ABSTRACT
Aims@#Insect pests are one of the major constraints of oil palm production in Malaysia. However, synthetic chemical insecticides are the most common method for its control, despite their negative effects on non-target organisms and the development of resistance. Therefore, the present study is aimed to identify novel indigenous isolates of entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) in oil palm soil as part of integrated pest management (IPM) of oil palm insect pests.@*Methodology and results@#The potential of EPF were isolated from the soil collected from the oil palm plantation in UPM using a mealworm beetle larva (Tenebrio molitor) as an insect bait. Seven Metarhizium anisopliae and two Purpureocillium lilacinum isolates were identified by morphological characterization (macroscopic and microscopic observation) and molecular identification using internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS region amplification).@*Conclusion, significance and impact of study@#To our knowledge, this is the first time P. lilacinum has been found in the soil of an oil palm plantation or any other host in Malaysia. Furthermore, both of the isolates M. anisopliae and P. lilacinum may be potentially considered as biological control candidates for major insect pests in oil palm.
Subject(s)
Palm Oil , InsecticidesABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To test two water soluble extracts (aqueous and ethanolic) obtained from the leaves of Vitex doniana in normal and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats for their effects on pancreatic endocrine tissues and serum marker enzymes for a period of 21 d.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A total of 55 rats divided into 11 groups of 5 rats each were assigned into diabetic and non-diabetic groups and followed by a daily administration of ethanolic and aqueous extracts for 21 d. Group 1 was the normal control while group 7 was treated with standard drug.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The histopathological studies of the diabetic rats indicated increase in the volume density of islets, percent of β-cells and size of islet in the groups that received the plant extracts, which suggested regeneration of β-cells along with β-cells repairs, as compared with the non-treated diabetic control which showed complete degeneration of the islet cells. There was significant reduction (P<0.05) in the serum activities of marker enzymes, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and alkaline phosphatase in diabetes treated rats, whereas an insignificant increase (P>0.01) in the serum activities of marker enzymes was observed for non-diabetic treated rats. Results of total bilirubin, direct bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin showed that diabetic control group was significantly higher (P<0.05) in total bilirubin and unconjugated bilirubin compared with treated groups while non-diabetic treated groups showed no significant increase (P>0.01) in total bilirubin and direct bilirubin compared with the normal control.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>This herbal therapy appears to bring about repair/regeneration of the endocrine pancreas and hepatic cells protection in the diabetic rat.</p>
ABSTRACT
Low level of utilisation of maternal health services is a major factor responsible for high maternal mortality in northwestern region of Nigeria. This study was aimed at determining the barriers to utilisation of maternal health services from the perspective of mothers in northwestern Nigeria. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study of 150 mothers; selected through multistage technique; was conducted. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire; and analysed using SPSS statistics 17.0. Results: Only 2.7 utilised preconception service; 98.7 antenatal care service (ANC); 24.0 delivery; 35.3 postnatal care and 14.0 utilised family planning service. Major reasons for non-utilisation of delivery service were not having a delivery complication in the past (57 (CI = 47.4-66.1)) and negative provider attitude (23.7(CI = 16.4-32.7)). For non-utilisation of postnatal care; the major reasons were also not having a postnatal complication in the past (60.8 (CI = 50.4-70.4)) and negative provider attitude (27.8 (CI = 19.4-38.0)). As for non-utilisation of family planning service; the major reason was desire to have more children (32.6 (CI = 24.7-41.4)). Reasons for non-use of preconception care and ANC were not computed because respondents to these questions were not enough; only 6 (4.0) were aware of preconception care in the first place and only 2 (1.3) were aware of preconception care in the first place and only 2 (1.3) were not using ANC. Conclusion: Despite living near a health facility; most of the mothers were not using maternal health services. It is recommended that while there is the need to raise awareness on the utilisation of maternal health services; bring it closer to the mothers and make it more affordable; there is a more pressing need to improve its quality; especially through the alleviation of negative attitude of health care providers