Probiotic Properties and Antibiotic Resistance Pattern of Bacillus spp. Isolated from Two Types of Fermented Locust Bean (iru).

Bacillus spp. associated with two types of fermented African locust beans iru woro and iru pete were isolated and screened for probiotic potentials using standard microbiological techniques. The total bacterial counts for iru woro (pH 8.4) and iru pete (with pH 8.1) were 6.4314 and 6.4771 log10CFU/g respectively. In the two samples, the load of aerobic sporeformers were 6.2068 and 6.2553 log10CFU/g. In the samples Bacillus subtilis had the highest occurrence (44%), followed by B. lichenliformis (28%) and B. megaterium (24%) while B. coagulans had the least (4%). Only 28% of Bacillus isolates produced caseinase, while 28% produced haemolysin. Majority of these isolates showed tolerance to salt at concentrations less than 5% and also grew fairly at pH tending to neutral. Bacillus subtilis P14, Bacillus lichenliformis P12 and Bacillus megaterium P6 grew at 3.0% bile. Percentage hydophobicity, auto-aggregation and co-aggregation of the isolates ranged from - 49.00 to 65.00%, -53.00 to 84.00% and -69.44 to 36.08% respectively. High level of antibiotic resistance (especially to first line antibiotics) was recorded among isolates. Most of the Bacillus species isolated from the iru samples had very poor probiotic properties. Molecular and in vitro probiotic properties of promising candidates are still open to investigation.

Influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria

Fertility pattern and reproductive behaviours affect infant death in Nigeria. Household food insecurity and poor care practices also place children at risk of morbidity and mortality. The objectives of this study were to assess the influence of family size, household food security status, and child care practices on the nutritional status of under-five children in Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The study employed a descriptive cross-sectional design. A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from 423 mothers of under-five children and their children in the households selected through multistage sampling methods. Food-insecure households were five times more likely than secure households to have wasted children (crude OR=5.707, 95 percent CI=1.31-24.85). Children with less educated mothers were significantly more likely to be stunted. The prevalence of food insecurity among households in Ile-Ife was high. Households with food insecurity and less educated mothers were more likely to have malnourished children (Afr J Reprod Health 2010; 14[4]: 123-132)