisms.
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    Germicidal activities of some selected disinfectants on staphylococcus aureus and escherichia coli
    (Medwin Publishers, 2020-06-16) Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina
    The germicidal efficacy of four common disinfectants used for different purposes was tested against two common pathogens namely Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The disinfectants (Dettol, Jik, Izal and Purit) were diluted with sterile distilled water to achieve different concentrations (100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%) and they were tested on the two organisms using Agar well diffusion method. The plates were allowed to incubate for 24 hours at 37℃.The germicidal efficiency of the disinfectants was evaluated by measuring the zone of inhibition of each disinfectant based on their varying concentrations. Dettol was observed to have the highest inhibition at 100% concentration and was more germicidal on E. coli than S. aureus with Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) value of 1:16 dilution against the two test organisms. This was closely followed by Jik which also showed more inhibitory activity against E. coli at the initial concentration recording the second highest inhibition rate compared to other disinfectants, but its efficacy decreased as the concentration dropped. Jik exhibited MIC value of 1:8 and 1:2 dilutions for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli respectively. Purit showed more inhibitory activity on S. aureus with 3.8mm zone of inhibition as against 1.3mm at 100% concentration, recording MIC value of 1:8 dilution on S. aureus and 1:16 dilution for E. coli. The disinfectant Izal was observed to be the lowest as it did not inhibit the growth of any of the organisms, indicating resistance of the organisms to the disinfectant at all concentrations. All the disinfectants apart from Izal inhibited the two test isolates. Only Dettol proved to be best among them. Therefore, Dettol is encouraged to be used in homes to prevent pathogenic infection.
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    Microbiological quality of sachet and bottled water produced and marketed around Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria
    (U. P., 2016) Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina
    Three methods of bacteriological analysis of the water samples, namely total viable count, multiple tube (most probable number) method and membrane filtration analysis, were used for this study. The bacterial organisms isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, Eschericia coli, Enterobacter spp and Salmonella spp. The total heterotrophic bacterial counts in sachet water sample ranged between 15 and 190 ml-1 and the Geometric Mean total heterotrophic counts varied from the lowest in Divine water (7. 45 ml-1) to the highest in Deogratias pure water (1.95 × 10-2 ml-1). Two brands of bottled water were found to contain total coliform that ranged between 1 and 120 100 ml-1. Geometric mean coliform counts varied from the lowest in Crystal water (4.23, 100 ml-1) to the highest count in Vriis water (2.04 × 10-2, 100 ml-1). These levels particularly those of sachet water samples far exceeded the limits of EPA Maximum Contaminant Levels(MCLs) of <1.0×102 of heterotrophic count in drinking water as stipulated by USEPA. The two groups of water samples (sachet and bottled waters) were found not to be satisfactory. It is therefore recommended that the enforcement agencies in the country (NAFDAC) and the Ministry of Health need to get the producers of packaged water to comply with the national drinking water guidelines while communities on their part should be educated and enlightened on the ill effects of patronizing fake vendors.
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    Study on the effects of hydraulic dredging and disposal operations on water quality of Nworie River, South-Eastern Nigeria
    (Science Publishing Group, 2017-03-11) Udensi, Justina Ugochi; Ogbulie, Ekwutosi Tochukwu; Emeka-Nwabunnia, Ijeoma; Chikezie, Nkeiruka Uche; Godson, Ugochukwu Mmasi; Nwaku, Awurum Ivy; Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina
    A study was done to ascertain the effect of hydraulic dredging and spoils disposal on the physicochemical parameters of Nworie River. The study was carried out from July 2010 to January, 2012. Water samples were collected prior to, during and monitored several months after dredging. The samples were collected from 5 stations: station 1 was the dredging point, stations 2 and 3 were 250m and 500m upstream of the point, while and stations 4 and 5 were 250m and 500m downstream of it respectively. The physicochemical parameters of the water were analysed prior to dredging and most of the values obtained were within acceptable limit of established water standards. The pH was within the range of 6.5-7.8, Temperature 27.6-29.9°C, Conductivity 34-196µs/cm, Turbidity 0-76NTU, TDS 22.1-127.4 mg/l, TSS 9-51 mg/l, Nitrate 1.2- 33.6mg/l, Phosphate 0.2-3.7mg/l, Sulphate 0- 33 mg/l, Dissolved Oxygen 4.3-9.4 mg/L and BOD5 2.5 - 7.9 mg/l. During the dredging, the water physicochemistry changed: pH values decreased drastically to 4.6, DO to 1.3mg/l, Nitrate to 1.2 mg/l. Temperature increased to 30. 2°C, Turbidity 620NTU, TSS 349mg/L, Conductivity 498µs/cm, TDS 249 mg/l, BOD5 19.1mg/l, Sulphate 33mg/l and Phosphate was 0.92mg/l. Three months after the dredging, the values for the parameters returned to their pre-dredging concentrations, however during rainy season, as the leachates and silts from the spoils were washed into the river, this prolonged the recovery of the river system to 9 months. This implies that the effect of dredging on the river is of short term but the disposal of the excavated materials at the river bank compounded and prolonged these impacts.
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    The efficacy of antioxidant (Vitamin C) in the treatment and management of malaria
    (SAS Publishers, India, 2020-04-30) Mgbemena, Ifeyinwa Celestina
    The study examines the effects of Vitamin C on malaria parasitamae and the biochemical parameters which is an indicative of the liver function. Twenty wistar Albino rats were by average weight of 100 – 250g divided into 5 groups, Groups 1) served as normal control(NC), group 2 as experimental groups (PC), (Group 3 & 4 ) served as Vitamin C and group 5 served as Artesunate control. All the groups were inoculated with a chloroquine-sensitivestrain of Plasmodium berghei NK-65 following the administration of vitamin C and artesunate drugs. The Animals were treated for 4 days after 24 hours, post infection with P. berghei. Parasitemia levels were assessed by examining Giemsa-stained thin blood smears from each animal via an optical microscope on days 4 and 7. Blood samples collected from the animals via cardiac puncture with the aid of a capillary tube, was allowed to clot for 45 min at room temperature. Serum was separated by centrifugation at 6,000rpm for 15 min and analyzed for liver function parameters. There was a significant suppression (P<0.05) in total parasite count (205.00 & 137.00 and 242.25 & 157.00) on days 4 and 7 when compared with the other controls (300.75 & 403.25), as well as a reduction in liver function parameters with Vitamin C at 15mg & 7.5mg. This study however shows that vitamin C administration to P.berghei infected rats resulted in reducing parasite count as well as reduced malaria related alteration of liver function markers.