INTRODUCTION:Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy can result in severe outcomes for both the pregnant woman and the developing fetus. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Zika virus infection among pregnant women who sought healthcare services at Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospital.MATERIALS AND METHODS:Serum samples were collected and analyzed using Enzyme Linked Immunoassay and RT-qPCR methods, while a structured questionnaire was used to gather relevant information about the participants.RESULTS:The results showed that 53 out of the 180 pregnant women tested positive for Anti-Zika IgM antibodies, which represents a 29.4% prevalence rate. Subsequent RT-qPCR analysis found that only 6 out of the 53 positive samples contained Zika virus RNA. Fever and headache were the most commonly reported symptoms related to the infection.CONCLUSION:These findings indicate a potential outbreak of Zika fever in Northern Nigeria emphasizing the importance for pregnant women to take precautions to avoid getting infected.

Animal African trypanosomiasis affects both production and reproduction in domestic ruminants. The reproductive damages caused by trypanosomes have direct or indirect link to some specific organs like endocrine and pituitary gland which secrets follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), interstitial-cell stimulating hormone (ICSH) and growth hormone (GH). These hormones play an important role in the spermatogenic cycle in males and oestrus cycle in females. However, the pathogenesis of these damages have not been clearly elucidated. We believe that this aspect deserves closer study especially in livestock where reproductive performance is the pillar upon which productivity is built. It is hoped that this review which is centred on the chronological report of works that have been carried out on some reproductive organs damage in domestic ruminants infected with or affected by trypanosomes will add more light to the pathophysiology of the affected organs

Carbapenems are among the antibiotics of last resort against infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. However, resistance to this important class of antibiotic is on the increase due to expression of metallo-betalactamases (MBLs). This study investigated the occurrence of MBL-producing bacteria in a healthcare facility in Sokoto, Nigeria. Swabs were collected from the rectum (n = 29) and bed linens (n = 27) of patients within the surgical wards of the hospital between March and August, 2018 and processed using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) broth enrichment method for isolation of carbapenem resistant Gram-negative bacteria (CR-GNB). In addition, 110 bacteria isolated from clinical specimens submitted to microbiology laboratory of the hospital were collected and tested for susceptibility to antibiotics using the disc diffusion method. The carbapenem resistant isolates were further evaluated for MBL-production using the combined disc method. Overall, 31(28.2%) of the Gram-negative bacterial isolates were carbapenem resistant. The most predominant isolated bacterium in this study was E. coli (18; 36%). The isolates were highly resistant to cephalosporins (74%) and fluoroquinolones (52.7%) while remaining moderately susceptible to gentamicin (38.8%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate (45.7 %). Majority of the CR-GNB were extensively drug resistant (19; 38%) and pan drug resistant (10; 20%). The MBL-production test revealed that 19 (38.0%) of the CR-GNB were MBL-positive. The study revealed a high prevalence of MBL-producing CR-GNB in a hospital with no history of its use. This report documents for the first time the independent emergence of such resistance in our hospital. Implementation of adequate antibiotic stewardship program is therefore imperative so as to contain this emerging threat.Keywords: Carbapenem Resistant Bacteria, Metallo-β-lactamase, Carbapenemase, MDR.

The aim was to analyze the output market outlets accessible to rice farmers and determinants of farmers’ choice among alternative rice production in Kano State, Nigeria. Primary data were collected from 164 rice farmers with the aid of structured questionnaire. This study was conducted in Kura, Garun Malam and Bunkure Local Government Areas of Kano State during 2015 cropping season. A multistage sampling techniques were used for data collection through the use of structured questionnaire. The ordered probit model was used to estimate the parameters of the determinants of farmers’ choices among alternative rice output market outlets by rice farmers in Kano state. The generalized likelihood ratio statistics was -113.401. This ratio exceeds the critical chi-square values at p<0.01 level of significance. The log likelihood ratio value represents the value that maximizes the joint densities in the estimated model. This shows that at least one of the predictors' regression coefficient is not equal to zero in the model. The Prob > chi2 was (50.03) and statistically significant at p<0.01 level of probability. The probability of obtaining this chi-square statistic shows the effect of the predictor variables on specified alpha level. This implies that at least one of the regression coefficients in the model is not equal to zero. farmers’ choices among alternative rice output market outlets was significantly determined by educational status of the farmers, access to credit, cooperative membership, distance to market, quantity of output produced by the farmers and market price of rice (P<0.10). Based on the findings of this study, it could be concluded that the most commonly used output markets by rice farmers was rural assembler (82.3%). Despite increasingly competitive markets, pricing issues for rice remains a concern for farmers.

This work was carried out to determine the antibiotic Susceptibility profile of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wounds of patients attending General Hospital Minna Niger State. A total of 100 wound swab samples were collected from July to September, 2015 and subsequently analyzed. Isolation and identification of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was carried out using Cetrimide agar and subjected to series of biochemical tests. Antibiotic susceptibility tests were carried out on the isolates. One way Anova was used to statistically analyze the data. The bacteria isolated and identified from patient wounds includes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, 53(86.88%), Pseudomonas fluorescens, 6(9.83%), and Pseudomonas sp, 2(3.29 %). P. aeruginosa showed susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin (94.3%), Tarivid (86.8%), and Augmentin (73.5%), but resistant to Streptomycin and Ampicillin. P. fluorescens exhibited Susceptibility to Ciprofloxacin (83.3%) and showed 100% resistance to Gentamicin, Streptomycin, Septrin and Ampicillin. The Pseudomonas sp was Susceptible to Tarivid by 100%, and resistant to Reflacin, Streptomycin, Septrin and Ampicillin by 100%. The statistical analysis revealed that Age, Occupation, Cause of wound and Educational status of the patient had significant effect on infection with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P<0.05). The presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in wounds could lead to the degeneration of such wounds, and thereby causing delay in the healing of the wounds.

Mining industry in Nigeria provides economic benefits of wealth creation and employment opportunities. However the industry is associated a number of negative challenges among which is the health impact of miners and surrounding communities arising from mining processes. In this study Xrf analytical techniques was used to determined the concentration of Pb, As and Zn in soil around Ririwai Tin mine Kano state Nigeria. The results shows that the mean concentrations of Pb, As and Zn were 113.54±3.92, 6.76±0.34 and 216.89±5.74mg/kg respectively. Zn have the highest concentration across all location followed by Pb while As have the lowest concentrations. The concentrations of Zn and As in the study area were within the worldwide range values in soil of 50-250mg/kg and 1-50mg/kg reported by USEPA for Zn and As respectively. Pb have very high concentration when compared with worldwide average value of 10mg/kg reported by USEPA. Suggesting that there is high deposits of Pb in the area. Therefore all means of ingesting of soil by human and animal around the area should be avoided because of the elevated concentration and the toxicity of Pb.

Geophysical investigation for engineering studies was carried out at the convocation square of Kaduna State University (KASU) main campus, Kaduna state, which falls within the Basement Complex of North-Western Nigeria. The study is aimed at assisting in the planning and development process of civil engineering works in the university. Vertical Electrical Sounding (VES) using Schlumberger array was carried out at ten (10) VES points. ABEM Terrameter (SAS 300 C) was used for data acquisition. Three major lithologic units were delineated from the electrical resistivity survey results comprising of topsoil, characterized by sandy/lateric materials, weathered basement and the fresh bedrock. Resistivity values for the various units range from 88 to 900 ohm-m, 111 to 247 ohm-m and 1300 to 32,000 ohm-m respectively. Depth to bedrock varies between 12 m to 42 m. Iso-resistivity maps of weathered basement, overburden and bedrock with respect to subsurface competency constructed from the VES data revealed that the study area is competent to permit constructions of engineering works. The degree of soil corrosivity varies from slightly-corrosive (80 ohm-m to 150 ohm-m) to practically non-corrosive (resistivity values >200 ohm-m). The results of this study show that corrosion prevention system should be put in place during the engineering design stages. Keywords: Basement Complex, Soil Corrosivity, Engineering design

Trypanosomiasis is a widespread disease in the middle belt states and southern part of Nigeria. Socio-economic activities such as herding, fishing, crop-rotation, collection of fire wood predisposed inhabitant to the disease. A good knowledge and understanding of tsetse dynamics, its habitats, routes of infection parasite life cycle, and available control methods forms an important background in decision making processes within the community and government agencies for successful tsetse and trypanosomiasis control. Biological control using sterile insect technique (SIT), chemotheraphy using trypanocidal drugs, vector control methods through ground and aerial spraying of insecticides, used of trypanotolerant livestock and cultural methods which include shifting cultivation and bush fallow. Keyword : (trypanosomiasis, Socio-economic, control)

In this work liquid scintillation analysis was used to measure the concentration of 222 Rn in three sources of water around Ririwai Artisanal Tin mine. The annual effective dose due to 222 Rn concentration in surface water source and Domestic water were also determined. The result shows that the tailing bearing water has the highest 222 Rn concentration of 3.04±0.14 Bq/L followed by surface water source with 222 Rn concentration of 2.51±0.13 Bq/L while the Domestic water has the lowest 222 Rn concentration of 2.23±0.11 Bq/L. The results also indicated that the annual effective dose due to the 222 Rn concentration is higher in surface water with 13.05±0.55 mSv/year than in Domestic water with 11.11 ± 0.44mSv/year. The mean 222 Rn concentration obtained in this work is lower than 10.00Bq/L recommended by WHO and UNSCEAR. Also in this study the annual effective dose obtained is lower than the maximum permissible of 0.1mSv/year recommended by UNSCEAR. Keywords: Radionuclide, activity concentration and annual effective dose

In this work, the radioactivity in the gold bearing samples collected from the artisanal mining sites in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State have been determined, experimental measurements of 226 Ra, 232 Th and 40 K activities concentration in the gold bearing samples have been carried out using a NaI(Ti) gamma ray spectrometer. The measured activity concentration for 226 Ra have been found to lie in the specific ranges from 1.0545±0.4983Bq/Kg to 3.8355± 0.3476Bq/Kg while the mean concentration is 2.383±0.4415Bq/Kg for 232 Th, the activity concentration ranges from 9.3501±1.0260Bq/Kg to 66.7047±0.5700Bq/Kg, while the mean activity concentration of 232 Th is 32.3644±9.3440Bq/Kg, for 40 K,the activity concentration ranges from 120.9953±6.5319Bq/Kg to 815.8631±10.504Bq/Kg, while the mean activity concentration is 383.7924±72.5436Bq/Kg. The mean absorbed dose rate in the study area is 35.7334nGy/hr; while the mean annual effective dose rate is 0.032mSv/year which is lower when compared with tolerable limits of 1mSv/year. Keywords; Natural Radionuclides,Aactivity Concentrations, Absorbed Dose.

This study presents result of outdoor absorbed dose rate and estimated annual effective dose rate from the naturally occurring radionuclides 238 U, 232 Th and 40 K around BirninGwari artisanal goldmine using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). The results showed that the mean absorbed dose rate is 96.52 nGy/h with a standard deviation of 33.3 nGy/h and the standard error of 9.62 nGy/h the range falls between 26.67-123.85 nGy/h. The mean effective dose rate was estimated to be 0.675 mSv/year with a standard deviation of 0.234 mSv and standard error of 0.068 mSv and in range between 0.183-0.867 mSv. The mean annual effective dose rate from this work is lower than the 1mSv/year recommended by ICRP for public radiation exposure control.

The activity concentrations of naturally occurring radionuclides $(^{238}U, ^{232}Th$ and $^{40}K)$ were investigated in gold ore mined from Birnin Gwari Artisanal Goldmine in Kaduna state Nigeria using Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) technique. Twelve samples were collected from pits at different depths and the locations of pits were marked out using Global Positioning System (GPS). The measured activity concentration due to $^{238}U$ range from 6.18±3.7 to 66.69±4.9 Bq/Kg with mean value 37.36±5.45, Bq/Kg $^{232}Th$ range from 16.65±0.8 to 87.29±1.2 Bq/Kg with mean value of 62.69±6.33 and $^{40}K$ range from 85.13±4.5 to 1564.69±57.9Bq/Kg with a mean value of 997.52±11 9.97 Bq/Kg. The value compared well with published data from other countries and all values from this study are higher than the world average values and other countries with the exception of $^{232}Th$ concentration from India and Malaysia that are slightly higher than the mean value of $^{232}Th$ obtained in this study.

In this work X-ray Fluorescence techniques was used to determine the distribution of Cr, Zn and Pb in soil along the Bank of River Kaduna Nigeria. The mean concentrations of Cr, Zn and Pb are 160.0 ± 8.8 and 31. 4 ± 5.6 mg/kg respectively. The concentration of Cr is in the range of 107.0 ± 7 to 265.0 ± 130 mg/kg for Zn, the range is between 50.0 ± 6 to 103.0 ± 7.0 mg/kg while Pb is in the range of 19.0 ± 4.0 to 40.0 ± 5.0 mg/kg. The mean values obtained in this work compared favorably with other published works and are higher than the world average values of 100, 50 and 10 mg/kg for Cr, Zn and Pb respectively. However, the concentrations of Cr, Zn and Pb from this work are below the tolerable limit.