Browsing by Author "Nwachukwu, A. A."

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    Asymptomatic malaria among students of Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), Imo State, Nigeria
    (U. P., 2016-09-05) Mgbemena, I. C.; Ezea, C. O.; Ebe, T. E.; Nwachukwu, A. A.; Nwannah, A. L.
    The study aimed at determining the prevalence of asymptomatic malaria among students of Federal University of Technology Owerri, was carried out between July and September 2015. Blood samples of 160 students who lived both in school hostels and off campus residents were examined using Giemsa stained thick and thin films. A total of 40 students (25%) were infected with Plasmodium falciparium, with an overall asymptomatic case of 11.25%. Students of age 16-22 years had the highest prevalence of 28.28%, with an asymptomatic case of 46.43%, age group 23-29 years had a prevalence of 19.67%, with an asymptomatic case of 41.67%. It was observed that male students had the higher prevalence of 26.15%, with an asymptomatic case of 47.06%, while that of the females was 24.21%, with an asymptomatic case of 43.48%. On the relationship of malaria parasites and genotype, students with genotype ‘AA’ had an infection rate of 27.69%, with an asymptomatic case of 47.22% and students with genotype ‘AS’ had a prevalence of 13.33% with an asymptomatic case of 25%. The result shows that students with blood group O had highest prevalence of 60%, with an asymptomatic case of 61.1%. Blood group A has a prevalence of 27.5% with an asymptomatic case of 27.8%, and Blood group B has a prevalence of 12.5%, with an asymptomatic case of 11.1%, while blood group AB which was 5.62% of the study population had no case of prevalence. Asymptomatic malaria is prevalent in this community as reflected in this study; this could impact negatively on the health of the population. More efforts are needed to encourage public enlightenment on malaria diagnosis and treatment.
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    Environmental challenges associated with oil spillage and gas flaring in Nigeria: A review
    (U. P, 2014-12) Okereke, J. N.; Ogidi, O. I.; Nwachukwu, A. A.
    A review is presented of the environmental challenges associated with oil spillage and gas flaring in Nigeria. It analyzes the types, causes, and remediation processes, for oil spillage and the prevention and control measures available for minimising environmental problems of oil spills in the oil-producing communities of Nigeria. Generally, Oil spills cause series of severe aquatic and terrestrial pollutions, and they impact negatively on crop production, due to soil infertility that results from the destruction of soil microorganisms, thereby causing dwindling agricultural productivity, plus other side effects on human health. The potential harmful effects of gas flaring on the environment including global warming and human exposure to acute harmful substances that cause respiratory problems (such as asthma and chronic bronchitis) are critically considered. Likewise other chemicals like benzapyrene, which causes cancer, and benzene, which causes leukemia and other blood-related disease are highlighted. Gas’ flaring also causes acid rain which corrodes homes and other local structures. Some techniques that should be utilized to prevent and control these challenges have been outlined and some policy recommendations made to help curb abuses by multinational oil and gas companies operating in the country.
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    Screening of ethanol extract of combretum racemosum and euphorbia hirt leaves for possible activity on trypanosoma brucei brucei infected mice
    (Scholars Academic and Scientific Publisher, 2016) Mgbemena, I. C.; Allison, L. N.; Udensi, U. J.; Nweke, K. E.; Nwachukwu, A. A.; Ezea, C. O.
    Enrichment of medicinal plants with biologically active compounds which induce various chemo-therapeutic effects has made a good turn and philosophy in the science of pharmacology. In the light of the popular notion of the use of Combretum racemosum and Euphorbia hirta as potent ethnopharmaceutical botanicals, this study was done to determine the trypanocidal activity of the ethanol leaf extracts of the plants against Trypanosoma brucei brucei which was induced in Swiss albino mice. The animals were inoculated intraperitoneally (IP) with trypanosome load of 106, and were then kept under standard conditions for 10 days to enable circulation and reproduction of the parasite within them. Parasitaemia level was detected and analysed via microscopy. Both plants proved positive by overall reduction in the mean parasitaemia level as the days progressed at concentrations of 50,100 and 200mg/kg body weight respectively. Acute toxic dose for analysis of the high dose extract toleration was also checked by a 1000mg/kg administration of the extracts, while diminazene aceturate, a standard trypanocidal drug was used as control. Combretum racemosum exhibited its best trypanocidal activity at the 200mg/kg concentration, and Euphorbia hirta was at its best at 50mg/kg. Following the administration of diminazene aceturate (control) the parasites were cleared within four days of administration. The results derived were confirmed with statistical analysis using SPSS 16 software at p<0.05, and posits the possible utilization of these extracts of Combretum racemosum and Euphorbia hirta as trypanocidal agents.